It Wasn't Me

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"It Wasn't Me"
Single by Shaggy featuring Rikrok
from the album Hot Shot
Released November 21, 2000
Format CD single, Cassette single
Recorded 2000
Genre Reggae fusion
Length 3:47
Label MCA
Writer(s) Shaggy, RikRok, Shaun Pizzonia, Braun Thompson
Producer Shaun Pizzonia
Certification Gold (BPI)
Shaggy singles chronology
"Piece of My Heart"
(1997)		 "It Wasn't Me"
(2000)		 "Angel"
(2001)

"It Wasn't Me" is the first official single from reggae artist Shaggy's multi-platinum studio album Hot Shot, released on February 26, 2001.

"It Wasn't Me" has since been regarded as Shaggy's breakthrough in the pop market, and is his highest charting song to date, topping the charts in Australia, Austria, France, Ireland, the United States, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

"It Wasn't Me" features vocals from collaborator Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent.

Contents

[edit] Background

It was revealed at the time that the song was originally never intended to be released as a single. Before the original version of Hot Shot was released in August 2000, Hawaiian DJ Pablo Sato downloaded the album from "a Napster-like MP3 site he won’t name" and discovered that It Wasn't Me "was the album’s standout cut." He played the song on American radio the next day, and in an interview, claimed, "The phone lines lit up right away. Within a couple of days, it was our number-one requested song."[1] The song was then released as the album's first official single in February 2001, following its radio success. The lyrics of the song depict one man asking his friend what to do after his girlfriend caught him with another woman. His advice is to deny everything with the phrase "It wasn't me," despite all evidence to the contrary. The clean version of the song replaces the lyric "Picture this; we were both butt-naked banging on the bathroom floor" with "Picture this; we were both caught making love on the bathroom floor" and "Saw me banging on the sofa" with "Saw me kissing on the sofa". The video for the song starts out with Rikrok running to Shaggy's mansion to explain to him what has just happened. Rikrok tells him that he cheated on his girlfriend and got caught. Shaggy tells him to tell her that "It wasn't me." The video then cuts into a flashback to earlier that day.

[edit] Chart performances

The song was Shaggy's first number-one hit in the U.S., and the follow-up, "Angel," also reached number one. The single also reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on March 4, 2001, making the song a transatlantic chart topper. It also reached number one in Australia on April 1, 2001. It is also the 4th biggest selling single of the 21st century in the United Kingdom, and the biggest selling single by a non-British artist.

[edit] The Shaggy Defense

The song's lyrics inspired Slate writer Josh Levin to coin the term the "Shaggy defense" to describe R. Kelly's defence at his child pornography trial stemming from the production of a sex tape: "I predict that in the decades to come, law schools will teach this as the 'Shaggy defence.' You allege that I was caught on camera, butt naked, banging on the log cabin floor? It wasn't me."[2] Levin repeated the term on NPR.[3] The term effectively describes when someone denies a sexual encounter, or any other act, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Contrary to popular belief that Shaggy coined this phrase, it was actually comedian Eddie Murphy who had done so having used it several years earlier [4] in a bit that was part of his regular comedy routine and would eventually be featured in his 1987 movie, "Eddie Murphy: RAW." The "Shaggy defense" was later referenced by Matthew Wilkening on AOL Radio, who ranked the song at #55 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever, stating that the song was "[s]o bad it further corrupted lawyers. Meet the Shaggy defense: Lying in the face of overwhelming evidence."[5]

[edit] Track listings

  • UK
CD Single
  1. "It Wasn't Me" (Radio Edit) — 3:43
  2. "It Wasn't Me" (Vocal 12" Mix) — 3:49
  3. "Dance & Shout" (Pussy 2000 Club Mix Edit) — 8:07
  4. "It Wasn't Me" (Enhanced Video) — 3:43
Cassette single
  1. "It Wasn't Me" (Radio Edit) — 3:43
  2. "It Wasn't Me" (Album Version) — 3:47
  • America
  1. "It Wasn't Me" (Album Version) - 3:47
  2. "It Wasn't Me" (Squeaky Remix) - 4:25
  3. "It Wasn't Me" (Instrumental) - 3:47
  4. "It Wasn't Me" (Sports Remix) - 3:27
  • Australia
  1. "It Wasn't Me" (Radio Edit) — 3:43
  2. "It Wasn't Me" (Vocal 12" Mix) — 3:49
  3. "Dance & Shout" (Pussy 2000 Club Mix Edit) — 8:07
  4. "Dance & Shout" (Dancehall Version) - 3:46
  5. "It Wasn't Me" (Enhanced Video) — 3:43

[edit] Charts and sales

[edit] Peak positions

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[7] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[9] 2
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) 18
Denmark (Tracklisten)[10] 2
France (SNEP)[11] 1
Italy (FIMI)[12] 2
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[13] 1
New Zealand (RIANZ)[14] 6
Norway (VG-lista)[15] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 2
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[18] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[20] 3
US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[21] 23

1 Import

[edit] End of year charts

End of year chart (2001) Position
Australian Singles Chart[22] 2
Austrian Singles Chart[23] 25
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[24] 6
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[25] 6
Dutch Top 40[26] 7
French Singles Chart[27] 7
Irish Singles Chart[28] 2
Swiss Singles Chart[29] 17
UK Singles Chart[30] 1

[edit] Certifications

Country Certification Date Sales certified
Australia[31] 3x Platinum 2001 210,000
Austria[32] Gold July 26, 2001 15,000
France[33] Platinum June 20, 2001 500,000
Germany[34] Gold 2001 150,000
Netherlands[35] Platinum 2001 60,000
Norway[36] Platinum 2004 10,000
Switzerland[37] Gold 2001 20,000
UK[38] 2x Platinum March 2, 2001 1,200,000

[edit] Chart successions

Order of precedence
Preceded by
"Independent Women Part I" by Destiny's Child		 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
February 3, 2001 - February 10, 2001 (2 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Ms. Jackson" by OutKast
Preceded by
"Puf / Schudden" by Def Rhymz		 Dutch number-one single
March 3, 2001 - April 7, 2001 (6 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Damn (I Think I Love You)" by Starmaker
Preceded by
"Always Come Back To Your Love"
by Samantha Mumba		 Irish (IRMA) number-one single
March 3, 2001 (1 week)		 Succeeded by
"Uptown Girl" by Westlife
Preceded by
"Whole Again" by Atomic Kitten		 UK number-one single
March 4, 2001 (1 week)
Preceded by
"La Passion" by Gigi D'Agostino		 Belgian (Flanders) number-one single
March 24, 2001 - April 14, 2001 (4 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus
Preceded by
"Seul" by Garou		 French SNEP number-one single
March 31, 2001 - June 2, 2001 (10 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Hasta la vista" by MC Solaar
Preceded by
"Ms. Jackson" by OutKast		 Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single
March 31, 2001 - June 2, 2001 (10 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Whole Again" by Atomic Kitten
Preceded by
"Case of the Ex" by Mýa		 Australian ARIA number-one single
April 1, 2001 - April 22, 2001 (4 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Me, Myself and I" by Scandal'us

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Honolulu Advertiser
  2. ^ Josh Levin. May 21, 2008. "Dispatches From the R. Kelly Trial".
  3. ^ NPR. May 23, 2008. "Trapped in a Courtroom: The R. Kelly Trial".
  4. ^ NSFW Youtube. June 25, 2007. "Eddie Murphy RAW - It Wasn't Me".
  5. ^ Wilkening, Matthew (September 11, 2010). "100 Worst Songs Ever -- Part Three of Five". AOL Radio. http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/09/11/100-worst-songs-ever-part-three-of-five/. Retrieved December 22, 2010. 
  6. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  7. ^ "Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  8. ^ "Ultratop.be – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  9. ^ "Ultratop.be – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me" (in French). Ultratop 40. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  10. ^ "Danishcharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". Tracklisten. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  11. ^ "Lescharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  12. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". Top Digital Download. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  13. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  14. ^ "Charts.org.nz – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  15. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". VG-lista. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  16. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  17. ^ "Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  18. ^ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  19. ^ "Shaggy Feat. Ricardo 'rikrok' Ducent Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Shaggy Feat. Ricardo 'rikrok' Ducent. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  20. ^ "Shaggy Feat. Ricardo 'rikrok' Ducent Album & Song Chart History" Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Shaggy Feat. Ricardo 'rikrok' Ducent. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  21. ^ "Shaggy Feat. Ricardo 'rikrok' Ducent Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Latin Pop Songs for Shaggy Feat. Ricardo 'rikrok' Ducent. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  22. ^ 2001 Australian Singles Chart aria.com (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  23. ^ 2001 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  24. ^ 2001 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  25. ^ 2001 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  26. ^ "Single top 100 over 2001" (in Dutch) (pdf). Top40. http://www.top40.nl/pdf/Top%20100/top%20100%20-%202001.pdf. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
  27. ^ 2001 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  28. ^ 2001 Irish Singles Chart Irma.ie (Retrieved December 11, 2008)
  29. ^ 2001 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  30. ^ 2001 UK Singles Chart Ukchartsplus.co.uk (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  31. ^ Australian certifications aria.com (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  32. ^ Austrian certifications ifpi.at (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  33. ^ French certifications Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved August 1, 2008)
  34. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('It+Wasn%27t+Me')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=It%2BWasn%2527t%2BMe&strInterpret=&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked. Retrieved August 12, 2008. 
  35. ^ Dutch certifications nvpi.nl (Retrieved December 9, 2008)
  36. ^ Norwegian certifications Ifpi.no (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  37. ^ Swiss certifications Swisscharts.com (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  38. ^ UK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  • The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, fifth edition
Shaggy
Studio albums
Compilations
Singles
Soundtrack singles
Non-album singles
  • "Fly High"
  • "Save A Life"
  • "Rise Again"
  • "For Ur Eyez Only"
  • "Two Places"
  • "Girls File"
  • "Girlz Dem Love We"
  • "Jamacian Drummer Boy"
Featured singles
  • "That Girl" (Maxi Priest featuring Shaggy)
  • "I Got You Babe"
  • "Sexy Girl" (Eric Singleton featuring Shaggy)
  • "Christmas In Jamaica"
  • "Give The Hemp Free"
  • "Your Eyes"
  • "Feel Like Makin' Love"
  • "Like A Superstar"
  • "Donya"
  • "Don't Wanna Fight"
  • "Sunglasses"
  • "Murderer"
  • "She's A Lady"
  • "Cheap & Clean"
  • "Champagne"
  • "Smile"
  • "Under The Sun"
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