Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Sing It Back

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Released
  
15 March 1999

Format
  
CD single

Length
  
4:40 (single version) 4:23 (album version)

Label
  
Echo Records Sire/Warner Bros. Records (US)

Writer(s)
  
Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon.

Producer(s)
  
Moloko and remix production by Boris Dlugosch

"Sing It Back" is a song written and performed by Moloko (Róisín Murphy and Mark Brydon). It first appeared in its original version on Moloko's second album, I Am Not a Doctor; it was released as a single on 15 March 1999, reaching number 45 on the UK Singles Chart. The song experienced chart success after it was remixed by DJ Boris Dlugosch, peaking at number four in the UK in August 1999. Murphy had started writing the lyrics while clubbing in New York City, and knew the song was at heart a dance track, but the group wanted to record it in a different artistic fashion for its album version.

Contents

Together with their record company they had commissioned mixes by Todd Terry (who had turned Everything But the Girl's "Missing" into an international club anthem). Moloko were not satisfied with the Terry mix and had to convince their label Echo Records to put out the Boris D. version instead. The remixed version was eventually featured on over 100 compilations, and was later added on Moloko's third album, Things to Make and Do, after hitting the top ten on the UK Singles Chart. In 1999 it reached number one on the US dance chart. As a form of barter for the remix, Moloko vocalist Róisín Murphy later co-wrote and appeared on Boris D.'s "Never Enough" single, starring in the video for that release as well.

Music video

The music video features Moloko vocalist Róisín Murphy dancing alone in a metallic flapper dress, accompanied by psychedelic lighting effects. The video was directed by Dawn Shadforth. The video is featured on the DVD of Moloko's special edition for the Statues album. Several live videos exist as well, including one in the group's live concert movie 11,000 Clicks, a similar concert version from the Dutch Pinkpop broadcast, a televised version from the TV show Later... with Jools Holland, and a samba version featured on MTV Brasil.

Remixes

  • Boris Dlugosch did the "Boris Musical Mix" (9:17), the most widely heard version, also available in a shorter edit and an instrumental version.
  • Boris Dlugosch also made the "B.M.R Clubcut mix" (7:13), the "Boris Dlugosch Dubmeloko" (7:13), and the "Boris Dlugosch Reprise" (8:14).
  • Matthew Herbert (who would later co-produce Murphy's solo debut) did a "Falling Away Mix" (6:44) and a "Tasteful Dub" (5:58), reportedly adding only one sampled sound and using the original recording for the rest.
  • Todd Terry's contributed a "Radio Mix" (3:26) and the "Tee's Freeze Extended Mix" (9:04).
  • Mousse T. contributed "Mousse T.'s Bootleg Dub", but also "Mousse T.'s Feel Love Remix" and "Mousse T.'s Feelluvdub", which uses a similar synthesised bass riff to the influential disco song "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer.
  • Remixes by Q-Burns Abstract Message, Booker T, Can 7 and DJ Plankton (an alias of Mark Brydon) were also made available.

    • Covers

  • In 2012 Andy Caldwell and Michael Teixeira collaborated on a cover, featuring vocals by Lisa Donnelly.
  • In 2015 DJ/producer Ash collaborated with vocalist Naila on a remix/cover of the original song.

    • References

    Sing It Back Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA