B-side "Bad for Me" Recorded April 1987 | Released April 1988 Genre Dance-pop | |
Format 7" single, 12" single, CD single Length 3:53 (album version)
3:47 (single version) | ||
"I Want You Back" is a song written and recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It is included on their fourth studio album Wow! and was released as its fourth and final single. The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio.
Contents
The song originally had a different chorus and was titled "Reason for Living". Bananarama disliked this chorus and co-wrote the revised lyrics for "I Want You Back". Elements of the original chorus can be heard in the original Wow! version of "I Want You Back". Both versions were originally recorded with Siobhan Fahey for the Wow! album. "I Want You Back" is the first Bananarama release to feature new group member Jacquie O'Sullivan, who replaced Fahey in March 1988. The song was then re-recorded with O'Sullivan for its release as a single. "Reason for Living" was included on the deluxe version of Wow!, which was released in 2013.
The song became one of Bananarama's highest-charting hits, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. It also climbed into the top three in Australia and the top ten in New Zealand. "I Want You Back" was not released in the United States.
Music video
The video featured the group performing the song in various scenarios. One is a more formal presentation with the three girls performing a choreographed dance routine before the camera. Another has them acting silly, dancing spontaneously, and humorously fighting for screen time. Yet another scenario features the girls dressed up in silver gowns as The Supremes. All of these scenes are interspersed with go-go boys dancing with wigs or in cages clad only in briefs and glow-in-the-dark body paint. Both videos were directed by Andy Morahan.
Track listings
7" single (NANA 16)
- "I Want You Back" (single version) – 3:47
- "Bad for Me" – 3:37
10" gatefold single (NANG 16)
- "I Want You Back" (single version) – 3:47
- "Bananarama Megamix" (edit) – 6:15
12" single (NANX 16)
- "I Want You Back" (extended European version) – 7:56
- "Amnesia" (extended 12" version) (Theme from The Roxy) – 6:28 M. Stock/M. Aitken/P. Waterman, :Remixed by Extra Beat Boys
- "Bad for Me" – 3:37
CD single (NANCD 16)
- "I Want You Back" (single version) – 3:47
- "Bad for Me" – 3:37
- "Amnesia" (extended 12" version) (Theme from The Roxy) – 6:28
- "Love in the First Degree" (house remix) – 5:45
Other versions
- "I Want You Back" (LP version) – 3:53