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Sing It Back

{{Short description|1999 single by Moloko}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Sing It Back

| cover = Moloko singitback.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Moloko

| album = I Am Not a Doctor {{noitalic|and}} Things to Make and Do

| released = {{start date|1999|3|8|df=y}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1999/Music-Week-1999-03-06.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 8 March, 1999: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=6 March 1999|access-date=22 July 2021}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = House music

| length =

  • 4:24 (album version)
  • 4:38 (Boris Musical mix edit)
  • 4:08 (video edit)

| label = Echo

| writer =

| producer =

| prev_title = The Flipside

| prev_year = 1998

| next_title = The Time Is Now

| next_year = 2000

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|w1eN8vyVFIM|"Sing It Back"}}}}

}}

"Sing It Back" is a song written and performed by Irish-English electronic music duo Moloko (Róisín Murphy and Mark Brydon). It first appeared in its original version on Moloko's second album, I Am Not a Doctor (1998); it was released as a single on 8 March 1999, reaching number 45 on the UK Singles Chart. The song experienced chart success after it was remixed by DJ Boris Dlugosch, peaking at number four in the UK in September 1999. Murphy had started writing the lyrics while clubbing in New York City,{{cite web|url=http://everyhit.com/popup.php?songid=15584|title=everyHit.com Note|website=everyhit.com|access-date=26 August 2017}} and knew the song was at heart a dance track, but the group wanted to record it in a different artistic fashion for its album version.

Together with their record company they commissioned mixes by Todd Terry (who had turned Everything But the Girl's "Missing" into an international hit). Moloko was not satisfied with the Terry mix and had to convince their label Echo Records to put out the Dlugosch version instead. The remixed version was eventually featured on over 100 compilations. It was later added on Moloko's third album, Things to Make and Do, after hitting the top ten on the UK Singles Chart. In 1999, it reached number one on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart. Its music video was directed by Dawn Shadforth. As a form of barter for the remix, Moloko vocalist Róisín Murphy later co-wrote and appeared on Dlugosch's "Never Enough" single, starring in the video for that release as well.

Critical reception

Scottish Aberdeen Press and Journal viewed "Sing It Back" as a "Balearic hit".Aberdeen Press and Journal. 30 August 1999. p. 13. In her review of the I Am Not a Doctor album, Heather Phares from AllMusic described it as a "techno torch song".{{cite web|first= Heather |last= Phares |title= Moloko – I Am Not a Doctor |publisher= AllMusic |date= |access-date= 6 November 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-am-not-a-doctor-mw0000739612}} Daily Record named it their best single since 1996's "Fun for Me"."Chartslot". Daily Record. 3 September 1999. Stevie Chick from NME wrote, "Róisín Murphy, it must be said, has a remarkable voice, a chalky, skewed howl which can twist into a purr, a cry or a sexy growl. On 'Sing It Back', she's cast as Eartha Kitt, all unquenchable lust, sly, coquettish snarls, a luxuriant, lingering sigh. What a shame it's wasted on some of the limpest, radio-friendly handbag tedium ever put on wax."{{cite web|first= Stevie |last= Chick |title= This Week's Singles March 20 1999 |url= http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/singles200399.html |work= NME |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20001003121525/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/singles200399.html |access-date= 24 November 2020|archive-date= 2000-10-03 }}

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Dawn Shadforth. It features Moloko vocalist Róisín Murphy dancing alone in a metallic flapper dress, accompanied by psychedelic lighting effects. The video is featured on the DVD of Moloko's special edition of the Statues album. It was later made available on Moloko's official YouTube channel in 2016 and by late 2024, the video had generated more than 38 million views.{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1eN8vyVFIM |title= Moloko - Sing It Back (Official HD Video) |publisher= YouTube |date= 21 October 2016 |access-date= 29 November 2024}}

Several live videos also exist, including one in the group's live concert movie 11,000 Clicks, a similar concert version from the Dutch Pinkpop broadcast and a samba version featured on MTV Brasil.{{cn|date=June 2023}} On 20 June 2003 the band appeared on BBC's Later... with Jools Holland, and performed a version where Murphy finished head-first inside Brydon's Hammond organ.{{YouTube|qZrijS1SR1E|Moloko - Sing it Back (Later Archive 2003)}}

Impact and legacy

In 2002, Q Magazine ranked "Sing It Back" number 905 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever"{{cite web|url=http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Q1001bestsongsever.htm|title=Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)|publisher=}} and in 2004, the magazine featured it in their "The 1010 Songs You Must Own".{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060621014859/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/q1010songs.htm]}} In 2012, Australian music channel Max ranked it number 887 in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time".{{cite web|title= Top 1000 Greatest Songs Of All Time – 2012 |publisher= Max |date= 2012 |access-date= 26 April 2020 |url= https://www.maxtv.com.au/top-1000-greatest-songs-of-all-time-2}} In 2014, German Musikexpress ranked the song number 449 in their list of the "700 Best Songs of All-Time".{{cite web|title=Die 700 besten Songs aller Zeiten|website=Musikexpress|date=21 March 2014|access-date=4 November 2019|url=https://www.musikexpress.de/die-700-besten-songs-aller-zeiten-plaetze-450-bis-401-142658/|language=de}} In 2018, Mixmag featured "Sing It Back" in their list of "Vocal House: The 30 All-Time Biggest Anthems".{{cite web|title=The 30 best vocal house anthems ever|url=https://mixmag.net/feature/30-best-vocal-house-anthems-ever|website=Mixmag|access-date=10 October 2020}} In 2019, Defected Records featured it in their list of "17 Best Remixes Ever".{{cite web|title=17 Best Remixes Ever: Defected HQ Picks|url=https://defected.com/news/post/our-17-favourite-remixes-of-all-time|publisher=Defected Records|date=12 June 2019|access-date=29 November 2024}} In 2021, Tomorrowland featured the song in their "Official The Ibiza 500" at number 55.{{Cite web|date=6 Aug 2021|title=Relive this year's Ibiza 500!|url=https://www.tomorrowland.com/home/home/ibiza-500-2021-relive|website=Tomorrowland}} Rolling Stone ranked the song at 152 in its 2022 list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time". {{cite magazine|title=200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/200-greatest-dance-songs-of-all-time-1372888|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=22 July 2022|accessdate=8 August 2022}}

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

  • UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Sing It Back|others=Moloko|year=1999|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Echo Records|id=ECSCD 71}}
  1. "Sing It Back" (Tee's radio) – 3:25
  2. "Sing It Back" (Booker T Loco mix) – 5:21
  3. "Sing It Back" (DJ Plankton's Dub featuring Maurice) – 8:33
  • UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Sing It Back|others=Moloko|year=1999|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Echo Records|id=ECSCX 71}}
  1. "Sing It Back" (Boris Musical mix edit) – 4:38
  2. "Sing It Back" (Herbert's Tasteful dub) – 5:38
  3. "Sing It Back" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 9:02
  • UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Sing It Back|others=Moloko|year=1999|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Echo Records|id=ECSY 71}}

:A. "Sing It Back" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 9:02

:B. "Sing It Back" (Boris Musical mix) – 9:19

  • UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Sing It Back|others=Moloko|year=1999|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Echo Records|id=ECSMC82}}
  1. "Sing It Back" (Boris Musical mix edit) – 4:38
  2. "Sing It Back" (Can 7 Supermarket mix edit) – 4:03
  3. "Sing It Back" (Tee's radio mix) – 4:23

{{col-2}}

  • French CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Sing It Back|others=Moloko|year=1999|type=French CD single liner notes|publisher=Scorpio Music|id=192 634-2}}
  1. "Sing It Back" (Boris Musical mix edit) – 4:38
  2. "Sing It Back" (Tee's radio) – 3:25
  • German CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Sing It Back|others=Moloko|year=1999|type=German CD single liner notes|publisher=Peppermint Jam|id=0066566JAM}}
  1. "Sing It Back" (Boris radio edit) – 3:35
  2. "Sing It Back" (Boris Musical mix) – 9:15
  • Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Sing It Back|others=Moloko|year=1999|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Mushroom Records, Echo Records|id=MUSH01914.2}}
  1. "Sing It Back" (Boris Dlugosch Musical mix edit) – 4:38
  2. "Sing It Back" (Can 7 Supermarket mix edit) – 4:03
  3. "Sing It Back" (Boris Dlugosch Musical mix) – 9:17
  4. "Sing It Back" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 9:02
  5. "Sing It Back" (Can 7 Supermarket mix) – 8:19

{{col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1999)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|20|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back}}
{{single chart|Flanders|31|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back}}
{{single chart|Wallonia|26|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back}}
{{single chart|Canadadance|2|chartid=8432|access-date=5 January 2020}}
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-09-11.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=37|date=11 September 1998|page=12|access-date=26 June 2018}}

|align="center"|15

Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=174|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Moloko|page=174|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=3 July 2022|language=fi}}

|align="center"|14

{{single chart|France|35|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back}}
{{single chart|Germany|47|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back|songid=4008|access-date=5 January 2020}}
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2989081?iabr=on#page/n11/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 339 Vikuna 2.8.–9.9. 1999)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=12|date=3 September 1999|access-date=13 July 2018}}

|align="center"|28

{{single chart|Ireland2|12|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back}}
Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e dischi|language=it|access-date=4 June 2022}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Moloko".

|align="center"|32

{{single chart|Dutch40|11|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|24|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|27|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back}}
{{single chart|Scotland|5|date=19990904|access-date=5 January 2020}}
{{single chart|Spain|5|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back|access-date=5 January 2020}}
{{single chart|Sweden|50|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|18|artist=Moloko|song=Sing It Back}}
{{single chart|UK|4|date=19990904|access-date=5 January 2020}}
{{single chart|UKdance|1|date=19990904|access-date=5 January 2020}}
{{single chart|UKindie|1|date=19990904|access-date=5 January 2020}}
US Dance Club Play (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1999-07-03/|title=Dance Club Songs|magazine=Billboard|date=3 July 1999|access-date=3 August 2023}}

|align="center"|1

US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-dance-singles-sales/1999-09-18/|title=Dance Singles Sales|magazine=Billboard|date=18 September 1999|url-access=subscription|access-date=3 August 2023}}

|align="center"|44

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1999)

!Position

Canada Dance/Urban (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9962&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9962.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9962|title=RPM 1999 Top 50 Dance Tracks|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=5 January 2020}}

|align="center"|16

Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-01-01.pdf|title=Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999|magazine=Music & Media|volume=17|issue=1|date=1 January 2000|page=11|access-date=7 February 2020}}

|align="center"|100

Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1999|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=11 March 2020}}

|align="center"|93

UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=22 January 2000}}

|align="center"|92

UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-01-22.pdf#page=53|title=Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=22 January 2000|access-date=24 April 2022}}

|align="center"|21

UK Club Chart (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-01-22.pdf#page=54|title=Club Chart Top 50 of 1999|magazine=Music Week|page=32|date=22 January 2000|access-date=24 April 2022}}

|align="center"|13

US Dance Club Play (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=1999 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=52|pages=YE-60|date=25 December 1999}}

|align="center"|15

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Moloko|title=Sing It Back|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2024|id=5916-1220-1|access-date=19 January 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

Covers

  • The mash-up compilation Mashed features a mash-up of "Sing It Back" and "Connection" by Elastica called "Sing Back Connection".
  • In 2012 Andy Caldwell and Michael Teixeira collaborated on a cover, featuring vocals by Lisa Donnelly.{{cite web|url=http://www.unorecordings.com/music.html|title=Uno Recordings: Music|publisher=|access-date=26 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126051053/http://unorecordings.com/music.html|archive-date=26 November 2012}}
  • In 2015 the Swingrowers released an electro swing cover of the original.{{cite web |title=Sing it Back (Swingrowers Remix) |url=http://testicanzoni.mtv.it/testi-Swing-Republic-feat.-Karina-Kappel_24607436/testo-Sing-It-Back-(Swingrowers-Remix)-79861152 |website=testicanzoni |publisher=MTV |access-date=9 October 2018}}
  • In December 2017, Pete Tong released a version, featuring Becky Hill, on his album Ibiza Classics.{{YouTube|ydOAGxiFvnI|Pete Tong - Sing It Back Feat. Becky Hill (Official Audio)}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{YouTube|BsfgVHfCPsI|Roisin Murphy tells the story of Sing It Back}}

{{Moloko}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1998 songs

Category:1999 singles

Category:Moloko songs

Category:The Echo Label singles

Category:Sire Records singles

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:Songs written by Róisín Murphy

Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Songs written by Mark Brydon