My My My — Armand Van Helden
Armand Van Helden looped Gary Wright’s 1981 “Comin’ Apart” into a summer hit: No. 15 in the UK in 2004, then No. 12 when it came back in 2006.
- Produced by Armand Van Helden, released on Southern Fried on 30 August 2004.
- Built on a sample of Gary Wright’s “Comin’ Apart” (1981).
- UK No. 15 in 2004; the 2006 version with Tara McDonald reached No. 12.
Armand Van Helden has often built club records on unexpected sources. For “My My My” he went to a 1981 Gary Wright album track, looped it, and had a hit — twice.
Boston, a first gig at 13 and a No. 1
Van Helden was born in Boston on 16 February 1970, to an Indonesian-Dutch father and a French mother of Lebanese descent. His father served in the US Air Force, so the family lived in several countries, and he played his first DJ gig at 13. His breakout came with “You Don’t Know Me”, a UK No. 1 from the album 2 Future 4 U (1998). In 2000 “Koochy”, from the album Killing Puritans, rebuilt Gary Numan’s “Cars”. His remix credits include Sneaker Pimps’ “Spin Spin Sugar”. From 2004 he released on Southern Fried.
Gary Wright, looped
“My My My” is built on “Comin’ Apart”, from Gary Wright’s 1981 album The Right Place. The writing credits list Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil alongside Van Helden, Wright, Andreas S. Jensen and Joe Killington. Van Helden produced it himself. The original runs 6:20; the radio edit cuts it to 3:06.
Two chart runs
Southern Fried released the single on 30 August 2004. It reached No. 15 in the UK, No. 5 in Denmark, No. 6 in Australia, No. 9 in Norway and No. 36 in Ireland, and appeared on the album Nympho (2005), which reached No. 48 in the UK and the top 30 in Australia.
In June 2006 it came back as “MyMyMy”, an alternative version sung by Tara McDonald. It went out as a download on 11 June and as a CD single the next day, and reached No. 12 in the UK — three places higher than the original — and No. 25 in Ireland. The song is certified platinum in the UK and gold in Australia and New Zealand.
After “My My My”
Van Helden kept scoring through collaborations. “Bonkers”, with Dizzee Rascal, went to No. 1 in the UK in 2009 and stayed two weeks. As Duck Sauce, with A-Trak, he reached No. 3 with “Barbra Streisand”.
In the mix
The 6:20 original is the DJ version: a long loop with room to mix in and out. For more club records that crossed into the UK chart in the mid-2000s, keep digging with “Flashdance” by Deep Dish and “Put Your Hands Up for Detroit” by Fedde Le Grand.
FAQ
What song does My My My sample?
“Comin’ Apart” by Gary Wright, from his 1981 album The Right Place.
Who sings on My My My?
No vocalist is credited on the 2004 original. The 2006 version, “MyMyMy”, features Tara McDonald.
How high did My My My chart?
No. 15 in the UK in 2004 and No. 12 in 2006; No. 5 in Denmark, No. 6 in Australia and No. 9 in Norway. It is certified platinum in the UK.
