Back Here

1999 single by BBMakTemplate:SHORTDESC:1999 single by BBMak

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* 3:50 (radio version)
 Label | * Telstar (UK)
 Songwriter(s) | * Christian Burns
* Mark Barry
* Steven McNally
 Producer(s) | * Oliver Leiber

**"Back Here"** is the debut single by British pop rock band BBMak. It was written by the three members of the group (Christian Burns, Mark Barry, and Stephen McNally) along with songwriter Phil Thornalley. It was originally released in August 1999 as the lead single from their debut studio album, *Sooner or Later* (2000), but did not experience commercial success until its American release the following year, when it became a top-20 hit in the United States. The song was then re-released in the United Kingdom and entered the top five of the UK Singles Chart in February 2001. *Rolling Stone* ranked it as the 63rd greatest boy band song of all time.

## Content

Stephen McNally told *Billboard* that the song was deceiving due to its uptempo guitar part and the song sounding happy. He went on to say that it was about a "guy and a girl getting together, then the girl leaves the guy and now he can't live without her." Of the song's background, Christian Burns said "['Back Here'] came together really quickly. We were having coffee with Phil [Thornalley] at his flat, and we were just messing around with chords; we wrote the whole song in about 45 minutes'". Burns added, “I remember when we heard that guitar intro for the first time. We flew over to Hollywood to go and work on the record in the Hills with [producers] John Shanks and Oliver Leiber, walked into the studio and the intro was on loop. We all looked at each other and knew something magical was cooking here".

## Release

Originally released in the United Kingdom on 16 August 1999, it reached number 37 on the UK Singles Chart that same month. Japanese radio stations eventually began playing the song which resulted in their overseas label Telstar scrambling to get the group to Asia for promotion. The song subsequently topped the charts of several Asian countries.

In the United States, "Back Here" was released on 27 March 2000 and eventually reached number 13 on the US *Billboard* Hot 100. It became a mainstay on pop radio and on the MTV show Total Request Live in the summer of 2000. The song also charted in Canada, peaking at number 11 on the *RPM* Top Singles chart. On 12 February 2001, following the song's success in America, the single was re-released in the United Kingdom and made the top 10 this time around, debuting and peaking at number five.

## Music videos

There are two versions of the video. The first, made for a UK release, was filmed in Los Angeles and directed by Dani Jacobs. The second version, intended for a US release, was again directed by Jacobs and was filmed in London in March 2000. It features the band performing on the platform of Canary Wharf DLR station and in the London Eye as they try to earn the attention of a girl who passes by and gives them a tip near the end of the video.

## Track listings

1. "Back Here"
2. "Back Here" (extended version)
3. "Back Here" (video)

**UK CD2 (1999)**
1. "Back Here"
2. "Miss You More"
3. "More Than Words"

**US CD single (2000)**
1. "Back Here" – 3:38
2. "Miss You More" – 5:08
3. "I'm Not in Love" / "Next Time" / "I Can Tell" – 2:46

A1. "Back Here" – 3:38
A2. "I'm Not in Love" / "Next Time" / "I Can Tell" – 2:46
B1. "Miss You More" – 5:06
**European CD single (2001)**
1. "Back Here 2001" – 3:41
2. "Back Here" (acoustic version) – 3:39

**UK enhanced CD single (2001)**
1. "Back Here 2001"
2. "Back Here" (acoustic version)
3. "More Than Words"
4. Enhanced CD-ROM

## Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD1 liner notes.

**Locations**

* Recorded at Hollywood Studios (Hollywood, California)
* Mixed at Royaltone Studios (California)
* Artwork designed at Blade

* Christian Burns – writing
* Mark Barry – writing
* Steven McNally – writing

**Additional musicians**
* John Shanks – guitars, production
* Mark Browne – bass
* Matt Laug – drums

* Phil Thornalley – writing
* Oliver Leiber – production
* Barry Rudolph – engineering
* Marc DeSisto – mixing
* Mark Jolley – A&R direction
* Norman Watson – photography
* Nick Foss – styling
* Rachel Howarth – make up

## Release history

* contemporary hit radio
* cassette

## References

1. ↑ "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time". *Rolling Stone*. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Taylor, Chuck (8 July 2000). "'Sea of Screams' Greets U.K.'s BBMak as Hit 'Back Here' Catches Fire in U.S." (PDF). *Billboard*. Vol. 112 no. 28. p. 76. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
3. ↑ Woodlief, Mark (7 July 2000). "BBMak Separate The Men From The Boy Bands". MTV News.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Daw, Robbie (27 March 2020). "Where Are They Now? Catching Up With 2000 Stars BBMak, Baha Men, Evan & Jaron, Nine Days & 2Gether". *Billboard*. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "News" (PDF). *Music Week*. 7 August 1999. p. 3. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "BBMak: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Taylor, Chuck (22 April 2000). "For Hollywood, BBMak's More Than Boy Band" (PDF). *Billboard*. Vol. 112 no. 17. pp. 14, 18. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "BBMak: Back Here" (PDF). *Radio & Records*. No. 1343. 24 March 2000. p. 1. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "BBMak Chart History (Hot 100)". *Billboard*. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7188." *RPM*. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Stavenes Dove, Siri (10 March 2001). "Airborne" (PDF). *Music & Media*. Vol. 18 no. 11. p. 10. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "New Releases – For Week Starting February 12, 2001: Singles" (PDF). *Music Week*. 10 February 2001. p. 25. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
13. ↑ Jacobs, Dani (director) (24 October 2018). *BBMak - Back Here (Official Video)* (Music video). Phoenix Music International – via YouTube.
14. ↑ "bbmak > Music Videos > Back Here". MTV Networks. 29 October 2008. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
15. ↑ Jacobs, Dani (director) (25 September 2020). *BBMak - Back Here (London Version)* (Music video). Phoenix Music International – via YouTube.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 *Back Here* (UK CD1 single liner notes). BBMak. Telstar Records. 1999. CDSTAS3053.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. ↑ *Back Here* (UK CD2 single liner notes). BBMak. Telstar Records. 1999. CXSTAS3053.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. ↑ *Back Here* (US CD single liner notes). BBMak. Hollywood Records. 2000. HR-64040-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. ↑ *Back Here* (US cassette single sleeve). BBMak. Hollywood Records. 2000. HR-64040-4.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. ↑ *Back Here* (European CD single liner notes). BBMak. Telstar Records. 2001. 0125966 TST.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
21. ↑ *Back Here* (UK enhanced CD single liner notes). BBMak. Telstar Records. 2001. CDSTAS3166.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
22. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
23. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – BBMak – Back Here". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – BBMak – Back Here" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
25. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7262." *RPM*. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
26. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). *Music & Media*. Vol. 18 no. 10. 3 March 2001. p. 11. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
27. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Back Here". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
28. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – BBMak – Back Here" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
29. ↑ "Charts.nz – BBMak – Back Here". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
30. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
31. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – BBMak – Back Here". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
32. ↑  "BBMak Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". *Billboard*. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
33. ↑ "BBMak Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". *Billboard*. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
34. ↑ "BBMak Chart History (Pop Songs)". *Billboard*. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
35. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". *Billboardtop100of.com*. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
36. ↑ "2000 The Year in Music". *Billboard*. Vol. 112 no. 53. 30 December 2000. p. YE-98. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
37. ↑ "BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on 26 July 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
38. ↑ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). *UKChartsPlus*. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
39. ↑ "2001 The Year in Music". *Billboard*. Vol. 113 no. 52. 29 December 2001. p. YE-81. Retrieved 11 October 2021.

## External links

* Single release info at discogs.com
* Lyrics of this song at Lyrics.com