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
Released	April 15, 1997 (1997-04-15)
Recorded	1995, MMMBop (album) / 3 Car Garage version 1996, Middle of Nowhere version
Genre	Pop rock teen pop
Length	4:28 (album version) 3:58 (single version)
Label	Mercury PolyGram
Songwriter(s)	Isaac Hanson Taylor Hanson Zac Hanson
Producer(s)	Dust Brothers Stephen Lironi
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]

Track listings

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

CD single

1. "MMMBop" (album version) – 4:28
2. "MMMBop" (Dust Brothers Mix) – 4:28
3. "MMMBop" (Hex Mix) – 3:26
4. "MMMBop" (single version) – 4:01

US 7" single

1. "MMMBop" (LP version) – 4:27
2. "Where's the Love" – 4:12

US 12" single

1. "MMMBop" (Berman Brothers Club Mix) – 5:14
2. "MMMBop" (Berman Brothers Club Instrumental) – 5:14
3. "MMMBop" (Soulful Club Mix) – 5:27
4. "MMMBop" (Berman Brothers Radio Mix) – 3:17
5. "MMMBop" (LP version) – 4:27

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997–1998) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] 4 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 1 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] 5 Denmark (IFPI)[10] 1 Europe (European Hot 100)[11] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 4 France (SNEP)[13] 4 Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 1 Hungary (Mahasz)[15] 1 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[16] 8 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 1 Italy (Musica e dischi)[18] 19 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[22] 2 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[23] 1 Spain (AFYVE)[24] 3 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[27] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[28] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[29] 21 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[30] 5 US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[31] 23 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[32] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[33] 13

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position Australia (ARIA)[34] 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[37] 14 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[38] 4 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[39] 39 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[40] 10 France (SNEP)[41] 12 Germany (Official German Charts)[42] 16 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[43] 76 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[44] 18 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[46] 4 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[47] 31 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[48] 6 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[49] 10 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[50] 11 US Billboard Hot 100[51] 12 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[52] 69

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[53]	2× Platinum	140,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[54]	Gold	25,000^*
Belgium (BEA)[55]	Platinum	50,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[56]	Platinum	500,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[57]	Platinum	10,000^*
Sweden (GLF)[58]	Platinum	30,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[59]	Gold	25,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[60]	Platinum	758,000[61]
United States (RIAA)[62]	Platinum	1,500,000[63]
^*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. "Australian-charts.com – Hanson – MmmBop". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
5. "Austriancharts.at – Hanson – MmmBop" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
6. "Ultratop.be – Hanson – MmmBop" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
7. "Ultratop.be – Hanson – MmmBop" (in French). Ultratop 50.
8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3267." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
9. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3232." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
10. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. June 14, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
11. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. June 14, 1997. p. 15. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
12. "Hanson: MmmBop" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
13. "Lescharts.com – Hanson – MmmBop" (in French). Les classement single.
14. "Offiziellecharts.de – Hanson – MmmBop". GfK Entertainment Charts.
15. "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 29. July 19, 1997. p. 14. Retrieved May 6, 2018. See LW column.
16. "Íslenski Listinn NR. 222 Vikuna 22.5. '97 – 28.5. '97". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 23, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – MmmBop". Irish Singles Chart.
18. "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109 no. 38. September 20, 1997. p. 46. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 24, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Hanson – MmmBop" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
21. "Charts.nz – Hanson – MmmBop". Top 40 Singles.
22. "Norwegiancharts.com – Hanson – MmmBop". VG-lista.
23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
24. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
25. "Swedishcharts.com – Hanson – MmmBop". Singles Top 100.
26. "Swisscharts.com – Hanson – MmmBop". Swiss Singles Chart.
27. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
28. "Hanson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
29. "Hanson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
30. "Hanson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
31. "Hanson Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
32. "Hanson Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
33. "Hanson Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
34. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1997". ARIA. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
35. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1997" (in German). Retrieved July 15, 2019.
36. "Jaaroverzichten 1997" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
37. "Rapports annuels 1997" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
38. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
39. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
40. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (January 10, 1998). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. – via Internet Archive.
41. "Classement Singles – année 1997" (in French). Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
42. "Top 100 Single – Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
43. "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
44. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1997". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
45. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
46. "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
47. "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.
48. "Årslista Singlar, 1997" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
49. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1997" (in German). Retrieved July 15, 2019.
50. "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. January 17, 1998. p. 27.
51. "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
52. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
53. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
54. "Austrian single certifications – Hanson – MMMBop" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
55. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1997". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
56. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Hanson; 'MMMBop')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
57. "New Zealand single certifications – Hanson – MMMBop". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
58. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
59. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Hanson; 'Mmm Bop')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
60. "British single certifications – Hanson – Mmmbop". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 15, 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Mmmbop in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
61. "Flashback: Hanson's MmmBop was Number 1 19 years ago this week". Official Charts Company.
62. "American single certifications – Hanson – MMMBop". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
63. Jeffrey, Don (January 31, 1998). Best-selling Records of 1997. Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2012.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics