Humpin' Around

"Humpin' Around"
Single by Bobby Brown
from the album Bobby
Released	July 28, 1992 (1992-07-28)
Studio	Studio LaCoCo, Bosstown Recording (Atlanta, Georgia) Larrabee Sound (West Hollywood, California)
Genre	New jack swing[1]
Length	6:18 (album version) 4:20 (7-inch edit)
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Antonio Reid Kenneth Edmonds Daryl Simmons Bobby Brown Thomas Keyes Jan C. "Stylz" Styles
Producer(s)	L.A. Reid Babyface Daryl Simmons
Bobby Brown singles chronology
"Word to the Mutha!" (1991) "Humpin' Around" (1992) "Good Enough" (1992)
"Two Can Play That Game (remix)" (1995) "Humpin' Around (remix)" (1995) "My Prerogative (remix)" (1995)
Music video
"Humpin' Around" on YouTube

"Humpin' Around" is a song by American singer Bobby Brown. It is rumored that the song was originally titled "Fuckin' Around", with the name later changed to make it more radio friendly, and to avoid potential censorship.^[citation needed] The song contains an interpolation of "Dancing Days" by Led Zeppelin.[2]

Released in July 1992 by MCA, "Humpin' Around" spent two weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Worldwide, the single reached number one in Australia, number two in New Zealand, number five in Spain and Sweden, and the top 10 in at least seven other countries.

In 1995, British electronic music group K-Klass remixed the song and released it following the success of their remix of Brown's "Two Can Play That Game". This new version saw the song reach the UK top 10 for the first time, peaking at number eight on the UK Singles Chart, and it was also included on Brown's 1995 remix album, Two Can Play That Game.

Critical reception

James Hamilton from British magazine Music Week's RM Dance Update described the 1995 K-Klass remix as a "three years old hit totally revamped as a superb melodically whined Michael Jackson-ish strider".[3]

Music videos

The music video for the song features Brown dancing outside with women in cages, with cut scenes of a girl trying to break in to his phone and personal belongings to find his mistress in NYC. A second video was shot primarily outside for the dance remix, along with random shots and outtakes from the original video.

Track listing

"Humpin' Around"

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Humpin Around"	6:18
2.	"Humpin' Around" (Dance mix)	6:50
3.	"Humpin Around" (video edit)	4:25
Total length:		17:33

Personnel

• Bobby Brown: lead vocals, songwriter, rap
• Jan C. "Stylz" Styles: songwriter, rap
• Thomas Keyes: songwriter
• Babyface: songwriter, producer, arranger, keyboards, synthesized bass, drum programming, background vocals
• L.A. Reid: songwriter, producer, arranger, drum programming
• Daryl Simmons: songwriter, producer, arranger, background vocals
• Donald Parks: drum programming, MIDI and Synclavier programming
• Emanuel Officer: background vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Original version Chart (1992–1993) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 10 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] 38 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 6 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[9] 2 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 13 Europe (European Dance Radio)[11] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 11 Germany (GfK)[13] 10 Ireland (IRMA)[14] 26 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 2 Norway (VG-lista)[18] 7 Portugal (AFP)[19] 8 Spain (AFYVE)[20] 5 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 21 UK Singles (OCC)[23] 19 UK Dance (Music Week)[24] 7 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 3 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[26] 15 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[27] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[28] 6 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[29] 6 1995 K-Klass remix Chart (1995) Peak position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[30] 32 Europe (European Dance Radio)[31] 14 Germany (GfK)[32] 34 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 26 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 34 Scotland (OCC)[35] 17 UK Singles (OCC)[36] 8 UK Dance (OCC)[37] 2

Year-end charts Original version Chart (1992) Position Australia (ARIA)[38] 25 Belgium (Ultratop)[39] 73 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[40] 70 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[41] 18 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[42] 82 Europe (European Dance Radio)[43] 3 Germany (Official German Charts)[44] 72 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[45] 74 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[46] 73 New Zealand (Record Music NZ)[47] 22 US Billboard Hot 100[48] 33 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[49] 38 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[50] 85

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38]	Gold	35,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[51]	Gold	5,000^*
United States (RIAA)[52]	Gold	500,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Version	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	Original	July 28, 1992	Cassette	MCA	[53]
United Kingdom		August 10, 1992	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[54]
United States		August 11, 1992	CD		[55]
Japan		August 26, 1992	Mini-CD		[56]
United States		September 28, 1992	VHS		[57]
United Kingdom	K-Klass remix	June 26, 1995	12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[58]

See also

• List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1990s
• List of number-one R&B singles of 1992 (U.S.)

References

1. Bream, Jon (January 22, 1997). "Reunited". Star-News. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
2. "Humpin' Around by Bobby Brown". WhoSampled. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
3. Hamilton, James (July 1, 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 15. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
4. "Bobby Brown – Humpin' Around". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
5. "Bobby Brown – Humpin' Around" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
6. "Bobby Brown – Humpin' Around" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
7. "Bobby Brown – Humpin' Around" (in French). Ultratop 50.
8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1905." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
9. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 1894." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 38. September 19, 1992. p. 21. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
11. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 36. September 5, 1992. p. 20. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
12. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
13. "Bobby Brown – Humpin' Around" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Humpin' Around". Irish Singles Chart.
15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
16. "Bobby Brown – Humpin' Around" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
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19. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 20. May 15, 1993. p. 24. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
20. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
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24. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 22, 1992. p. 20. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
25. "Bobby Brown Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
26. "Bobby Brown Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
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28. "Bobby Brown Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
29. "Bobby Brown Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
30. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 29. July 22, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
31. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 31. August 5, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
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35. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
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38. "1992 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
39. "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
40. "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. December 19, 1992. p. 8. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
41. "The RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. December 19, 1992. p. 25. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
42. "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 17. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
43. "1992 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 20. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
44. "Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
45. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1992". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
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49. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
50. Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
51. "New Zealand single certifications – Bobby Brown – Humpin' Around". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
52. "American single certifications – Bobby Brown – Humpin' Around". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
53. "Humpin' Around". Amazon. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
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55. "Humpin Around". Amazon. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
56. "ハンピン・アラウンド | ボビー・ブラウン" [Humpin' Around | Bobby Brown] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
57. Humpin Around [VHS]. ASIN 6302555205.
58. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 24, 1995. p. 43.