U Really Got a Hold on Me

Music by	Smokey Robinson
Lyrics by	Christopher Cerf
First	Episode 2022

Sesame Street U Really Got A Hold On Me

Smokey Robinson sings "U Really Got a Hold on Me."

"U Really Got a Hold on Me" is a Sesame Street parody of the song "You Really Got a Hold on Me" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.

In the segment, Smokey sings as a large red female letter U appears and starts clinging onto him. Smokey tries to get the U off, but U's grip is too strong. The U even lifts Smokey in the air, rocking him back and forth, and then chases after him. In the end, Smokey and the U become friends, walking away together arm in arm.

Kevin Clash spoke of an encounter Robinson would later experience, demonstrating the impact of this segment:

“"He kept seeing this little kid looking at him, looking right behind him. He kept looking and looking. And Smokey finally went over to the kid and said, "You okay, you have a question?" and he said, "Yeah, where's your U?"”
—The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A-Z

Releases

Video

• 40 Years of Sunny Days (2009, edited with a photo of Smokey and the "U" at the beginning)
• Alphabet Songs (2014)
• Awesome Alphabet Collection (2019)

Special

• The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A-Z (2000, shown as many clips from the song)

See also

• "What Makes "U" Useful"