View source for What's Up? (song)

"'''What's Up?'''" is a song by American rock group 4 Non Blondes from their 1992 debut album, ''Bigger, Better, Faster, More!'' It was released as the album's second single in 1993. It was successful in the United States<ref name="guitarcenter">{{cite web|title=Linda Perry interview|url=http://gc.guitarcenter.com/interview/linda-perry/|work=Guitar Center|accessdate=February 12, 2012|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235058/http://gc.guitarcenter.com/interview/linda-perry/|archivedate=March 3, 2016}}</ref> and in several European countries, peaking at number one in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland.

==Background and writing==
The title does not appear in the song's lyrics. However, the phrase "what's going on?" is prominently included in the chorus. The title was chosen to avoid confusion with Marvin Gaye's 1971 song "What's Going On".<ref name="songfacts">{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1853 |title="What's Up?" entry |publisher=Songfacts.com |date=1989-10-17 |accessdate=2016-09-12}}</ref> Linda Perry told ''Rolling Stone'' that she hated the song's production.<ref>{{cite web|last=Greene |first=Andy |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/linda-perry-forms-new-band-admits-she-never-liked-4-non-blondes-20110330 |title=Linda Perry Forms New Band, Admits She Never Liked 4 Non Blondes |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2011-03-30 |accessdate=2016-09-12}}</ref> Perry revealed on ''Behind the Music'' that she hated David Tickle's reworked version (with different lyrics) intended to be used for their album. She had told this to Jimmy Iovine, who agreed, preferring Perry's demo version over Tickle's. Tickle's instrumental (over the original vocals) could be heard on Perry's episode of ''Behind the Music''; Tickle's version was never released. The final version was recorded in one day after Iovine allowed 4 Non Blondes to re-record Perry's demo version. The music video was directed by Morgan Lawley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtvmusic.my/artist/four_non_blondes/videos/46181/whats_up |title=Watch Music Videos, Artist Playlists &#124; MTV Asia |publisher=Mtvmusic.my |date=1993-01-12 |accessdate=2016-09-12}}</ref>

==Critical reception and chart performances==
"What's Up?" ranks number 94 on VH1's ''100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders'',<ref name="vh1">[http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/62172/episode_about.jhtml VH1's "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113072924/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/62172/episode_about.jhtml |date=November 13, 2007 }}</ref> and ranks 86 on the MuchMore ''The Top 100 One Hit Wonders''.<ref name="mm100">{{cite web|url=http://www.muchmore.ca/shows/the-top-100-one-hit-wonders/|title=The Top 100 One Hit Wonders|publisher=MuchMore|accessdate=2012-11-22}}</ref>

The recording received considerable airplay success. It reached number 14 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and went gold, but peaked higher in many other countries, reaching number one in Germany and Ireland, while reaching number two in the United Kingdom and Australia.

However, Gawker journalist Brian Moylan included the track in an unranked list of the "10 Party Songs We Never Ever Want to Hear Again".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/5586057/10-party-songs-we-never-ever-want-to-hear-again |title=10 Party Songs We Never Ever Want to Hear Again |last=Moylan |first=Brian |date=14 July 2010 |publisher=Gawker |accessdate=17 May 2016 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506004121/http://gawker.com/5586057/10-party-songs-we-never-ever-want-to-hear-again |archivedate=May 6, 2016 |df= }}</ref>

==Track listings==
'''7" single / CD single'''
# "What's Up?" – 4:16
# "What's Up?" (piano version) – 4:09

'''CD maxi'''
# "What's Up?" (edit) – 4:16
# "What's Up?" (remix) – 4:51
# "Train" – 3:47
# "What's Up?" (piano version) – 4:09

'''Cassette'''
# "What's Up?" (LP version)
# "Train" (LP version)
# "What's Up?" (LP version)
# "Train" (LP version)

==Personnel==
* Written by L. Perry
* Mastered by Stephen Marcussen
* Recorded, mixed and produced by David Tickle
* Engineer: Laurent Tardy

==Charts and sales==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1993)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{singlechart|Australia|2|song=4 Non Blondes|artist=What's Up?}}
|-
{{singlechart|Austria|1|song=4 Non Blondes|artist=What's Up?}}
|-
{{singlechart|Flanders|1|song=4 Non Blondes|artist=What's Up?}}
|-
|Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.2186&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 |title=Canadian peak |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date= |accessdate=2016-09-12}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|33
|-
|Denmark (IFPI)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-09-25.pdf|title=Top 10 Denmark|publisher=Music & Media|accessdate=2018-02-26}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|Finland (The Official Finnish Charts)<ref name="Pennanan">Pennanen, Timo. ''Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972''. Otava Publishing Company Ltd, 2003. {{ISBN|951-1-21053-X}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|15
|-
{{singlechart|France|3|song=4 Non Blondes|artist=What's Up?}}
|-
{{singlechart|Germany|1|song=4 Non Blondes|artist=What's Up?}}
|-
|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timarit.is/files/11766870.pdf#navpanes=1&view=FitH|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (05.08.1993 - 11.08.1993)|publisher=Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist|accessdate=2018-02-04}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|Ireland (IRMA)<ref name="irishcharts">Irish Singles Chart. [http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement Irishcharts.ie]. Retrieved April 7, 2009. Chart can't be linked directly; you must search for '''''What's Up?''''' or '''''4 Non Blondes'''''.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|Italy (FIMI)<ref name="hitparadeitalia">{{cite web|url=http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/hp_weeks/93/hp931023.htm|title=Hit Parade Italia|accessdate=April 30, 2012|language=Italian}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch40|1|song=4 Non Blondes|artist=What's Up?}}
|-
|Netherlands (GfK Dutch Chart)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=4+Non+Blondes&titel=What%27s+Up%3F&cat=s |title= What's up ? in GfK Dutch Chart |publisher= Hung Medien |accessdate= 18 June 2013}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{singlechart|New Zealand|2|song=4 Non Blondes|artist=What's Up?}}
|-
{{singlechart|Norway|1|song=4 Non Blondes|artist=What's Up?}}
|-
{{singlechart|Sweden|1|song=4 Non Blondes|artist=What's Up?}}
|-
{{singlechart|Swiss|1|song=4 Non Blondes|artist=What's Up?}}
|-
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|2|artist=4 Non Blondes|song=What's Up?|accessdate=June 3, 2017}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|14|artist=4 Non Blondes|accessdate=June 3, 2017}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|29|artist=4 Non Blondes|accessdate=June 3, 2017}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|16|artist=4 Non Blondes|accessdate=June 3, 2017}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|15|artist=4 Non Blondes|accessdate=June 3, 2017}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1993)
!Position
|-
|Australian Singles Chart<ref name="aria">{{cite web |title=1993 Australian Singles Chart |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50-singles-1993.htm |publisher=aria |accessdate=April 15, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
|Austrian Singles Chart<ref name="austriancharts">{{cite web|title=1993 Austrian Singles Chart |url=http://www.austriancharts.at/1993_single.asp |publisher=Austriancharts |language=German |accessdate=April 15, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924015631/http://www.austriancharts.at/1993_single.asp |archivedate=September 24, 2010 |df= }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|Dutch Top 40<ref name="Dutch">{{cite web |url=http://www.top40.nl/pdf/Top%20100/top%20100%20-%201993.pdf |title=Single top 100 over 1993 |publisher=Top40 |language=Dutch |format=PDF |accessdate=April 15, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|align="left"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nztop40.co.nz/index.php/chart/?chart=3882|title=End of Year Charts 1993|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"|10
|-
|Swiss Singles Chart<ref name="swisscharts">{{cite web |title=1993 Swiss Singles Chart |url=http://www.swisscharts.com/year.asp?key=1993 |publisher=Swisscharts |language=German |accessdate=April 15, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="longboredsurfer">{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993 |title=Billboard Top 100 – 1993 |accessdate=August 27, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110095203/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993 |archivedate=November 10, 2006 |df= }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|50
|}

===Certifications===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=What's Up?|artist=4 Non Blondes|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1993|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/tuR8boA.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 13 Feb 1994|publisher=ARIA|accessdate=27 February 2016}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|title=What's Up?|artist=4 Non Blondes|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1993|accessdate=12 January 2015|certref=<ref>Austrian certifications. [http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin ifpi.at] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511092844/http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin |date=May 11, 2011 }}. Retrieved April 4, 2009. Chart can't be linked directly; you must search for '''''What's Up''''' or '''''4 Non Blondes'''''.</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=What's Up?|artist=4 Non Blondes|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1993|accessdate=12 January 2015|certref=<ref>{{cite certification|region=Germany|title=What's Up|accessdate=April 4, 2009}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|title=What's Up?|artist=4 Non Blondes|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1993|accessdate=June 25, 2018|certyear=2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands |title=What's Up?|artist=4 Non Blondes|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1993|accessdate=12 January 2015|certref=<ref>Dutch certifications. [http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=60461#resultaat nvpi.nl]. Retrieved April 4, 2009. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215103705/http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=60461#resultaat |date=February 15, 2009 }}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden |title=What's Up?|artist=4 Non Blondes|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1993|accessdate=12 January 2015|certref=<ref name="ifpi.se">[http://www.ifpi.se/wp-content/uploads/guld-platina-1987-1998.pdf Swedish certifications] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521214300/http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/guld-platina-1987-1998.pdf |date=May 21, 2012 }}. Ifpi.se. Retrieved April 4, 2009.</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=What's Up?|artist=4 Non Blondes|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=1993|accessdate=12 January 2015|certref=<ref name="BPI">{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=4 Non Blondes|title=What's Up?|accessdate=1 November 2012}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=4 Non Blondes|title=What's Up|type=single|award=Gold|salesamount=700,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FwgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA73 |title=Best-Selling Records of 1993 |work=Billboard|publisher=BPI Communications|date=15 January 1994 |accessdate=4 May 2015 |page=73 |issn=0006-2510|volume=106|number=3}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true}}
{{col-end}}

==DJ Miko version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = What's Up
| cover      = DJMikoWhat'sUp.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = DJ Miko
| album      = The Last Millennium
| B-side     = 
| released   = 1993
| format     =
*7" single
*12" single
*CD single
*CD maxi
*cassette
| recorded   = 1993
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = Dance
| length     =
*3:45 (radio edit)
*4:35 (club edit)
| label      = ZYX
| writer     = Linda Perry
| producer   = 
| prev_title = 
| prev_year  = 
| next_title = 
| next_year  = 
}}
Italian DJ DJ Miko covered the song as a dance track in 1993 (retitled without the question mark) with vocals provided by British singer Louise Gard. DJ Miko's version was a modest hit in Europe in late 1993 and early 1994, reaching number five in Italy and Spain and number 17 in Sweden. The song was then released worldwide in spring 1994, peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart, number eight on the  Irish Singles Chart, number 58 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and number 19 on the ''Billboard'' Dance Club Songs chart. In the Australasia region, "What's Up" was popular in New Zealand, reaching number 23 on the RIANZ Singles Chart chart, but it was a commercial failure in Australia, reaching only number 92 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Although the song was released as a stand-alone single, it later appeared on DJ Miko's sole album, ''The Last Millennium'', in 1999.

===Charts===
====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1993–1994)
!Peak<br>position
|-
|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/2Vwddrs.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 10 Apr 1994|publisher=ARIA|accessdate=September 26, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|92
|-
{{singlechart|Ireland2|8|song=What's Up|accessdate=September 26, 2018}}
|-
|Italy (Hit Parade Italia)<ref name="hpi">{{cite web|url=http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/hp_yends/hpe1993.htm|title=I singoli più venduti del 1993|publisher=Hit Parade Italia|language=Italian|accessdate=September 26, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|5
|-
{{singlechart|New Zealand|23|artist=DJ Miko|song=What's Up?|accessdate=September 26, 2018}}
|-
{{singlechart|Scotland|2|date=19940820|accessdate=September 26, 2018}}
|-
|Spain (AFYVE)<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref> 
|align="center"|5
|-
{{singlechart|Sweden|17|artist=DJ Miko|song=What's Up?|accessdate=September 26, 2018}}
|-
{{singlechart|UK|6|date=19940820|accessdate=September 26, 2018}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|58|artist=DJ Miko|accessdate=September 26, 2018}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboarddanceclubplay|19|artist=DJ Miko|accessdate=September 26, 2018}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardrhythmic|23|artist=DJ Miko|accessdate=September 26, 2018}}
|}

====Year-end charts====
{|class="wikitable"
!Chart (1993)
!Position
|-
|Italy (Hit Parade Italia)<ref name="hpi"/>
|align="center"|40
|}

==Minnesota version==
German eurodance group Minnesota covered the song as a dance version in late 1993. It reached number one on the dance chart in Canada and charted in Belgium and Switzerland.

===Charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1993–1994)
!Peak<br>position
|-
{{singlechart|Flanders|21|song=Minnesota|artist=What's Up – Dance Version}}
|-
{{singlechart|Canadadance|1|chartid=2452|accessdate=June 6, 2017}}
|-
{{singlechart|Swiss|22|song=Minnesota|artist=What's Up – Dance Version}}
|}

==In popular culture==
{{in popular culture|date=August 2018}}
The song has been used in numerous forms of media including films, television, video games and as a sample in other musical works.<ref>https://www.whosampled.com/Ariana-Grande/Put-Your-Hearts-Up/</ref>

In 2005, a group of animators known as "Slackcircus" created a video called "Fabulous Secret Powers", featuring He-Man from ''Masters of the Universe'' singing their own cover of the song (and interpolating lyrics from Melissa Manchester's "Don't Cry Out Loud").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://199.204.248.107/~scadmin/~fabadam/ |title=Prince Adams' Fabulous Secret Journal |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520082710/http://199.204.248.107/~scadmin/~fabadam/ |archivedate=2013-05-20 |accessdate=2016-01-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slackcircus.com/storage/reddit/fsp/fsp_history.html |title=Prince Adam in "Fabulous Secret Powers" |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918040103/http://www.slackcircus.com/storage/reddit/fsp/fsp_history.html |archivedate=2013-09-18 |accessdate=2016-01-07 }}</ref> The video has since become an [[Internet meme|internet meme]], with an edited version of the animation (HEYYEYAAEYAAAEYAEYAA) garnering over 143 million views on [[YouTube]] as of September 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ5LpwO-An4 |title=HEYYEYAAEYAAAEYAEYAA|website=Youtube.com |accessdate=2017-04-07}}</ref> In the 2011, the song appeared in the film ''Young Adult'', starring Charlize Theron<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1625346/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd|title=Young Adult (2011) : Soundtracks|website=IMDb.com|accessdate=2017-03-18}}</ref> and Ariana Grande sampled the song in her debut single, ''Put Your Hearts Up''.

In 2015 it appeared in the fourth episode, "What's Going On?", of the Netflix Original series ''Sense8''.<ref>{{cite web|author=What to Stream Now |url=http://www.vulture.com/2015/06/sense8-recap-season-1-episode-4-5-6.html |title=Sense8 Episodes 4–6 Recap: Let's Have an Orgy! |publisher=Vulture |date= |accessdate=2016-09-12}}</ref> The song also appears in the 5th episode of the second season, "Fear Never Fixed Anything" as a remix performed by Riley. Since its feature on the show, the song has become an anthem for the fandom and is often sung by the fans to welcome the cast and crew of the show.

A master recording version of the song was used in ''Rock Band 4''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockbandaide.com/rock-band-4-setlist/ |title=Rock Band 4 Setlist |publisher=RockBandAide |date= |accessdate=2016-09-12}}</ref> A version of the song, sung in Spanish, appeared in the final episode of season one of the television series ''Zoo''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tunefind.com/show/zoo/season-1/24353 |title=Zoo Music - S1E13: "That Great Big Hill…" |publisher=TuneFind |date= |accessdate=2016-09-12}}</ref> In Brazil, the song was included in the international soundtrack of ''Olho no Olho'' telenovela (Rede Globo). Again it was part of a Rede Globo telenovela, titled ''A Lei do Amor'' (2016). In the ''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' episode "Hostage Situation", Jake Peralta and Doug Judy (portrayed by Andy Samberg and Craig Robinson respectively) sing the song at a karaoke club.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|4-non-blondes|whats-up}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->

{{4 Non Blondes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:What's Up? (Song)}}
[[Category:Internet memes]]

{{Sourceattribution|What's Up? (song)|1}}