I Can't Help It (Bananarama song)
"I Can't Help It" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987). It was released on 29 December 1987 as the album's third single, except in the United States, where it was the second single (following "I Heard a Rumour"), and Australia, where it served as the fourth single (after "I Want You Back"). The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio.
"I Can't Help It" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Bananarama | ||||
from the album Wow! | ||||
B-side | "Ecstasy" | |||
Released | 29 December 1987 | |||
Recorded | July 1986 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length | 3:32 | |||
Label | London | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman | |||
Bananarama singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"I Can't Help It" on YouTube |
The single peaked at number 20 in the UK singles chart, #27 on the Australian ARIA chart (where it was released in August 1988), and #47 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. A hit in nightclubs, "I Can't Help It" climbed to number seven on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, being their last hit in American charts.
This is the final Bananarama single to feature Siobhan Fahey, who announced her departure shortly after its release.
The photos on the record sleeve were taken by famous American photographer Herb Ritts. The record sleeves for "I Can't Help It" and "Love In The First Degree" were switched with each other for the UK and North American markets.
Music video
The music video for the "I Can't Help It" features muscle men dancing, colourful backdrops, and Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward in a milk bath filled with fruit and naked men. Siobhan Fahey, who was pregnant at the time, also appears but was only shown on camera from the shoulders up. The video was directed by Andy Morahan.[1]
Track listings
- 7-inch single
- "I Can't Help It" – 3:31
- "Ecstasy" – 4:10
- UK limited-edition 7-inch single
- "I Can't Help It" – 3:31
- "Ecstasy" (Edit) – 2:00
- "Love in the First Degree" – 3:29
- 12-inch single
- "I Can't Help It" (Extended Club Mix) – 8:03
- "Ecstasy" (Chicago House Stylee) – 5:56
- 12-inch single (remix)
- "I Can't Help It" (The "Hammond Version" Excursion) – 6:24
- "Ecstasy" (Wild Style) – 5:35
- German CD single
- "I Can't Help It" (Extended Club Mix) – 8:09
- "Ecstasy" (Chicago House Stylee) – 4:20
- "Mr Sleaze" (Rare Groove Remix) – 6:04
- US 12-inch single and cassette
- "I Can't Help It" (Remix) – 8:03
- "I Can't Help It" (7″ Version) – 3:38
- "Mr Sleaze" (Rare Groove Version) – 6:00
- "Mr Sleaze" (Instrumental) – 4:09
- Canadian 12-inch single
- "I Can't Help It" (Remix) – 8:03
- "I Can't Help It" (7″ Version) – 3:38
- "Mr Sleaze" (Rare Groove Mix) – 6:00
Personnel
Bananarama
- Sara Dallin – vocals
- Siobhan Fahey – vocals
- Keren Woodward – vocals
Additional personnel
- Andrew Biscomb – sleeve design
- Peter Barrett – sleeve design
- Herb Ritts – photography
Charts
Chart (1987–1988) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[2] | 27 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] | 13 |
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[4] | 68 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[5] | 24 |
Ireland (IRMA)[6] | 12 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] | 26 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] | 30 |
Spain (AFYVE)[9] | 22 |
UK Singles (OCC)[10] | 20 |
US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 47 |
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[12] with "Mr. Sleaze" |
7 |
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[13] with "Mr. Sleaze" |
21 |
US Cash Box Top 100[14] | 55 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[15] | 31 |
References
- Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Bananarama - "I can't help it"". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- "Australian-charts.com – Bananarama – I Can't Help It". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- "Ultratop.be – Bananarama – I Can't Help It" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5 no. 6. 6 February 1988. p. 19. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
- Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Can't Help It". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bananarama" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Bananarama – I Can't Help It" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "Bananarama: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- "Bananarama Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "Bananarama Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "Bananarama Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 26, 1987". Cash Box. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Bananarama – I Can't Help It". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 November 2020.