Good Vibrations

Album: Music For The People (1991)
Charted: 14 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Marky Mark is Mark Wahlberg, who has acted in the movies Boogie Nights, Three Kings, and Planet Of The Apes. Before he was an actor, he released two rap albums. "Good Vibrations," a song about living life to the fullest, was his first single and by far his biggest hit. When he started acting, rumor had it that Wahlberg got very upset at the mention of his days as a rap singer or the nickname "Marky Mark."
  • Wahlberg was an original member of New Kids on the Block. He quit after a few months, but his older brother, Donnie, stayed with the group.
  • Wahlberg's brother Donnie produced the album and helped him write this song. Donnie was considered a member of The Funky Bunch.
  • The hook is built from a sample of "Love Sensation," a 1980 song by the disco singer Loleatta Holloway, who is credited as a featured vocalist on the track. "Love Sensation," written and produced by Dan Hartman ("I Can Dream About You"), was pilfered two years earlier by the Italian producers of Black Box, who used Holloway's vocals uncredited for their song "Ride On Time," a #1 UK hit.
  • While the song was very popular for its anti-drug message in a rap lyric, its success is often undermined by the much-maligned line where Wahlberg proudly declares that he's "anti-DRUGGIE." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    S.D. - Denver, CO
  • This was used in the movie The Mighty Ducks and also appeared on the soundtracks to the next two Mighty Ducks movies.
  • "Good Vibrations" appeared in commercials for Calvin Klein underwear in which Wahlberg starred. Part of his stage act was wearing his pants real low and sometimes dropping them and dancing in his Calvins.
  • Actress Traci Bingham is in the video. She went on to join the cast of Baywatch in 1996.
  • This plays in the closing credits of the movie Rock Star, which stars Wahlberg as the lead singer of a tribute band who becomes the lead singer of the band he worships, only to realize that the lifestyle is not for him.
  • In 2013, this was used in the trailer for the movie Don Jon. A year later, it was featured in a commercial for the Chevrolet Cruze where the passenger sings along to the song, to the annoyance of the driver. Also in 2014, the song played in the Southwest spot "Wedding Dancer," an appropriate choice considering how popular it is with wedding DJs.

Comments: 7

  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI didn't know Dan Hartman died of a brain tumor? I love this song.I also didn't know Marky Mark was part of NKOTB for a few weeks.
  • Rachel Gonzalez from Holtville, CaI really like the song and the video is really kool and plus Mr. Wahlburg gives the song and video a bonus!!
  • Mike from Hueytown , AlGreat motivational song. Good to run and excercise by
  • Joey from Boston, MaThis song has a very strong anti-drug message, so it's kinda funny that Mark rose to fame playing a coke snorting, well endowned porn star named Dirk Diggler.
  • Pam from Port Saint Lucie, Fli stand corrected... I re-read the comment i was referring to so disregard my last post... and now i feel like an idiot...HAVE A NICE DAY!
    --Rollergurl@adelphia.net
  • Pam from Port Saint Lucie, FlCorrection in above comment made about NKOTB...it was Mark Wahlberg's older brother, Donnie, that was in NKOTB. Not Mark.
  • Kristy from Saco, MeDonnie Whalberg, Mark's brother, was in The Sixth Sense with Bruce Willis. At the very beginning of the movie, the old patient of his who shoots himself is Whalberg.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."