"I Want You Back" is a song by British singer Melanie B featuring American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was released from the soundtrack to the 1998 film Why Do Fools Fall in Love. After two years, the song was also included on Melanie B's debut album, Hot (2000). Serving as Melanie B's debut single outside the Spice Girls, "I Want You Back" topped the UK Singles Chart on 20 September 1998.

Background 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 entire video is show with a green hue on screen with occasional use of red and blue, the video starts with Melanie and Missy singing the intro and as the first verse starts, Melanie is seen with her then-fiancée, Jimmy Gulzar, 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 Jimmy at the end for more teasing, wearing Gene Simmons-esque make-up. As the bridge comes on, Melanie is seen in a cage with Jimmy high in the air. Shots of Melanie, Missy, and back up dancers in cowboy hats are seen dancing as the video ends.

Track listings UK CD and cassette single; Australian CD single "I Want You Back" – 3:25 "I Want You Back" – 3:51 "I Want You Back" – 8:22

UK 12-inch single A1. "I Want You Back" – 8:22 B1. "I Want You Back" – 8:17 B2. "I Want You Back" – 3:51

European CD single "I Want You Back" – 3:25 "I Want You Back" – 3:52

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)13

Year-end charts Chart (1998)PositionBelgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)87Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)72Netherlands (Single Top 100)75UK Singles (OCC)82

Certifications

Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United States21 July 1998Rhythmic contemporary radioVirgin Misprinted as 14 July on source.United Kingdom14 September 1998

References