"Sing It Back"
Single by Moloko
from the album I Am Not a Doctor and Things to Make and Do
Released8 March 1999 (1999-03-08)[1]
GenreTechno[2]
Length
  • 4:40 (single version)
  • 4:23 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Moloko singles chronology
"The Flipside"
(1998)		 "Sing It Back"
(1999)		 "The Time Is Now"
(2000)
Music video
"Sing It Back" on YouTube
Audio sample
Moloko – "Sing It Back" (single version)
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"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,[3] 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 had commissioned mixes by Todd Terry (who had turned Everything But the Girl's "Missing" into an international club anthem). Moloko were 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, and 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 dance chart. 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".[4] In her review of the I Am Not a Doctor album, Heather Phares from AllMusic described it as a "techno torch song".[5] A reviewer from Daily Record said it is "their best single since 1996's 'Fun for Me'".[6] 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."[7]

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 for the Statues album. It was later made available on Moloko's official YouTube channel in 2016 and by December 2023, the video had generated more than 31 million views.[8]

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. 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.[9]

Impact and legacy

In 2002, Q Magazine ranked "Sing It Back" at number 905 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever"[10] and in 2004, the magazine featured it in their "The 1010 Songs You Must Own". Australian music channel Max placed it at number 887 in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2012.[11] German magazine Musikexpress listed the song as number 449 in their ranking of the "700 Best Songs of All-Time" in 2014.[12] Mixmag put the song in their list of "Vocal House: The 30 All-Time Biggest Anthems" in 2018.[13] Tomorrowland featured the song in their "Official The Ibiza 500" at number 55.[14] Rolling Stone ranked the song at 152 in its 2022 list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".[15]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[53] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting 8 March, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 6 March 1999. p. 25. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "I Am Not a Doctor - Moloko - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "everyHit.com Note". everyhit.com. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  4. ↑ Aberdeen Press and Journal. 30 August 1999. p. 13.
  5. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Moloko – I Am Not a Doctor". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Chartslot". Daily Record. 3 September 1999.
  7. ↑ Chick, Stevie. "This Week's Singles March 20 1999". NME. Archived from the original on 2000-10-03. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Moloko - Sing It Back (Official HD Video)". YouTube. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  9. ↑ Moloko - Sing it Back (Later Archive 2003) on YouTube
  10. ↑ "Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)".
  11. ↑ "Top 1000 Greatest Songs Of All Time – 2012". Max. 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "Die 700 besten Songs aller Zeiten". Musikexpress (in German). 21 March 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  13. ↑ "The 30 best vocal house anthems ever". Mixmag. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Relive this year's Ibiza 500!". Tomorrowland. 6 Aug 2021.
  15. ↑ "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 8 Aug 2022.
  16. ↑ Sing It Back (UK CD1 liner notes). Moloko. Echo Records. 1999. ECSCD 71.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ Sing It Back (UK CD2 liner notes). Moloko. Echo Records. 1999. ECSCX 71.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ↑ Sing It Back (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Moloko. Echo Records. 1999. ECSY 71.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ↑ Sing It Back (UK cassette single sleeve). Moloko. Echo Records. 1999. ECSMC82.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ↑ Sing It Back (French CD single liner notes). Moloko. Scorpio Music. 1999. 192 634-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ↑ Sing It Back (German CD single liner notes). Moloko. Peppermint Jam. 1999. 0066566JAM.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ↑ Sing It Back (Australian CD single liner notes). Moloko. Mushroom Records, Echo Records. 1999. MUSH01914.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ↑ "Moloko – Sing It Back". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  24. ↑ "Moloko – Sing It Back" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  25. ↑ "Moloko – Sing It Back" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  26. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 8432." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  27. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 37. 11 September 1998. p. 12. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  28. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Moloko". Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 174. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  29. ↑ "Moloko – Sing It Back" (in French). Les classement single.
  30. ↑ "Moloko – Sing It Back" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  31. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 339 Vikuna 2.8.–9.9. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 3 September 1999. p. 12. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  32. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sing It Back". Irish Singles Chart.
  33. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 4 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Moloko".
  34. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Moloko" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  35. ↑ "Moloko – Sing It Back" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  36. ↑ "Moloko – Sing It Back". Top 40 Singles.
  37. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  38. ↑ "Moloko – Sing It Back" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  39. ↑ "Moloko – Sing It Back". Singles Top 100.
  40. ↑ "Moloko – Sing It Back". Swiss Singles Chart.
  41. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  42. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  43. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  44. ↑ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 3 July 1999. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  45. ↑ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 18 September 1999. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  46. ↑ "RPM 1999 Top 50 Dance Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  47. ↑ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 1. 1 January 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  48. ↑ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  49. ↑ "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. 22 January 2000. p. 27.
  50. ↑ "Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. 22 January 2000. p. 31. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  51. ↑ "Club Chart Top 50 of 1999" (PDF). Music Week. 22 January 2000. p. 32. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  52. ↑ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. 25 December 1999. pp. YE-60.
  53. ↑ "British single certifications – Moloko – Sing It Back". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  54. ↑ "Uno Recordings: Music". Archived from the original on 26 November 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  55. ↑ "Sing it Back (Swingrowers Remix)". testicanzoni. MTV. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  56. ↑ Pete Tong - Sing It Back Feat. Becky Hill (Official Audio) on YouTube
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