:U Can't Touch This
{{Short description|1990 song by MC Hammer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Redirect2|Hammer Time|Can't Touch This|the reality TV show|Hammertime{{!}}Hammertime|the game show|Can't Touch This (game show){{!}}Can't Touch This (game show)}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = U Can't Touch This
| cover = Hammer Touch.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = MC Hammer
| album = Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em
| B-side = Dancin' Machine
| released = {{start date|1990|5|28}} (UK)
| recorded = 1989{{cite magazine|first= Whitney |last= Pastorek |title= 20 Years Ago: MC Hammer drops 'U Can't Touch This' |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date= January 11, 2010 |access-date= February 6, 2017 |url= http://ew.com/article/2010/01/11/flashback-mc-hammer-drops-u-cant-touch-this/}}
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
- Hip hop{{cite magazine|first= Pat |last= Pemberton |title= U Can't Touch This |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= June 14, 2012 |access-date= February 26, 2017 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/u-can-t-touch-this-mc-hammer}}
- pop rap{{cite book|first= Frank N. |last= Magill |title= Chronology of Twentieth-century History: Arts and Culture |publisher= Fitzroy Dearborn |year= 1998 |isbn= 978-1-88496-466-4 |page= [https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofte0000unse/page/1822 1822] |url= https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofte0000unse/page/1822}}
| length = 4:16
| label = Capitol
| writer =
- Stanley Burrell
- James Johnson
- Alonzo Miller
| producer = MC Hammer
| prev_title = Dancin' Machine
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = Have You Seen Her
| next_year = 1990
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|otCpCn0l4Wo|"U Can't Touch This"}}}}
}}
"U Can't Touch This" is a song co-written, produced, and performed by American rapper MC Hammer. It was released in May 1990 by Capitol Records as the third single from his third album, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990), and has been considered his signature song. Along with Hammer, Rick James shares songwriting credits with Alonzo Miller, as the song samples the prominent opening riff of James's 1981 single "Super Freak". The song has been used and referred to in many television shows, films, commercials, and other forms of media. It has also received multiple awards and recognition. The accompanying music video was directed by Rupert Wainwright, featuring Hammer performing in his iconic Hammer pants.
The song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. It is the first rap song to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1991, and the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards. It peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and topped the charts of six other 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 he says coincides with James's "beat that you can't touch". The lyrics "you can't touch this" and "Stop! Hammer time!" became pop culture catchphrases. Hammertime was later used as the title of a reality show starring Hammer on A&E during the summer of 2009.{{cite web|title= Hammertime – A&E TV |website= Hammertime |url= http://www.aetv.com/hammertime/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090514072420/http://www.aetv.com/hammertime/ |archive-date= May 14, 2009}}
The sample of "Super Freak", which forms the basis of the song, led James (and other performers on the original record) to file a lawsuit for copyright infringement. It was settled out of court, with Hammer agreeing to credit James as a songwriter, effectively granting him millions of dollars in royalties.
In late 1989, the song was first performed publicly on an episode of The Arsenio Hall Show.{{cite web |first= Screen |last= Rant |title= MC Hammer – U Can't Touch This (Live @ Arsenio Hall) |publisher= Metacafe |date= March 4, 2006 |access-date= June 17, 2014 |url= http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-ZIB4GB8Olss/mc_hammer_u_cant_touch_this_live_arsenio_hall/ |archive-date= June 29, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629001035/http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-ZIB4GB8Olss/mc_hammer_u_cant_touch_this_live_arsenio_hall/ |url-status= dead }}
Critical reception
Bill Coleman from Billboard commented, "A Rick James classic paired with Hammer's distinctive rhyme styling has added up to a deserved smash."{{cite magazine|first= Bill |last= Coleman |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |volume= 102 |issue= 18 |page= 75 |date= May 5, 1990 |access-date= October 28, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB1990.pdf}} Whitney Pastorek from Entertainment Weekly wrote, "The good-natured boast, laid over the hook of Rick James's 'Superfreak', proved irresistible. Hammer's hydraulic dance moves and outlandish fashions — harem pants and gold lamé, together at last! — were cartoonish".{{cite magazine|first= Whitney |last= Pastorek |title= 20 years ago: MC Hammer's 'U Can't Touch This' |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date= January 8, 2010 |access-date= November 11, 2020 |url= https://ew.com/article/2010/01/08/20-years-ago-mc-hammers-u-cant-touch-this/}} Ben Thompson from NME said, "Currently more popular than sliced bread in the US of A, MC Hammer updates one of the more favoured moments of the dreadful Rick James in a barrage of twiddly synths. The debt that Swingbeat owes to Landscape's 'Einstein a Go-Go' has yet to be fully investigated."{{cite magazine|first=Ben|last=Thompson|magazine=NME|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52130138744/|date=June 9, 1990|access-date=February 24, 2023}} The song secured a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1991, a new category at the time, and the first rap song to be nominated for Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
= Retrospective =
In 1999, MTV's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made included the song at number 71. In October 2000, VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs included it at number 88. In May 2001, VH1's 100 Greatest Videos included it at number 59. In August 2005, the song was certified gold. In December 2007, VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s included it at number 16.{{cite web|first= Rahsheeda |last= Ali |title= The 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s |publisher= VH1 |access-date= June 17, 2014 |url= http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2013-05-23/top-100-songs-of-the-90s/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130601224011/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2013-05-23/top-100-songs-of-the-90s/|url-status= dead|archive-date= June 1, 2013}} During 2008, it ranked as number 26 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. In October 2005, Blender ranked the song at number 196 in their list of Greatest Songs Since You Were Born.{{cite magazine|title= The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born: 151–200 |magazine= Blender |date= October 2005 |access-date= July 29, 2020 |url= http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1764 |archive-date= February 16, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080216140311/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1764}} In 2023, Time Out ranked "U Can't Touch This" number 22 in their The 100 Best Party Songs Ever Made.{{cite web|first1=Ella|last1=Doyle|first2=India|last2=Lawrence|first3=Henrietta|last3=Taylor|first4=James|last4=Manning|first5=Andy|last5=Kryza|first6=Andrzej|last6=Lukowski|first7=Nick|last7=Levine|first8=Chris|last8=Waywell|url=https://www.timeout.com/music/best-party-songs|title=The 100 Best Party Songs Ever Made|work=Time Out|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=February 25, 2025}} In March 2024, Forbes magazine ranked it number 35 in their list of The 50 Best Songs of the 1990s.{{cite web|first=Hugh|last=McIntyre|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/entertainment/article/best-90s-songs/|title=The 50 Best Songs Of The 1990s|work=Forbes|date=March 9, 2024|access-date=March 1, 2025}}
Commercial performance
"U Can't Touch This" was a success, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. The track also performed successfully in other parts of the world, peaking at number one in Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. The song was not initially released as a single, so more than 18 million copies of the album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em were sold,{{cite web|first= Steve |last= Huey |title= MC Hammer – Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= June 30, 2014 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/please-hammer-dont-hurt-em-mw0000207044}} gaining multi-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Music video
A music video, directed by English film and television director Rupert Wainwright, was produced to promote the single, showing Hammer's signature dances, including the "running man", "the bump", and the "Hammer dance", while wearing his iconic Hammer pants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90450737/mc-hammers-breakout-smash-u-cant-touch-this-is-30-years-old-the-inside-story-of-its-iconic-video |title=The inside story of M.C. Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" music video |website=Fast Company |date=January 13, 2020 |access-date= June 23, 2022}} In September 1990, the music video won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and a MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video. It was also nominated for MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video, Best Editing, and Best Choreography.
Legacy
In 1991, a parody entitled "I Can't Watch This" was released by "Weird Al" Yankovic for his album Off the Deep End, with lyrics complaining about bad TV shows overlaid on the song's music track (and featuring samples of various commercials during the breakdowns).
Before the {{NFL Year|1990}} NFL season started, the Miami Dolphins parodied the song as "U Can't Touch Us".{{cite web|first1= Andy |last1= Seifert |first2= David |last2= Wolinsky |title= "Let's Ram It!" and 25 years of other immortal NFL songs |work= The A.V. Club |date= February 5, 2010 |url= http://www.avclub.com/chicago/articles/lets-ram-it-and-25-years-of-other-immortal-nfl-son%2C37763/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100207090013/http://www.avclub.com/chicago/articles/lets-ram-it-and-25-years-of-other-immortal-nfl-son%2C37763/ |archive-date= February 7, 2010}}
Childersburg High School Principal Quentin Lee in Childersburg, Alabama created a parody video to "share some joy" and provide advice to students on handling the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|first= Kiely |last= Westhoff |title= An Alabama high school principal turned 'U Can't Touch This' into Covid-19 safety video |work= CNN |date= August 4, 2020 |access-date= October 13, 2020 |url= https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/04/us/principal-cant-touch-this-covid-19-safety-video-trnd/index.html}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1990) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|1|artist=MC Hammer|song=U Can't Touch This|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014|refname="AUS"}} |
| {{single chart|Austria|5|artist=MC Hammer|song=U Can't Touch This|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders|1|artist=MC Hammer|song=U Can't Touch This|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|8|chartid=1272|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2015}} |
| {{single chart|Canadadance|1|chartid=7958|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2015}} |
| scope="row"|Canada (The Record){{cite book|first=Nanda |last= Lwin |year= 2000 |title= Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide|edition= 1st |publisher= Music Data Canada |isbn= 1896594131 |location= Mississauga |language= en}}
| 1 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI){{cite magazine|title= Top 3 Singles in Europe |magazine= Music & Media |date= September 29, 1990 |volume= 7 |issue= 39 |page= VII |access-date= March 23, 2018 |url= http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-09-29.pdf}}
| 3 |
| scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite web|title= UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits |website= MusicSeek.info |url= http://musicseek.info/no1hits/1990.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060614052317/http://musicseek.info/no1hits/1990.htm |archive-date= June 14, 2006}}
| 1 |
| scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|first= Timo |last= Pennanen |year= 2006 |title= Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |edition= 1st |publisher= Tammi |isbn= 978-951-1-21053-5 |location= Helsinki |language= fi}}
| 2 |
| {{single chart|France|17|artist=MC Hammer|song=U Can't Touch This|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|3|song=U Cant Touch This|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|1|year=1990|week=31|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=MC Hammer|song=U Can't Touch This|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=MC Hammer|song=U Can't Touch This|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Norway|6|artist=MC Hammer|song=U Can't Touch This|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014}} |
| scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE){{cite book|first= Fernando |last= Salaverri |date= September 2005 |title= Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |edition= 1st |publisher= Fundación Autor-SGAE |location= Spain |isbn= 84-8048-639-2 |language= es}}
| 2 |
| {{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=MC Hammer|song=U Can't Touch This|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|2|artist=MC Hammer|song=U Can't Touch This|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014}} |
| {{single chart|UK|3|date=19900811|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2014|refname="UK"}} |
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|title= Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em – Awards |website= AllMusic |access-date= June 17, 2014 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/please-hammer-dont-hurt-em-mw0000207044/awards}}
| 8 |
| scope="row"|US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)
| 2 |
| scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (Billboard)
| 6 |
| scope="row"|US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)
| 1 |
| scope="row"|US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)
| 2 |
| scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|title= CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending JUNE 23, 1990 |magazine= Cash Box |url= http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/19900623.html |archive-date= October 7, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121007172309/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/19900623.html}}
| 4 |
| {{single chart|West Germany|2|artist=MC Hammer|song=U Can't Touch This|songid=2141|rowheader=true|access-date=October 16, 2018}} |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2008 weekly chart performance for "U Can't Touch This" !scope="col"|Chart (2008) !scope="col"|Peak |
| scope="row"| Ukraine Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ua/weekly/20240614-20240620|title=Top Radio Hits Ukraine Weekly Chart: Jan 17, 2008|publisher=TopHit|access-date=November 18, 2024}}
| 68 |
|---|
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2023–2024 weekly chart performance for "U Can't Touch This" !scope="col"|Chart (2023–2024) !scope="col"|Peak |
| scope="row"| Kazakhstan Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/kz/weekly/20240614-20240620|title=Top Radio Hits Kazakhstan Weekly Chart: Jun 20, 2024|publisher=TopHit|access-date=November 18, 2024}}
| 55 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Latvia Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/tracks/11041|title=MC Hammer — U Can't Touch This|publisher=TopHit|access-date=November 18, 2024}}
| 176 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2024 year-end chart performance for "U Can't Touch This" ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Kazakhstan Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/kz/annual/2024|title=Top Radio Hits Kazakhstan Annual Chart: 2024|publisher=TopHit|access-date=January 6, 2025}}
| 151 |
|---|
== Decade-end charts ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1990–1999) !Position |
| scope="row"|Canada (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web|first= Nanda |last= Lwin |title= Top 100 singles of the 1990s |publisher= Jam! |url= http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html |archive-date= August 29, 2000 |access-date= March 26, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000829070927/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html}}
| 65 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications and sales
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|certref={{cite web|title= Australian Fun Countdowns – Accreditation Awards |date= April 7, 2011 |publisher= Australian Fun Countdowns |access-date= June 17, 2014 |url= http://australianfuncountdowns.blogspot.fr/2010/01/accreditation-awards.html |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131212114158/http://australianfuncountdowns.blogspot.fr/2010/01/accreditation-awards.html |archive-date= December 12, 2013}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=M.C. Hammer|title=U Can't Touch This|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=2024|access-date=September 9, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=MC Hammer|title=U Can't Touch This|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=MC Hammer|title=U Can't Touch This|award=Gold|id=10500|relyear=1990|certyear=2021|access-date=August 18, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|award=|region=France|artist=MC Hammer|title=U Can't Touch This|nocert=true|relyear=1990|salesamount=130,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-03-23.pdf|magazine=Music & Media|title=EMI Prays With A Hammer|first=Emmanuel|last=Legrand|page=8|date=March 23, 1991|accessdate=March 5, 2023}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=M.C. Hammer|title=U Can't Touch This|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=single|artist=M.C. Hammer|title=U Can't Touch This|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=April 11, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=MC Hammer|title=U Can't Touch This/Dancin' Machine|award=Gold|relyear=1990|id=1990-08-31|source=newchart|access-date=November 20, 2024|certyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=MC Hammer|title=U Can't Touch This|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=2024|access-date=December 2, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|artist=MC Hammer|title=U Can't Touch This|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=MC Hammer|title=U Can't Touch This|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=2022|id=7841-42-1|access-date=April 25, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=M.C. Hammer|title=Can_t Touch This|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1990|certyear=2024|access-date=November 7, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"|United States
|1990 |{{N/A}} |rowspan="6"|Capitol | |
|---|
| scope="row"|United Kingdom
|May 28, 1990 |rowspan="2"|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD}} |{{cite magazine|title= New Singles |magazine= Music Week |page= 30 |date= May 26, 1990}} |
| scope="row"|Germany
|June 1, 1990 |
| scope="row"|Australia
|June 11, 1990 |{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl}} |
| scope="row"|United Kingdom
|June 18, 1990 |Cassette |{{cite magazine|title= New Singles |magazine= Music Week |page= 31 |date= June 16, 1990}} |
| scope="row"|Japan
|June 27, 1990 |Mini-CD |{{cite web|title= U・キャント・タッチ・ジス {{!}} M.C.ハマー |trans-title= U Can't Touch This {{!}} M.C. Hammer |publisher= Oricon |access-date= September 8, 2023 |url= https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/15111/products/270422/1/ |language= ja}} |
See also
- "Ice Ice Baby", 1990 hit rap song sampling 1981's "Under Pressure"
- "Jingle Bells" / "U Can't Touch This", Crazy Frog cover
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.allmusic.com/song/u-cant-touch-this-mt0026984675 U Can't Touch This] at AllMusic
{{MC Hammer}}
{{Rick James}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for "U Can't Touch This"
|titlestyle = background: lightblue
|list1 =
{{American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Song}}
{{Grammy Award for Best R&B Song}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Capitol Records singles
Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
Category:Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Number-one singles in Sweden
Category:Songs written by Rick James
Category:Songs written by MC Hammer