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Good Vibrations (Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Good Vibrations
| cover = Good Vibrations Marky Mark US cassette single.JPG
| alt =
| caption = US commercial cassette single
| type = single
| artist = Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway
| album = Music for the People
| B-side = So What Chu Sayin
| released = July 16, 1991
| recorded = 1991
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:25
| label = Interscope
| writer =
| producer = Donnie Wahlberg
| chronology = Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Wildside
| next_year = 1991
| misc =
}}
"'Good Vibrations'" is a song by American group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway. It was released in July 1991 as the lead single from their debut album, 'Music for the People' (1991). The song became a number-one hit in the United States, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland. It spent twenty weeks on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, its last week rising 40 positions to number 27, but dropped out the following week.
Background
"Good Vibrations" was co-written by Amir Shakir (credited on the release as "Spice"), with his good friends Donnie and Mark Wahlberg. Amir also wrote and produced "Wildside" and three other songs for Mark Wahlberg's debut album, as well as four songs on Wahlberg's second LP. "Good Vibrations" features a sample of American singer Loleatta Holloway singing "Love Sensation", written by Dan Hartman, and Hartman was given co-writer credits on later releases of Wahlberg's song.
Critical reception
Bill Lamb from About.com said Mark Wahlberg had a history of scrapes with the law as a teenager, "but his ready-for-video buffed body and good looks, combined with energetic dance beats and Loleatta Holloway's diva-esque vocals, made for a smash pop hit." AllMusic editor Steve Huey noted that the rapper's "aggressively delivered raps were fairly simplistic, but not comical; one of the main hooks was a simple piano sample that ascended, descended, and reascended." He added that "Good Vibrations" "was easily the most infectious song Marky Mark ever recorded". 'Billboard' magazine picked it as one of the "pick tracks" from the 'Music for the People' album, noting that it features "canny sampling", and adding that Marky Mark "enters Vanilla Ice territory with a lightweight pop/rap track."
Dave Sholin from the 'Gavin Report' wrote that "bustin' out of Boston", Donnie Wahlberg's younger brother "is kickin' it and makin' one serious debut! The Wahlberg Brothers wrote and produced this hot tracksomething they deserve to point to with pride. Credit Loleatta Holloway with takin' it up more than a few notches on a chorus nothing short of incredible." A reviewer from 'Music Week' commented, "Sampling is also an art form dear to Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch. But, to their credit, their debut single acknowledges their debut to Loleatta Holloway's now-familiar "It's such a good vibration". This may not be a big hit, but with 20-year-old Marky's rhythmic rapping, good looks and bad-boy image, it's chartbound." Johnny Dee from 'Smash Hits' said "it sounds uncannily like 'Ride On Time' by Black Box with a couple of raps over the top. But! As Marky puts it, this is "designed to make your behind move" and it does."
Music video
A black and white music video was produced to promote the single. It featured Marky Mark working out and boxing barechested, and making out with a girl on a bed. Boxer Micky Ward is credited for helping with the boxing technique and training used for this video. Loleatta Holloway also made an appearance performing the chorus. Mark Wahlberg first met Micky Ward when he was 18 and later played him on the big screen in the 2010 film 'The Fighter'. The music video was produced by David Horgan and directed by Scott Kalvert.
Impact and legacy
In 2017, 'BuzzFeed' ranked "Good Vibrations" number 43 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s".
In 2019, 'Billboard' placed it at number 115 in their ranking of "'Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s".
In 2021, it was ranked number 35 by 'BuzzFeed' in their list of "The 50 Best '90s Songs of Summer".-
Track listings
* '7" single'
# "Good Vibrations" 4:29
# "So What Chu Sayin" 4:41
* 'CD maxi'
# "Good Vibrations" (club dub) 5:22
# "Good Vibrations" 4:29
# "Good Vibrations" (instrumental dub) 5:02
# "So What Chu Sayin" 4:41
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
Category:1991 debut singles
Category:1991 songs
Category:Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch songs
Category:Loleatta Holloway songs
Category:Interscope Records singles
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Denmark
Category:Number-one singles in Sweden
Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland
Category:Songs written by Dan Hartman
Category:Songs written by Mark Wahlberg
Category:Black-and-white music videos
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