U + Ur Hand

Infobox Single
Name = U + Ur Hand
Artist = Pink


from Album = I'm Not Dead
B-side = "Crash & Burn"
Released = August 28, 2006 (UK)
October 31, 2006 (U.S. radio)
Format = Digital download, CD single, maxi single
Genre = Pop rock
Length = 3:34
Label = LaFace
Writer = Pink, Max Martin, Dr. Luke and Rami
Producer = Max Martin, Dr. Luke
Certification = Platinum [http://aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2008Singles.htm] (ARIA)
Platinum (RIAA)
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = Pink
Type = non-U.S. singles
Last single = "Who Knew"
(2006)
This single = "U + Ur Hand"
(2006)
Next single = "Nobody Knows"
(2006)Extra chronology
Artist = Pink
Type = U.S. singles
Last single = "Who Knew"
(2006)
This single = "U + Ur Hand"
(2006)
Next single = "Who Knew"
(re-issue)
(2007)

"U + Ur Hand" is a song by Pink, and was the third single released from her fourth album, "I'm Not Dead" (2006). It was one of the five album tracks that leaked onto the internet in July 2005. [Vineyard, Jennifer. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1505789/07142005/pink.jhtml "Leaked Pink Songs Hint At A Rock-Heavy New Album"] . MTV News. July 15 2005. Retrieved February 23 2007.] "U + Ur Hand" was released as a single in Europe, Australia and other selected countries on August 28, 2006. The song is credited with re-energizing sales of "I'm Not Dead" in the U.S.

Writing and controversy

Pink wrote the song with Max Martin, Luke Gottwald, and Rami. According to an interview in the documentary "Making of the U + Ur Hand Video", she always found it irritating when boys were riding on her when she is dancing in a club: "When you turn a boy down in a club you are automatically a lesbian, according to them". She heard a boy once say "Oh well it's just me and my hand tonight" after a girl turned him down. Pink found that funny and started to write a song about it.

The song caused controversy in the U.S. because of its allegedly "racy" references to masturbation, and consequently some radio stations refused to play it. Pink and her publicist stated that she wasn't allowed to sing "U + Ur Hand" on the U.S. television show "American Idol" because of such references.Baldacci, Leslie. [http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/385347,CST-FTR-pink15.article "Shocking pink"] . "Chicago Sun-Times". May 15 2007. Retrieved July 4 2007.] She was asked to change the title and lyric to "U + Ur Heart", but she reportedly 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?". [ [http://www.popdirt.com/article60919.html "Pink Visits Austereo's Kyle And Jackie O"] . popdirt.com. May 25 2007. Retrieved July 4 2007.] She performed "Who Knew" instead.

Release and reception

Pink reportedly wanted "U + Ur Hand" to be the second single from "I'm Not Dead", but "Who Knew" was released as the second and "U + Ur Hand" was instead released as the third. The single had success in Europe, reaching number ten in the United Kingdom, number four in Germany and number eleven in France; it peaked inside the top ten on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.Visakowitz, Susan. [http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN2424168520070324 "Pink's latest album gets another chance"] . Reuters March 24 2007.] 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 twenty-five on ARIA's Top 100 Singles of 2006.

It was released to radio in the United States on October 30. [http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2006 "Available for Airplay - 2006 - 10/30 Mainstream"] . FMBQ. Retrieved July 4 2007.] In January 2007 "U + Ur Hand" debuted on the Hot 100 at number ninety-four, [Cohen, Jonathan. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003527796 "Beyonce's 'Irreplaceable' Starts '07 Atop Hot 100"] . "Billboard". January 4 2007. Retrieved March 2 2007.] 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). "U + Ur Hand" peaked at number twenty-four on the Canadian Hot 100, in the first edition of the chart provided by "Billboard". [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=793&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Canadian+Hot+100&ci=3084652&cdi=9291823&cid=07%2F07%2F2007 "Canadian Hot 100 - U + Ur Hand"] . "Billboard". July 7 2007. Retrieved July 4 2007.]

"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. [Caulfield, Keith. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/ask_bb/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003547156 "Ask Billboard - Pink: Still Not Dead"] . "Billboard". February 16 2007. Retrieved February 23 2007.] The album later re-entered the top 100 on the strength of "U + Ur Hand" and a resurgence of interest in "Who Knew". [Bronson, Fred. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/chat_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003565778 "Chart Beat Chat - Suddenly In The Pink"] . "Billboard". March 30 2007. Retrieved April 3 2007.] 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." One program director at the radio station WBBM-FM attributed the success of the single to its appeal to women, calling it "a female anthem" and "very fitting to people who are sick of getting hit on by guys at the club, and want to give them a nice buzz off ... [i] t's relevant to what's going on with young people". "Rolling Stone" said in their review of "I'm Not Dead" that Pink "sets a proudly bitchy tone in the song", [Walters, Barry. [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pink/albums/album/9558059/review/9580060/im_not_dead "Pink - I'm Not Dead"] . "Rolling Stone". April 4, 2006. Retrieved March 30 2007.] and Allmusic described Pink as "taunting and teasing" in "U + Ur Hand". [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3pfyxqrdldke "I'm Not Dead - Pink"] . Allmusic. Retrieved March 30 2007.] 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". [Clarke, Betty. [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,1742845,00.html "Pink, I'm Not Dead"] . "The Guardian". March 31 2006. Retrieved March 30 2007.]

Music video

Pink shot videos for "U + Ur Hand" and "Stupid Girls" at the same time, 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. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Ivh5kxcBY&mode=related&search= "Making of the U + Ur Hand Video"] , part 1.] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOLwGA8gXaI&mode=related&search= "Making of the U + Ur Hand Video"] , part 2.] 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. [Vineyard, Jennifer. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1519101/12212005/pink.jhtml "Pink Would Rather Fall Off A Car Than Get Glammed Up For Her Videos"] . MTV News. December 21 2005. Retrieved March 23 2007.] She said she wanted it to be "a colorful video". The outfit that Pink was wearing in the bedroom scene consisted of pieces of black lace that was imported from France and cost US$300 per yard of the fabric. The actor in the tea garden scene is Tristan Castro.

The music video for "U + Ur Hand" premiered on Canada's MuchMusic network on July 18, 2006, and was released in Europe at the end of August. In the United States it premiered on MTV's "Total Request Live" on September 29 as the "First Look" for that day. The video reached number one on "TRL" six days after its debut, Pink's second video to reach the top on the countdown after the video for her 2003 single "Trouble".

The video features Pink posing as several of New Zealand artist Martin Emond's characters, including "Baby Red Knuckles", "Rocker Bikerboy" and "Hard Candy". In the video she has six different looks. During the video, Pink is shown reading a book with pictures of each scene that follows. Pink's character is named "Lady Delish". The use of these characters was uncredited and unauthorised. At the time of the video release, Illicit Streetwear and the Martin F. Emond estate were reviewing their options to take action. [ [http://www.illicit.co.nz/news.htm "Pinks Illicit Style"] . Illicit Streetwear. Retrieved October 12 2006.]

Track listings and formats

;2 Tracks CD Single
#U + Ur Hand 3:36
#Crash & Burn 4:28

;Maxi CD single
#U + Ur Hand 3:36
#Crash & Burn 4:28
#U + Ur Hand (BeatCult Remix) 6:42
#U + Ur Hand (Bimbo Jones Vocal Mix) 10:48
#includes "U + Ur Hand" Video Enhancement

(Other official remixes of the song include the Junior Vasquez remix.)

Charts

{| class="wikitable sortable"!align="center"|Chart (2006/2007)!align="center"|Peak
position
-
align="left"|Swedish Singles Chart
align="center"|5
-
align="left"|Swiss Singles Chart
align="center"|5
-
align="left"|UK Singles Chart
align="center"|10
-
align="left"|U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40 [ [http://www.rockonthenet.com/charts/arc.htm http://www.rockonthenet.com/charts/arc.htm] www.rockonthenet.com]
align="center"|2
-
align="left"|U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100
align="center"|9
-
align="left"|U.S. "Billboard" Pop 100 [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=333418&model.vnuAlbumId=765274 "Pink - Artist Chart History"] . "Billboard". Retrieved July 4 2007.]
align="center"|5
-
align="left"|U.S. "Billboard" Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:6ddovw9ua9ek~T51 "Pink - Billboard Singles"] . "Billboard" and Allmusic. Retrieved July 4 2007.]
align="center"|5
-
align="left"|U.S. "Billboard" Hot Dance Airplay
align="center"|1
-
align="left"|United World Chart
align="center"|15

References