Back for Good

Background

Written by Gary Barlow, who also sang lead vocals, it was Take That's sixth UK chart-topper and only US top ten hit. 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.

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. 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 TV show's soundtrack. Group member Robbie Williams also recorded a 'hard rock' live version, which was a B-side to his 1998 single "Angels".

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). 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.

"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, 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.

The song's popularity and quality led to an urban myth that it had secretly been written by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. Gibb later commented that he had "never even heard" the song.

"If it touches people, it's a good song," remarked Noel Gallagher. "You know, people go on about Take That – but 'Back for Good' said something to me. And if it touches me…"'

Chart performance

The song was released on 27 March 1995 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. It remained at number one in the UK for four weeks. The song has received a Platinum sales status certification in the UK and is also still regularly ranked high in UK based favourite ever songs polls. It is their biggest selling single in the UK, with sales of 1.1 million as of November 2014. The song won Best British Single at the 1996 BRIT Awards.

"Back for Good" would later reach number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100, spending a total of 30 weeks on the chart, 66 weeks on the US Adult Contemporary chart and 30 weeks on the Top 40 US Airplay chart.

Take That were the first British boy band to achieve a US top ten single throughout the 1990s and only one other British boy band 5ive managed this feat during this decade however with a lower peak to Take That. Some 17 years later first initially by The Wanted and subsequently One Direction both achieved higher US single peaks for a British boy band.

Music video

The music video to the song is relatively simple but now iconic. It is shot in black and white and shows the band walking and dancing in the rain as well as the band performing the song in a shelter. 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.

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.

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 '90s boy band singles and their videos, with "Back for Good" being one of them.

Personnel

Track listings

1. "Back for Good" (Radio Mix) – 3:59
2. "Sure" (Live) – 3:16
3. "Back for Good" (TV Mix) – 4:03

1. "Back for Good" (Radio Mix) – 3:59
2. "Sure" (Live) – 3:16
3. "Back for Good" (TV Mix) – 4:03

1. "Back for Good" (Radio Mix) – 3:59
2. "Sure" (Live) – 3:16
3. "Beatles Tribute" (Live at Wembley Arena) – 11:40

1. "Back for Good" (Radio Mix) – 3:59
2. "Pray" (Radio Edit) – 3:43
3. "Why Can't I Wake Up with You" (Radio Edit) – 3:37
4. "A Million Love Songs" (7" Edit) – 3:53

1. "Back for Good" (Radio Mix) – 3:59
2. "Sure" (Live) – 3:16

1. "Back for Good" (Radio Mix) – 3:59
2. "Sure" (Live) – 3:16
3. "Beatles Tribute" (Live at Wembley Arena) – 11:40

1. "Back for Good" (Radio Mix) – 3:59
2. "Sure" (Live) – 3:16
3. "Pray" (Radio Edit) – 3:43
4. "Why Can't I Wake Up with You" (Radio Edit) – 3:37
5. "A Million Love Songs" (7" Edit) – 3:53

1. "Back for Good" – 4:03
2. "Love Ain't Here Anymore" – 3:57
3. "Back for Good" (Live From MTV's Most Wanted) – 4:10

1. "Back for Good" – 4:03
2. "Love Ain't Here Anymore" – 3:57
3. "Back for Good" (Radio Mix) – 3:59
4. "Back for Good" (Urban Mix) – 4:02
5. "Back for Good" (Live from MTV's Most Wanted) – 4:10

1. "Back for Good" – 4:03
2. "Love Ain't Here Anymore" – 3:57

1. "Back for Good" – 4:03
2. "Love Ain't Here Anymore" – 3:57

1. "Back for Good" – 4:03
2. "Back for Good" (Radio Mix) – 3:59
3. "Back for Good" (Radio Instrumental) – 3:59
4. "Back for Good" (Urban Mix) – 4:02
5. "Back for Good" (Urban Instrumental) – 4:02