Want U Back

Album

Sticks + Stones

Label

Syco Entertainment

Genre

Dance-pop

Composer(s)

Savan Kotecha;Shellback

Entered Chart

Jun 30, 2012

Peak Date

Aug 11, 2012

Released

3 February 2012

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

SYCO Digital

This sassy piece of pop finds Cher Lloyd singing about her jealousy of her former lover and his new girlfriend. It was written for the English singer's debut album by Swedish songwriter Johan Shellback, who also helped Adam Levine pen "Moves Like Jagger" and Texan songsmith Savan Kotecha who helped create One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" and JLS's "The Club is Alive." Lloyd told Digital Spy that the song does not relate to anything that happened to her personally. Instead, she said, "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." The single version in some territories features guest vocals by X Factor USA contestant and American rapper Astro. Astro was mentored by L.A. Reid on the show and it was Reid who signed Lloyd to Epic Records in the United States. The video was shot in Los Angeles, California and shows Lloyd's attempts to sabotage her former love's new relationship. It ends in a strange manner with Lloyd imitating the sounds of a helicopter. She explained to Digital Spy: "I was in the studio, and to get my mind off working all the time I'd talk to myself. I was being stupid! I was played the final edit and it was on there and I couldn't believe it. It's cool though - I'm glad they kept it in." Lloyd also recorded an alternate video for the US market, which sees the singer confronting her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend in an American diner. The song starts off with an angry grunt that plays on loop. "I was in the studio, and for some reason, I couldn't hit a particular note," Lloyd explained to MTV News regarding the guttural noise. "I get really frustrated with myself when I can't do something, so I made the 'ugh' sound, and they kept it in."

Hey, boy you never had much game
Thought I needed to upgrade
So I went and walked away way way
Now, I see you've been hanging out
With that other girl in town
Looking like a pair of clowns clowns clowns

Remember all the things that you and I did first?
And now you're doing them with her
Remember all the things that you and I did first?
You got me, got me like this
And now you're taking her to every restaurant
And everywhere we went, come on!
And now you're taking her to every restaurant
You got me, got me like this

Boy you can say anything you want
I don't give a shh, no one else can have ya
I want you back
I want you back
Wa-want you, want you back
I broke it off thinking you'd be cryin'
Now I feel like shh looking at you flyin'
I want you back
I want you back
Wa-want you, want you back

Please, this ain't even jealousy
She ain't got a thing on me
Tryin' to rock them ugly jeans jeans jeans
You clearly didn't think this through
If what I've been told is true
You'll be crawling back like boo hoo hoo

Remember all the things that you and I did first?
And now you're doing them with her
Remember all the things that you and I did first?
You got me, got me like this
And now you're taking her to every restaurant
And everywhere we went, come on!
And now you're taking her to every restaurant
You got me, got me like this

Boy you can say anything you want
I don't give a shh, no one else can have ya
I want you back
I want you back
Wa-want you, want you back
I broke it off thinking you'd be cryin'
Now I feel like shh looking at you flyin'
I want you back
I want you back
Wa-want you, want you back

Ooh, I thought you'd still be mine
When I kissed you goodbye uh oh uh oh
Ooh, and you might be with her
But I still had you first uh oh uh oh (Let's go! Astro!)

We used to be, but now there's a separation between you and me
Baby I'm moving on to another girl that understands me more
Dated her in front your place so you can see it all
I remember the times, when we used to bond
But I never realized that you wanted to be mine
So I gave her the ring, instead of you, nickname too
I can tell you're upset, because it ain't you
Met a new girl, and I gave her my heart
Not noticing that you wanted me from the very start
You want me back?
We can just be friends, or try this thing all over again c'mon

Boy you can say anything you want
I don't give a shh, no one else can have ya
I want you back
I want you back
Wa-want you, want you back
I broke it off thinking you'd be cryin'
Now I feel like shh looking at you flyin'
I want you back
I want you back
Wa-want you, want you back (Let me know)

Oh, I want you back
I want you back
Wa-want you, want you back

Oh, I want you back
I want you back
Wa-want you, want you back

Does it sound like a helicopter?