U Can't Touch This

"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	12" vinyl
Recorded	1989
Genre	Pop-rap[1]
Length	4:16
Label	Capitol (US)
Writer(s)	Stanley Burrell Rick James Alonzo Miller
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, perhaps, 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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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 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 other media.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[10] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 1 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[13] 1 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[14] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] 8 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] 2 France (SNEP)[18] 17 Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[24] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 2 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[7] 8 US Billboard Hot Black Singles[7] 1 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[7] 6 US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[7] 2 US Billboard Hot Rap Singles[7] 2 US Cash Box[27] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position Australia (ARIA)[28] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[29] 29 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[30] 6 Canada (RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks)[31] 70 Canada (RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks)[32] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 15 US Billboard Hot 100[36] 55 US Cash Box[37] 39 Certifications and sales Region Certification Sales/shipments Australia (ARIA)[38] 2× Platinum 140,000 Canada (Music Canada)[39] Gold 50,000 Germany (BVMI)[40] Gold 250,000 Sweden (GLF)[41] Gold 25,000 United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Silver 200,000 United States (RIAA)[43] Gold 500,000 ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

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).

See also

• Jingle Bells/U Can't Touch This – Crazy Frog cover

References

1. Magill, Frank N. (1998). Chronology of Twentieth-century History: Arts and Culture. Fitzroy Dearborn. p. 1822. ISBN 978-1-88496-466-4.
2. Hammertime - A&E TV at the Wayback Machine (archived May 14, 2009). Hammertime. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
3. "MC Hammer". Answers.com. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
4. Rant, Screen (March 4, 2006). "MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This(Live @ Arsenio Hall)". Metacafe. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
5. Huey, Steve. "MC Hammer – Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
6. "MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This". EMI Music. YouTube. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
7. "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
8. "Archive Chart: 1990-08-11" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
9. Ali, Rahsheeda. "The 100 Greatest Songs Of the '90s". VH1. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
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. "25 augustus 1990" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
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. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
18. "Lescharts.com – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
19. "Offiziellecharts.de – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This". GfK Entertainment Charts. 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 100. 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. "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1990". ARIA Charts. ARIA. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
29. "Jahreshitparade 1990" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
30. "Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
31. "Top Singles – Volume 53, No. 6, December 22, 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
32. "Dance/Urban – Volume 53, No. 6, December 22, 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
33. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
34. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
35. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
36. "Top 100 Hits for 1990". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
37. The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1990 at the Wayback Machine (archived October 7, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
38. "Australian Fun Countdowns – Accreditation Awards". Australian Fun Countdowns. April 7, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
39. "Canadian single certifications – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This". Music Canada.
40. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (M.C. Hammer; 'U Can't Touch This')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
41. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
42. "British single certifications – MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This". British Phonographic Industry. 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. "American single certifications – M.C. Hammer – Can_t Touch This". Recording Industry Association of America. 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

• "U Can't Touch This" music video on YouTube
• U Can't Touch This at AllMusic
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics