Pray (MC Hammer song)

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"Pray"
Pray MCH.jpg
Single by MC Hammer
from the album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em
B-side"U Can't Touch This (LP version)"
ReleasedAugust 21, 1990 (1990-08-21)
Recorded1989
Genre
Length5:11
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)MC Hammer
Producer(s)MC Hammer
MC Hammer singles chronology
"Have You Seen Her"
(1990) 		"Pray"
(1990) 		"Here Comes the Hammer"
(1990)

"Pray" is the third single released from MC Hammer's third album, Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em. Produced by MC Hammer himself, the song heavily samples Prince's hit song, "When Doves Cry", the first of just a few times that Prince allowed samples of his compositions. The track also interpolates Faith No More's "We Care a Lot".[1][2]

"Pray" became Hammer's biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number two,[3] becoming a Top-40 hit in multiple countries. The track helped make Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em the number one album of the year.[4] In the U. S., the song was certified gold on November 26, 1990, with sales over 500,000 copies.

This hit single (accompanied with music videos[5]) became one of Hammer's most popular songs and has appeared on several compilation albums, including Greatest Hits, Back 2 Back Hits and The Hits. It also appeared in Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (1990). The word "pray" is mentioned 147 times during the song, setting the record for the number of times a song title is repeated in an American Top 40 hit.[6]

Track listing[]

  1. "Pray" (Slam The Hammer Mix) - 8:01 (aka Maxi-Single Remix)
  2. "Pray" (Slam The Hammer Piano Dub) - 5:26
  3. "Pray" (Jam The Hammer Mix) - 5:00
  4. "Pray" (Hit 'Em Hard Mix) - 5:25
  5. "Pray" (Nail 'Em Down Chant) - 4:56
  6. "U Can't Touch This" (LP Version) - 4:15

Additional versions released[]

  1. "Pray" (Phemza The Kween mix) - 4:22
  2. "Pray" (LP Version) - 5:16
  3. "Pray" (Radio edit) - 4:11
  4. "Pray" (Instrumental) - 4:43[7]

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[35] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

  1. ^ "Mc Hammer | Biography, News, Photos and Videos". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  2. ^ Corcoran, Michael (1990-05-17). "MC Hammer: Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  3. ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  4. ^ "MC Hammer - Biography". Billboard.com. 1962-03-30. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  5. ^ "MC Hammer - Pray Lyrics". Uulyrics.com. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  6. ^ "American Top 40 with Shadoe Stevens". Webcitation.org. Archived from the original on October 25, 2009. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  7. ^ "Pray MC Hammer Free MP4 Video Download - 1". Oonly.com. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  8. ^ "Australian-charts.com – MC Hammer – Pray". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Austriancharts.at – MC Hammer – Pray" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "Ultratop.be – MC Hammer – Pray" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9085." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9168." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  13. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 2. January 12, 1991. p. 31. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  14. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – MC Hammer – Pray" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – MC Hammer". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  17. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 51, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  18. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – MC Hammer – Pray" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  19. ^ "Charts.nz – MC Hammer – Pray". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  20. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – MC Hammer – Pray". VG-lista. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  21. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – MC Hammer – Pray". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  22. ^ "Swisscharts.com – MC Hammer – Pray". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  24. ^ "M.C. Hammer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  25. ^ "M.C. Hammer Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  26. ^ "M.C. Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  27. ^ "M.C. Hammer Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  28. ^ "M.C. Hammer Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  29. ^ "Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LIV no. 16. November 17, 1990. p. 4. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  30. ^ "Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  31. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  32. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1991" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  33. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 21. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  34. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  35. ^ "American single certifications – Hammer – Pray". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 28, 2021.

External links[]

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