Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

"Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." is a song by American dance group C+C Music Factory. It was released in June 1991 as the third single from their debut album, Gonna Make You Sweat (1990). The single features Freedom Williams and he is also seen in the accompanying music video. The song was inspired by a running gag on The Arsenio Hall Show, where Arsenio, while allegedly on a long drive, pondered certain thoughts and referred to them as "things that make you go hmmm...."

"Things That Make You Go Hmmm..."
Single by C+C Music Factory
from the album Gonna Make You Sweat
Released	June 12, 1991 (1991-06-12)
Length	5:23
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Robert Clivillés Freedom Williams
Producer(s)	Robert Clivillés David Cole
C+C Music Factory singles chronology
"Here We Go (Let's Rock & Roll)" (1991) "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." (1991) "Just a Touch of Love" (1991)
Music video
"Things That Make You Go Hmmmm..." on YouTube

The C+C song was a success in the US, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100, number 31 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, and number 20 on the Top 40 Radio Monitor. It also reached number four on the UK Singles Chart. The song was certified gold by the RIAA on August 13, 1991, for sales of over 500,000 copies.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis noted that the song "took a phrase popularized by Arsenio Hall and made it into another cleverly infectious Top Ten smash."^[1] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "After forging a guitar-driven pop/hiphop sound that is being heavily copied by others, groove clique deftly sidesteps into James Brown-style funk territory. Rapper Freedom Williams tells amusing tales amid retro-horns and percussion."^[2] Penelope Layland from The Canberra Times stated that it is "the best track on the album", "with its clever, catchy lyrics and smooth beat."^[3]

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented that writers/producers Cole and Clivillés "have successfully crossbred a unique brand of rap and melody that's taken them on back-to-back trips into the Top Ten. This third entry maintains their infectious rhythm, strengthened by a title that will keep audiences hummmmin'."^[4] A reviewer from Music & Media wrote that "the secret behind the success of these dance/pop providers is the good hook in their songs. This time it's the saxophone part, which is repeated after each line."^[5]

Chart performance

"Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." proved to be a major hit on several continents and remains one of the group's most successful songs. It soared to the number-one position on both the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play chart in the United States and the RPM Dance/Urban chart in Canada. In Europe, the single climbed into the top 10 in Finland, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the latter, it peaked at number four in its fourth week at the UK Singles Chart, on July 21, 1991.^[6] Additionally, it was a top 20 hit on the UK Dance Singles Chart, as well as in the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. In Oceania, "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." hit number two and six in New Zealand and Australia. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at number four. The single was awarded with a gold record in the US, after 500,000 singles were sold there.

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by German director Marcus Nispel. It features silhouetted animation of dancers jumping and dancing in front of a white background, with a stage visible, but also in silhouette. The story of the song is also interpreted with black and gold cut-out animation.^[7]

Impact and legacy

Australian music channel Max included "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2013.^[8]

Track listings

7-inch single, Europe "Things That Make You Go Hmmm...." (7-inch remix) – 4:10 "Things That Make You Go Hmmm...." (LP version) – 5:22 12-inch, US; CD maxi, Japan "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm..." (The Clivillés & Cole Pumped album mix) – 5:19 "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm..." (The Clivillés & Cole Deep house mix) – 5:13 "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm..." (The Clivillés & Cole classic house mix) – 7:05

CD single, Australia "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm..." (LP version) – 5:24 "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" (Clivilles & Cole D.J's Choice mix) – 5:01 "Here We Go" (The Cole/Clivilles house mix) – 7:45 CD maxi, Europe "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." (C&C Classic house mix) – 7:05 "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." (C&C Deep house mix) – 5:13 "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." (alt. radio mix 2) – 4:49

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1991) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[9] 6 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[10] 14 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)^[11] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[12] 12 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[13] 10 Germany (Official German Charts)^[14] 27 Ireland (IRMA)^[15] 9 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[16] 26 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[17] 19 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[18] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[19] 14 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[20] 15 UK Singles (OCC)^[21] 4 UK Dance (Music Week)^[22] 11 US Billboard Hot 100^[23] 4 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[24] 1 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[25] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[26] 31

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position Australia (ARIA)^[27] 28 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)^[28] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[29] 12 UK Singles (OCC)^[30] 53 US Billboard Hot 100^[31] 51 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)^[27] Gold 35,000^^ New Zealand (RMNZ)^[32] Gold 5,000^* United States (RIAA)^[33] Gold 500,000^^ ^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	June 12, 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Columbia	^[33]
United Kingdom	June 24, 1991			^[34]

In popular culture

British girl group Stooshe covered the song and released it in 2013 as a B-side to their single "Black Heart", under the title "Things That Make You Go Mmm". The single reached number three in the UK and number four in Scotland.

References

1. Promis, Jose F. "C+C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat". AllMusic. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
2. Flick, Larry (July 13, 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
3. Layland, Penelope (February 7, 1991). "Sound of the future with a tribute to the past". The Canberra Times. p. 15. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
4. Sholin, Dave (July 5, 1991). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1863. p. 52. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
5. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. July 27, 1991. p. 11. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
6. "Official Singles Chart Top 75 21 July 1991 - 27 July 1991". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
7. "C+C Music Factory - Things That Make You Go Hmmmm.... (Video Version) ft. Freedom Williams". October 25, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2020 – via YouTube.
8. "THE TOP 1,000 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME – 2013". Max. 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
9. "C & C Music Factory feat. Freedom Williams – Things That Make You Go Hmmm....". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1642." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
11. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 1608." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 32. August 10, 1991. p. 21. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
13. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
14. "C & C Music Factory feat. Freedom Williams – Things That Make You Go Hmmm...." (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Things That Make You Go Hmmm". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
17. "C & C Music Factory feat. Freedom Williams – Things That Make You Go Hmmm...." (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
18. "C & C Music Factory feat. Freedom Williams – Things That Make You Go Hmmm....". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
19. "C & C Music Factory feat. Freedom Williams – Things That Make You Go Hmmm....". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
20. "C & C Music Factory feat. Freedom Williams – Things That Make You Go Hmmm....". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
22. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 13, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
23. "Freedom Williams Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
24. "Freedom Williams Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
25. "Freedom Williams Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
26. "Freedom Williams Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
27. "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1991". ARIA. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
28. "RPM Dance Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
29. "End of Year Charts 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
30. "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. January 11, 1992. p. 20.
31. "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. YE-14.
32. "New Zealand single certifications – C & C Music Factory – Things That Make You Go Hmmm". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
33. "American single certifications – Music Factory – Things That Make You Go Hmmmm ..." Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
34. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 22, 1991. p. 19.