Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) - wikipedia Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) `` Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' Single by Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler from the album Club Classics Vol. One Released 29 May 1989 Format 7 '' single 12 '' maxi single Cassette CD single Recorded May 1989 Genre R&B new jack swing Length 3 : 52 Label Virgin Songwriter ( s ) Jazzie B Caron Wheeler Nellee Hooper Simon Law Producer ( s ) Jazzie B Nellee Hooper Soul II Soul singles chronology `` Keep On Movin ' '' ( 1989 ) `` Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' ( 1989 ) `` Jazzie 's Groove '' ( 1989 ) `` Keep On Movin ' '' ( 1989 ) `` Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' ( 1989 ) `` Jazzie 's Groove '' ( 1989 ) Music video `` Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' on YouTube `` Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' is a song by British R&B band Soul II Soul. It appeared on a second version of their debut album Club Classics Vol. One ( US title Keep on Movin ' ) and was released as its second single on 29 May 1989. `` Back to Life '' was one of two songs on the album featuring British R&B singer Caron Wheeler and gained success in both the United Kingdom and in the United States. The song also features the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra. Contents 1 Production 2 Music video 3 Live performances 4 Impact and legacy 5 Track listings and formats 6 Chart performance 6.1 Weekly charts 6.2 Year - end charts 7 Cover versions 8 Samples 9 References 10 External links Production The album version of the song was an a cappella which was remixed and re-recorded before being released as a single. Two new versions were produced -- the first taking the original recording with instrumentation added, and the second was a re-working of the song with new lyrics and chorus ( also adding `` However Do You Want Me '' to the title ). It was the second version that became most popular. In a 2012 interview with British newspaper The Guardian on how `` Back to Life '' was made, producer Jazzie B said : `` Everything about this single was magic. We were n't trying to follow any trend or fit into any category -- we were just doing our own thing. (... ) Its shuffling beats were a cross between reggae and what was to become known as hip - hop : breakbeats and electronic sound. Caron Wheeler 's vocal, coming over these very heavy bass beats, was the icing on the cake. (... ) We also had the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra on the track, and the RPO became a key part of our sound. (... ) We often look to America for our influences, but this was a moment that put British music back on the map. It also came out at a special time in the industry 's history -- just before digital took over and everything seemed to fall apart. '' `` Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of Soul II Soul 's most successful singles in the United States ( and the only one to enter in the top 10 ). In the United Kingdom it performed even better, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in June 1989. For a time, the album was packaged together with a CD3 single including the new versions of the song. The single went on to win the group their first Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1990. Music video The music video for `` Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' was directed by Andy Delaney, of Big TV ! and was shot in Epping Forest. Wheeler 's former - Afrodiziak member and friend Claudia Fontaine sings and dances to the song throughout the video. The video starts with an opening silhouette of the group dancing in a forest and proceeds with repeated close - up shots of Wheeler singing `` Back to life, back to reality ''. While Wheeler sings the first verse, video shots of the other Soul II Soul members and the band are shown. Another scene is shown on a rooftop during early sunrise as the group parties and dances to the song. Close to the end of the video, the group is shown dancing at night on the same rooftop. Wheeler closes out the song as she sings and dances to the song. Live performances Wheeler performed `` Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' on various televised appearances, including the Arsenio Hall Show, 1990 Soul Train Music Awards, and Later... with Jools Holland. At the end of 1989, Wheeler later departed from the group. When Soul II Soul performed the song at 1990 Soul Train Music Awards, Marcia Lewis ; a new addition to the group, performed the lead vocals. The song was included in the group 's set list for their A New Decade Tour in 1990 and was performed late in the set on tour dates. Lamya, a recent addition to group, performed the lead vocals to the song during the tour. Wheeler also included the song during her solo tours. A live recording of the song was released on Wheeler 's live CD / DVD Live at Duo Music Exchange, which featured her performing live in Tokyo, Japan. In 2007, Wheeler reunited with the group and performed the song at the Lovebox Festival. In August 2012, Soul II Soul performed the song at the Rewind Festival in Remenham, Berkshire, with Charlotte Kelly singing lead vocals. In December 2016, Soul II Soul released their live album Origins : The Roots of Soul II Soul which included a live recorded version on the song, sung by Wheeler. Impact and legacy In 2006, Slant Magazine ranked the song at number 57 in their list of the 100 Greatest Dance Songs. The Guardian featured the song on their A history of modern music : Dance in 2011. In 2015 the song was voted by the British public as the nation 's 18th favourite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV. Track listings and formats UK Basic single `` Back To Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' ( Album Version ) -- 3 : 48 `` Back To Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' ( Instrumental ) -- 4 : 23 UK 12 - inch single `` Back To Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' ( Club Mix ) -- 7 : 37 `` Back To Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' ( Jam On The Groove ) -- 5 : 08 `` Back To The Beats '' -- 4 : 38 US Maxi - single `` Back To Life '' ( 12 '' Mix ) -- 7 : 37 `` Back To Life '' ( A Capella Intro Version ) -- 3 : 29 `` Back To Life '' ( LP Version ) -- 3 : 50 `` Back To Life '' ( Jam & The Groove ) -- 5 : 08 `` Back To Life '' ( Bonus Beats ) -- 4 : 38 Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1989 ) Peak position Australian Singles Chart 45 Austrian Singles Chart 13 Belgian Singles Chart Canadian RPM Top Singles 11 Dutch Top 40 German Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart 6 New Zealand Singles Chart Swedish Singles Chart Swiss Singles Chart UK Singles Chart US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play US Billboard Hot Black Singles Year - end charts Chart ( 1990 ) Position US Billboard Hot 100 42 Preceded by `` Sealed with a Kiss '' by Jason Donovan UK number - one single 18 June 1989 -- 15 July 1989 Succeeded by `` You 'll Never Stop Me Loving You '' by Sonia Preceded by `` Batdance '' by Prince Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number - one single 26 August 1989 -- 9 September 1989 Succeeded by `` It 's Time to Get Funky '' by D Mob featuring LRS Preceded by `` Ca n't Get Over You '' by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly Billboard Hot Black Singles number - one single 7 October 1989 Succeeded by `` Miss You Much '' by Janet Jackson Cover versions This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( July 2013 ) The song was covered live by Lynn Mabry and George Michael at the Rock in Rio 2 music festival in 1991 as well as certain shows during his Cover To Cover tour in 1991. A version of George Michael 's `` Freedom ! ' 90 '' ( Back to Reality Mix ) features an interpolation of the song. Powerpop trio Dodgy included a cover of the song on the CD single for their 1994 song `` Staying Out for the Summer ''. DJ Clue ? produced a version featuring Mary J. Blige & Jadakiss called `` Back to Life 2001 '' which was on his second album The Professional 2. JoJo covered the song for mixtape LoveJo2 called `` Back2Life '' ( 2015 ). LeToya Luckett released a song Back 2 Life sampling the songs lyrics `` back to life, back to reality '' in 2016 taken from her upcoming studio album `` Back 2 Life '' ( 2017 ). Samples The Game - `` However Do You Want It '' References ^ Jump up to : `` Soul II Soul Featuring Caron Wheeler - Back To Life ( However Do You Want Me ) ( CD ) at Discogs ''. Discogs.com. Retrieved 30 March 2014. Jump up ^ `` How we made Back to Life by Soul II Soul ''. theguardian.com. Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 09. ^ Jump up to : Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 502 -- 3. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ `` How we made Back to Life by Soul II Soul ''. theguardian.com. Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ The Arsenio Hall Show - Season 2, Episode 31. TV.com. Retrieved on October 25, 2017 Jump up ^ Soul II Soul - Back To Life, Episode 10, Series 41, Later... with Jools Holland. BBC Two. Retrieved on October 25, 2017 Jump up ^ Origins : The Roots of Soul II Soul - Soul II Soul. All Music Guide. Retrieved on October 25, 2017 Jump up ^ `` The 100 Greatest Dance Songs - Feature - Slant Magazine ''. Retrieved 26 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` A history of modern music : Dance ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2017. Jump up ^ Westbrook, Caroline ( 25 July 2015 ). `` The Nation 's Favourite 80s Number One : 12 more classic 80s chart - toppers which did n't make the cut ''. Metro. Retrieved 27 July 2015. Jump up ^ `` De Nederlandse Top 40, week 30, 1989 ''. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008. Jump up ^ `` Billboard Top 100 - 1990 ''. Longboredsurfer.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2009. Jump up ^ `` The Game 's ' However Do You Want It ' - Discover the Sample Source ''. WhoSampled. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 30. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics. Soul II Soul Jazzie B Caron Wheeler Rose Windross Doreen Waddell Victoria Wilson - James Lamya Kym Mazelle Penny Ford Charlotte Kelly Simon Law Daddae Nellee Hooper Melissa Bell Studio albums Club Classics Vol. One ( 1989 ) Vol. II : 1990 -- A New Decade ( 1990 ) Compilation albums Volume IV The Classic Singles 88 -- 93 ( 1993 ) Live albums A New Decade : Live from Brixton Academy ( 1990 ) Singles `` Keep On Movin ' '' `` Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' Related Discography Caron Wheeler Discography Albums UK Blak Beach of the War Goddess Singles `` Keep on Movin ' '' `` Back to Life ( However Do You Want Me ) '' `` Livin ' in the Light '' Related Brown Sugar Afrodiziak Soul II Soul Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Back_to_Life_(However_Do_You_Want_Me)&oldid=807815798 '' Categories : 1989 singles Soul II Soul songs UK Singles Chart number - one singles Billboard Dance Club Songs number - one singles Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs number - one singles European Hot 100 Singles number - one singles Dutch Top 40 number - one singles Number - one dance singles in Canada Songs written by Nellee Hooper Song recordings produced by Nellee Hooper Songs written by Jazzie B Virgin Records singles 1989 songs New jack swing songs Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from October 2015 Articles with hAudio microformats Articles needing additional references from July 2013 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Edit links This page was last edited on 30 October 2017, at 07 : 54. 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Question: who sings the song back to life back to reality
Answer: Soul II Soul