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U Can't Touch This

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"Hammer Time" and "Can't Touch This" redirect here. For the reality TV show, see Hammertime. For the game show, see Can't Touch This (game show).
"U Can't Touch This"
Single by MC Hammer
from the album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em
B-side "Dancin' Machine"
Released January 13, 1990
Format
Recorded 1989
Genre Pop-rap[1]
Length 4:16
Label Capitol (US)
Writer(s)
Producer(s) MC Hammer
Certification See certifications and sales
MC Hammer singles chronology
"They Put Me in the Mix"
(1989)		 "U Can't Touch This"
(1990)		 "Have You Seen Her"
(1990)

"U Can't Touch This" is a hit single written, produced and performed by MC Hammer from his 1990 album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em. The track is considered to be Hammer's signature song and is his most successful single.

Along with Hammer, Rick James shares songwriting credits with Alonzo Miller because the song samples the prominent opening riff of "Super Freak". The song has been used or referenced in multiple television shows, films, commercials and other forms of media. It has also received numerous awards and recognitions.

The song is notable as the winner of the Best R&B Song and a Best Rap Solo Performance at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1991 as well as the Best Rap Video and Best Dance Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards. It peaked at number one in the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and on the charts in several countries.

Production

The song samples the prominent opening riff of the Rick James song "Super Freak", which is repeated throughout the recording. The lyrics describe Hammer as having "toured around the world, from London to the Bay" and as being "magic on the mic", which Hammer says coincides with James' "beat that you can't touch". Additionally, the song lyrics "You can't touch this" and "Stop! Hammer time!" became pop culture catchphrases. Hammertime was later used the title of a reality show starring Hammer on the A&E Network in the summer of 2009.[2]

The sample of "Super Freak" that forms the basis of the song led to Rick James and other performers on the original record to file a lawsuit for infringement of copyright. The suit was settled out of court when Hammer agreed to credit James as a songwriter, effectively granting James millions of dollars in royalties.[3]

The song was first performed publicly on a late 1989 episode of The Arsenio Hall Show.[4]

Impact on album sales

Because the song was not initially released as a single, listeners had to purchase the album, which as a result, went on to sell more than 18 million copies,[5] gaining multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA, as well as in other countries.

Music video

Directed by Rupert Wainwright, a music video was produced to promote the single, showing Hammer doing some of his signature dances, such as "The Running Man" and the "Hammer Dance".[6]

Reception and legacy

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See also: MC Hammer discography § Accolades

In April 1990 "U Can't Touch This" hit the Top 40. The song also secured a Best R&B Song and a Best Rap Solo Performance in 1991, a new category at the time. The single was a major success, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] The track also performed successfully in other parts of the world, peaking at no. 1 in Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden, and no. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.[8]

In September 1990, the video for "U Can't Touch This" won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and Best Dance Video and was nominated for Best Male Video, Best Editing, and Best Choreography. In 1991, Kids Incorporated covered "U Can't Touch This" in the Season 7 episode "Pipe Dreams".

In 1999, MTV's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made included "U Can't Touch This" at No. 71. In October 2000, VH1's "100 Greatest Dance Songs" included "U Can't Touch This" at No. 88. In May 2001, VH1's 100 Greatest Videos included "U Can't Touch This" at No. 59.

In August 2005, "U Can't Touch This" was certified gold. In December 2007, VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s" included the song at No. 16.[9] During 2008, the song ranked as No. 26 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

The song is used comically in various films of the 2000s such as Bubble Boy, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Kung Pow! Enter the Fist, Shark Tale, White Chicks, and Racing Stripes, among others.

Charts and certifications

Order of precedence
Preceded by Australian number-one single
July 22, 1990 – August 19, 1990 (5 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Epic" by Faith No More
Preceded by New Zealand number-one single
July 22, 1990 – August 26, 1990 (6 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey
Preceded by Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders number-one single
August 18, 1990 – September 15, 1990 (5 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Ritmo de la noche" by Lorca
Belgian VRT Top 30 Flanders number-one single
August 18, 1990 – September 15, 1990 (5 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"I've Been Thinking About You" by Londonbeat
Preceded by Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single
August 4, 1990 – September 22, 1990 (8 weeks)
Preceded by Dutch Top 40 number-one single
August 4, 1990 – September 1, 1990 (5 weeks)
Single Top 100 number-one single
August 4, 1990 – September 1, 1990 (5 weeks)
Preceded by Swedish number-one single
August 29, 1990 – September 26, 1990 (3 weeks)
Preceded by US Billboard Hot Black Singles number-one single
June 23, 1990 (1 week)		 Succeeded by
"All I Do Is Think of You" by Troop
Preceded by Canadian RPM Dance number-one single
June 30, 1990 (1 week)
August 4, 1990 – August 11, 1990 (2 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"The Power" by Snap!
"Everybody Everybody" by Black Box

Parodies

In 1991, a parody entitled "I Can't Watch This" was released by "Weird Al" Yankovic for his album Off the Deep End which is about watching a bad TV program were overlaid on the song's music track and featuring samples of various commercials during the breakdowns. A groove metal cover of the song was performed by the Austrian NDH band Stahlhammer, infused with death growls and heavy guitar riffs.

Before the 1990 NFL season started, the Miami Dolphins parodied the song as "U Can't Touch Us".[44]

Peter Griffin parodies this song as "Can't Touch Me" in the Family Guy episode, "E. Peterbus Unum", giving examples of flaunting his diplomatic immunity, including telling MC Hammer that he cannot sue for plagiarism and walking on the grass.

Grup Vitamin, Turkish parody group, parodies this song as "Dokundur" in "Bol Vitamin" album in 1990 and as "Sürtündürt" in "Grup Vitamin" one in 1991. The TV sitcom Mrs. Brown's Boys performed "U Can't Touch This" as a dance routine at the end of the 2015 Christmas episode.

German hard rock band Landser mention the song in the intro to their 1997 song In den Bergen von Ruanda (In the Mountains of Rwanda).

The Annoying Orange parodies the song as "Can't Squash This".

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Hammertime - A&E TV at the Wayback Machine (archived May 14, 2009). Hammertime. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Archive Chart: 1990-08-11" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Ultratop.be – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7958." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1272." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  16. ↑ MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits at the Wayback Machine (archived June 14, 2006). MusicSeek.info. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ "Lescharts.com – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  20. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – U Cant Touch This". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – MC Hammer - U Can t Touch This search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This". VG-lista. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This". Singles Top 60. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  27. ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending JUNE 23, 1990 at the Wayback Machine (archived October 7, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1990 at the Wayback Machine (archived October 7, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter U Can't Touch This in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  44. ↑ Seifert, Andy; Wolinsky, David (February 5, 2010). "Let's Ram It!" and 25 years of other immortal NFL songs at the Wayback Machine (archived February 7, 2010). The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 9, 2015.

External links

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