"Takin' Back My Love" is a song by Spanish singer

Enrique Iglesias Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (; born 8 May 1975) is a Spanish singer and songwriter. He started his recording career in the mid-1990s on the Mexican label Fonovisa where he released three Spanish albums ''Enrique Iglesias (album), Enrique ...

featuring American singer

Ciara Ciara Princess Wilson ( ; Harris; born October 25, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. She was discovered by record producer Jazze Pha in the early 2000s, and rose to prominence with her debut studio album, ''Goodies ...

. It was released as the second single from his English greatest hits album ''

Greatest Hits A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...

'' (2008). The song was produced by

RedOne Nadir Khayat (, Latn, ar, Nādir Ḵayyāṭ; born 9 April 1972), also known as RedOne, is a Moroccan-Swedish record producer, record executive, singer and songwriter. He has worked in production for high-profile recording artists including La ...

who was a co-writer of the song alongside Iglesias and Frankie Storm. The original version of the song features Ciara and was released internationally. A second version which features German singer Sarah Connor in place of Ciara was released in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Poland and other parts of Central Europe. In France, the song was re-recorded with French R&B Tyssem singing her portion of the song in French and retitled "Takin' Back My Love (Sans l'ombre d'un remord)".

Release and promotion

Iglesias first performed the song in on the French TV show ''

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'' as a duet with one of the contestants, Gaultier. The performance was enthusiastically received by the show's audience and the judges who gave the pair a standing ovation. This performance propelled the Ciara version of the song debut at #3 in France. Iglesias and Ciara both performed the single for the first time at the 2009

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Half-time Show in

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. Due to studio commitments, Ciara had to pull out of promotion for the single and Australian singer

Gabriella Cilmi Gabriella Lucia Cilmi ( ; ; born 10 October 1991) is an Australian pop singer and songwriter. A contralto, Cilmi is known for her distinctive raspy singing voice. Her debut album, '' Lessons to Be Learned'', was released in March 2008, becomin ...

was asked to lend her vocals to most of the European promo. They performed the song on the Dutch TV show ''Life & Cooking'', ''

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'', ''

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'' and ''

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'' in the United Kingdom as well as the

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in Ireland. Iglesias performed the song with Connor on the German show "Nur die Liebe zählt". Ciara performed the single alone in London, as a part of her set during the European leg of

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...

' worldwide tour

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. Iglesias and Ciara both performed the single for the second time together in London, at the 2009 Capital FM Summertime Ball.

Critical reception

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'' said that "Takin' Back My Love" finds Iglesias acting out a break-up with 'Goodies' singer Ciara. 'Go ahead just leave, can't hold you, you're free', he wails with typical passion. Not too keen on her impending single status, Ciara replies: 'What did I do but give love to you? I'm just confused as I stand here and look at you.' With its Europoppy beat and suitably dramatic chorus, this manages to pack an emotional punch while also remaining appealingly cheesy". ''

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'' gave the song a positive review: "Thanks to a global fan base, Enrique Iglesias' dance duet "Takin' Back My Love" is already a hit on the European Hot 100 and a top 10 in Germany and France. RedOne, best known for his framework on Kat DeLuna's 'Whine Up' and Lady GaGa's two recent No. 1s, lends his party song production talents. Pop star Sarah Connor recorded a version with Iglesias, which has been popular in Europe, but Ciara is better paired with the Latin pop star, with their soft and sensual vocal styles. The synth sounds pinball off one another as Iglesias belts through the choruses and Ciara's panting rounds out the single, which is also riding the Hot Dance Club Play chart".

Music video

The video was shot in Los Angeles on 13 January 2009 and directed by the Norwegian director Ray Kay, who helmed

Christina Milian Christina Milian ( , Flores; born September 26, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Following a number of minor television and film roles in the late nineties, Milian made her recording debut on American rapper Ja Rule's 20 ...

's " Us Against the World" clip, amongst many other videos for R&B music artists. The video was released in February 2009. The entire music video is shot under blue-screen to give off a radiant but monotone color set. The music video opens up viewing portraits of Iglesias and Ciara, then an ironic switch showing the two arguing and pushing back and forth outside of the house. The two part ways, and the song begins with Iglesias's first verse. He sings as the video randomly shoots back to a scene where Ciara is up against a wall. The chorus enters as Iglesias is shown throwing things off a counter and out of drawers. The next verse enters Ciara walking in the room apparently angry at Iglesias. As she sings her verse, she proceeds to pick up a jacket that reads "From C, with Love" and heads to the pool and throws the jacket in the water. What ensues shortly after is a back and forth argument involving the two destroying the house, from Iglesias throwing dishes and glasses out of the refrigerator, to Ciara burning songbooks and pouring paint on top of his car. Then, the two briefly meet in the dining room of the house, where they obviously still have feelings for one another. They then kiss and perform sexual dance-like moves against each other. Then, as Ciara comes back to reality and snatches his hand from her, the two immediately go right back to arguing and destroying what is left of the house. As the video closes, the two are seen in a destroyed dining room with lights flickering on and off, approaching each other once again. Iglesias then grabs Ciara, and the video ends with the two kissing and smiling. A music video for the version featuring Sarah Connor was released in March 2009, it is intercut with scenes from the music video that was made for the version featuring Ciara. The Connor version shows the same story (including Ciara) but instead of the scenes where Ciara sings in front of a wall, Connor is shown singing and dancing in a room that seems to be in the same house that Iglesias and Ciara are destroying. The video also randomly shoots to a scene where Iglesias confesses his actions to Connor, implying that Connor sings the emotions and thoughts of Ciara. Pictures of Ciara can be seen in the video with Connor. The Ciara version music video has been viewed over 236 million times on YouTube.

Formats and track listings

;UK digital single (Released: 23 March 2009) #"Takin' Back My Love" (feat. Ciara) - 3:51 #"Takin' Back My Love" (feat. Ciara) (Moto Blanco Radio Mix) - 3:51 #"Takin' Back My Love" (Video) - 3:57 ;France CD single (Released: 9 March 2009) #"Takin' Back My Love" (feat. Tyssem) (Sans L'Ombre D'Un Remord) - 3:51 #"Takin' Back My Love" (feat. Ciara) (Main Version) - 3:51 #"Takin' Back My Love" (feat. Ciara) (Junior Caldera Club Remix) - 5:20 #"Takin' Back My Love" (feat. Ciara) (Glam As You Club Mix) - 7:59 ;German CD single (Released: 23 March 2009) #"Takin' Back My Love" (feat. Sarah Connor) (Radio Mix) – 3:50 #"Takin' Back My Love" (feat. Sarah Connor) (Alternate Mix) – 3:50 #"Takin' Back My Love" (feat. Sarah Connor) (Video) - 3:57

Charts

"Takin' Back My Love" debuted at number three on the

French Singles Chart SNEP (, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym SNICOP, the organisation was established in ...

on 17 January 2009, with 3,137 copies sold, being ''

ex aequo ''Ex aequo et bono'' (Latin for "according to the right and good" or "from equity and conscience") is a Latin phrase that is used as a legal term of art. In the context of arbitration, it refers to the power of arbitrators to dispense with applic ...

'' with the number-two song.

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Certifications

References

{{Sarah Connor 2000s ballads 2008 songs 2009 singles Ciara songs Enrique Iglesias songs Interscope Records singles Male–female vocal duets Music videos directed by Ray Kay Number-one singles in Romania Sarah Connor (singer) songs Song recordings produced by RedOne Songs written by Enrique Iglesias Songs written by RedOne Number-one singles in Russia