"MMMBop"
Single by Hanson
from the album Middle of Nowhere
B-side"Where's the Love"
ReleasedApril 15, 1997 (1997-04-15)
Recorded
Genre
Length
  • 4:28 (album version)
  • 3:58 (single version)
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Hanson singles chronology
"MMMBop"
(1997) 		"Where's the Love"
(1997)
Audio sample
Music video
"MMMBop" on YouTube

"MMMBop" is a song written and performed by American pop rock band Hanson. It was released on April 15, 1997, as the lead single from their first full-length studio album, Middle of Nowhere (1997). The song was nominated for two Grammys at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards and is the band's most successful single to date. "MMMBop" was a major success worldwide,[1] reaching number one in at least 12 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The song 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", as well as number 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years". In 2023, Hanson released a new version of "MMMBop", entitled "MMMBop 2.0" in collaboration with English pop punk band Busted.

Background and composition

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

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.[2]

"MMMBop" is written and composed in the key of A major.[3]

Critical reception

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."[4] 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."[5] Sara Scribner from Los Angeles Times viewed it as "a lighthearted dollop of nonsensical pop."[6] British magazine 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."[7]

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."[8] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror rated 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."[9] 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."[10]

"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",[11] as well as number 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years".[12] In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked it as the ninth-best boy band song of all time.[13]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by American film, television and music video director Tamra Davis.[14] 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.[15]

Track listings

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

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[77] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[78] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[79] Platinum 50,000*
Germany (BVMI)[80] Platinum 500,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[81] Platinum 10,000*
Sweden (GLF)[82] Platinum 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[83] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[85] Platinum 758,000[84]
United States (RIAA)[87] Platinum 1,500,000[86]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States March 24, 1997 Top 40 radio Mercury [88]
April 15, 1997
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [89][90]
United Kingdom May 26, 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
 [91]
Japan June 4, 1997 Mini-CD [92]
June 20, 1997 CD [93]

Notable cover versions

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.[94] 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.[95] Later that year, Postmodern Jukebox recorded a cover in the style of 1950s swinging doo-wop with four male singers;[95] picking up 1.5 million views on YouTube in the first year.[96] 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.[97]

In 2023, English band Busted released a cover version of the song, in collaboration with Hanson. The new version, "MMMBop 2.0", was released as a single worldwide on May 26, 2023.[98][99][100] It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Sales Chart.[101]

References

  1. ^ Pingitore, Silvia (May 19, 2022). "From the 1997 world hit MMMBop to 30 years in music: interview with Hanson". The Shortlisted. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  2. ^ "Zac Hanson: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  3. ^ Taylor, Hanson; Isaac, Hanson; Zachary, Hanson (January 13, 2020). "MMMBop". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  4. ^ Flick, Larry (April 5, 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles - New & Noteworthy". Billboard. p. 72.
  5. ^ "Charts Slot". Daily Record. June 6, 1997.
  6. ^ Scribner, Sara (May 25, 1997). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "Reviews: Singles". Music Week. May 17, 1997. p. 13.
  8. ^ Eddy, Chuck (June 26, 1997). "Recordings". Rolling Stone. Issue 763.
  9. ^ Hyland, Ian (May 25, 1997). "Tune in to Six of the Best by Radiohead Tune into Six of the Best; Preview: Music". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  10. ^ Sinclair, David (May 31, 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times.
  11. ^ "VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s". VH1. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years'". The Sydney Morning Herald. June 12, 2003. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  13. ^ "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. July 24, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  14. ^ "Hanson: MMMBop". IMDb. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  15. ^ "Hanson - MMMBop (Official Music Video)". YouTube. October 7, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  16. ^ US formats:
  17. ^ Australian formats:
    • MMMBop (Australian CD single liner notes). Hanson. Mercury Records. 1997. 574 500-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    • MMMBop (Australian cassette single sleeve). Hanson. Mercury Records. 1997. 574 500-4.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ MMMBop (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Hanson. Mercury Records. 1997. 314 574 260-7.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ MMMBop (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Hanson. Mercury Records. 1997. 314 574 261-1.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ MMMBop (UK CD single liner notes). Hanson. Mercury Records. 1997. 574 499-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ MMMBop (UK cassette single sleeve). Hanson. Mercury Records. 1997. 574 498-4.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ MMMBop (European CD single liner notes). Hanson. Mercury Records. 1997. 574 498-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ MMMBop (Japanese CD single liner notes). Hanson. Mercury Records. 1997. PHCR-8405.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  25. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  26. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  27. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  28. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3267." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  29. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3232." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  30. ^ "Top National Sellers". Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 24. June 14, 1997. p. 17.
  31. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. June 14, 1997. p. 15. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |url= (help)
  32. ^ "Hanson: MmmBop" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  33. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop" (in French). Les classement single.
  34. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  35. ^ "Top National Sellers". Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 29. July 19, 1997. p. 14. See LW column.
  36. ^ "Íslenski Listinn NR. 222 Vikuna 22.5. '97 – 28.5. '97". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 23, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  37. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – MmmBop". Irish Singles Chart.
  38. ^ "Hits of the World – Italy". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 38. September 20, 1997. p. 46.
  39. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 24, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  40. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  41. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop". Top 40 Singles.
  42. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop". VG-lista.
  43. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 23/1997". Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 23. June 7, 1997. p. 27.
  44. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  45. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  46. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop". Singles Top 100.
  47. ^ "Hanson – MmmBop". Swiss Singles Chart.
  48. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  49. ^ "Hanson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  50. ^ "Hanson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  51. ^ "Hanson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  52. ^ "Hanson Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  53. ^ "Hanson Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  54. ^ "Hanson Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  55. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  56. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1997" (in German). Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  57. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1997" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  58. ^ "Rapports annuels 1997" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  59. ^ "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved July 15, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  60. ^ "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Retrieved July 15, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  61. ^ "1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1997". Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. 7.
  62. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1997" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  63. ^ "Top 100 Single – Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  64. ^ "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  65. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1997". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  66. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  67. ^ "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  68. ^ "Romanian Top 100 Singles Airplay – Top of the Year 1997" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  69. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1997" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  70. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1997" (in German). Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  71. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. January 17, 1998. p. 27.
  72. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  73. ^ "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-83.
  74. ^ "Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 28, 1997. p. 42.
  75. ^ "Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 28, 1997. p. 38.
  76. ^ "Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-20. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  77. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  78. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Hanson – MMMBop" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  79. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1997". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  80. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Hanson; 'MMMBop')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  81. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Hanson – MMMBop". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  82. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  83. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Mmm Bop')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  84. ^ "Flashback: Hanson's MmmBop was Number 1 19 years ago this week". Official Charts Company.
  85. ^ "British single certifications – Hanson – Mmmbop". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  86. ^ Jeffrey, Don (January 31, 1998). "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 5. p. 76. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  87. ^ "American single certifications – Hanson – MMMBop". Recording Industry Association of America.
  88. ^ Newman, Melinda (April 5, 1997). "Mercury Makes Way for Hanson". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 14. p. 15. ...'MMMBop,' which officially went to top 40 radio with a different mix March 24.
  89. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (April 20, 2017). "Coming Around Again Podcast: Remembering Hanson's 'MMMBop' 20 Years After Its Single Release". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  90. ^ Sandiford-Waller, Theda (April 19, 1997). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 16. p. 103. ['MMMBop'] hits retail Tuesday (15).
  91. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. May 24, 1997. p. 43.
  92. ^ "キラメキ☆MMM Bop | ハンソン" [Sparkle☆MMM Bop | Hanson] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  93. ^ "キラメキ☆MMM Bop | ハンソン" [Sparkle☆MMM Bop | Hanson] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  94. ^ Hosken, Patrick (March 22, 2016). "Hanson Have Never Heard a Good Cover of 'MMMBop' – But Here's Who They Think Could Nail It". MTV News. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  95. ^ a b Milzoff, Rebecca (March 22, 2016). "Hanson on the 20th Birthday of 'MMMBop'". Vulture.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  96. ^ Purdom, Clayton (May 5, 2017). "Hanson's Middle Of Nowhere turns 20 this weekend". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  97. ^ @hansonmusic (August 5, 2019). "MMMBop ft. @LucySchwartz & @adamneelybass! Full video: http://youtu.be/fiShsfvbFUA" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  98. ^ "Busted & Hanson - MMMBop 2.0". Apple Music. May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  99. ^ "Busted and Hanson team up for new version of 90s classic MMMBop". Virgin Radio. May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  100. ^ "Busted team up with Hanson on new version of '90s classic MMMBop". Retro Pop Magazine. May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  101. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
Categories