"I Want You Back" is a song by American pop band The Jackson 5 released as the third track from their debut album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5. It was released as a single on October 7, 1969, serving as the lead single from the album. It was the band's first true big hit and is considered to be one of the most iconic songs ever released.
A remix of "I Want You Back" by Dimitri from Paris and Kenny Hayes was released on 2009's The Remix Suite.
Background[]
"I Want You Back" was considered for Gladys Knight & the Pips and later for Diana Ross (under the title "I Wanna Be Free"). However, both of these ideas were scrapped.
"I Want You Back" was made by The Corporation. It was recorded between July-September 1969 at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles, becoming the first Jackson 5 song to be recorded in said city; the quintet previously were recording Bobby Taylor-produced remakes of other artists' hits, including "Who's Lovin' You", the B-side to "I Want You Back", at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit, Michigan. From late 1969 onwards, nearly all of the Jackson 5's recordings were done in Los Angeles, when the majority of recordings for other artists on the label were done in Detroit.
Although Gladys Knight was the first to mention the band to Berry Gordy, and Taylor brought the Jackson brothers to Motown, they credited Diana with discovering them. This was done not only to help promote The Jackson 5 but also to help ease her transition into a solo career, which she began in 1970, soon after the family group became a success.[1]
Live performances[]
The Jackson 5 performed "I Want You Back" during all of their tours, either as a full song or as a part of the "Jackson 5 Medley" in concerts (which also included "ABC" and "Mama's Pearl", later on switched with "The Love You Save" in 1973).
Michael performed "I Want You Back" also as part of the "Jackson 5 Medley" (which also included "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There") during all of his world tours: Bad, Dangerous, and the HIStory World Tours.
"I Want You Back" was performed for the fourth time at the 30th Anniversary Celebration in 2001, in which Jackson reunited with his brothers on stage for the first time since 1984.[2] "I Want You Back" was to be performed for the fifth time at Jackson's This Is It comeback concerts in London, which were cancelled due to his death.
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Uh-huh huh huh huh
Let me tell ya now
Uh-huh
[Verse 1]
When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took
Now, it's much too late for me to take a second look
[Chorus]
Oh, baby, give me one more chance (To show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me (Back in your heart)
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (Let you go, baby)
But now, since I see you in his arms (I want you back)
[Post-Chorus]
Yes, I do now (I want you back)
Ooh, ooh, baby (I want you back)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I want you back)
Na, na, na, na
[Verse 2]
Tryin' to live without your love is one long sleepless night
Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl, I didn't even want around
Let me tell you now
[Chorus]
Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance (To show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me (Back in your heart)
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (Let you go, baby)
But now, since I see you in his arms, uh-huh
[Bridge]
A buh buh buh buh
A buh buh buh buh, all I want
A buh buh buh buh, all I need
A buh buh buh buh, all I want
A buh buh buh buh, all I need
[Chorus 2]
Oh, just one more chance
To show you that I love you
Baby! Baby!
Baby! Baby!
Baby! Baby!
I want you back
Forget what happened then
I want you back
Let me live again
[Chorus 3]
Oh, baby, I was blind to let you go
But now, since I see you in his arms
I want you back
Spare me of this 'cause
Gimme back what I lost
[Outro]
Oh, baby, I need one more chance, ha
I tell ya that I love you
(Baby!) Oh! (Baby!) Oh! (Baby!) Oh!
I want you back!
[Jackie Jackson]
Forget what happened then
[Michael Jackson]
I want you back!
[Jermaine Jackson]
And let me live again
[Michael Jackson]
Oh, I want you back! Ha!
Trivia[]
- "I Want You Back" is the second single ever released by The Jackson 5, with "Big Boy" being first.