Back That Up to the Beat
{{Infobox song
| name = Back That Up to the Beat
| cover = Madonna - Back That Up to the Beat.png
| type = single
| artist = Madonna
| album =
| released = {{start date|2022|12|30}}
| recorded = 2014
| genre =
| length =
- 3:31 (demo)
- 3:50 (Madame X version)
| label = Interscope
| writer = {{hlist|Madonna Ciccone|Brittany Hazzard|Pharrell Williams}}
| producer = {{hlist|Madonna|Jeff Bhasker|Mike Dean| Pharrell Williams}}
| chronology = Madonna
| prev_title = Break My Soul (The Queens Remix)
| prev_year = 2022
| next_title = Popular
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{External music video|header=Lyric video|{{YouTube|GTxPUFWjOlQ|"Back That Up to the Beat"}}|type=single}}
}}
"Back That Up to the Beat" is a song by American singer Madonna. It was released on digital and streaming platforms on December 30, 2022, and impacted radio in Italy on January 20, 2023. Originally titled "Back That Up (Do It)", the demo was recorded for Madonna's 13th studio album Rebel Heart (2015), but did not make it onto the final track listing. The song was leaked to the internet on December 23, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/madonna-music-rebel-heart-leaked-time-article-1.2055908|title=Madonna's music from 'Rebel Heart' leaked for second time|work=Daily News|author=Ramisetti, Kirthana|date=December 24, 2014|access-date=December 25, 2014|archive-date=June 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611124905/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/madonna-music-rebel-heart-leaked-time-article-1.2055908|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/14-more-madonna-songs-leak-from-rebel-heart-20141226-12dvmd.html|title=14 more Madonna songs leak from Rebel Heart|first=Saimi|last=Jeong|date=December 26, 2014|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=January 25, 2023|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123184814/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/14-more-madonna-songs-leak-from-rebel-heart-20141226-12dvmd.html|url-status=live}} The reworked final version appears as a bonus track on the international deluxe edition of Madonna's fourteenth studio album Madame X (2019).
Background and release
"Back That Up to the Beat" was written by Madonna, Pharrell Williams, and Starrah, while its production was handled by Madonna, Williams, Jeff Bhasker, and Mike Dean.{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/deluxe-international-edition-madonna-madame-161124061.html|title=Deluxe International Edition Of Madonna's 'Madame X' Now Available Digitally|publisher=Yahoo! Finance|first=Paul|last=Sexton|date=January 13, 2023|access-date=January 23, 2023|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123185241/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/deluxe-international-edition-madonna-madame-161124061.html|url-status=live}} Originally titled "Back That Up (Do It)", the song was first recorded in 2014 and intended for inclusion on Madonna's 13th studio album Rebel Heart (2015). Its demo leaked to the internet on December 23, 2014, and eventually did not made it onto the final track listing of the album.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6415165/madonna-more-rebel-heart-leaks-pharrell|title=14 More Madonna Songs Leak From 'Rebel Heart,' Including Pharrell Collabo|magazine=Billboard|author=Lynch, Joe|date=December 24, 2014|access-date=December 29, 2014|archive-date=December 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225052437/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6415165/madonna-more-rebel-heart-leaks-pharrell|url-status=live}} The song was later reworked in 2019 and appeared as a bonus track on the 2-CD deluxe edition of Madonna's 14th studio album Madame X.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com.au/Madame-X-2CD-Deluxe-Madonna/dp/B07QH1FYRX/|title=Madame X|date=January 23, 2019|via=Amazon|access-date=January 23, 2023|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123212951/https://www.amazon.com.au/Madame-X-2CD-Deluxe-Madonna/dp/B07QH1FYRX|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.madonna.com/|title=Madonna | Discography | Madame X|publisher=Madonna's official website|access-date=2023-01-23|archive-date=2016-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309075219/http://tickets.madonna.com/|url-status=live}} The Madame X version features a radically different composition, filled with Arabic musical instruments and complex drums.{{cite web|url=https://www.outinperth.com/madonna-releases-demo-version-of-back-that-up-to-the-beat/|title=Madonna releases demo version of 'Back That Up To The Beat'|date=January 1, 2023|website=OutInPerth|access-date=January 23, 2023|archive-date=January 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102200938/https://www.outinperth.com/madonna-releases-demo-version-of-back-that-up-to-the-beat/|url-status=live}}
In September 2022,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64306753|title=Madonna announces a career-spanning greatest hits tour|publisher=BBC|date=January 17, 2023|access-date=January 25, 2023|first=Mark|last=Savage|archive-date=January 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117141312/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64306753|url-status=live}} the original demo version went viral on social media app TikTok, and appeared among the most-searched songs on Shazam globally. The song was also illegally released to Spotify, along with the slowed down and accelerated versions.{{cite web|url=https://jenesaispop.com/2022/11/03/444294/madonna-back-that-do-it-tiktok/|title=Se viraliza en TikTok la maqueta de Madonna que menos esperabas|last=Alonso|first=Sebas E.|date=November 3, 2022|access-date=January 1, 2023|publisher=Jenesaispop|language=es|archive-date=January 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101150230/https://jenesaispop.com/2022/11/03/444294/madonna-back-that-do-it-tiktok/|url-status=live}} Interscope Records officially released the demo and sped-up version of "Back That Up to the Beat" on digital and streaming platforms on December 30, 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Madonna-Releases-Back-That-Up-to-the-Beat-Demo-20221230|title=Madonna Releases 'Back That Up to the Beat' Demo|last=Major|first=Michelle|date=December 30, 2022|access-date=January 1, 2023|publisher=BroadwayWorld|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101145754/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Madonna-Releases-Back-That-Up-to-the-Beat-Demo-20221230|archive-date=January 1, 2023}} Madonna announced its release by posting a clip of the sped-up version of the song set to a video of her dancing with kids in Malawi and Kenya, including her four children who joined her visit in Africa as part of her Raising Malawi charity campaign.{{cite web |last1=Atad |first1=Corey |title=Madonna Plays Soccer And Dances With Kids In Malawi, Plugs 'Back That Up To The Beat' |url=https://etcanada.com/news/955023/madonna-plays-soccer-and-dances-with-kids-in-malawi-plugs-back-that-up-to-the-beat/ |work=Entertainment Tonight Canada |access-date=31 December 2022 |date=30 December 2022 |archive-date=31 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231000638/https://etcanada.com/news/955023/madonna-plays-soccer-and-dances-with-kids-in-malawi-plugs-back-that-up-to-the-beat/ |url-status=dead }} The official lyric video of the song was uploaded to Madonna's YouTube channel on January 7 2023, which features an extended version of the original clip with a filtered montage of her Instagram reels, videos and pictures.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTxPUFWjOlQ|title=Madonna - Back That Up To The Beat (Official Lyric Video)|date=6 January 2023 |via=YouTube|access-date=2023-01-23|archive-date=2023-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123184813/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTxPUFWjOlQ|url-status=live}} The song was also released to Italian radio on January 20, 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://radiodate.it/radio-date/madonna-back-that-up-to-the-beat-234597-20-01-2023-radiodate/|title=MADONNA "Back That Up To The Beat " | (Radio Date: 20/01/2023)|publisher=Radio Date|language=it|access-date=2023-01-23|archive-date=2023-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119110042/https://radiodate.it/radio-date/madonna-back-that-up-to-the-beat-234597-20-01-2023-radiodate/|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
In a review for Wonderland magazine, its editor said that the song "sounds as if it was plucked straight out of an Eastern European discotheque circa 2006. It harnesses the same nostalgia that ignited the Y2K trend; its addictive guitar hooks and carnal bassline has us smashing the replay button into oblivion."{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2023/01/06/wonderlist-stormzy-ft-flo/|title=Stormzy, FLO, Drake & Madonna Star In This Week's Wonderlist|date=January 6, 2023|magazine=Wonderland|access-date=January 23, 2023|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123192822/https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2023/01/06/wonderlist-stormzy-ft-flo/|url-status=live}} Jon Bream from Star Tribune picked the song as one of the week's "6 cool things in music", calling it a "cleaner arrangement [w]ith a staccato, snappy beat..."{{cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/6-cool-things-in-music-sounds-of-blackness-madonna-miley-cyrus-rick-rubin-u2-sudan-archives/600245030/|title=6 cool things in music this week include Madonna, Miley Cyrus and Rick Rubin|date=January 20, 2023|first=Jon|last=Bream|work=Star Tribune|access-date=January 23, 2023|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123153056/https://www.startribune.com/6-cool-things-in-music-sounds-of-blackness-madonna-miley-cyrus-rick-rubin-u2-sudan-archives/600245030/|url-status=live}}
Commercial performance
Track listing
Digital single{{cite web |title=Back That Up To The Beat - Single by Madonna |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/back-that-up-to-the-beat-single/1661718432 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=1 January 2023 |date=30 December 2022 |archive-date=31 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231110349/https://music.apple.com/us/album/back-that-up-to-the-beat-single/1661718432 |url-status=live }}
- "Back That Up to the Beat" (demo version) – 3:31
- "Back That Up to the Beat" (sped up version) – 3:12
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Back That Up to the Beat"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Madonna|title=Back That Up to the Beat|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|access-date=November 6, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ "Back That Up to the Beat" release history ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" | Various
| December 30, 2022 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | Italy
| January 20, 2023 | {{cite web|url=https://www.panorama.it/lifestyle/Musica/la-nuova-musica-di-madonna-e-ancora-rilevante-oggi|title=La nuova musica di Madonna è ancora rilevante oggi?|date=January 20, 2023|first=Gabriele|last=Antonucci|work=Panorama|access-date=January 25, 2023|language=it|archive-date=January 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120170911/https://www.panorama.it/lifestyle/Musica/la-nuova-musica-di-madonna-e-ancora-rilevante-oggi|url-status=live}} |