"Unbelievable" is a song written and performed by British alternative rock band EMF, originally appearing on their debut album, Schubert Dip (1991). It was released as a single in the UK in October 1990 by Parlophone, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart on 1 December 1990. It was the 30th-best-selling single of 1990 in the UK,[3] and a top-10 hit also in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden. In the United States, "Unbelievable" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 in 1991. The song was produced by Ralph Jezzard, and contains samples of US comedian Andrew Dice Clay[4] and performance poet Gylan Kain. Its accompanying music video was directed by Josh Taft.
Ian Dench, the band's guitarist and primary songwriter, has stated that the melody of the song came into his head as he was riding his bicycle while thinking of a recent girlfriend who had dumped him.[5] Dench had learned to play classical guitar and also loved the blues. The guitar riff in the song goes from blues mode to flamenco mode, "like the two conflicting sides of his life", as he said in an interview with The Guardian.[5] Singer James Atkins had suggested incorporating influences from Chicago house and Detroit techno, but Dench went for crossover indie/dance music.
The band made a four-track demo and were invited to London by the record labels. Instead the band suggested that label representatives witness the band perform live in the Forest of Dean. Staff from Virgin, Island and EMI wanted to sign them, and EMI won.[5]
The "Oh!" sample comes from a recording of US comedian Andrew Dice Clay, released on Def Jam. The band therefore needed to speak to the Def Jam office in order to clear the sample. They were flown to Los Angeles for a meeting with EMI. During the trip, Dench happened to see Rick Rubin, founder of Def Jam, in a bar. Dench spoke to Rubin about clearing the sample, to which Rubin responded, “Fax my office in the morning.” He cleared the sample free.
Contrary to repeated claims, including from the band themselves in the liner notes and elsewhere,[6] the chopped-up phrase, "What the... WAS that?" – featured prominently in the chorus and throughout – was not sampled from a Black Panther rally speech, but rather a syncopated section of the spoken word song "Silly Shit" by Gylan Kain from his 1970 album The Blue Guerrilla, and its use in the song does not actually include the word "fuck".
"Unbelievable" was released on 22 October 1990 as the first single from the band's debut album Schubert Dip.[citation needed]
The band drew inspiration from American hip-hop for their fashion style, using their first advance to buy puffer jackets like those worn by members of East 17.[5]
Critical reception
In 2018, Bill Lamb from About.com noted that the song "mixed intoxicating rhythms, sweet high vocals from lead singer James Atkin, and rousing shouts to storm to the top of the pop charts."[7] In his review of Schubert Dip, AllMusic editor Alex Henderson described the song as "so insanely infectious",[8] remarking its "dizzying infectiousness". Upon the release, J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun felt the group's material appeals as much to the brain as the body, so that songs such as "Unbelievable" "end up danceable, hummable, and utterly irresistible."[9]Larry Flick from Billboard magazine declared it as a "insinuating, Manchester-influenced rave. Scratchy, neopsychedelic guitar riffs nicely contrast track's hip hop groove, promising extensive exposure here at both club and radio levels."[10]
John Earls of Classic Pop called it "mighty".[11] Annette Petruso from The Michigan Daily stated that the boys from the Forest of Dean "have created an undeniably perfect pop single with the ultra-simple, ultra-catchy and ultra-overplayed "Unbelievable"."[12]Andrew Collins from NME complimented it as a "special record", writing, "It's their first, and it's crunchier than the breakfast cereal Start. Sex-flavoured bass, hoppity drums, unfettered guitar, and a shouting sample that might be stupid old Andrew Dice Clay for all I know — yes, it's got the lot. Drenched in all the same juices that make PWEI so cool, it even sounds like five people were involved in its construction. I believe."[13]
Chart performance
"Unbelievable" entered the top 10 in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In the UK, it peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart during its fifth week, spending two weeks at that position. The single was also a top-10 hit on the Eurochart Hot 100, peaking at number eight in December 1990.[14] Outside Europe, "Unbelievable" was a top-20 hit in New Zealand while entering the top 10 in Australia. In the United States, the song appeared on four different Billboard charts, peaking at number one on the Hot 100, number nine on the Dance Club Play chart, number five on the 12-inch Singles Sales chart and number three on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also reached number one on the Cash Box Top 100. In Canada, "Unbelievable" reached number four on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number three on the RPM Dance chart. The single earned a gold record in Australia, Canada and the US, as well as a silver record in the UK.
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by American music video director Josh Taft.[15] It features the band performing onstage and received heavy rotation on MTV Europe in February 1991.[16]
Impact and legacy
The song was ranked No. 31 on VH1's "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders" in 2002 and No. 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s" in 2007.[17] Australian music channel Max included it in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2011.[18]Rolling Stone listed "Unbelievable" at number 12 in their "20 Biggest Songs of the Summer: The 1990s" list in July 2014.[19] In 2020, Cleveland.com listed it at number 41 in their ranking of the best Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 song of the 1990s.[20] In 2024, Billboard magazine ranked it number 52 in their "The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time", naming it "Andrew Dice Clay’s greatest contribution to polite society."[21]
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