Synopsis

The video follows Janet Jackson and her boyfriend through a romantic evening in New York City. Their date moves from affectionate sightseeing and playful moments to a private conversation about taking the relationship further. When he assumes the night should end in intimacy, Jackson calmly sets a boundary and asks them to wait until both are ready. The story keeps the focus on mutual affection, communication, and personal choice, presenting the song's message through a straightforward young-couple narrative rather than a choreography-centered performance.

Factoids & Trivia

• Taimak Guarriello plays Jackson's boyfriend. He was contacted through a modeling agent, who told him that Jackson wanted him to portray her romantic partner.

• Guarriello had recently gained attention as Leroy "Bruce Leroy" Green in the 1985 martial arts film *The Last Dragon*.

• The video was filmed in New York City, giving the story an urban date-night setting rather than placing Jackson in a constructed performance environment.

• "Let's Wait Awhile" was the fifth single from *Control* and was released in the United States on January 6, 1987.

• The song was Jackson's first co-production credit. She wrote it with Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Melanie Andrews.

• The single became one of five US Top 5 hits from *Control*. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Hot R&B Singles chart.

• Jackson continued performing the song on her concert tours, beginning with the Rhythm Nation World Tour in 1990.