{{Infobox song | name = Back 2 the Wild | cover = Basement Jaxx - Back 2 the Wild.png | alt = | type = single | artist = Basement Jaxx | album = Junto | released = {{Start date|2013|4|12}} | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = House<ref name="Sawdey"/> | length = {{Duration|m=04|s=12}} | label = 37 Adventures | writer = {{flat list| *Simon Ratcliffe *Felix Buxton }} | producer = Basement Jaxx | prev_title = Raindrops (Jaxx Club Boot) | prev_year = 2011 | next_title = What a Difference Your Love Makes | next_year = 2013 }}
"'''Back 2 the Wild'''" is a song by English electronic music duo Basement Jaxx, released on April 12, 2013, via London-based independent label 37 Adventures. The song was written and produced by group members Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Buxton while Korean artists Baby Chay and Miss Emma Lee contributed the vocals. At the time of the release, "Back 2 the Wild" was intended to be the lead single of their then-upcoming seventh studio album entitled ''Music'', but the idea was eventually scrapped. The group instead released ''Junto'' (2014), which deluxe edition features the song's Korean version and remixes.
Upon its release, "Back 2 the Wild" received critical acclaim from music critics. Mat Maitland and Natalia Stuyk directed its accompanied music video. Female idol group Team Syachihoko was chosen to perform the song's Japanese version released in May 2015. MTV Video Music Awards Japan nominated the version's live performance video for Best Collaboration that same year.
==Background and composition== The song made its premiere on BBC Radio 1 show ''Annie Mac''.<ref name="Sherburne">{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2013/04/basement-jaxx-back-2-the-wild-stream/ |title=Basement Jaxx Return With the Rousing, Uproarious 'Back 2 the Wild' |last=Sherburne |first=Philip |date=April 12, 2013 |accessdate=October 14, 2017 |work=Spin |publisher=SpinMedia }}</ref>
After the release, the band's publicist announced more single releases to follow and a possible of a new studio album.<ref name="Sherburne"/>
"'Back 2 the Wild' we did as kind of house track to fit in with the world," Buxton said, "and everyone found it really left field and everyone said, 'God it’s really kind of quirky and arty and weird,' and we were like ‘That’s us trying to do something straightforward!’ So in a way, it's great, and it goes down so well live, but it ended up falling a bit more into the 'arty' bracket. I didn't mind at all: that's great for me."<ref name="Sawdey">{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/feature/187474-power-to-the-people-an-interview-with-basement-jaxx/|title=Power to the People: An Interview with Basement Jaxx|last=Sawdey|first=Evan|date=October 29, 2014|accessdate=September 8, 2016|work=PopMatters|publisher=PopMatters Media, Inc.}}</ref>
The duo chose Japanese girl group Team Syachihoko to perform the track's Japanese version after having seen a video of them performing.<ref name="MTV81">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv81.com/videos/artist-to-watch/nagoyas-most-energetic-idols-team-syachihoko-meets-basement-jaxx-segment-1/|title = MTV Japan}}</ref> The version was released as a digital single and 12-inch single on 18 May 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Back 2 Wild Japanese Version|url=https://music.apple.com/in/album/back-2-wild-japanese-version/994814356|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-08-27|website=music.apple.com|archive-date=2021-08-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827221753/https://music.apple.com/in/album/back-2-wild-japanese-version/994814356}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=株式会社ローソンエンタテインメント|title=Back 2 The Wild (Japanese Ver.)(Feat.Team Syachihoko)(12インチシングルレコード）|url=https://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/6621194|access-date=2021-08-27|website=HMV&BOOKS online|language=ja}}</ref> During the duo's tour in Japan, both performed the song live.<ref name="MTV81"/> The group also interviewed them backstage, their segment was later aired on MTV81 in June.<ref name="MTV81"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Basement Jaxx- "Back 2 the Wild" (Gorgon Jaxx Dub) [Exclusive Premiere]|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/basement-jaxx0back-2-the-wild-gorgon-jaxx-dub/|access-date=2021-08-27|website=Vice.com|language=en}}</ref>
==Critical response== Tom Breihan of ''Stereogum'' praised the song for being "frantic and shamelessly, goofily fun as ever."<ref name="breihan">{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1319231/basement-jaxx-back-2-the-wild/mp3s/ |title=Basement Jaxx – "Back 2 The Wild" |date=April 12, 2013 |publisher=Billboard Music |last=Breihan |first=Tom |accessdate=October 13, 2017 |work=Stereogum }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Song Of The Day: Basement Jaxx – Back 2 The Wild|url=http://www.beigeuk.com/2013/04/song-of-the-day-basement-jaxx-back-2-the-wild/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821133857/http://www.beigeuk.com/2013/04/song-of-the-day-basement-jaxx-back-2-the-wild/|archive-date=2016-08-21|access-date=2015-10-29}}</ref>
The song was described by Evan Sawdey from ''PopMatters'' as "an otherworldly banger that seemed to exist on the more extreme planes of maximalist dance music".<ref name="Sawdey"/>
==Music video== The music video for the song was directed by Basement Jaxx's long-time collaborator Mat Maitland with additional directorial work from Natalia Stuyk.<ref name="maitland">{{cite web |url=http://www.bigactive.com/artists/mat-maitland/moving-image/basement-jaxx/ |title=Basement Jaxx - Back To The Wild |publisher=Big Active |accessdate=October 13, 2017 }}</ref> It was said to feature Maitland's signature collage style of design along with specially made items by French hair stylist-fashion designer Charlie Le Mindu and make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench.<ref name="maitland"/> Maitland also shot the single's cover which similarly uses a headpiece from Le Mindu.<ref name="maitland"/>
It was choreographed by Masumi Saito.<ref name="maitland"/>
Nicole James from ''Fuse'' named her article "WTF is Going On in Basement Jaxx's "Back 2 the Wild" Video?" and stated: "Cavewomen and monkeys and flying flowers, oh my. The British electro-dance group is back, and trying to make junglepunk a thing. We think it's working."<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 April 2013|title=WTF is Going On in Basement Jaxx's "Back 2 the Wild" Video?|url=https://www.fuse.tv/videos/2013/04/basement-jaxx-back-2-the-wild-video|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520174204/http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2013/04/basement-jaxx-back-2-the-wild-video|archive-date=20 May 2013|access-date=2021-08-27|website=Fuse|language=en}}</ref>
''Consequence of Sound'' cited ''Fruitopia'' commercials as the inspiration for the video.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-04-16|title=Watch Basement Jaxx's Fruitopia-inspired video for Back 2 The Wild|url=https://consequence.net/2013/04/watch-basement-jaxxs-fruitopia-inspired-video-for-back-2-the-wild/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-27|website=Consequence|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827221753/https://consequence.net/2013/04/watch-basement-jaxxs-fruitopia-inspired-video-for-back-2-the-wild/ |archive-date=2021-08-27 }}</ref>
This version was later nominated for Best Collaboration at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtvjapan.com/vmaj2015/nominees/best-collaboration/basement-jaxx/ |title=Back 2 the Wild (Japanese Ver.) feat. TEAM SYACHIHOKO |access-date=2015-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107210738/http://www.mtvjapan.com/vmaj2015/nominees/best-collaboration/basement-jaxx/ |archive-date=2015-11-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Tom Breihan of ''Stereogum'' said the video doesn’t disappoint due to the group's long history of "brain-wrecking" music videos. "It’s a frantic collage of kitschy jungle tropes, filtered through a hyperactive color scheme, with enough strobe-flashing that it might need an epilepsy warning," Breihan described.<ref name="breihan2">{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1321962/basement-jaxx-back-2-the-wild-video/video/ |title=Basement Jaxx – "Back 2 The Wild" Video |date=April 16, 2013 |publisher=Billboard Music |last=Breihan |first=Tom |accessdate=October 13, 2017 |work=Stereogum }}</ref> Similarly, ''Pitchfork''{{'s}} contributor Carrie Battan called the video "eye-popping" and "it's every bit as vibrant as the title and sound of the song would imply: zany safari outfits, psychedelic nature excursions, bright color overload, the works."<ref name="battan">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/50314-watch-the-eye-popping-video-for-basement-jaxxs-new-single-back-2-the-wild/ |title=Watch the Eye-Popping Video for Basement Jaxx's New Single "Back 2 the Wild" |date=April 16, 2013 |publisher=Condé Nast |last=Battan |first=Carrie |accessdate=October 13, 2017 |work=Pitchfork }}</ref>
==Track listings and formats== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
'''12" single'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=What A Difference Your Love Makes/Back 2 the Wild |author=Basement Jaxx |year=2013 |type=12" single |publisher=37 Adventures |id=ADVENTURE008V |location=United Kingdom }}</ref>
#"What a Difference Your Love Makes" {{small|(Jaxx Extended Mix)}} – 6:00 #"What a Difference Your Love Makes" {{small|(Huxley Remix)}} – 6:13 #"What a Difference Your Love Makes" {{small|(Miguel Campbell Remix)}} – 5:54 #"Back 2 the Wild" {{small|(Jaxx Extended Mix)}} – 9:10 #"Back 2 the Wild" {{small|(Gorgon City Remix)}} – 6:20
'''12" limited edition single'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hostess.co.jp/releases/2015/11/HSE-3013.html |title=Back 2 the Wild (Japanese ver.) [Feat. Team Syachihoko] |publisher=Hostess Entertainment Unlimited |date=April 11, 2015 |accessdate=October 14, 2017 }}</ref>
#"Back 2 the Wild" {{small|(Japanese Version)}} – 4:48 #"Back 2 the Wild" {{small|(Single Edit Instrumental)}} – 4:13
{{col-2-of-2}}
'''Digital download #1'''<ref name="RadioEdit">{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/back-2-the-wild-single/id628087386 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822191637/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/back-2-the-wild-single/id628087386 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 22, 2013 |title=Back 2 the Wild - Single |publisher=iTunes Store (GB) |date=April 12, 2013 |accessdate=October 14, 2017 }}</ref>
# "Back 2 the Wild" – 4:12
'''Digital download #2'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/back-2-the-wild-japanese-version-feat-%E3%83%81%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%81%97%E3%82%83%E3%81%A1%E3%81%BB%E3%81%93-single/id994814356?l=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014202337/https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/back-2-the-wild-japanese-version-feat-%E3%83%81%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%81%97%E3%82%83%E3%81%A1%E3%81%BB%E3%81%93-single/id994814356?l=en |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |title=Back 2 the Wild (Japanese Version) [feat. Team Syachihoko] - Single |publisher=iTunes Store (JP) |date=May 18, 2015 |accessdate=October 14, 2017 }}</ref>
#"Back 2 The Wild" {{small|(Japanese Version)}}
'''Digital download remixes EP'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/back-2-the-wild-remixes/id644332041 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811163242/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/back-2-the-wild-remixes/id644332041 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 11, 2014 |title=Back 2 the Wild (Remixes) |publisher=iTunes Store (US) |date=May 6, 2013 |accessdate=October 14, 2017 }}</ref>
# "Back 2 the Wild" – 4:12 # "Back 2 the Wild" {{small|(Jaxx Extended Mix)}} – 9:10 # "Back 2 the Wild" {{small|(Gorgon Jaxx Dub)}} – 6:46 # "Back 2 the Wild" {{small|(Gorgon City Remix)}} – 6:20 # "Back 2 the Wild" {{small|(Jaxx Casadub)}} – 6:36 # "Back 2 the Wild" {{small|(Jaxx Work-A-Dub)}} – 6:42
{{col-end}}
== References == {{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* [http://pitchfork.com/news/50302-listen-new-basement-jaxx-single-back-2-the-wild/ Pitchfork article on the song] * [http://www.spin.com/2013/04/basement-jaxx-back-2-the-wild-stream/ Spin article on the song]
{{Basement Jaxx}}
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Category:Basement Jaxx songs Category:2013 songs Category:Songs written by Felix Buxton Category:Songs written by Simon Ratcliffe (musician)