NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK - YOU GOT IT (THE RIGHT STUFF)

Released: November 7, 1988

UK: #1 (3 weeks)

“You Got It (The Right Stuff)” was the breakout hit that helped catapult New Kids on the Block into full-blown teen idol status in the late ’80s. Released in 1988 as the second single from their sophomore album “Hangin’ Tough”, the track featured Jordan Knight and Donnie Wahlberg on lead vocals and showcased the group’s catchy, synth-driven pop-R&B style. Known for its unforgettable “oh, oh, oh, OH, oh” vocal hook and synchronized dance moves, the song became a pop culture landmark, adored by fans and parodied by critics. 

Originally titled just “The Right Stuff” on the album, the single was retitled to “You Got It (The Right Stuff)”, likely to avoid confusion with Vanessa Williams’ hit of the same name from earlier in the year. The song’s success was wide-reaching: it hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, went #1 in Australia in August 1989, and topped the UK charts that November, though only after a second release.

A Spanish-language version called “Auténtica” also found success, peaking at #11 in Spain, helping the band reach an international audience. The music video, with its iconic black-and-white aesthetic and signature dance moves, became a pop culture staple paving the way for acts like Backstreet Boys and NSYNC in the decades to come.

Behind the scenes, the song (like the rest of Hangin’ Tough) was the brainchild of Maurice Starr, who not only wrote and produced the track but also played all the instruments. Having previously launched New Edition, Starr followed a similar blueprint with the New Kids — but this time, turning them into a global phenomenon.

The song’s chart story is also interesting: in the UK, their single “Hangin’ Tough” initially flopped at #52, but after “You Got It” topped the chart, “Hangin’ Tough” was re-released and also climbed to #1.