Released August 6, 2015 Genre Pop
electro-disco Label Interscope | Recorded 2015 Length 3:44 | |
Writer(s) Robin Thicke
Max Martin
Savan Kotecha
Ali Payami
Onika Maraj | ||
"Back Together" is a song by American singer Robin Thicke. It premiered on August 5, 2015. It was made available for digital download and released a single on August 6, 2015, by Interscope Records. The song, produced by Max Martin and Ali Payami, features a guest appearance from Trinidadian native rapper Nicki Minaj.
Contents
Background and composition
Thicke and Minaj first collaborated on the track "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" for Thicke's fourth studio album Sex Therapy: The Session (2009). Speaking on Minaj's involvement during an interview for On Air with Ryan Seacrest, Thicke said, "I was working with Max Martin and [Savan Kotecha] and we had been messing with the song for a few months, and then Max finally got it to a place where he loved it and I thought it could use a little spice — a little edge. That’s when I sent it to Nicki and she loved it." "Back Together" is raging, disco-fied track.
During an interview with Good Morning America, when asked about the meaning of the song or if there were any intended allusions to his ex-wife (Paula Patton) Thicke explained, "Actually I didn't write the song so I can't take credit for the meaning, but when I met with the producers ... I just heard this idea of getting back together and getting yourself back together and, you know, what I was going through at the time I really related to that and connected with it so it's more about the theme of getting yourself back together with love and partnership".
Critical reception
The song was described by Los Angeles Times music writer Mikael Wood as "a total banger, with a killer electro-disco groove ... and a delightfully raunchy guest verse by Nicki Minaj." Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone wrote, "'Back Together' boasts a bumping Studio 54 disco beat and buzzsaw synths reminiscent of the electro-pop surge led by Justice and Daft Punk. Thicke, however, sounds as soulful as ever, breezily crooning devoted paeans to a destructive love over Martin's catchy production."
Music video
A music video for the song, directed by Ben Mor, was filmed in Miami. It was premiered via Thicke's VEVO channel on August 13, 2015.
Performances
Thicke has performed the song on Good Morning America, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.