It Wasn't Me Explained

It Wasn't Me
Cover:Shaggy-wasn't-me.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Shaggy featuring RikRok
Album:Hot Shot
B-Side:Dance & Shout
Studio:Ranch (Valley Stream, New York)
Genre:Reggae[1]
Length:3:47
Label:MCA
Producer:Shaun "Sting" Pizzonia
Chronology:Shaggy
Prev Title:Luv Me, Luv Me
Prev Year:1998
Next Title:Angel
Next Year:2001

"It Wasn't Me" is the first single from Jamaican-American reggae musician Shaggy's fifth studio album, Hot Shot (2000). The song features vocals from British-Jamaican singer RikRok (credited as Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent). The lyrics of the song depict one man (portrayed by RikRok) asking his friend (portrayed by Shaggy) what to do after his girlfriend caught him cheating on her with "the girl next door". His friend/Shaggy's character's advice is to deny everything, despite clear evidence to the contrary, with the phrase "It wasn't me."

"It Wasn't Me" was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on 7 November 2000 and has been regarded as Shaggy's breakthrough in the pop market. It is his highest-charting song to date, topping the charts in Australia, Flanders, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was the best-selling single of 2001 in the UK, selling over 1.15 million copies that year and over 1.42 million .

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" and decides to confess and apologize. It is written in the key of C major.[2]

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 an interpolation of the War song "Smile Happy".[4] The connection is further supported by two later songs that are based on "It Wasn't Me": British singer Liam Payne's 2017 debut single "Strip That Down", which interpolates the song, and the 2019 song "China" by Puerto Rican rappers Anuel AA and Daddy Yankee and Colombian singer Karol G with Puerto Rican singer Ozuna and Colombian singer J Balvin, which samples the song.[5] Both of these songs credited Shaggy (as Orville Burrell), the others writers of "It Wasn't Me", and members of War (despite their song not appearing on either track) as co-songwriters.[6] [7] [5]

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."[8] The song was released to radio on 7 November 2000,[9] then was given a retail release on 6 February 2001 following its airplay success.[10]

Chart performance

"It Wasn't Me" was Shaggy's first number-one hit in the United States. The song reached number two on 23 December 2000.[11] On 30 December, it was bumped down one position to number three.[12] It moved back up to the number-two spot on 13 January 2001, then, on 3 February, it ascended to number one, replacing Destiny's Child's "Independent Women Part I".[13] [14] The song remained at number one for two weeks and spent 25 weeks on the chart altogether.

The song also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on 4 March 2001, selling 345,000 copies, making the song a transatlantic chart topper.[15] It also reached number one in Australia on 1 April 2001. It is also the 11th biggest selling single of the 21st century in the United Kingdom,[16] with sales of over 1.42 million as of September 2017.[16]

As of August 2014, it is the 49th-best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 399,500 units sold.[17]

Music video

The music video was directed by Stephen Scott. It begins 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 sport bikes.

Then, the three women go into the building. He then sneaks out the window, takes the motorcycle of one of his girlfriend's accomplices and leaves. The women come out and the girlfriend and one of her 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 is 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 lyrical content 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 2008 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."[18] R. Kelly was ultimately found not guilty on those charges.[19] Levin repeated the term on NPR,[20] and "Shaggy Defense" entered common use to describe a defendant flatly denying guilt despite overwhelming evidence against them.

The song was spoofed by Bob Rivers, as "Caught Me One Handed", and makes 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.[21] The song was also spoofed on Svengoolie. On The Chris Moyles Show, the song was used as a prank call with "Shaggy" (actually impressionist Jon Culshaw) 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".[22]

Track listings

A. "It Wasn't Me"

B. "It Wasn't Me" (club mix)

A. "It Wasn't Me" (album version) – 3:48

B. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal club) – 4:10

  1. "It Wasn't Me" (album version)
  2. "It Wasn't Me" (Squeaky version)
  3. "It Wasn't Me" (instrumental version)
  4. "It Wasn't Me" (Sports version)

A1. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal 12-inch mix) – 3:49

A2. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal 12-inch mix instrumental) – 3:49

B1. "It Wasn't Me" (Punch remix) – 3:54

B2. "It Wasn't Me" (album version) – 3:47

  1. "It Wasn't Me" (radio edit) – 3:43
  2. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal 12-inch mix) – 3:49
  1. "It Wasn't Me" (radio edit) – 3:43
  2. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal 12-inch mix) – 3:49
  3. "Dance & Shout" (Pussy 2000 club mix edit) – 8:07
  4. "It Wasn't Me" (enhanced video)

A1. "It Wasn't Me" (radio edit) – 3:43

A2. "It Wasn't Me" (album version) – 3:47

B1. "It Wasn't Me" (12-inch vocal) – 3:49

  1. "It Wasn't Me" (radio edit) – 3:43
  2. "It Wasn't Me" (album version) – 3:47
  1. "It Wasn't Me" (radio edit) – 3:43
  2. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal 12-inch mix) – 3:49
  3. "It Wasn't Me" (Crash & Burn remix) – 5:37
  4. "Dance & Shout" (Pussy 2000 club mix edit) – 8:07
  5. "Dance & Shout" (Kulb Kings club mix) – 6:30
  6. "It Wasn't Me" (enhanced video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Hot Shot album booklet.[32]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2000–2001)Peak
position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[33] 18
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[34] 1
Croatia (HRT)[35] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[36] 1
Hungary (Mahasz)[37] 8
Poland (Music & Media)[38] 1
Portugal (AFP)[39] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
Australia (ARIA)[41] 2
Australian Urban (ARIA)[42] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[43] 25
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[44] 6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[45] 6
Brazil (Crowley)[46] 7
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[47] 113
Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)[48] 82
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[49] 3
France (SNEP)[50] 7
Germany (Official German Charts)[51] 20
Ireland (IRMA)[52] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[53] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[54] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[55] 25
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[56] 17
UK Singles (OCC)[57] 1
UK Urban (Music Week)[58] 37
US Billboard Hot 100[59] 12
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[60] 34
US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[61] 5
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[62] 18
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[63] 17

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–2009)Position
Australia (ARIA)[64] 62
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[65] 29
UK Singles (OCC)[66] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[67] 81

All-time charts

ChartPosition
Ireland (IRMA)[68] 12
UK Singles (OCC)[69] 49

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United States7 November 2000Contemporary hit radioMCA[70]
14 November 2000Urban contemporary radio[71]
7 February 2001Maxi-CD
Australia26 February 2001CD[72]
United Kingdom[73]

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Billboard Staff. The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List. . October 19, 2023. February 11, 2024. One of the most enduring songs about cheating — specifically the denial of it — and another early ‘00s reggae crossover smash....
  2. Web site: It Wasn't Me. Musicnotes.com. 23 October 2014. MN0137223. 2 June 2021.
  3. Web site: How I Wrote That Song: Shaggy "It Wasn't Me". https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Y81Y655C2LU . 21 December 2021 . live. 23 April 2015. YouTube. 12 April 2018.
  4. Web site: You Can't Deny It: How Shaggy Pioneered Reggae's Pop Crossover with "It Wasn't Me". Complex Networks.
  5. Cobo . Leila . Anuel AA Taps Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Ozuna and Karol G For 'China': Watch . Billboard . July 29, 2019.
  6. News: Liam Payne Interpolates A Shaggy Classic On His New Single "Strip That Down" Featuring Quavo. Mench. Chris. 19 May 2017. Genius. 12 April 2018.
  7. News: Liam Payne insists he did not 'rip off' Shaggy song for new track as he gave singer credit. Rainbird. Ashleigh. 1 September 2017. Daily Mirror. 12 April 2018.
  8. Web site: Isle deejay takes credit for Shaggy hit . 18 January 2001 . Gannett Co., Inc. . The Honolulu Advertiser . Derek . Paiva . 22 February 2001 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010222232247/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/2001/Jan/18/118islandlife13.html . 22 February 2001 .
  9. CHR/Pop: Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1375. 48. 3 November 2000. 21 April 2021.
  10. Hot 100 Spotlight. Pietroluongo. Silvio. Billboard. 113. 6. 89. 10 February 2001. 11 October 2020.
  11. Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. 23 December 2000. 4 August 2023.
  12. Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. 30 December 2000. 4 August 2023.
  13. Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. 13 January 2001. 4 August 2023.
  14. Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. 3 February 2001. 4 August 2023.
  15. News: SHAGGY RETURNS IN STYLE. 4 March 2000. NME. 28 October 2015.
  16. Web site: The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed. Copsey. Rob. 19 September 2017. Official Charts Company. 13 March 2018.
  17. Web site: Top 100 des singles les plus vendus du millénaire en France, épisode 6 (50-41) . Chartsinfrance . 16 August 2014 . 27 August 2014.
  18. Josh Levin. 21 May 2008. "Dispatches From the R. Kelly Trial".
  19. http://www.eonline.com/news/1956/r-kelly-found-not-guilty/ R. Kelly Found Not Guilty!
  20. NPR. 23 May 2008. "Trapped in a Courtroom: The R. Kelly Trial".
  21. Web site: Caught Me One-Handed. 22 January 2009 . YouTube. 12 April 2018.
  22. Web site: Shaggy - Taxi. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/yxdOhC1R0t8 . 21 December 2021 . live. YouTube. 28 April 2015.
  23. It Wasn't Me. Shaggy. 2000. Jamaican 7-inch single vinyl disc. MCA Records. O88155800-7.
  24. It Wasn't Me. Shaggy. 2001. US 7-inch single vinyl disc. MCA Records. 088 155 800-7.
  25. It Wasn't Me. Shaggy. 2001. US CD single liner notes. MCA Records. 088 155 782-2.
  26. It Wasn't Me. Shaggy. 2001. US 12-inch single vinyl disc. MCA Records. 088 155 782-1.
  27. It Wasn't Me. Shaggy. 2001. European CD single liner notes. MCA Records. 155 803-2.
  28. It Wasn't Me. Shaggy. 2001. UK CD single liner notes. MCA Records. 155 802-2.
  29. It Wasn't Me. Shaggy. 2001. UK 12-inch single sleeve. MCA Records. MCST 40247, 155807-1.
  30. It Wasn't Me. Shaggy. 2001. UK cassette single sleeve. MCA Records. MCSC 40247, 155807-4.
  31. It Wasn't Me. Shaggy. 2001. Australian CD single liner notes. MCA Records. 155 800-2.
  32. Hot Shot. Hot Shot (Shaggy album). Shaggy. 2000. US CD album booklet. MCA Records. 088 112 096-2.
  33. Shaggy Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs). Billboard. 5 July 2018.
  34. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20050407223203/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2002.pdf. April 7, 2005. Canadian Top 20 in 2002. Cross Canada Countdown. November 13, 2023.
  35. Web site: HR Top 20 Lista. Croatian Radiotelevision. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20010413072524/http://www.hrt.hr/hr/top20/lista.html. 13 April 2001. 7 March 2021.
  36. Hits of the World: Eurochart Hot 100 (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research) 04/07/01. Billboard. 0006-2510. 113. 14. 73. 7 April 2001.
  37. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 19. 26. 16. 23 June 2001. 9 June 2020.
  38. Major Market Airplay – Week 14/2001. Music & Media. 18. 14. 31. 31 March 2001. 17 January 2024.
  39. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 19. 39. 13. 22 September 2001. 24 May 2020.
  40. Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2000. Airplay Monitor. 8. 51. 56. 22 December 2000.
  41. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001. ARIA. 2 January 2021.
  42. Web site: ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2001. ARIA. https://web.archive.org/web/20200415012807/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-singles-2001.htm. 15 April 2020. 2 January 2021.
  43. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 2001. de. 2 January 2021.
  44. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2001. Ultratop. nl. 2 January 2021.
  45. Web site: Rapports annuels 2001. Ultratop. fr. 2 January 2021.
  46. Web site: Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2001. April 3, 2018. Crowley Broadcast Analysis. January 30, 2022.
  47. Web site: Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001 (200–101). Jam!. https://web.archive.org/web/20020726120310/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_singles2.html. 26 July 2002. 28 March 2022.
  48. Web site: BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001. Jam!. https://web.archive.org/web/20020726115818/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100page2_2001.html. 26 July 2002. 26 March 2022.
  49. Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001. Music & Media. 18. 52. 14. 22 December 2001. 9 February 2020.
  50. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 2001. SNEP. fr. 2 January 2021.
  51. Web site: Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2001. GfK Entertainment. de. 8 February 2020.
  52. Web site: Best of Singles 2001. IRMA. 2 January 2021.
  53. Web site: Single top 100 over 2001. Top40. nl. 1 May 2010.
  54. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001. MegaCharts. nl. 8 February 2020.
  55. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 2001. Sverigetopplistan. sv. 8 February 2020.
  56. Web site: Swiss Year-End Charts 2001. de. 2 January 2021.
  57. News: Shaggy's single is UK's best-seller. 27 December 2001. BBC News. 16 June 2015.
  58. Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2001. Music Week. 26. 19 January 2002. 4 August 2023.
  59. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 2001. Billboardtop100of.com. 2 January 2021.
  60. The Year in Music 2001: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Billboard. 113. 52. YE-44. 29 December 2001. 16 December 2023.
  61. The Year in Music 2001: Hot Rap Singles. Billboard. 113. 52. YE-46. 29 December 2001. 16 December 2023.
  62. Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001. Airplay Monitor. 9. 51. 60. 21 December 2001.
  63. Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2001. Airplay Monitor. 9. 51. 48. 21 December 2001.
  64. Web site: 2000sDecadeChartssingles.pdf. ARIA. 2 July 2018.
  65. Web site: Decennium Charts – Singles 2000–2009. MegaCharts. nl. 3 May 2022.
  66. The Noughties' Official UK Singles Chart Top 100. Music Week. London, England. 17. 30 January 2010.
  67. Hot 100 Songs – Decade End Charts. Billboard. Billboard. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020173024/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/decadeendcharts/2009/hot100-songs. 20 October 2012. 22 June 2016.
  68. Web site: Top 20 of All Time. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090602203810/http://irishcharts.ie/top_twenty/toptwenty.htm. 2 June 2009. 2 January 2021.
  69. Web site: The best-selling singles of all time on the Official UK Chart. Myers. Justin. Official Charts Company. 14 February 2020. 2 January 2021.
  70. Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates. Gavin Report. 2329. 7. November 3, 2000.
  71. AddVance Notice. Radio & Records. 1376. 76. 10 November 2000. 21 April 2021.
  72. Web site: The ARIA Report: ARIA New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 26th February 2001. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue574.pdf. dead. 20 February 2002. ARIA. 23. 26 February 2001. 21 April 2021.
  73. New Releases – For Week Starting February 26, 2001: Singles. Music Week. 27. 24 February 2001. 9 August 2021.