What's Up (song)

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“What's Up?”
“What's Up?” cover
Single by 4 Non Blondes
from the album Bigger, Better, Faster, More!
Released 1993
Format 7" vinyl, cassette, CD
Genre Rock
Length 4:55
Label Interscope
Writer(s) Linda Perry
Producer David Tickle
4 Non Blondes singles chronology
"Dear Mr. President"
(1993)		 "What's Up?"
(1993)		 "Spaceman"
(1993)

"What's Up?" is a rock song written by Linda Perry for 4 Non Blondes' debut album Bigger, Better, Faster, More! (1992). It was released as the album's second single in 1993 (see 1993 in music). The song received considerable airplay success. It reached number fourteen on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and went gold, but peaked higher throughout the rest of the world, reaching number one in Germany and number two in the United Kingdom and Australia. On the United World Chart, it went to number one staying at the top spot for two weeks in 1993.

The song was remixed by DJ Miko in 1994, reaching number six in the United Kingdom, and by the Cover Girls in early 1995.

On VH1's 100 Greatest One-hit Wonders, What's Up? ranks #94.[1] It also ranks at #16 on Blender's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever".[2]

Despite the title, the song does not contain the phrase "what's up?", but has "what's goin' on?" in the refrain. This is due to the 1971 R&B song and album "What's Going On", by Marvin Gaye, which they feared would be confused with their song. They kept the name "What's Up?".[3]

Contents

[edit] Chart positions

  • #1 (Germany, Netherlands)
  • #2 (Australia, Italy, United Kingdom)
  • #3 (France)
  • #14 (U.S. Billboard Hot 100)

[edit] In the media

  • DJ Miko's remix was dubbed into Jock Jams volume 2.
  • Carl Barat, frontman of the band Dirty Pretty Things, called it, along with "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins", the worst song he has ever heard.
  • Connecticut-based alternative rockers R.O.Y. have been known to play a cover of "What's Up" at live shows.
  • Faye Wong covered the song in a concert in 1994.

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ VH1's "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders"
  2. ^ Run for Your Life! It's the 50 Worst Songs Ever! from Blender.com
  3. ^ Songfacts.com
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