{{short description|1981 single by Daryl Hall & John Oates}} {{use American English|date=May 2020}} {{use mdy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox song | name = I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) | cover = Hall-Oates-ICan'tGoForThat.jpg | alt = | caption = Picture sleeve of British vinyl releases | type = single | artist = [[Hall & Oates|Daryl Hall & John Oates]] | album = [[Private Eyes (Hall & Oates album)|Private Eyes]] | B-side = Unguarded Minute | released = November 1981 | recorded = March 1981 | studio = [[Electric Lady Studios|Electric Lady]], [[New York City]] | genre = * [[Synth-pop]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Fenton |first=Will |title=15 Best Hall & Oates Songs of All Time (Greatest Hits)|url=https://middermusic.com/hall-oates-songs/|website=middermusic|date=May 19, 2023 |quote=The song features a classic 1980s synth-pop production, with a catchy chorus and an infectious beat.}}</ref> * [[soft rock]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://loudwire.com/metallica-enter-sandman-hall-oates-i-cant-go-for-that-mashup/ |title=Hear Metallica Get Mashed Up With Hall & Oates |first=Chad |last=Childers |website=Loudwire |date=March 8, 2015 |quote="...with Hall & Oates' [[light rock]] radio standard, "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)."}}</ref> * [[new wave music|new wave]]<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2021/05/every-no-1-song-of-the-1980s-ranked-from-mad-bogus-to-totally-bodacious.html|title= Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best|first=Troy L.|last= Smith|date= 13 May 2021|website=[[Cleveland.com]]|access-date=18 June 2025|quote=But “I Can’t Go for That” is slick new wave. Hall and Oates’ greatest song is too catchy to deny.}}</ref> * [[Electronic music|electro]]-[[Soul music|soul]]<ref name="PF 2008">{{cite book|title= The Pitchfork 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to Present|first=Eric |last=Harvey|editor1-last=Plagenhoef|editor1-first=Scott|editor2-last=Schreiber|editor2-first=Ryan|date=11 November 2008 |chapter=1980-1982 |page= 50|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster|Fireside Books]]|location= New York City|isbn=9781416562023 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Pitchfork_500/CbO8PAAACAAJ?hl=en|access-date=18 May 2026}}</ref> | length = * 5:09 (album version) * 4:14 (video edit) * 3:45 (single edit) * 6:05 (extended club mix) | label = [[RCA Records|RCA]] | writer = * [[Sara Allen]] * [[Daryl Hall]] * [[John Oates]] | producer = Hall & Oates | prev_title = [[Private Eyes (song)|Private Eyes]] | prev_year = 1981 | next_title = [[Did It in a Minute]] | next_year = 1982 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|ccenFp_3kq8|"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)"}}}} }}
"'''I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)'''" is a song by American duo [[Hall & Oates|Daryl Hall & John Oates]]. Written by [[Daryl Hall]], [[John Oates]] and [[Sara Allen]], the song was released as the second single from their tenth [[studio album]], ''[[Private Eyes (Hall & Oates album)|Private Eyes]]'' (1981). The song became the fourth number one hit single of their career on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. It features [[Charles DeChant]] on [[saxophone]].<ref name="classic-tracks">{{cite web|last=Eskow|first=Gary|date=April 1, 2006|title=Classic Tracks: "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)"|url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_hall_oates_cant/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109101909/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_hall_oates_cant/|archive-date=2014-01-09|access-date=2014-01-13|website=[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]]}}</ref>
==Composition== Daryl Hall sketched out the basic song one evening at a music studio in [[New York City]], in 1981, after a recording session for the ''Private Eyes'' album. Hall started the Rock 1 setting on a [[Roland CR-78|Roland CompuRhythm]] (or an [[Ace Tone]] Rhythm Ace)<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQMT47g7BPE |title="Private Eyes" Album Radio Special 1981 Hall & Oates Interview |date=2017-03-10 |last=shesaclassicgirl |access-date=2026-01-12 |via=YouTube}}</ref> drum machine, then began playing a bass line on a [[Korg]] organ, and sound engineer [[Neil Kernon]] recorded the result. Hall then came up with a guitar riff, which he and Oates worked on together. The next day, Hall, Oates and [[Sara Allen]] worked on the lyrics.<ref name="classic-tracks"/><ref name="Guardian">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/02/hall-and-oates-how-we-made-i-cant-go-for-that-no-can-do-interview |title=Hall and Oates: how we made I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) |last=Simpson |first=Dave |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=2018-04-02 |access-date=2018-09-03}}</ref>
Speaking about the meaning of the lyrics, John Oates has stated that while many listeners may assume the lyrics are about a relationship, in reality, the song, "is about the music business. That song is really about not being pushed around by big [[Record label|labels]], [[Talent manager|managers]], and [[Talent agent|agents]] and being told what to do, and being true to yourself creatively." This was done intentionally, he explained, to universalize the topic of the song into something everyone could relate to and ascribe personal meaning to in their own way. Naming "[[Maneater (Hall & Oates song)|Maneater]]" as another example, he revealed that this was a common characteristic of the group's songs.<ref name=SE>{{cite web|last1=Something Else!|title=Hall and Oates' 'I Can't Go For That' isn't about what you think it's about; neither is 'Maneater'|url=http://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/03/25/hall-and-oates-i-cant-go-for-that-isnt-about-what-you-think-its-about-neither-is-maneater/|website=Something Else!|access-date=27 November 2014|date=24 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=Kauffman>{{cite web|last1=Kauffman|first1=Leah|title=John Oates on his new album, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and what 'I Can't Go For That' is really about|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/music/John_Oates_on_his_new_album_Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame_induction_and_what_I_Cant_Go_For_That_is_really_about_.html|website=Philly.com|access-date=27 November 2014|date=18 March 2014}}</ref>
==Reception== ''[[Record World]]'' said that it "demonstrates the duo's versatility as pop craftsmen" and noted that there are many [[hook (music)|hook]]s.<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=November 7, 1981|page=1|accessdate=2023-03-02|title=Hits of the Week|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/80s/81/RW-1981-11-07.pdf}}</ref>
==Personnel== *[[Daryl Hall]] – [[Lead vocalist|lead vocals]] and [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]], [[Sequential Circuits Prophet-5|synthesizers]], [[Roland CR-78|Roland CR-78 drum machine]] *[[John Oates]] – [[electric guitar]], [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]] *[[Charles DeChant]] – [[saxophone]] *John Siegler – [[keyboard bass]]
==Chart performance== The single debuted at number 59 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] the week of November 14, 1981 as the highest debut of the week and after eleven weeks, on January 30, 1982, it reached the top of the chart, staying there for a week.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=November 14, 1981|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9yQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA108|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|title=Hot 100|access-date=August 16, 2017|pages=108|issn=0006-2510}}</ref><ref name="BB100"/> "I Can't Go for That" ended a 10-week run at the top of the Hot 100 by [[Olivia Newton-John]]'s song, "[[Physical (Olivia Newton-John song)|Physical]]" (which had knocked out Hall & Oates' "[[Private Eyes (song)|Private Eyes]]" from the top spot). The song also went to number one on the [[Dance Club Songs|Hot Dance Club Play]] chart for one week in January 1982.<ref name="BBDisco"/>
Thanks to heavy airplay on [[urban contemporary]] radio stations, "I Can't Go for That" also topped the US [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B chart]], a rare feat for a white act. It was the only record to hit number one on both the [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] and [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|then-Hot Soul]] charts during all of 1982.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1082851/michael-jacksons-thriller-at-30-how-one-album-changed-the-world|last=Greenberg|date=November 30, 2012|first=Steve|title=Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' at 30: How One Album Changed the World|magazine=Billboard|quote=In fact, the only record to hit No. 1 on both the pop and black charts during all of 1982 was by a white act: "I Can't Go For That" by Hall & Oates.|access-date=2017-08-17|language=en}}</ref> The single was certified Gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] for shipments of one million units on January 7, 1982.<ref name="RIAA"/> According to the Hall & Oates biography, Hall, upon learning that "I Can't Go for That" had gone to number one on the R&B chart, wrote in his diary, "I'm the head soul brother in the U.S. Where to now?"
It also peaked at number one on the ''[[Radio & Records]]'' [[Contemporary hit radio|CHR/Pop]] [[Airplay]] chart on December 18, 1981, staying at the top of the chart for six weeks and remaining on it for fifteen weeks, making it their biggest hit on the ''[[Radio & Records|R&R]]'' airplay chart.<ref name="wweb.uta.edu"/> This single was also the first top 10 hit for the duo in the UK, peaking at number eight in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="OCC"/> It was certified Silver by the [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]] on March 1, 1982 for shipments of 250,000 units.<ref name="BPI"/> {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! Chart (1981–1982) ! Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"| Australia ([[Kent Music Report]]) | style="text-align:center;"|13 |- {{singlechart|Canadatopsingles|2|chartid=0460|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2017}} |- !scope="row"|Canada ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0458&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0458.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0458|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1982-02-13 |access-date=2019-08-11 |last1=Canada |first1=Library Archives }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- {{singlechart|Germany|72|artist=Daryl Hall & John Oates|song=I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)|songid=7007|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Ireland2|9|song=I Can't Go for That|rowheader=true}} |- {{singlechart|Dutch100|13|artist=Daryl Hall & John Oates|song=I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|New Zealand|5|artist=Daryl Hall & John Oates|song=I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Sweden|10|artist=Daryl Hall & John Oates|song=I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|8|artist=Daryl Hall & John Oates|song=I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2017|refname=OCC}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2017|refname=BB100}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|12|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates|rowheader=true|access-date=July 8, 2017}} |- !scope="row"| US [[Dance Club Songs]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref name="BBDisco">{{cite magazine|date=January 23, 1982|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t0UEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42|title=Disco Top 80|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 2, 2018|pages=42|issn=0006-2510|volume=94|number=3}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- !scope="row" | US [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Soul Singles]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/1982-01-29|title=Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=1982-01-30|access-date=2021-02-24}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- {{singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|28|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates|rowheader=true|access-date=March 30, 2017}} |- !scope="row" | US ''[[Radio & Records]]'' [[CHR/Pop]] [[Airplay]] Chart<ref name="wweb.uta.edu">{{Cite web|url=http://wweb.uta.edu/faculty/gghunt/charts/halloates.html|title=Daryl Hall & John Oates – Chart history (CHR/Pop Airplay)|website=wweb.uta.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-08-16}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !align="left"|Chart (1982) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- |Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus82">{{cite web|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1982 |publisher= [[Kent Music Report]] |via= [[Imgur]] |issue= 445 |date= January 3, 1983 |access-date= January 22, 2023 |url= https://i.imgur.com/iP7HHqt.jpg}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|96 |- |Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6167&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=2016-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811145442/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6167&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |archive-date=2016-08-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|16 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1982.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1982/Top 100 Songs of 1982 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=2016-10-19}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|15 |}
===All-time=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (1958-2018) ! Position |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|265 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Hall & Oates|title=No Can Do|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1981|certyear=1982|certmonth=2|access-date=August 3, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Hall And Oates|title=I Can't Go for That|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1982|certyear=2025|source=radioscope|access-date=January 26, 2026}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Daryl Hall & John Oates|title=I Can't Go for That|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=1982|certyear=1982|id=3076-1755-1|access-date=September 17, 2017|refname=BPI}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Hall & Oates|title=I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1981|certyear=1982|access-date=September 17, 2017|refname=RIAA}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
==Legacy== "I Can't Go for That" was voted number six on [[VH1]]'s list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s."{{cn|date=April 2024}}
=== Samples === The song has been sampled numerous times including in "[[Say No Go]]" by [[De La Soul]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-08-31|title=De La Soul – 10 of the best|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/aug/31/de-la-soul-10-of-the-best|access-date=2021-10-07|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> "[[Sunrise (Simply Red song)|Sunrise]]" by [[Simply Red]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|title=Home - Simply Red|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/home-mw0000314698|access-date=2021-10-08|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> "The Final Hour" and "Take Me to Your Leader" by [[MF Doom]] (under the [[Take Me to Your Leader (King Geedorah album)|King Geedorah]] moniker),<ref>{{cite web |title=Les samples de l'album Private eyes de Hall oates |url=https://www.du-bruit.com/hall--oates-album-private-eyes.html |website=Du-Bruit |access-date=21 December 2021 |language=French}}</ref> and "[[On Hold]]" by [[The xx]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sodomsky|first=Sam|date=2016-11-10|title=The xx Share New Song "On Hold," Sample Hall and Oates: Listen|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/69701-the-xx-share-new-song-on-hold-sample-hall-and-oates-listen/|access-date=2021-10-07|website=Pitchfork|language=}}</ref> [[Anderson .Paak]] has stated that [[Dr. Dre]]'s "[[Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang]]" was originally also going to sample the song.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-10-08|title=EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Dre's Collaborator Says "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang" Was Originally Recorded As A Disco-Pop Record|url=https://allhiphop.com/news/anderson-paak-dr-dre-snoop-dogg-hall-oates-nuthin-but-a-g-thang-i-cant-go-for-that/|access-date=2021-10-07|website=AllHipHop|language=en-US}}</ref>
===Influence on "Billie Jean"=== According to [[Daryl Hall]], during the recording of "[[We Are the World]]", [[Michael Jackson]] approached him and admitted to lifting the bass line for "[[Billie Jean]]" from a [[Hall & Oates]] song, apparently referring to "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)." Hall says that he told Jackson that he had lifted the bass line from another song himself, and that it was "something we all do."<ref name="classic-tracks"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/24383/118176|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909205600/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/24383/118176|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 9, 2012|title= Michael Jackson Remembered: Daryl Hall on the Ultimate Video Star|last=Hall|first=Daryl|date=July 10, 2009|publisher=The Rolling Stone|access-date=October 15, 2010}}</ref>
==See also== *[[List of number-one dance hits (United States)]] *[[List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1982|List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1982]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.vh1classic.com/view/artist/8714/115914/Hall_Oates/I_Can_t_Go_for_That_No_Can_Do/index.jhtml Video] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010043/http://www.vh1classic.com/view/artist/8714/115914/Hall_Oates/I_Can_t_Go_for_That_No_Can_Do/index.jhtml |date=September 28, 2007 }} on [[VH1 Classic]] website * [https://www.golden1center.com/news/detail/best-hall-oates-songs-featured-in-films] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523100642/https://www.golden1center.com/news/detail/best-hall-oates-songs-featured-in-films |date=May 23, 2018 }} {{Hall & Oates}}
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[[Category:1981 songs]] [[Category:1981 singles]] [[Category:American synth-pop songs]] [[Category:Hall & Oates songs]] [[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]] [[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]] [[Category:Songs written by John Oates]] [[Category:Songs written by Daryl Hall]] [[Category:Songs written by Sara Allen]] [[Category:RCA Records singles]]