I Want You Back (Mel B song)

Updated on Jan 17, 2024

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Recorded 21–24 June 1998 Label Virgin		Genre R&B hip hop
Released 14 September 1998 (UK) 13 October 1998 (US) Length 3:26 (radio edit) 3:51 (soundtrack version) Writer(s) Melanie Brown Melissa Elliott Gerard Thomas Donald Holmes

"I Want You Back" is a song by Melanie B, released as her first solo single. It was released as the lead single from her debut album Hot and also included in the soundtrack to the 1998 film Why Do Fools Fall in Love. The song peaked at number-one in the UK Singles Chart, and it is the only song from a Spice Girls' member to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Melanie B recalled, "This was the first time I'd even considered doing anything by myself. I was on tour with the Spice Girls when Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott 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. The video uses the radio edit version of the song and the cover for the single is a still from the music video. The video starts with Melanie and Missy singing the intro and as the first verse starts, Melanie is seen with her husband 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 her husband at the end for more teasing, wearing Gene Simmons-esque make-up. As the bridge comes on, Melanie is seen in a cage with her husband high in the air. Shots of Melanie, Missy and people dancing are seen as the video ends.