U + Ur Hand: История скандального хита Pink

2006 single by Pink

"U + Ur Hand" is a song by American pop singer Pink. It is the third single from her fourth studio album I'm Not Dead (2006). It was released on August 28, 2006, and ignited controversy due to its explicit lyrical content. The song was written by Pink, Max Martin and Dr. Luke, the same trio who wrote Pink's previous hit single "Who Knew"; the song is also co written by Rami Yacoub. The two songs eventually became Pink's first two singles to receive Platinum certifications from Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the first two among a series of hits by Martin and Dr. Luke that followed, including Pink's first solo number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, "So What". The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Pink's seventh top ten hit on the chart, and was ranked number 29 on Billboards year end chart for 2007. The single performed well internationally, peaking atop the radio charts of the Czech Republic and Hungary and reaching the top 10 in over 10 other countries.

Pink wrote the song with Max Martin, Luke Gottwald, and Rami, with a lyrical focus on mocking the men who would flirt with her in clubs. The title refers to the line "looks like it's just me and my hand tonight", which was a phrase she had heard guys using. The song caused controversy in the U. S. because of its "racy" references to masturbation, and consequently some radio stations refused to play it. After being asked to change the title and lyrics to "U + Ur Heart", she said, "You want me to rewrite my song for you. For American fucking Idol? What does that even mean, how do you have sex with your heart?" She performed "Who Knew" instead. In Australia the song peaked at number five on the ARIA Singles Chart and is certified platinum for sales of 70,000 copies. It was ranked at number 25 on ARIA's Top 100 Singles of 2006. It was released to radio in the United States on October 30. In January 2007 "U + Ur Hand" debuted on the Hot 100 at number 94, and it peaked at number nine. It was the most successful single from I'm Not Dead in the U. S., and her highest charting song since "Just Like a Pill" (2002). Billboard magazine credited the single with causing an increase in the U. S. sales of I'm Not Dead, which returned to the Billboard 200 albums chart in the same period the single entered the Hot 100. The album later re entered the top 100 on the strength of "U + Ur Hand" and a resurgence of interest in "Who Knew". According to Tom Carraba, Zomba Label Group general manager and executive vice president of sales and marketing, the "patience" of radio stations, the "great" music video for the single and Pink's participation in Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveShow tour was responsible for the increase in popularity of "U + Ur Hand", which consequently led to renewed interest in the album. Carraba said the single "is the vehicle that will reignite the U. S. marketplace. We think we have a number one record on our hands." and Allmusic described Pink as "taunting and teasing" in "U + Ur Hand". British newspaper The Guardian wrote, "the pithy put downs of ["U + Ur Hand"] make bearable the sudden shift from classy beats to lumpen power pop". Entertainment Weekly told that "including one that's destined to be an instant word of mouth smash: the irresistibly rude U + Ur Hand, in which Pink tells a drunken club suitor just whom he'll be having sex with later (the title provides the answer)." NY Times also praised: "Pink stays playfully upbeat when she's irritated. U + Ur Hand uses a Joan Jett stomp to give a singles bar Lothario a brusque brushoff, warning, I'm not here for your entertainment/ You don't wanna mess with me tonight.

Pink shot the music videos for "U + Ur Hand" and "Stupid Girls" simultaneously, before the decision was made to release the latter as the first single from I'm Not Dead. Dave Meyers directed both videos. The "U + Ur Hand" video was shot in Sun Valley, California, at the Haziza Gallery in Los Angeles, at La Center Studios and at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California in December 2005. Pink stated that in the "U + Ur Hand" video she was "glammed" up and that it took four hours of make up and one hour of shooting for every different look in the video. She said she wanted it to be "a colorful video".

+ Release dates and formats for "U + Ur Hand" Region Date Format Label(s) Ref(s). (Reference(s)) United Kingdom August 28, 2006 CD single RCA Germany September 29, 2006 Sony BMG Australia October 2, 2006 Sony BMG, LaFace Records, LaFace United States October 31, 2006 Contemporary hit radio LaFace