"On & On" - Erykah Badu

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   I have a version of Erykah Badu's "On & On" on my Promo Only Mainstream Radio subscription CD series that's billed as the "Clean Version" and runs 3:45.  I compared it to the song as it appears on the Urban Grooves various artist CD (UTV 314545253) to try to determine what the differences are.  What immediately strikes me is the "Clean Version" opens with Badu quickly saying "Mmm hmm" before the music kicks in, while the version on Urban Grooves does not have the "Mmm hmm" and immediately starts with the music.  The two versions are otherwise identical except the "Clean Version" removes the word "God" from the verse: "___ damnit I'mma sing my song" at the 1:13 mark and removes the f-word at 3:30.  (Interestingly, the "Clean Version" leaves in the word "ass" at 3:06.)

A quick internet search finds that a promo CD single release of "On & On" contains the following tracks:

1) Clean Version

2) Album Version

3) Acapella Version

4) Instrumental Version

If someone who has this CD could pass along the pertinent run time info, it would be very much appreciated.

Meanwhile, back to the intro... Does anyone know if the album and single contain the "Mmm hmm" at the very beginning?

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Todd Ireland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 16 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Todd Ireland Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: "On & On" - Erykah Badu Posted: 19 September 2009 at 10:51pm
	I have a version of Erykah Badu's "On & On" on my Promo Only Mainstream Radio subscription CD series that's billed as the "Clean Version" and runs 3:45. I compared it to the song as it appears on the Urban Grooves various artist CD (UTV 314545253) to try to determine what the differences are. What immediately strikes me is the "Clean Version" opens with Badu quickly saying "Mmm hmm" before the music kicks in, while the version on Urban Grooves does not have the "Mmm hmm" and immediately starts with the music. The two versions are otherwise identical except the "Clean Version" removes the word "God" from the verse: "___ damnit I'mma sing my song" at the 1:13 mark and removes the f-word at 3:30. (Interestingly, the "Clean Version" leaves in the word "ass" at 3:06.) A quick internet search finds that a promo CD single release of "On & On" contains the following tracks: 1) Clean Version 2) Album Version 3) Acapella Version 4) Instrumental Version If someone who has this CD could pass along the pertinent run time info, it would be very much appreciated. Meanwhile, back to the intro... Does anyone know if the album and single contain the "Mmm hmm" at the very beginning?

jimct Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 07 April 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote jimct Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 September 2009 at 11:33pm
	Todd, I don't have the promo CD single you found on the Internet, but Universal sent us a "cut-out commercial CD single" that looks very similar to your listed tracks, and here are the particulars: Erykah Badu-"On & On" (UDS-56002) 1-Clean Version (listed & actual 3:47) (with "Mmm Hmm") 2-Album Version (listed & actual 3:47) (with "Mmm Hmm") 3-Acapella (listed & actual 3:47) 4-Instrumental (listed 3:47; actual 3:46) 5-(Four other album snippets) However, I do also have one 2-track promo CD single for this song, featuring seemingly different versions, and here are those details: Erykah Badu-"On & On" (U5P-1150) 1-Mid-bass Edit (listed & actual 3:47) (with "Mmm Hmm") 2-Dance Mix (Radio Edit) (listed 3:50; actual 3:47) (a "Mmm Hmm" is first heard at the :03 mark of this version)

Todd Ireland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 16 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Todd Ireland Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 September 2009 at 11:42pm
	Thanks for the update, Jim!

aaronk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 16 January 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 89	Post Options Post Reply Quote aaronk Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 September 2009 at 7:16am
	The "Mid-bass Edit" is interesting, Jim. This song is VERY bass-heavy, which would typically make it sound quieter on most radio stations, even after running through a compressor. I wonder if the label toned down the bass to make it more playable on the air.

Todd Ireland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 16 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Todd Ireland Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 May 2010 at 10:28pm
	Can anyone verify if the "mmm hmm" appears at the very beginning of "On and On" on the Baduism CD (Universal Records 53027)? If so, that would make it the official "LP version", which would mean the track on the Urban Grooves disc is the LP version but missing the opening "mmm hmm".

Pat Downey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 01 October 2003 Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pat Downey Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2010 at 5:25pm
	Todd, I have the Baduism cd and the "mmm hmm" is assigned to track 1 which is the rimshot intro. "On And On" is track 2 and it does not start with "mmm hmm" and does include "God damnit" at 1:13. So what I call the LP version in the database is the version found on th Baduism cd with no "mmm hmm". What I am calling the 45 version is the "clean" version mentioned above on the commercial cd single and that does include the "mmm hmmm" and no "God damnit".

Todd Ireland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 16 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote Todd Ireland Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2010 at 6:29pm
	Ah, ok. Thanks for clearing this up, Pat.