"Whatzupwitu" | ||||
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Single by Eddie Murphy featuring Michael Jackson | ||||
from the album Love's Alright | ||||
B-side | "I Was a King" | |||
Released | March 30, 1993 | |||
Recorded | January 1992 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:21 | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Eddie Murphy singles chronology | ||||
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Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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"Whatzupwitu" (pronounced "what's up with you") is a 1993 R&B song by Eddie Murphy, featuring Michael Jackson. It is included as the sixth track on Murphy's third studio album Love's Alright . Jackson decided to participate in the song and video since he thought the lyrics had a positive message. [1]
AllMusic editor Steven McDonald wrote that despite being a featured artist, Jackson "steals 'Whatzupwitu' outright." [2]
"Whatzupwitu" has been noted for its music video, directed by Wayne Isham and Klasky Csupo, [3] [4] which was inspired by the album's cover art and also uses computer graphics. [5] This followed Murphy's guest appearance in Jackson's music video for "Remember the Time". It was voted by MTV viewers in 1999 as the third worst music video of all time, and permanently retired on the channel from being aired in its entirety on the MTV special 25 Lame. [6] The beginning of the video features Murphy looking through a puddle of water. In the puddle, there is a sad clown that says, "The elephant is dying." Then, there is an animated scene of three elephants standing on top of a sea turtle while holding the Earth on their backs. The scene changes to Murphy singing over various special effects over a blue sky, before Jackson appears and begins to sing along with him. The music video also features the Harlem Boys Choir singing and dancing around them.
CD maxi single (Netherlands) [7]
12" promo (US) [8]
12" single (US) [9]
| CD promo (US) [10]
CD single (France) [11]
|
Chart (1993) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA) [12] | 88 |
France (SNEP) [13] | 36 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [14] | 50 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [15] | 74 |
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