"Back for Good" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Take That | ||||
from the album Nobody Else | ||||
Released | 27 March 1995 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:02 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Gary Barlow | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Take That singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Back for Good" on YouTube |
"Back for Good" is a song by English band Take That from their third studio album, Nobody Else (1995). Released on March 27,1995 by RCA and Arista,it was written by lead singer Gary Barlow,who also co-produced it with Chris Porter. The song topped the UK Singles Chart whilst also charting at number one in 31 countries,as well as reaching the top 10 in many others (including the United States,making it their only hit in that country). [1] Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton directed the song's music video. At the 1996 Brit Awards,"Back for Good" won the Brit Award for British Single of the Year. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked the song at number 910 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" [2] and in a UK poll in 2012,it was voted number 11 on the ITV special The Nation's Favourite Number One Single .
Written by Gary Barlow,who also sang lead vocals and engineered by Phil Coxon (keyboard player with OMD),it was Take That's sixth chart topper in the United Kingdom and only top ten hit in the United States. Barlow claims he wrote the song in fifteen minutes. It was unveiled at the 1995 BRIT Awards,and such was the demand that its release date was brought forward. The song made available to the media an unprecedented six weeks before release. [3]
The song appeared on most releases in a slightly remixed form,which added extra instrumentation including additional drum beats. Some releases featured both radio and album versions. There are two versions of the song that appear on Nobody Else,the radio mix and the urban mix. The radio mix is 4 minutes long and the Urban mix runs the same length,but Gary Barlow's adlibbing during the final chorus is removed in the radio mix,with the backing vocalists saying want you back twice,in the radio mix,this adlibbing is removed,with Gary Barlow saying want you back only once,in the urban mix,it is extended.
Just prior to this single release,the group had done a photo shoot for Vogue Italia with designer Gianni Versace. The clothing range given to the band by Versace is featured on the single cover. [4]
The song was released on 27 March 1995 [5] and entered the UK Singles Chart at number one,selling nearly 350,000 copies in its first week. This made it one of the fastest selling singles of the year,selling almost as many as the rest of the Top 10 that week added together. [6]
It remained at number one in the United Kingdom for four weeks. The song has received a double Platinum sales status certification in the United Kingdom,and is also still regularly ranked high in United Kingdom based favourite ever songs polls. [7] It is their biggest selling single from the 1990s,and second overall behind Rule The World,with UK sales of 1.2 million as of September 2017. [8] The song won British Single of the Year at the 1996 Brit Awards.
"Back for Good" would later reach number seven on the United States Billboard Hot 100,spending a total of thirty weeks on the chart, [9] sixty six weeks on the US Adult Contemporary chart [10] and 30 weeks on the Top 40 US Airplay chart. [11]
Steve Baltin from Cash Box stated that here,the British pop quartet "has a massive hit on its hands with this very straight-ahead blue-eyed soul ballad." He described it as a "nice,soothing track",adding that "Back for Good" "won’t revolutionize music,but it shows a young band very good at what it does." [12] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel felt that the song "which features a fine melody line and background vocals that decorate the song with perfect finesse,is a great pop confection,not a source of shame." He also named it by far the "best song" of the album. [13] In his weekly UK chart commentary,James Masterton wrote that it's "one of the most breathtakingly brilliant pop singles that had been heard in a long long time." He added that it's "arguably the band's masterpiece and whilst they may have further smash hits after this it is unlikely they will ever measure up to the scale of this one." [14] "If it touches people,it's a good song," remarked Noel Gallagher in an interview with Mojo . "You know,people go on about Take That –but 'Back for Good' said something to me. And if it touches me…"' [15]
Pan-European magazine Music &Media commented,"With a romantic "film ballad" like this,Take That trespasses Wet Wet Wet's territory,which opens the possibility to crossover to an older audience–the female 25+ demo?–for the first time." [16] A reviewer from Music Week gave the song five out of five and named it Single of the Week,writing,"Take That play it safe opting for a nice-not naughty MOR pop number which will pick up sales outside their usual fanbase. With more than a month of radio support behind it,an instant,and long lasting,number one seems certain." [17] The magazine later added,"Expect to hear this beautifully-arranged,classic pop ballad on the radio and jukeboxes for many years to come." [18] Ian McCann from NME said,"'Back for Good' is just too classy,too like a Cliff Richard Christmas adult ballad about how he misses the wife he's never actually had,and what a painful divorce,which he's never actually had,is." [19] Another NME editor,Johnny Dee,praised it as "a peerless piece of classic pop". [20] Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times felt it's "indeed a beautifully produced love ballad." [21]
In December 1995,NME ranked "Back for Good" number 47 in their list of "NME Writers' Top 50 Singles of 1995". [22] In 2015, Idolator called the song a "pop masterpiece". [23] In 2018,it was ranked eleventh by Billboard critics in their compilation of the "100 Greatest Boyband Songs of All Time". [24] And in 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 15 in their list of "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time". [25]
The accompanying music video to the song was shot in black and white on 27 February 1995 and directed by British directors Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton. [26] It shows the band walking and dancing in the rain as well as the band performing the song in a shelter. Most of the external footage was shot at the backlot of Pinewood Studios. It was also the last music video to feature Robbie Williams in the present day until he rejoined the band in 2010. A 1958 Chevrolet Impala and a 1951 Mercury Custom,both customised in the styles of the 1950s/early 1960s feature in the video. Due to spending so long in cold and wet conditions,several band members became ill afterwards with the flu.
The video has often been an influence in the band performing the song live as they often make use of artificial rain when performing it. It also appears on the DVD release, Never Forget:The Ultimate Collection and was made available on Take That's official YouTube channel in 2009. [27]
The music video was also paid homage to by The Wanted in the music video to "Walks Like Rihanna". The video was based on three classic boy band singles and their videos,with "Back for Good" being one of them. New Kids on the Block also paid homage to both Take That and this music video in their video to single,Boys in the Band (Boy Band Anthem).
The song was a big hit in Brazil during 1995 and 1996,thanks to soap opera Explode Coração :the song was one of the main songs on the television show's soundtrack.
In an effort to mock his boy band roots,group member turned solo artist Robbie Williams performed a 'hard rock' live version in the style of the Sex Pistols,which was a B-side to his single "Angels" (1998). Williams performed this arrangement of the song with Mark Owen,as the encore at his record-breaking Knebworth Park concerts and eventually performed this version with Take That,upon receiving his Brit Icon Award in 2016.
The song was featured on the final episode of the second series of Spaced ,in which Tim,Brian,and Mike,along with Mike's Territorial Army buddies,attempt to play the song for Marsha,a la the boombox scene from Say Anything... It also featured in the final episode of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's The Office as a love theme for characters Tim (Martin Freeman) and Dawn (Lucy Davis). It's featured in British hospital comedy series Green Wing as a dream sequence with Julian Rhind-Tutt's character Mac enacting all members of Take That.
Gary Barlow stated on ITV1's An Audience with Take That Live broadcast on 2 December 2006 that there were 89 versions recorded by other artists.
The song was covered in a hip hop/dancehall style by Born Jamericans on their 1997 album, Yardcore .
"Back for Good" was covered by Boyz II Men for their Love album,by The Wedding Present for their How the West Was Won album,by McAlmont &Butler in 2002 for the "NME in Association with War Child Presents 1 Love" charity album,and by The Concretes on the Guilt by Association Vol. 1 compilation. Coldplay performed the song with Gary Barlow at Shepherd's Bush Empire,London in aid of War Child in 2009. Barlow also performed the song with JLS at the O2 Apollo Manchester date of his 2012 concert tour.
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [92] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [93] | Gold | 25,000* |
Belgium (BEA) [94] | Gold | 25,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [95] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [96] | Gold | 400,000 [97] |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [98] Radio Mix | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [99] | 2× Platinum | 1,207,286 [8] |
United States | — | 427,000 [100] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
"Wonderwall" is a song by English rock band Oasis, released by Creation Records on 30 October 1995 as the fourth single from the band's second studio album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. Described by lead guitarist and chief songwriter Noel Gallagher, who wrote the song and co-produced it with Owen Morris, as being about "an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself", "Wonderwall" reached the top ten in 15 countries; it topped the charts in Australia and New Zealand, peaked at No. 2 on both the UK Singles Chart and the Irish Singles Chart, and reached the top ten in Canada and the United States at No. 5 and No. 8, respectively, thus becoming the band's sole top-40 entry on the latter country's main Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single was certified septuple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and 12-times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Its music video, directed by Nigel Dick, won British Video of the Year at the 1996 Brit Awards.
"Waterfalls" is a song by American hip-hop group TLC, released by LaFace and Arista as the third single from their second album, CrazySexyCool (1994), on May 22, 1995 in the United States, followed by a United Kingdom release on July 24, 1995.
"Queer" is a song by American rock band Garbage from their self-titled debut studio album (1995). The song started as a demo during sessions between band members Butch Vig, Duke Erikson, and Steve Marker, and finished after singer Shirley Manson joined the band. Manson rewrote the sexualized lyrics to be more ambiguous, and rearranged the song into a subdued trip hop and rock crossover composition.
"No Scrubs" is a song recorded by American girl group TLC as the lead single from their third studio album, FanMail, released on February 2, 1999, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The song was written by producer Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, former Xscape members Kandi Burruss and Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. The song lyrics describe the role of a man in a relationship. Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas sings the lead vocals for the first time on a TLC single.
"When the Lights Go Out" is the second single released from British group Five's debut studio album, Five (1998). It was released in early 1998. The song was co-written by the group alongside Eliot Kennedy, Tim Lever and Mike Percy, and John McLaughlin. It was co-produced by Kennedy, Lever and Percy, with the US version receiving additional production from Cutfather & Joe.
"This Is How We Do It" is the debut single of American singer-songwriter Montell Jordan. It was released by Def Jam Recordings on February 6, 1995, as the lead single from his debut studio album of the same name (1995). The single was Def Jam's first R&B release, and is Jordan's signature song.
"Amazed" is a song by American country music group Lonestar, released on March 22, 1999, to country radio as the second single from their third studio album Lonely Grill (1999). The power ballad is the band's longest-lasting number one single and biggest hit, spending eight weeks at the top of the Billboard country chart. The song was written by Marv Green, Aimee Mayo, and Chris Lindsey. A pop remix of the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts in 2000. The song has sold over 1,650,000 digital copies in the US as of February 2016.
"Missing" is a song by English musical duo Everything but the Girl, taken from their eighth studio album, Amplified Heart (1994). It was written by the two band members, Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt, and was produced by Watt and John Coxon. It was taken as the second single off the album on 8 August 1994 by Blanco y Negro Records in the United Kingdom and by Atlantic Records in the United States. It initially did not achieve much success until it was remixed by Todd Terry and re-released in 1995, resulting in worldwide success, peaking at or near the top of the charts in many countries. The release of the remixed version of "Missing" gave an indication of the band's future experimentation with more electronic dance music on subsequent albums.
"Peek-a-Boo" is a song by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released in 1988 as the first single from the band's ninth studio album, Peepshow. Melody Maker described the song as "a brightly unexpected mixture of black steel and pop disturbance" and qualified its genre as "thirties hip hop". "Peek-a-Boo" was rated "Single of the Week" in both Sounds and NME. Sounds wrote that it was a "brave move", "playful and mysterious". NME described it as "Oriental marching band hip hop" with "catchy accordion." They then said : "If this nation was served by anything approaching a decent pop radio station, "Peek A Boo" would be a huge hit."
"Tell Me When" is a song by English synth-pop band the Human League, released in December 1994 by East West Records as the first single from their seventh album, Octopus (1995). Written jointly by lead singer Philip Oakey and Paul C. Beckett, the song was produced by Ian Stanley. It peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, while reaching number four on the UK Dance Chart. In the US, it peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 15 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and number eight on the Cash Box Top 100. The music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan and filmed in the Czech Republic.
"So Help Me Girl" is a song written by Howard Perdew and Andy Spooner and recorded by American country music singer Joe Diffie. It was released in January 1995 as the third single from his fourth studio album, Third Rock from the Sun (1994). The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, where it debuted at number 59 for the week of February 4, 1995, and number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"It Only Takes a Minute" is a 1975 song by American soul/R&B group Tavares, released as the first single from their third album, In the City (1975). The song was the group's only top-10 pop hit in the United States, peaking at number 10, and their second number one song on the American soul charts. On the US Disco chart, "It Only Takes a Minute" spent five weeks at number two and was the first of four entries on the chart. The song was subsequently covered by Jonathan King performing as 100 Ton and a Feather in 1976 and by boy band Take That in 1992.
"Never Forget" is a song recorded by English boy band Take That, included as the sixth track on their third studio album, Nobody Else (1995). Written by Gary Barlow and produced by Brothers in Rhythm and Dave James, it features Howard Donald on lead vocals. A remixed version of the song produced by Jim Steinman was released as a single on 24 July 1995 by RCA and BMG and became the band's seventh number one on the UK Singles Chart, remaining at number one for three weeks. Robbie Williams left the band during the promotion of the song. Its music video was directed by David Amphlett. In 2018, "Never Forget" was included in American Billboard magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Boyband Songs of All Time".
"My Love Is for Real" is a song by American singer and songwriter Paula Abdul with backing vocals from Israeli singer Ofra Haza. It was released on May 30, 1995 by Virgin and Captive, as the first single from Abdul's third studio album, Head over Heels (1995). Intended as Abdul's comeback single, "My Love Is for Real" reached number one in Hungary and the top 20 in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, but it stalled outside the top 20 in the United States, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and failed to make a major impact in Europe. The song's music video was directed by Michael Haussman.
"Babe" is a song by English boy band Take That, released in December 1993 by RCA and BMG as the fourth single from the band's second album, Everything Changes (1993). Written by bandmember Gary Barlow, it features Mark Owen on lead vocals. Production was led by David Clayton, who later spent 10 years as keyboard player and backing vocalist with Simply Red. Accompanied by a music video directed by Gregg Masuak, the song was a number-one hit in both Ireland and the United Kingdom while peaking within the top 10 in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
"Everything Changes" is a song by English boy band Take That. Released as the fifth single from the band's second studio album, Everything Changes (1993), and written by Gary Barlow and producers Michael Ward, Eliot Kennedy and Cary Bayliss, the song features Robbie Williams on lead vocals.
"I Want You Back" is a song by American boy band NSYNC, from their debut studio album, NSYNC (1997). It was released in Germany on January 15, 1997, as the band's debut single. The dance-pop and pop song was later released in the United States on February 17, 1998, and in the United Kingdom on February 15, 1999. It was written by Max Martin and the producer Denniz Pop. In its initial release, "I Want You Back" peaked at number four in Germany, and topped the charts in the Netherlands. After releasing internationally, the song charted at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and at number five on the UK Singles Chart. Two music videos for "I Want You Back" were released for the song's initial release and global re-release, which were directed by Alan Calzatti, and Jesse Vaughan and Douglas Biro respectively.
"Nobody Knows" is a song by R&B singer Tony Rich from his 1996 debut album, Words. Released as his debut single on November 7, 1995, the song peaked at number two on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts. It also became a hit in several other countries, topping the Irish Singles Chart and reaching number two in Australia and Canada, number four in the United Kingdom, and the top 20 in the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden. Rich received a nomination for the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
"Dreamer" is a song by Italian house group Livin' Joy, written and recorded by Janice Robinson and produced by brothers Paolo and Gianni Visnadi. Originally released in August 1994, it was re-released in 1995 by MCA and topped the UK Singles Chart at the number one spot that May, ending 1995 as the UK's 40th-biggest-selling single of 1995. In the United States, it went to number-one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It was a sleeper hit on pop radio, but finally managed to peak at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 75 on the Cash Box Top 100.
"Automatic Lover (Call for Love)" is a song by German Eurodance/pop music project Real McCoy (also known as M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy), released in January 1994 by Hansa as the second single from their album Another Night (1995), which is the US version of the project's second album, Space Invaders. The song was produced by music producers Juergen Wind (aka J. Wind) and Frank Hassas (aka Quickmix) under the producer team name Freshline, and borrows the melody from Bronski Beat's 1984 song, "Smalltown Boy". It was a top-20 hit in a number of countries, including Australia, Denmark, Germany and Sweden. There were made two different music videos for "Automatic Lover (Call for Love)". The European version was directed by Angel in 1994.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)