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I Can't Help It (Bananarama song)

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B-side
  
Ecstasy

Format
  
7" single, 12" single

Genre
  
Dance-pop

Released
  
December 1987

Recorded
  
July 1986

Length
  
3:32

"I Can't Help It" is a song written and recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It is included on their fourth studio album Wow! and was released as its third single except in the U.S., where it was the album's second single (following "I Heard a Rumour") and Australia, where it was the album's fourth single (after "I Want You Back"). The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio.

Contents

The song is a disco-influenced pop tune similar to many hits produced by SAW during this time period

The single peaked at number twenty in the UK singles chart, #27 on the Australian ARIA chart (where it was released in August 1988), and just missed the top-forty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. A hit in nightclubs, "I Can't Help It" climbed to number seven on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.

This is the final Bananarama single to feature Siobhan Fahey, who announced her departure shortly after its release.

The photos on the record sleeve were taken by famous American photographer Herb Ritts. The record sleeves for "I Can't Help It" and "Love in the First Degree" were switched with each other for the UK and North American markets.

Music video

The official music video for the song featured muscle men dancing, colourful backdrops, and Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward in a milk bath filled with fruit and naked men. Siobhan Fahey, who was pregnant at the time, also appears but was only shown on camera from the shoulders up. The video was directed by Andy Morahan.

Track listings

7" single NANA 15
  1. "I Can't Help It" 3:31
  2. "Ecstasy" 4:10
2nd 7" single NAN 15
  1. "I Can't Help It" 3:31
  2. "Ecstasy" (Edit) 2:00
  3. "Love in the First Degree" 3:29
12" single NANX 15
  1. "I Can't Help It" (Extended Club Mix) 8:03
  2. "Ecstasy" (Chicago House Stylee) 5:56
2nd 12" single NANXR 15
  1. "I Can't Help It" (The "Hammond Version" Excursion) 6:24
  2. "Ecstasy" (Wild Style) 5:35
UK CD single NANCD 15
  1. "I Can't Help It" (Extended Club Mix) 8:03
  2. "Ecstasy" (Chicago House Stylee - Single Version) 4:10
  3. "Mr Sleaze" (Rare Groove Remix) 6:00
US/Canada 12" single 886 212-1 / LDSX243 + Cassette LDSXC243
  1. "I Can't Help It" (Extended Club Mix) 8:03
  2. "I Can't Help It" 3:36
  3. "Mr Sleaze" (Rare Groove Remix) 6:02
  4. "Mr Sleaze" (Instrumental) 4:12
Other versions
  1. "I Can't Help It" (Club Mix Edit)

Personnel

Bananarama

  • Sara Dallin - Vocals
  • Siobhan Fahey - Vocals
  • Keren Woodward - Vocals

    • Additional Personnel

  • Andrew Biscomb - Sleeve Design
  • Peter Barrett - Sleeve Design
  • Herb Ritts - Photography

    • References

    I Can't Help It (Bananarama song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA