Back to Friends

Last updated

"Back to Friends"
Official single cover of "Back to Friends" by Sombr.jpeg
Single by Sombr
from the album I Barely Know Her
ReleasedDecember 27, 2024 (2024-12-27)
Genre Indie pop [1]
Length3:19
Label
Songwriter Shane Boose
Producer Sombr
Sombr singles chronology
"Makes Me Want You"
(2024)		"Back to Friends"
(2024)		"All I Ever Asked" (remix)
(2025)
Music video
"Back to Friends" on YouTube

"Back to Friends" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sombr, solely written and produced by him. [2] Released on December 27, 2024, through Warner Records and Sombr's own imprint SMB, it serves as the lead single from his debut studio album I Barely Know Her (2025). [3] The song was sent to the US pop radio on October 7.

Contents

The single became a global hit and Sombr's breakout song, alongside "Undressed" (2025), both of which entered multiple song charts concurrently after going viral on the video-sharing app TikTok. In his home country, "Back to Friends" marked his first and highest-charting entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 10. Outside the United States, the song reached the top five in Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Switzerland. It has been certified platinum or higher in Australia, Austria, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Sombr has performed the song at the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , Saturday Night Live , and the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, where its music video won Best Alternative Video, marking his first award win.

Composition and lyrics

"Back to Friends" is an indie rock song solely written and produced by Sombr himself. Lyrically, the song captures the melodrama of teenage love.[ citation needed ] The song is composed in the key of C-sharp major with a time signature of 4
4, and has a tempo of 93 beats per minute. [4]

Reception

Commercial performance

"Back to Friends" experienced a significant increase in on-demand streams in March 2025 following viral popularity on the video-sharing platform TikTok. [2] The song subsequently debuted at number 140 on the Billboard Global 200 chart for the week ending April 5, 2025, becoming Sombr's first entry on the chart. [5] In its tenth week, it entered the top 10 at number nine, [6] and later peaked at number five. [7]

In the United States, "Back to Friends" debuted at number eight on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart dated April 5, 2025. [8] The following week, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 90, marking Sombr's first appearance on the chart. [2] In its ninth week, it jumped 26 spots from number 62 to enter the top 40 at number 36. [9] In its 30th week, the song climbed into the top 20 at number 18 for the week ending November 1, 2025, [10] before reaching number 10 three weeks later to become his highest-charting and first top-10 song on the chart. [11] "Back to Friends" also appeared on several rock and alternative charts, [12] including topping the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. [13] In addition to rising streams, the song gained increased radio airplay, leading to its debut on the Alternative Airplay chart in the same week it entered the Hot 100, [2] eventually peaking at number one. [14] [15] It also entered the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart on the issue date April 26, 2025, [16] later peaking at number two on the chart dated August 30, 2025. [17] Additionally, it has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. [18] In Canada, the song debuted at number 74 on the Canadian Hot 100 for the week of April 12, 2025, [19] and reached number 17 in its 27th week. [20] It has been certified double platinum by Music Canada. [21]

In the United Kingdom, "Back to Friends" debuted at number 97 on the UK Singles Chart for the week of March 14, 2025. In its thirteenth week, it reached a peak of number seven. [22] [23] In Ireland, the song debuted at number 33 on the Irish Singles Chart for the week of March 28, 2025, and reached its peak of number four in its fourteenth week, becoming Sombr's second top-five song in the country, following "Undressed". [22] [24] It has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. [25] Elsewhere in Europe, the song achieved top five positions in Austria (No. 5), [26] the Czech Republic (No. 4), [27] Lithuania (No. 4), [28] Luxembourg (No. 5), [29] and Switzerland (No. 3), [30] and entered the top ten in Greece (No. 8) [31] and Sweden (No. 7). [32]

In Australia, "Back to Friends" debuted at number 39 on the ARIA Singles Chart dated April 14, 2025, [33] and peaked at number three in its seventh week. [34] In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 36 for the week beginning April 4, 2025, [35] and peaked at number four in its ninth week. [36] It has been certified triple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association and double platinum by the Recorded Music NZ. [37] [38] Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, "Back to Friends" reached the top five in the Philippines and Singapore, [39] [40] the top ten in Malaysia, [41] and the top 20 in Indonesia. [42]

Critical response

In June 2025, Rolling Stone named "Back to Friends" one of the year's best songs so far, highlighting Sombr's ability to channel the nostalgic 2014 Tumblr grunge aesthetic era. The magazine also wrote that "the indie pop record plays out like an impassioned conversation that bleeds through the walls and captures the melodrama of teenage love". [43]

Music video

The music video, directed by Gus Black, was released on April 3, 2025, and features model Charlotte D'Alessio. [44] It won Best Alternative Video at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. [45] [46]

Live performances

On May 20, 2025, Sombr performed "Back to Friends" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , marking his television performance debut. [47] On September 2, he performed the song as part of his recognition as MTV's Global Push Artist for the month. [48] Sombr later performed the song again, along with "12 to 12", at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, which took place on September 7. [46] Both songs were performed again on the November 8 episode of the 51st season of Saturday Night Live . [49]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [50]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Back to Friends"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [37] 3× Platinum210,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria) [83] Platinum30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [21] 2× Platinum160,000‡
France (SNEP) [84] Gold100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [38] 2× Platinum60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV) [85] Gold62,500‡
Portugal (AFP) [86] Platinum25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [25] Platinum600,000‡
United States (RIAA) [18] Platinum1,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece) [87] Gold1,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Back to Friends"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousDecember 27, 2024
ItalyApril 11, 2025 Radio airplay Warner Music Italy [89]
United StatesApril 15, 2025 Alternative radio Warner [90]
October 7, 2025 Contemporary radio [91]
VariousNovember 7, 2025 7-inch single
  • SMB
  • Warner

References

  1. ↑ Lee, Derrick (April 5, 2025). "Sombr 'Back to Friends' Is the Breakfout Single That Proves He's More Than a Viral Sensation". Blurred Culture. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Zellner, Xander (April 8, 2025). "Hot 100 First-Timers: Sombr Scores First Entry With 'Back to Friends'". Billboard . Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  3. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (August 11, 2025). "Sombr Announces Debut Album 'I Barely Know Her'". Variety . Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Back to Friends | Track Analytics | Songstats". Songstats. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Billboard Global 200: Week of April 12, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Billboard Global 200: Week of June 7, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Sombr Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of April 5, 2025" . Billboard . Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of June 7, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of November 1, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Sombr Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  12. ↑ Billboard charts [@billboardcharts] (March 12, 2025). "sombr appears on Billboard's charts for the first time this week with 'Back To Friends.' The song, released on SMB/Warner Records, debuts at No. 23 on Hot Alternative Songs, No. 24 on Hot Rock Songs and No. 33 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 10, 2025 – via Twitter.
  13. 1 2 "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of October 18, 2025" . Billboard . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  14. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (June 6, 2025). "Sombr Earns His First Radio Chart No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Alternative Airplay: Week of June 14, 2025" . Billboard . Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Rock & Alternative Airplay: Week of April 26, 2025" . Billboard . Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Rock & Alternative Airplay: Week of August 30, 2025" . Billboard . Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "American single certifications – Sombr – Back to Friends". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of April 12, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  20. 1 2 "Sombr Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  21. 1 2 "Canadian single certifications – Sombr – Back to Friends". Music Canada . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  22. 1 2 "Sombr Songs and Albums". Official Charts Company . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  23. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  24. 1 2 "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  25. 1 2 "British single certifications – Sombr – Back to Friends". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  26. 1 2 "Sombr – Back to Friends" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  27. 1 2 "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 38. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  28. 1 2 "2025 40-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  29. 1 2 "Luxembourg Songs: Week of September 27, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  30. 1 2 "Sombr – Back to Friends". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  31. 1 2 "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 40/2025" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  32. 1 2 "Sombr – Back to Friends". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  33. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 14, 2025. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  34. 1 2 "Sombr – Back to Friends". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. April 4, 2025. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  36. 1 2 "Sombr – Back to Friends". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  37. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2025 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  38. 1 2 "New Zealand single certifications – Sombr – Back to Friends". Radioscope. Retrieved November 18, 2025.Type Back to Friends in the "Search:" fieldand press Enter.
  39. 1 2 "The Official Southeast Asia Charts – This Week's Official Philippines Chart Top 20 from 06/27/2025 to 07/03/2025". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved July 8, 2025. [Select 2025 Week 27]
  40. 1 2 "The Official Singapore Charts Week 24 (6 - 12 Jun 2025)". RIAS. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  41. 1 2 "The Official Southeast Asia Charts – This Week's Official Malaysia Chart Top 20 from 06/20/2025 to 06/26/2025". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved July 1, 2025. [Select 2025 Week 26]
  42. 1 2 "The Official Southeast Asia Charts – This Week's Official Indonesia Chart Top 20 from 09/05/2025 to 09/11/2025". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved September 16, 2025. [Select 2025 Week 37]
  43. ↑ "The Best Songs of 2025 So Far". Rolling Stone. June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Sombr Serves Up 'Back to Friends' Video". Hits Daily Double. April 3, 2025. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  45. ↑ Willman, Chris (August 5, 2025). "Lady Gaga Leads MTV VMAs Nominations With 12, Followed by Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar". Variety . Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  46. 1 2 Earl, William (September 7, 2025). "2025 MTV VMAs Winners List: Lady Gaga, Rosé Among Early Winners". Variety. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Sombr Makes Late Night TV Debut On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". antiMusic. May 21, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  48. ↑ Hiatt, Brian (September 2, 2025). "Sombr Says His Hit 'Back to Friends' Came From a 'Dark Point' in Life: 'That Song Saved Me'" . Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  49. ↑ Peters, Mitchell (November 9, 2025). "Sombr Performs '12 to 12′ & 'Back to Friends' on 'Saturday Night Live': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  50. ↑ I Barely Know Her / sombr / Credits, Tidal, August 22, 2025, retrieved August 23, 2025
  51. ↑ "Sombr – Back to Friends" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  52. ↑ "Canada CHR/Top 40 Airplay for the week of November 15, 2025". Billboard Canada . Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  53. ↑ "Canada Hot AC Airplay for the week of November 15, 2025". Billboard Canada . Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  54. ↑ "Canada Modern Rock for the week of October 11, 2025". Billboard Canada . Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  55. ↑ "Sombr — Back To Friends". TopHit. July 18, 2025. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  56. ↑ "Sombr: Back to Friends" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  57. ↑ "Tops De La Semaine | Top Singles − Semaine du 26 Septembre 2025" (in French). SNEP . Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  58. ↑ "Sombr – Back to Friends" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  59. ↑ "Streymi, spilun og sala viku 38. Birt 20. september 2025 – Næst uppfært 27. september 2025" (in Icelandic). Félag hljómplötuframleiðenda. Archived from the original on September 20, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  60. ↑ "IMI International Top 20 Singles for week ending 6th October 2025 | Week 40 of 52". IMIcharts. Archived from the original on October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  61. ↑ "מדיה פורסט – המצעד הבינלאומי השבועי – Week 31 – 27/07 – 02/08/2025" [Media Forest – International Weekly Chart – Week 31 – 27/07 – 02/08/2025] (Select the year 2025 and the option "31 27-07-25 02-08-25" from the stretched lists, then click "שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי" to see the chart.) (in Hebrew). Media Forest. August 3, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  62. ↑ "Singoli 38 2025 – Archivio classifiche settimanali". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (in Italian). Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  63. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of September 3, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  64. ↑ "Latvijas mūzikas topa augšgalā uzmirdz jauni līderi" [New leaders emerge at the top of the Latvian music charts] (in Latvian). TV Net  [ lv ]. September 23, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  65. ↑ "Uzzini, kam Latvijas topā pirmā vieta, kam visvairāk dziesmu" [Find out who's number one in Latvia and who has the most songs] (in Latvian). TV Net  [ lv ]. July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  66. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Sep 18, 2025". TopHit. September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  67. ↑ "TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 26 (20/6/2025-26/6/2025)". RIM. July 6, 2025. Retrieved July 6, 2025– via Facebook.
  68. ↑ "The Official MENA Chart | Weekly Chart – Week 34, 2025 – 15/08 to 21/08/2025". The Official MENA Chart (Select year 2025 and week 34 to view peak.). Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  69. ↑ "Sombr – Back to Friends" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  70. ↑ "Singel 2025 uke 38". VG-lista. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  71. ↑ "Philippines Hot 100: Week of June 28, 2025". Billboard Philippines . Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  72. ↑ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 01.08.2025–07.08.2025.) (in Polish). OLiS . Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  73. ↑ "Top 200 Singles Semana 39 de 2025" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 8. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  74. ↑ "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 04/09/2025" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. September 4, 2025. Archived from the original on September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  75. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 38. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  76. ↑ "The Official MENA Chart | Weekly Chart – Week 39, 2025 – 19/09 to 25/09/2025". The Official MENA Chart (Select year 2025, week 39 and UAE chart to view peak.). Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  77. ↑ "Sombr Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  78. ↑ "Sombr Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  79. ↑ "Sombr Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  80. ↑ "Top 100 – Sábado 01/11/2025" [Top 100 – Saturday 01/11/2025] (in Spanish). Record Report. November 2, 2025. Archived from the original on November 6, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  81. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Monthly Chart: September 2025". TopHit . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  82. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Spain Monthly Chart: November 2025". TopHit . Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  83. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Sombr – Back to Friends" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  84. ↑ "French single certifications – Sombr – Back to Friends" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique . Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  85. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved November 19, 2025. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Back to Friends in the search box.
  86. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Sombr – Back to Friends" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa . Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  87. ↑ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 41/2025" (in Greek). IFPI Greece . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  88. ↑ Back to Friends by sombr on Apple Music, September 27, 2024, retrieved August 29, 2025
  89. ↑ Tenaglia, Raffaella (April 3, 2025). "Back to Friends - Sombr". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  90. ↑ "A Recap of Radio Add Recaps". Hits . September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  91. ↑ https://x.com/usradioupdater/status/1975691582616596692?s=46
  92. ↑ "Sombr - Official Store". Archived from the original on August 22, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
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