MMMBop#Notable cover versions

The song "MMMBop" originally appeared on Hanson's 1996 independent album MMMBop with a slower tempo, but was reworked as an upbeat pop track by producers the Dust Brothers. This became the hit version. In an August 2004 interview with Songfacts, Zac Hanson explained the song's origins:

{{blockquote|That song started out really as the background part for another song. We were making our first independent album and we were trying to come up with a background part. We started singing a slightly different incarnation of what is now the chorus of "MMMbop". That sort of stuck in our heads and never really worked as a background part, and over a couple of years, that piece really has stuck in our heads and we really crafted the rest of the song – the verses and bridge and so on.

What that song talks about is, you've got to hold on to the things that really matter. "MMMbop" represents a frame of time or the futility of life. Things are going to be gone, whether it's your age and your youth, or maybe the money you have, or whatever it is, and all that's going to be left are the people you've nurtured and have really built to be your backbone and your support system.

They [the lyrics] weren't inspired by one artist in particular. The first music that we got into was '50s and '60s music. If anything, "MMMbop" was inspired by The Beach Boys and vocal groups of that era – using your voice as almost a doo-wop kind of thing. It was something we almost stumbled upon.{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/zac_hanson/|title=Zac Hanson: Songwriter Interviews|website=Songfacts|access-date=January 30, 2018}}}}

"MMMBop" is written and composed in the key of A major.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0206241|title=MMMBop|last1=Taylor|first1=Hanson|last2=Isaac|first2=Hanson|last3=Zachary|first3=Hanson|website=Musicnotes.com|date=January 13, 2020|access-date=May 26, 2021}}

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "The rush of youth-driven acts on radio accelerates with the onset of this candy-coated pop confection. Try to imagine what the Jackson 5 might sound like with the accompaniment of a skittling funk beat and scratchy faux-grunge guitars, and you will have a clear picture of where Hanson is coming from. Initially it's a mildly jarring combination, but it's ultimately quite cool. Factor in an instantly catchy chorus, and you have the making of a runaway smash."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Reviews & Previews: Singles - New & Noteworthy |magazine= Billboard |date= April 5, 1997 |page= 72 |author-link= Larry Flick}} A reviewer from Scottish Daily Record noted, "They're about half the age of the Spice Girls, but Hanson can sing, play their own instruments and string a sentence together. It must be their American upbringing.""Charts Slot". Daily Record. June 6, 1997. Sara Scribner from Los Angeles Times named it "a lighthearted dollop of nonsensical pop."{{cite news|first=Sara|last=Scribner|title=In Brief|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 25, 1997|page=|accessdate=January 22, 2023|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-25-ca-62254-story.html}} A reviewer from Music Week gave the song four out of five, stating that "media attention is sky high for these three Tulsa brothers, aged 11, 14 and 16. And this cutesy, catchy pop song is the ideal debut single to cash in on that interest."{{cite magazine|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=May 17, 1997|page=13}}

Chuck Eddy of Rolling Stone felt it "sticks in your brain like Trident in your shag carpet." He explained, "Built on a turntable-scratch update of the soul rhythms that served as turn-of-the-'70s bubblegum rock's secret weapon, the song is as unintelligible as it is indelible. Its hooks suburbanize the Jackson 5 as expertly as the Osmonds used to, but whether its quivering lyrics really deal with chewing (a favorite bubble entendre since the Ohio Express' "Chewy Chewy") is anybody's guess."Eddy, Chuck (June 26, 1997). "Recordings". Rolling Stone. Issue 763. Ben Knowles from Smash Hits said "MMMBop" sounded like "a one-off, tasty, unbelievably ear-tingling, perfect pop treat."{{cite magazine|first=Ben|last=Knowles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/smashhits90s/34154707914/in/album-72157681390307674/|title=Albums|magazine=Smash Hits|date=June 4, 1997|page=57|access-date=December 12, 2024}} Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror gave the song eight out of ten, commenting, "Teenage brothers from America who sound a bit like Sheryl Crow on helium. You'll love this at first, but in a few weeks you'll be kicking the TV in whenever their smiley faces appear."Hyland, Ian (May 25, 1997). "Tune in to Six of the Best by Radiohead Tune into Six of the Best; Preview: Music". Sunday Mirror. David Sinclair from The Times concluded, "No 1 in America and all over British radio like a rash, it sounds like a gilt-edged pop standard already."Sinclair, David (May 31, 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times.

"MMMBop" was voted the best single of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll, while also topping critics' polls from such media as Rolling Stone, Spin, and VH1, and was ranked number 20 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s",{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com:80/music/tuner/2013-05-23/top-100-songs-of-the-90s/82/|publisher=VH1|title=VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s|access-date=January 27, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014102610/http://www.vh1.com:80/music/tuner/2013-05-23/top-100-songs-of-the-90s/82/|archive-date=October 14, 2014}} as well as number 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years".{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/vh1s-100-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years-20030612-gdgwye.html|title=VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years'|date=June 12, 2003|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=December 20, 2018}} In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked it as the ninth-best boy band song of all time.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/boy-band-songs-greatest-1033317/bbmak-back-here-1999-1032391/|title=75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 24, 2020|access-date=August 21, 2021}}

On the chart dated May 3, 1997, "MMMBop" debuted at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1997-05-03|work=Billboard Hot 100 |title=May 3, 1997}} On the chart dated May 10, 1997, the song rose to No. 6.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1997-05-10|work=Billboard Hot 100 |title=May 10, 1997}} It continued to rise the next week, reaching No. 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1997-05-17|work=Billboard Hot 100 |title=May 17, 1997}} On the chart dated May 24, 1997, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100,{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1997-05-24|work=Billboard Hot 100 |title=May 24, 1997}} staying there for three weeks before falling to No. 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1997-05-31|work=Billboard Hot 100 |title=May 31, 1997}}{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1997-06-07|work=Billboard Hot 100 |title=June 7, 1997}}{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1997-06-14|work=Billboard Hot 100 |title=June 14, 1997}}

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by American film, television and music video director Tamra Davis.{{cite web|title=Hanson: MMMBop|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7216028/|publisher=IMDb|date= |access-date=September 14, 2021}} It features the Hanson brothers singing and playing their instruments in a suburban living room. In between, there are clips of them entering a cave, ending up on a beach. Other scenes show them playing around in a city, dancing on the Moon, driving a car or appearing in old footage of Albert Einstein.{{cite web|title=Hanson - MMMBop (Official Music Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHozn0YXAeE|publisher=YouTube|date=October 7, 2009|access-date=September 14, 2021}}

All songs were written by Isaac Hanson, Taylor Hanson, and Zac Hanson. Additional songwriters are noted in parentheses.

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• US and Australian CD and cassette singleUS formats:
• {{cite AV media notes|title=MMMBop|others=Hanson|year=1997|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records|id=314 574 260-2}}
• {{cite AV media notes|title=MMMBop|others=Hanson|year=1997|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mercury Records|id=314 574 261-4}}Australian formats:
• {{cite AV media notes|title=MMMBop|others=Hanson|year=1997|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records|id=574 500-2}}
• {{cite AV media notes|title=MMMBop|others=Hanson|year=1997|type=Australian cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mercury Records|id=574 500-4}}

1. "MMMBop" (radio version) – 3:50
2. "MMMBop" (Dust Brothers mix) – 4:29

• US 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=MMMBop|others=Hanson|year=1997|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Mercury Records|id=314 574 260-7}}

:A. "MMMBop" – 4:27

:B. "Where's the Love" {{small|(Mark Hudson, Sander Salover)}} – 4:12

• US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=MMMBop|others=Hanson|year=1997|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Mercury Records|id=314 574 261-1}}

:A1. "MMMBop" (Berman Brothers club mix) – 5:14

:A2. "MMMBop" (Berman Brothers club instrumental) – 5:14

:B1. "MMMBop" (soulful club mix) – 5:27

:B2. "MMMBop" (Berman Brothers radio mix) – 3:17

:B3. "MMMBop" – 4:27

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• UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=MMMBop|others=Hanson|year=1997|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records|id=574 499-2}}

1. "MMMBop" (single version) – 3:50
2. "MMMBop" (album version) – 4:27
3. "MMMBop" (Dust Brothers mix) – 4:29
4. "MMMBop" (Hex mix) – 3:25

• UK cassette single and European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=MMMBop|others=Hanson|year=1997|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mercury Records|id=574 498-4}}{{cite AV media notes|title=MMMBop|others=Hanson|year=1997|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records|id=574 498-2}}

1. "MMMBop" (single version) – 3:50
2. "MMMBop" (album version) – 4:27

• Japanese CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=MMMBop|others=Hanson|year=1997|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records|id=PHCR-8405}}

1. "MMMBop" (single version) – 3:59
2. "MMMBop" (album version) – 4:27
3. "MMMBop" (Dust Brothers mix) – 4:29
4. "MMMBop" (dub mix) – 4:20

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=September 28, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Hanson|title=MMMBop|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=July 15, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=September 28, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Hanson|title=MMMBop|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=July 15, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Hanson|title=MMMBop|relyear=1997|id=1997-07-11|source=newchart|access-date=November 20, 2024|certyear=1997}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=September 28, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Hanson|title=Mmm Bop|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=July 15, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Hanson|title=Mmmbop|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|id=4324-2027-1|salesamount=758,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/top-40-flashback-to-this-week-in-1997-hansons-mmmbop-was-number-1__15177/|title=Flashback: Hanson's MmmBop was Number 1 19 years ago this week|publisher=Official Charts Company}}|access-date=January 25, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Hanson|title=MMMBop|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|salesamount=1,500,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76|title=Best-Selling Records of 1997|last=Jeffrey|first=Don|magazine=Billboard|volume=110|issue=5|page=76|date=January 31, 1998|access-date=January 5, 2012}}}}

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Twenty years after the first recording of "MMMBop", approximately 93,000 cover versions of the song were counted by MTV reporter Patrick Hosken in March 2016, as represented on YouTube.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2797524/hanson-mmmbop-anniversary-cover-version/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323010509/http://www.mtv.com/news/2797524/hanson-mmmbop-anniversary-cover-version/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 23, 2016 |website=MTV News |title=Hanson Have Never Heard a Good Cover of 'MMMBop' – But Here's Who They Think Could Nail It |last=Hosken |first=Patrick |date=March 22, 2016 |access-date=February 16, 2021}} The Hansons told Rebecca Milzoff at Vulture that they had not heard any good cover versions, because "People can't sing the chorus right. Most of the time they syncopate it wrong," according to Isaac Hanson.{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/03/hanson-on-20-years-of-mmmbop.html |date=March 22, 2016 |last=Milzoff |first=Rebecca |title=Hanson on the 20th Birthday of 'MMMBop' |website=Vulture.com |access-date=February 16, 2021}} Later that year, Postmodern Jukebox recorded a cover in the style of 1950s swinging doo-wop with four male singers; picking up 1.5 million views on YouTube in the first year.{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/hanson-s-middle-of-nowhere-turns-20-this-weekend-1798261980 |title=Hanson's Middle Of Nowhere turns 20 this weekend |last=Purdom |first=Clayton |date=May 5, 2017 |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918151627/https://news.avclub.com/hanson-s-middle-of-nowhere-turns-20-this-weekend-1798261980 |url-status=live }} In July 2019, the official Hanson Twitter feed shared a video by Scary Pockets, a band founded by keyboardist Jack Conte. The Scary Pockets version was fronted by Lucy Schwartz on lead vocals, and Adam Neely covered the electric bass.{{cite tweet |user=hansonmusic |number=1158414787765841921 |title=MMMBop ft. @LucySchwartz & @adamneelybass! Full video: http://youtu.be/fiShsfvbFUA}}

In 2023, English band Busted released a cover version of the song, in collaboration with Hanson, for their album Greatest Hits 2.0. The new version, "MMMBop 2.0", was released as a single worldwide on May 26, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/mmmbop-2-0/1687458065?i=1687458069|title=Busted & Hanson - MMMBop 2.0|website=Apple Music|date=May 26, 2023|access-date=May 27, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://virginradio.co.uk/music/107898/busted-hanson-new-version-mmmbop|title=Busted and Hanson team up for new version of 90s classic MMMBop|website=Virgin Radio|date=May 23, 2023|access-date=May 27, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/busted-team-up-with-hanson-on-new-version-of-90s-classic-mmmbop/|title=Busted team up with Hanson on new version of '90s classic MMMBop|website=Retro Pop Magazine|date=May 26, 2023|access-date=May 27, 2023}} It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Sales Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/20230602/7509/|title=Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=June 2, 2023|access-date=June 2, 2023}}

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