MMMBop

"MMMBop" is a song written and performed by the American pop rock band Hanson. It was released in April 1997 as the lead single from their debut 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, reaching number one in at least 12 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

This article is about the song. For the demo album, see MMMBop (album).
"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)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Hanson singles chronology
"MMMBop"
(1997)		 "Where's the Love"
(1997)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"MMMBop" on YouTube

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 No. 20 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s",[1] as well as No. 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years".[2]

Background

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.

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.[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] 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] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror gave the song 8 out of 10. He commented, "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."[6]

"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 No. 20 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s",[1] as well as No. 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years".[2]

Track listings

"MMMBop" written by Isaac Hanson, Taylor Hanson and Zac Hanson.

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[57] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[58] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[59] Platinum 50,000*
Germany (BVMI)[60] Platinum 500,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[61] Platinum 10,000*
Sweden (GLF)[62] Platinum 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[63] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Platinum 758,000[65]
United States (RIAA)[66] Platinum 1,500,000[67]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. "VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s". VH1. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  2. "VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years'". The Sydney Morning Herald. June 12, 2003. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  3. "Zac Hanson: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  4. Flick, Larry (April 5, 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles - New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 72. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  5. "Charts Slot". Daily Record. June 6, 1997. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  6. 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.
  7. "Australian-charts.com – Hanson – MmmBop". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
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  11. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3267." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  12. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3232." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  13. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. June 14, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. June 14, 1997. p. 15. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
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