Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)
A Grammy-winning R&B single that defined late-1980s dance music.
Soul II Soul, a British R&B collective formed in London, achieved international success with their 1989 single "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)." The song, featuring vocalist Caron Wheeler and the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra, became a defining track of the late 1980s dance scene, winning a Grammy and topping charts in multiple countries.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler
- Released
- 30 May 1989
- Studio
- Britannia Row (London)
- Genre
- R&B
- proto-jungle
- house
- Length
- 3:52
- Label
- Virgin
- Writer
- Jazzie B
- Caron Wheeler
- Nellee Hooper
- Simon Law
- Producer
- Jazzie B; Nellee Hooper
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The song originated from a near-death experience of co-writer and singer Caron Wheeler, who said she was sent "back to life" to fulfill her mission. The album version was originally a cappella; for the single, two new versions were produced: one with added instrumentation, and a reworked version with new lyrics and chorus, which became the popular release. Producer Jazzie B described the single as "magic," noting its blend of reggae, breakbeats, and electronic sound, with Wheeler's vocals over heavy bass beats and the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra's contribution.
Reader's Guide
Released on 30 May 1989 by Virgin Records, "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" topped charts in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. It won Soul II Soul their first Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1990. The music video, directed by Monty Whitebloom and Andy Delaney, was shot in Epping Forest and features Wheeler with dancers Claudia Fontaine and Jay Curley. The song has been recognized by VH1, Q Magazine, Slant Magazine, and Rolling Stone in lists of greatest dance songs, and was voted the 18th favourite 1980s number one in a 2015 British poll.
More in Albums & EPs
Elsewhere in Deadmau5
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced