"I Want You Back" is the debut solo single by British singer
Melanie B
Melanie Janine Brown (born 29 May 1975), commonly known as Melanie B or Mel B, is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Sc ...
features American rapper
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
from the
soundtrack
A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...
to the 1998 film ''
Why Do Fools Fall in Love''. After two years, the song was also included on her debut album, ''
Hot
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*Pungency, in food, a spicy or hot quality
*Hot, a wine tasting descriptor
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* Hot district, a district of Chiang Mai province, Thailand
**Hot subdistrict, a sub-district of Hot Distric ...
'' (2000). "I Want You Back" peaked at the top of the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
on 20 September 1998.
Background
Melanie B recalled, "This was the first time I'd even considered doing anything by myself. I was on
tour
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* Tourism, travel for pleasure
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with the Spice Girls when
Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
called me up and said 'Melanie, I've got a song for you, will you come and record it with me?' I checked it with the girls and within a month I was out there, I recorded it in a day, did the video, then came back. She's a genius!"
Music video
The video was directed by
Hype Williams
Harold Williams (born August 1, 1970) is an American music video director, film director, film producer, and screenwriter.
Early life
Williams was born in Queens, New York. He is of mixed African-American and Honduran descent. He attended Adel ...
.
The video uses the radio edit version of the song and the cover for the single is a still from the music video. The entire video is show with a green hue on screen with occasional use of red and blue, the video starts with Melanie and Missy singing the intro and as the first verse starts, Melanie is seen with her then-fiancée, Jimmy Gulzar,
as she smacks, hits and teases him. Melanie is pregnant in the video. In the second verse Melanie is seen crawling on a table to meet Jimmy at the end for more teasing, wearing Gene Simmons-esque make-up. As the bridge comes on, Melanie is seen in a cage with Jimmy high in the air. Shots of Melanie, Missy, and back up dancers in cowboy hats are seen dancing as the video ends.
Track listings
UK CD
# "I Want You Back" – 3:25
# "I Want You Back" – 3:51
# "I Want You Back" – 8:22
UK 12-inch vinyl
:A1. "I Want You Back" – 8:22
:B1. "I Want You Back" – 8:16
:B2. "I Want You Back" – 3:51
European CD
# "I Want You Back" – 3:25
# "I Want You Back" – 3:55
Australian CD
# "I Want You Back" – 3:25
# "I Want You Back" – 3:51
# "I Want You Back" – 8:22
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:I Want You Back (Melanie B Song)
1998 songs
1998 debut singles
Mel B songs
Missy Elliott songs
Music videos directed by Hype Williams
Songs written by Mel B
Songs written by Missy Elliott
UK Singles Chart number-one singles
Virgin Records singles