I Can't Help It
Encyclopedia
"I Can't Help It" is a song written and recorded by English girl group
Bananarama
. It is included on their fourth studio album Wow! and was released as its third single except in the U.S., where it was the album's second single (following "I Heard a Rumour
") and Australia
, where it was the album's fourth single (after "I Want You Back
"). The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman
(SAW) trio.
The song is a disco
-influenced pop tune similar to many hits produced by SAW during this time period
The single peaked at number twenty in the UK singles chart
, #27 on the Australian ARIA chart (where it was released in August 1988 after I Want You Back), and just missed the top-forty 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.
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.
further perpetuated Bananarama's sensual visual image that the group began to incorporate with their previous album True Confessions
.
The "I Can't Help It" video featured muscle men dancing, colourful backdrops, and Sara Dallin
and Keren Woodward
in a milk bath filled with fruit and naked men. Siobhan Fahey
, heavily pregnant at the time, also appears but was only shown on camera from the shoulders up. Music video directed by Andy Morahan.
2nd 7" single NAN 15
12" single NANX 15
2nd 12" single NANXR 15
UK CD single NANCD 15
US/Canada 12" single 886 212-1 / LDSX243 + Cassette LDSXC243
Other versions
Additional Personnel
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
. It is included on their fourth studio album Wow! and was released as its third single except in the U.S., where it was the album's second single (following "I Heard a Rumour
I Heard a Rumour
"I Heard a Rumour" is a 1987 song recorded by English girl group Bananarama, featured on their Wow! album. It was also featured in the film Disorderlies and included on its soundtrack....
") and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where it was the album's fourth single (after "I Want You Back
I Want You Back (Bananarama song)
"I Want You Back" is a song written and recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It is included on their fourth studio album Wow! and was released as its fourth and final single. with the 1988 compilation album Greatest Hits Collection...
"). The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
(SAW) trio.
The song is a disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
-influenced pop tune similar to many hits produced by SAW during this time period
The single peaked at number twenty in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, #27 on the Australian ARIA chart (where it was released in August 1988 after I Want You Back), and just missed the top-forty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. A hit in nightclubs, "I Can't Help It" climbed to number seven on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart.
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
Herb Ritts
Herbert "Herb" Ritts was an American fashion photographer who concentrated on black-and-white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture.-Early life and career:...
. 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 song's suggestive lyrics and music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
further perpetuated Bananarama's sensual visual image that the group began to incorporate with their previous album True Confessions
True Confessions (album)
True Confessions is the third album by the British girl group Bananarama. Released in 1986, the album was not a commercial success in the UK, but achieved their biggest sales and chart success in the U.S., where the first single "Venus" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 .A majority of the...
.
The "I Can't Help It" video featured muscle men dancing, colourful backdrops, and Sara Dallin
Sara Dallin
Sara Elizabeth Dallin is an English musician mostly noted for her membership of the group Bananarama, which she co-founded with her childhood friend Keren Woodward.Dallin was born in Bristol, England...
and Keren Woodward
Keren Woodward
Keren Woodward is an English pop singer and songwriter of British girl group Bananarama, co-founded by her long time school friend Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey....
in a milk bath filled with fruit and naked men. Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
, heavily pregnant at the time, also appears but was only shown on camera from the shoulders up. Music video directed by Andy Morahan.
Track Listings
7" single NANA 15- "I Can't Help It" 3:31
- "Ecstasy" 4:10
- S. Dallin/S. Fahey/K. Woodward/M. Stock/M. Aitken/P. Waterman
2nd 7" single NAN 15
- "I Can't Help It" 3:31
- "Ecstasy" (Edit) 2:00
- "Love in the First Degree" 3:29
12" single NANX 15
- "I Can't Help It" (Extended Club Mix) 8:03
- "Ecstasy" (Chicago House Stylee) 5:56
2nd 12" single NANXR 15
- "I Can't Help It" (The "Hammond Version" Excursion) 6:24
- Remixed by Pete Hammond
- "Ecstasy" (Wild Style) 5:35
- Remixed by Pete Hammond
UK CD single NANCD 15
- "I Can't Help It" (Extended Club Mix) 8:03
- "Ecstasy" (Chicago House Stylee - Single Version) 4:10
- "Love in the First Degree" (Rare Groove Mix) 6:00
US/Canada 12" single 886 212-1 / LDSX243 + Cassette LDSXC243
- "I Can't Help It" (Extended Club Mix) 8:03
- "I Can't Help It" 3:36
- "Mr Sleaze" (Rare Groove Remix) 6:02
- S. Dallin/S. Fahey/K. Woodward/M. Stock/M. Aitken/P. Waterman
- "Mr Sleaze" (Instrumental) 4:12
Other versions
- "I Can't Help It" (Club Mix Edit)
- Only found in video
Personnel
Bananarama- Sara DallinSara DallinSara Elizabeth Dallin is an English musician mostly noted for her membership of the group Bananarama, which she co-founded with her childhood friend Keren Woodward.Dallin was born in Bristol, England...
- Vocals - Siobhan FaheySiobhan FaheySiobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
- Vocals - Keren WoodwardKeren WoodwardKeren Woodward is an English pop singer and songwriter of British girl group Bananarama, co-founded by her long time school friend Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey....
- Vocals
Additional Personnel
- Andrew Biscomb - Sleeve Design
- Peter Barrett - Sleeve Design
- Herb RittsHerb RittsHerbert "Herb" Ritts was an American fashion photographer who concentrated on black-and-white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture.-Early life and career:...
- Photography
Charts
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 47 |
| U.S. Hot Dance Club Play | 7 |
| Australia ARIA singles | 27 |
| Spain singles chart | 22 |
| Dutch Singles chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
30 |