It Wasn't Me

"It Wasn't Me"
Single by Shaggy
from the album Hot Shot
B-side "Dance & Shout"
Released September 11, 2000[1]
Format
Recorded 2000
Genre
Length 3:47
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Shaun "Sting" Pizzonia
Shaggy singles chronology
"Luv Me, Luv Me"
(1998)		 "It Wasn't Me"
(2000)		 "Angel"
(2000)

"It Wasn't Me" is the first single from Jamaican-American reggae artist Shaggy's multi-Platinum studio album Hot Shot (2000). The song features vocals from Shaggy, and RikRok. The lyrics of the song depict one man asking his friend what to do, after his girlfriend caught him having sex with another woman.

His friend's advice is to deny everything, despite clear evidence to the contrary, with the phrase "It wasn't me."

"It Wasn't Me" has 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 was the best selling single of 2001 in the United Kingdom, selling over 1.15 million copies that year[2] and over 1.42 million as of 2017.

Background

The lyrics of "It Wasn't Me" depict one man asking his friend what to do after his girlfriend catches him having sex with another woman. His friend's advice is to deny everything, despite clear evidence to the contrary, with the phrase "It wasn't me." Ultimately, the narrator says that the advice "makes no sense at all".

The song was inspired by a bit called "No Loyal Men," performed by Eddie Murphy in his comedy special Raw (1987).[3] In an interview in February 2016, Shaggy acknowledged similarities with the War song "Smile Happy".[4] The connection is further supported by Liam Payne's debut single of 2017, "Strip That Down", itself based on "It Wasn't Me", which credited both Shaggy (as Orville Burrell) and members of War as co songwriters.[5][6]

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". "It Wasn't Me" 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."[7]

The song was then released as the album's first single in September 2000, following its radio success. The song is written in the key of C, in the Mixolydian mode.

The song was spoofed by Bob Rivers, as Shaggy One Handed, making a reference to the Scooby-Doo character, Shaggy Rogers. The video focused on him being caught masturbating (about the girl next door) by his mother.[8] The song was also spoofed on Svengoolie. On The Chris Moyles Show, the song was used as a prank call with Shaggy trying to book a taxi, with the final line being "Can you drop me off at The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1?, 97 to 99 FM".[9]

Chart performance

"It Wasn't Me" was Shaggy's first number-one hit in the United States. The song peaked at number two for two weeks from December 16, 2000[10] to December 23, 2000.[11] On December 30, 2000, it was bumped down one position to number three.[12] It moved back up to the number two spot on January 4, 2001.[13]

The song also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on March 4, 2001, selling 345,000 copies, making the song a transatlantic chart topper.[14] It also reached number one in Australia on April 1, 2001. It is also the 11th biggest selling single of the 21st century in the United Kingdom,[15] with sales of over 1.42 million as of September 2017.[15]

As of August 2014, it is the 49th best selling single of the 21st century in France, with 399,500 units sold.[16]

Music video

The music video was directed by Stephen Scott.

It 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. Rikrok has been caught sleeping with another woman, and his girlfriend is outside the apartment in her convertible when two women pull up next to her on their motorcycles (sport bikes).

Then, the three women go into the building. He then sneaks out the window, takes the motorcycle of one of his girlfriends accomplices and leaves. The women come out and the girlfriend and one of the accomplices get in the convertible and the other gets on her motorcycle and they chase after him. From his mansion, Shaggy, using his futuristic technology, tracks down where Rikrok is going and prepares an escape for him. Rikrok then gets on a bridge over the highway when the accomplice rode on the bridge in front of him.

He then hits the brakes to stop while she stops her motorcycle. Rikrok then hears a noise behind him and it's the other accomplices and the girlfriend driving the convertible on the other side of the bridge with the highway down below. An eighteen wheeler drives by, and Shaggy leaves Rikrok a text message telling him to look behind and he notices the truck and jumps off the side of overhead and lands on the truck. He is then dropped off at Shaggy's mansion, showing the same scene from the start of the video.

Legacy

The lyrics of "It Wasn't Me" inspired Slate writer Josh Levin to coin the term the "Shaggy defense" to describe R. Kelly's defense 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 defense'. You allege that I was caught on camera, butt naked, banging on the log cabin floor? It wasn't me."[17]

Levin repeated the term on NPR.[18] The term describes a strategy of flatly denying guilt and refusing to engage with the evidence against the defendant, no matter how overwhelming. R. Kelly was ultimately found not guilty on all charges.[19]

The song was referenced by Trevor Noah on an episode of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in October 2016, when he covered the vice presidential debate between Mike Pence and Tim Kaine, as Pence vehemently kept denying his running mate Donald Trump's claims, despite the fact that the claims have been proved to be said by Trump on camera or through his Twitter account.[20]

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" – 3:47
  • U.S.
  1. "It Wasn't Me" – 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

Charts and sales

See also

References

  1. ↑ "VH1 - Top 100 Greatest Songs of 2000's". Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Shaggy's single is UK's best-seller". BBC News. 27 December 2001. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "How I Wrote That Song: Shaggy "It Wasn't Me"". YouTube. April 23, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Mench, Chris (May 19, 2017). "Liam Payne Interpolates A Shaggy Classic On His New Single "Strip That Down" Featuring Quavo". Genius. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  6. ↑ Rainbird, Ashleigh (September 1, 2017). "Liam Payne insists he did not 'rip off' Shaggy song for new track as he gave singer credit". Daily Mirror. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  7. ↑ Paiva, Derek (January 18, 2001). "Isle deejay takes credit for Shaggy hit". The Honolulu Advertiser. Gannett Co., Inc. Archived from the original on February 22, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2001.
  8. ↑ "Caught Me One-Handed". YouTube. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Shaggy - Taxi". April 28, 2015.
  10. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (2000-12-16). Billboard. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  11. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (2000-12-23). Billboard. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  12. ↑ Paoletta, Michael (2000-12-30). 2000: The Year In Music. Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  13. ↑ "'Independent' Stays On Top". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "SHAGGY RETURNS IN STYLE". NME. 4 March 2000. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 Copsey, Rob (September 19, 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Top 100 des singles les plus vendus du millénaire en France, épisode 6 (50-41)". Chartsinfrance. 16 August 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  17. ↑ Josh Levin. May 21, 2008. "Dispatches From the R. Kelly Trial".
  18. ↑ NPR. May 23, 2008. "Trapped in a Courtroom: The R. Kelly Trial".
  19. ↑ R. Kelly Found Not Guilty!
  20. ↑ Trevor Noah, October 4, 2016. Vice Presidential Debate Wrap-Up
  21. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  22. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  23. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  25. ↑ "Shaggy Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  26. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  27. ↑ "Hits of the World: Eurochart Hot 100 (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research) 04/07/01". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 113 (14): 73. April 7, 2001. ISSN 0006-2510.
  28. ↑ "Shaggy feat. Rikrok: It Wasn't Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  29. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  30. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  31. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It Wasn't Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  32. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  33. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 8, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  34. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  35. ↑ "Charts.nz – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  36. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". VG-lista. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  37. ↑ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on October 17, 2007.
  38. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  39. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  40. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  41. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Shaggy feat. Rikrok – It Wasn't Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  42. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  43. ↑ "Shaggy Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  44. ↑ "Shaggy Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  45. ↑ "Shaggy Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  46. ↑ 2001 Australian Singles Chart aria.com (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  47. ↑ 2001 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at Archived August 1, 2012, at WebCite (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  48. ↑ 2001 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  49. ↑ 2001 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  50. ↑ "Single top 100 over 2001" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  51. ↑ 2001 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com Archived 2012-04-04 at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  52. ↑ 2001 Irish Singles Chart Irma.ie (Retrieved December 11, 2008)
  53. ↑ 2001 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch Archived 2012-11-10 at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  54. ↑ "2001". Longbored Surfer. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  55. ↑ "2000sDecadeChartssingles.pdf" (PDF). ARIA. ARIA. p. PDF. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  56. ↑ "The Noughties' Official UK Singles Chart Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media: 17. 30 January 2010.
  57. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs - Decade End Charts". Billboard. Billboard. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  58. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  59. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Shaggy – It Wasn't Me" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Shaggy in the field Interpret. Enter It Wasn't Me in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen. 
  60. ↑ "French single certifications – Shaggy – It Wasn't Me" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  61. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Shaggy; 'It Wasn't Me')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  62. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – Shaggy – It Wasn't Me" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter It Wasn't Me in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  63. ↑ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  64. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Shaggy; 'It Wasn't Me')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  65. ↑ "British single certifications – Shaggy – It Wasn't Me". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type It Wasn't Me in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  • The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, fifth edition
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