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Pray (MC Hammer song)

{{Short description|1990 single by MC Hammer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Pray

| cover = Pray MCH.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = MC Hammer

| album = Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em

| B-side = "U Can't Touch This" (LP version)

| released = {{start date|1990|8|21}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| length = 5:11

| label = Capitol

| writer = MC Hammer, Prince

| producer = MC Hammer

| prev_title = Have You Seen Her

| prev_year = 1990

| next_title = Here Comes the Hammer

| next_year = 1990

}}

"Pray" is a song released in August 1990 by Capitol as the third single from American rapper and dancer MC Hammer's third album, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990). Produced by Hammer, the song heavily samples Prince's 1984 song "When Doves Cry", the first of just a few times that Prince allowed samples of his compositions. The track also interpolates Faith No More's "We Care a Lot".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/info/mc_hammer |title=MC Hammer | Biography, News, Photos and Videos |magazine=Contactmusic.com |access-date=May 30, 2015}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/mchammer/albums/album/214027/review/5943181 |title=MC Hammer: Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em : Music Reviews |last=Corcoran |first=Michael |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 17, 1990 |access-date=June 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021014601/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/mchammer/albums/album/214027/review/5943181 |archive-date=October 21, 2007|url-status=dead}} The word "pray" is mentioned 147 times during the song, setting the record for the number of times a song title is repeated in an American Top 40 hit.{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/at40fantoo/at40/shadoe_1992.html |title=American Top 40 with Shadoe Stevens |publisher=Webcitation.org |access-date=May 30, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091025164600/http://www.geocities.com/at40fantoo/at40/shadoe_1992.html |archive-date=October 25, 2009 }}

"Pray" became MC Hammer's biggest hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number two (behind Mariah Carey's "Love Takes Time"). The track also became a top-40 hit in multiple countries, and helped make Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em the number-one album of the year.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/276852/mc+hammer/biography |title=MC Hammer - Biography |magazine=Billboard.com |date=March 30, 1962 |access-date=May 30, 2015}} The song was certified gold in the US on November 26, 1990 (with sales over 500,000 copies). The song, accompanied with music videos, 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).

Track listing

US CD single{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/pray-mw0000263681 |title=MC Hammer - Pray Album Reviews, Songs & More - AllMusic |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=July 4, 2022}}

  1. "Pray" (Slam the Hammer mix) – 8:01
  2. "Pray" (Slam the Hammer piano dub) – 5:26
  3. "Pray" (Jam the Hammer mix) – 5:00
  4. "Pray" (Hit 'Em Hard mix) – 5:25
  5. "Pray" (Nail 'Em Down chant) – 4:56
  6. "U Can't Touch This" (LP version) – 4:15

Charts

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=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1990–1991)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|7|artist=MC Hammer|song=Pray|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|Austria|13|artist=MC Hammer|song=Pray|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|Flanders|4|artist=MC Hammer|song=Pray|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|14|chartid=9085|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|Canadadance|3|chartid=9168|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-01-12.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=8|issue=2|page=31|date=January 12, 1991|access-date=April 28, 2021}}

|5

scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2006|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|language=fi|edition=1st|publisher=Tammi|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5|location=Helsinki}}

|7

{{single chart|Germany|4|artist=MC Hammer|song=Pray|songid=2196|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|13|artist=MC Hammer|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|3|year=1990|week=51|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|3|artist=MC Hammer|song=Pray|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|2|artist=MC Hammer|song=Pray|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|Norway|5|artist=MC Hammer|song=Pray|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|Sweden|18|artist=MC Hammer|song=Pray|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|10|artist=MC Hammer|song=Pray|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
{{single chart|UK|8|date=19910112|rowheader=true|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1990-11-10/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=November 10, 1990|access-date=July 25, 2023}}

|2

scope="row"|US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-dance-singles-sales/1990-11-17/|title=Dance Singles Sales|magazine=Billboard|date=November 17, 1990|url-access=subscription|access-date=July 25, 2023}}

|27

scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1990-12-08/|title=Dance Club Songs|magazine=Billboard|date=December 8, 1990|url-access=subscription|access-date=July 25, 2023}}

|3

scope="row"|US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/1990-11-10/|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|date=November 10, 1990|url-access=subscription|access-date=July 25, 2023}}

|4

scope="row"|US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/1990-11-24/|title=Hot Rap Songs|magazine=Billboard|date=November 24, 1990|url-access=subscription|access-date=July 25, 2023}}

|7

scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1990/CB-1990-11-17.pdf|title=Top 100 Singles|magazine=Cash Box|volume=LIV|issue=16|page=4|date=November 17, 1990|access-date=April 28, 2021}}

|3

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=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1990)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Dance/Urban (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9163&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9163.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9163|title=Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1990|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=April 28, 2021}}

|27

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1991)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}

|56

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1991|title=Jaaroverzichten 1991|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=April 28, 2021}}

|75

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-12-21.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1991|magazine=Music & Media|volume=8|issue=51–52|page=21|date=December 21, 1991|access-date=April 28, 2021}}

|59

scope="row"|Europe (European Hit Radio){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-12-21.pdf|title=EHR Year-End Top 100|magazine=Music & Media|volume=8|issue=51–52|page=20|date=December 21, 1991|access-date=February 24, 2024}}

|86

scope="row"|Germany (Media Control){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1991|title=Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=April 28, 2021}}

|55

scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 1991: Top Dance Club Play Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=103|issue=51|page=YE-32|date=December 21, 1991}}

|39

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|access-date=June 4, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=France|artist=MC Hammer|title=Pray|nocert=true|relyear=1990|salesamount=25,000|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=United States|type=single|artist=Hammer|title=Pray|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=April 28, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=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

|August 21, 1990

|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|rowspan="3"|Capitol

|{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|November 26, 1990

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=vii|date=November 24, 1990}}

scope="row"|Japan

|November 28, 1990

|Mini-CD

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/15111/products/270457/1/|title=M.C.ハマー {{!}} プレイ|trans-title=M.C. Hammer {{!}} Pray|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=March 26, 2025}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{MC Hammer}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1990 singles

Category:1990 songs

Category:Capitol Records singles

Category:MC Hammer songs

Category:Songs written by MC Hammer