Pray (MC Hammer song)
| "Pray" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Pray MCH.jpg | ||||
| Single by MC Hammer | ||||
| from the album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | ||||
| Released | September 21, 1990 | |||
| Format | Vinyl, Cassette, CD | |||
| Recorded | 1989 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 5:11 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Writer(s) | MC Hammer, Prince, Billy Gould, Roddy Bottum | |||
| Producer(s) | MC Hammer | |||
| Certification | Gold (RIAA) | |||
| MC Hammer chronology | ||||
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"Pray" was the third single released from MC Hammer's third album, Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em. Produced by MC Hammer himself, the song heavily samples Prince's hit song, "When Doves Cry", the first and one of the few songs legally sanctioned by Prince to incorporate samples of one of his compositions. The track also samples Faith No More's "We Care a Lot".[1]
"Pray" became Hammer's biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number two (kept from the top spot by Mariah Carey's "Love Takes Time"[2]), becoming a Top-20 hit in nine countries. The track helped make Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em the number one album of the year.[3] In the U. S., the song was certified gold on November 26, 1990, with sales over 500,000 copies.
This hit single (accompanied with music videos[4]) became one of Hammer's most popular songs and has appeared on several compilation albums, including Greatest Hits, Back 2 Back Hits and The Hits. It also appeared in Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (1990). "Pray" was repeated 147 times during the song, setting the record for an American Top 40 hit.[5]
Track listing
- "Pray" (Slam The Hammer Mix) - 8:01 (aka Maxi-Single Remix)
- "Pray" (Slam The Hammer Piano Dub) - 5:26
- "Pray" (Jam The Hammer Mix) - 5:00
- "Pray" (Hit 'Em Hard Mix) - 5:25
- "Pray" (Nail 'Em Down Chant) - 4:56
- "U Can't Touch This" (LP Version) - 4:15
Additional versions released
- "Pray" (LP Version) - 5:16
- "Pray" (Radio edit) - 4:11
- "Pray" (Instrumental) - 4:43[6]
Charts
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| Billboard Hot R&B Singles | 4 |
| Billboard Hot Rap Singles | 7 |
| Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles | 3 |
| Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 27 |
| Australian Singles Chart | 7 |
| Austria | 13 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] | 7 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[8] | 4 |
| Netherlands | 3 |
| New Zealand | 2 |
| Norway | 5 |
| Sweden | 18 |
| Switzerland | 10 |
| UK Singles Chart | 8 |
References
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- ↑ "Musicline.de – MC Hammer Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
