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Want U Back

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"Want U Back"
Song

"Want U Back" is song by British singer Cher Lloyd, taken from her debut studio album Sticks + Stones. It was released on 19 February 2012 as the third single taken from the album.[1] The single version of the song features guest vocals by The X Factor USA contestant and American rapper Astro. It was written by Shellback and Savan Kotecha and it was produced by Shellback. It talks about being jealous over an ex who has moved on to a new flame. It is a pop song, with elements of bubblegum and synthpop.

The song received positive reviews from most music critics, who praised her sassy attitude on the song and labeled it "infectious". There is two videos for the song: the UK version and the US version. Both videos features Cher traipsing through old photographs with her former beau and some with his new girlfriend and wreaking havoc on the happy couple. The song has reached number 3 on the New Zealand Singles Chart, number 18 on the Irish Singles Chart and number 25 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, the song has reached number 33 on the Pop Songs chart.

Background and release

Cher Lloyd announced on 15 December 2011 that "Want U Back" would be released as the third single from her debut album Sticks + Stones.[2] On 22 December 2011 she revealed the artwork for the single.[3] In December 2011 Lloyd said she is hoping the track will help her crack the notoriously tough American market, saying: "It's a bit crazy because I don't expect anyone to know who I am because I live in the UK. I'm from The X Factor and I came fourth. It's crazy and it gives me a lot of hope. With the USA, I'm not going to run before I can walk but you never know what’s going to happen."[4] The single version features The X Factor USA contestant Astro who was mentored by L.A. Reid on the show. Reid recently signed Lloyd to Epic Records in the United States. It will be Lloyd's first single in the US, but, the version would be the version without Astro.[5][6] Cher Lloyd has reported to have remixed "Want U Back" with rapper, Snoop Dogg upon its release in the US.[7]

Composition

"Want U Back" was written by Texan songwriter Savan Kotecha and Swedish songwriter Shellbackand produced by Shellback.[8] Lyrically, it finds Cher Lloyd singing about her jealousy of her former lover and his new girlfriend.[8] While talking about the song, Lloyd stated:

"It's basically a track from lots of different girls' stories out there. A lot of people are telling me they can relate to the track and they've been in that situation, but it's also got an element of fun in it."[9]

"Please, this ain't even jealousy/ She ain't got a thing on me/ Trying to rock them ugly jeans jeans jeans," she scathes about her ex-boyfriend's new lover; trying by failing to remain serene rather than green.[10] It is a pop song and features a cartoony mix of perky beats and peppy guitar.[10] The beats and guitar, according to Digital Spy, "give the song an almost caricature quality."[10] With bubblegum synth grooves banging in the back, Lloyd struggles to win back a dude who she took for granted till she saw him with his new girl.[11]

Critical reception

Nick Levine from BBC Music wrote a positive review, commenting: "She's a natural and charismatic vocal presence, so much so that Want U Back even creates a recurring hook from – how to put this? – the sound of her ‘frustrated grunts’."[12] Jon O'Brien from Allmusic wrote that the song is "an infectious example of cutesy pure pop that recall Britney before she lost her innocence."[13] Alex Denney from NME considered it "a sassy bit of bubble-drunk pop from Britney songwriter Max Martin."[14] Danner had previously wrote in another NME review that the song is "a peachy-keen pop number that goes pining after an ex, Cher drawing comfort from the fact that, even if her beloved is going out with someone else now, at least they’re only getting sloppy seconds."[15] Joe Rivers from No Ripcord wrote that "It's packed with hooks and has Cher’s personality stamped all over it."[16] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy blog gave the song a positive review stating: "Truth be told, it's quite refreshing for an artist to embrace their perceived public image, but the joke is really on us. Why? Because it's Cher Lloyd who has the last laugh with another hit on her hands."[10] X. Alexander of Idolator called it "uber-catchy song that we haven’t been able to get it out of our heads since we first heard it."[17] Bradley Stern from "MuuMuse" commented: "It is one of the album’s catchiest, cutest moments–even if Lloyd’s gritting her teeth and clenching her fists with rage."[18] He further wrote:

"Kicking off with a deliciously angry grunt that plays on loop (UHH!!!) the Shellback-produced track finds Lloyd ruing the day she ever stepped out on her man…who’s now being made all the happier by some other chick: 'Remember all the things that you and I did first? And now you’re doing them with her?!' Lloyd sings incredulously on the bouncing electro-pop beat, dissing the chick’s jeans and denying all charges of jealousy in the process."[18]

Music video

Lloyd in the UK music video.

International Version

The music video for the song was uploaded to YouTube on 6 January 2012. The video was shot in Los Angeles, California. In the video Lloyd sings about her jealousy of her ex boyfriend [unknown] and his new girlfriend, with the video showing Lloyd's attempts to sabotage her former love's new relationship. As Lloyd sits on her bed scanning at pictures of her and her ex, she drifts off into various schemes to drive the new couple apart. In one scene Lloyd pours a bottle of water over her former boyfriend, while in another she throws popcorn all over the loved-up pair during a trip to the cinema. Astro makes an appearance in the video to rap in the latter stages of the video, which ends with Lloyd rather curiously imitating the sounds of a helicopter.[4]

She also recorded a live acoustic version of the song, the video of which was uploaded to YouTube on 15 December 2011.[19]

U.S Version

Lloyd being arrested on the US version of the music video.

In 2012, Lloyd recorded an alternate video which was shown in the US. It premiered on May 1, 2012[20]. The new video sees Lloyd confronting her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend in an American diner, while performing the track on the restaurant's counter. The police then arrive to arrest Lloyd and take her into custody, where she is seen having a mugshot taken.[20]

Chart performance

"Want U Back" first appeared on the UK Singles Chart on the week ending 19 November 2011. The track debuted at number one-hundred and ninety-four, following digital downloads from the respective album.[21] The song then re-entered the chart at number fifty-six on the week ending 21 January 2012 - following the release of the music video and confirmation of its release as a single. On its third charting week, the song rose thirty places to number twenty-six. Following the release of the single version featuring Astro, the song charted at number 25, marking Lloyd's third consecutive top 40 single.[22]

The song debuted at number 38 on the US Pop Songs chart.[23] It debuted on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.[24] It also debuted at number 95 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.[25] It has reached number 33 on the Pop Songs chart.[25] It has so far as of June sold 101,198 copies, and 17,214 in the USA.

Track listing

  • Digital download[1]
  1. "Want U Back" (feat. Astro) - 3:43
  2. "Want U Back" (Radio Edit) - 3:33
  3. "Want U Back" (Acoustic Version) - 3:29
  4. "Want U Back" (Cahill Remix) - 5:52
  5. "Want U Back" (Pete Phantom Remix) - 3:55


Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[26] 69
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[25] 95
Ireland (IRMA)[27] 18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 3
Scotland (OCC)[29] 23
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 25
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[25] 33
US Heatseekers Songs (Billboard)[25] 18

Certifications

Country Provider Certifications
New Zealand RIANZ Platinum[30]

Release history

Country Date Format
United Kingdom 19 February 2012[1] Digital download
Australia 21 February 2012[31]
New Zealand
United States 7 May 2012[32] Radio airplay
22 May 2012[33] Digital download

References

  1. ^ a b c d Want U BACK Ft Astro - Released, Online, United Kingdom. Cher Lloyd.com
  2. ^ Cher Lloyd | DAY 4 - SINGLE ANNOUNCEMENT. www.cherlloyd.com/
  3. ^ Cher Lloyd | DAY 11 - WANT U BACK ARTWORK. www.cherlloyd.com/
  4. ^ a b Cher Lloyd unveils full video for Want U Back featuring X Factor USA's Astro. Metro.co.uk
  5. ^ http://dailymusicjuice.blogspot.com/2012/03/cher-lloyds-latest-us-single.html
  6. ^ http://idolator.com/6230321/cher-lloyd-single-art-want-u-back
  7. ^ http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/cher-lloyd/353585-cher-lloyd-snoop-dogg-remix
  8. ^ a b "Want U Back by Cher Lloyd Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  9. ^ Copsey, Robert (12 February 2012). "Cher Lloyd interview: 'LA Reid loves scrambled eggs'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d Corner, Lewis (12 February 2012). "Cher Lloyd feat. Astro: 'Want U Back' - Single review". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Cher Lloyd - Want U Back - Listen". DJ Booth. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Music - Review of Cher Lloyd - Sticks + Stones". BBC. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  13. ^ "News - Reviews - Cher Lloyd - Sticks + Stones". Allmusic. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 2012-1-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ Denney, Alex (4 November 2011). "Album Review: Cher Lloyd - 'Sticks + Stones'". NME. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  15. ^ Denney, Alex (26 November 2011). "Cher Lloyd, Sticks + Stones' - First Listen". NME. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  16. ^ Rivers, Jon (11 November 2011). "Cher Lloyd: Stick + Stones - Music Review - No Ripcord". No Ripcord. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  17. ^ Alexander, X. (24 March). "Cher Lloyd Looks Quite Arresting In Her "Want U Back" US Single Art". Idolator. Retrieved 17 June 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ a b Stern, Bradley (7 November 2011). "Cher Lloyd: Sticks + Stones (Album Review) | MuuMuse". MuuMuse. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  19. ^ Cher Lloyd - Want U Back (Acoustic). YouTube
  20. ^ a b Bain, Becky (1 May 2012). "Cher Lloyd Releases US Version Of "Want U Back" Video". Idolator (website). Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  21. ^ "UK Singles Chart: CLUK Update (19.11.2011 - week 45)". Zobbel.de.
  22. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  23. ^ "Chart Highlights: Carrie Underwood Crowns Country Songs With 'Good Girl'". Billboard Magazine. 4 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  24. ^ "Bubbling Under: Cher Lloyd 'Back' for the First Time". Billboard Magazine. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  25. ^ a b c d e "Cher Lloyd Music News & Info - Billboard.com". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  26. ^ "Cher Lloyd feat. Astro – Want U Back". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  27. ^ "Chart Track: Week 08, 2012". Irish Singles Chart.
  28. ^ "Cher Lloyd feat. Astro – Want U Back". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
  29. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  30. ^ http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles
  31. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/want-u-back-single/id504863854?ign-mpt=uo%3D2
  32. ^ http://www.cherlloyd.com/us/news/entry/want_u_back_set_to_takeover_the_u.s/
  33. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/want-u-back-single/id526828123
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