Back at One (song)

{{Short description|1999 single by Brian McKnight}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox song | name = Back at One | cover = BackatOnesingle.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Brian McKnight | album = Back at One | released = {{start date|1999|8|9}} | recorded = | genre =  | length = * {{duration|m=4|s=23}} (album version) * {{duration|m=3|s=24}} (radio edit) | label = Motown | writer = Brian McKnight | producer = Brian McKnight | prev_title = The Only One for Me | prev_year = 1998 | next_title = 6, 8, 12 | next_year = 2000 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|rXPfovXw2tw|"Back at One"}} }} }} "'''Back at One'''" is a song written and performed by American recording artist Brian McKnight. It was released as the lead single from his fifth studio album, ''Back at One'' (1999), on August 9, 1999. The song became a chart hit, reaching number two in the United States and entering the top 10 in Canada and New Zealand.

==Composition== Sheet music for "Back at One" is in the key of B major in common time with a slow tempo of 65 beats per minute.<ref>[https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0197709 Back at One]</ref> The song modulates a half step to C major for the last chorus.

==Chart performance== "Back at One" went on to be one of McKnight's biggest successes, reaching the top ten in New Zealand, Canada and the United States, where it eventually peaked at number two for eight weeks but was kept off the top spot by "Smooth" by Santana.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-01-08/hot-100|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1999|magazine=Billboard |access-date=October 19, 2014}}</ref>

==Music video== The music video was directed by Francis Lawrence and was nominated for R&B video of the year in the Music Video Production Association Awards.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwgEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22back+at+one%22+video+%22francis+lawrence%22&pg=PA94 |title=Production Notes |date=October 23, 1999 |magazine=Billboard |pages=94 |access-date=December 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ww4EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22back+at+one%22+video+%22francis+lawrence%22&pg=PA102 |title=With Eight, Lauryn Hill Tops Nominees for MVPA Awards |last=Hay |first=Carla |date=April 1, 2000 |magazine=Billboard |pages=102 |access-date=December 28, 2011}}</ref>

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1999–2000) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|Australia|24|artist=Brian McKnight|song=Back at One|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|4|chartid=10014|access-date=October 6, 2019|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|3|chartid=9715|access-date=October 6, 2019|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407221908/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf|archivedate=April 7, 2005|url=http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf|title=Canadian Top 20 in 1999|website=Cross Canada Countdown|accessdate=November 13, 2023}}</ref> | style="text-align:center"|7 |- {{single chart|Germany|47|artist=Brian McKnight|song=Back at One|songid=4212|rowheader=true}} |- ! scope="row"| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2996185#page/n11/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (10.2– 16.2 2000)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=12|date=February 11, 2000|access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> | 33 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|28|artist=Brian McKnight|song=Back at One|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|33|artist=Brian McKnight|song=Back at One|access-date=October 6, 2019|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|7|artist=Brian McKnight|song=Back at One|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|73|artist=Brian McKnight|song=Back at One|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|2|artist=Brian McKnight|access-date=December 21, 2017|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|4|artist=Brian McKnight|access-date=December 21, 2017|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|25|artist=Brian McKnight|access-date=April 13, 2024|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|7|artist=Brian McKnight|access-date=December 21, 2017|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|2|artist=Brian McKnight|access-date=December 21, 2017|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|1|artist=Brian McKnight|access-date=December 21, 2017|rowheader=true}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1999) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999 |title=Billboard Top 100 - 1999 |access-date=August 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709044506/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999 |archive-date=July 9, 2009 }}</ref> | 82 |- ! scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=52|page=YE-57|date=December 25, 1999}}</ref> | 70 |- |- ! scope="row"| US Mainstream Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=7|issue=52|page=54|date=December 24, 1999}}</ref> | 90 |- !scope="row"|US Rhythmic Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1999|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=7|issue=52|page=53|date=December 24, 1999}}</ref> | 21 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! scope="col"| Chart (2000) ! scope="col"| Position |- !scope="row"| Brazil (Crowley)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/2000/|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2000|date=April 3, 2018|publisher=Crowley Broadcast Analysis|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref><br />{{small|''Ivete Sangalo remix''}} |78 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2000 |title=Billboard Top 100 - 2000 |access-date=August 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304120640/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2000 |archive-date=March 4, 2009 }}</ref> | 20 |- ! scope="row"| US Adult Contemporary (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA44|title=The Year in Music 2000: Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=112|issue=53|page=YE-98|date=December 30, 2000|access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> | 7 |- |- ! scope="row"| US Adult Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2000|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=8|issue=51|page=48|date=December 22, 2000}}</ref> | 57 |- ! scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA14|title=The Year in Music 2000: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=112|issue=53|page=YE-56|date=December 30, 2000|access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> | 55 |- ! scope="row"| US Mainstream Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2000|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=8|issue=51|page=54|date=December 22, 2000}}</ref> | 25 |- ! scope="row"| US Rhythmic Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2000|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=8|issue=51|page=56|date=December 22, 2000}}</ref> | 33 |- ! scope="row"| US Top 40 Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA45|title=The Year in Music 2000: Hot Top 40 Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=112|issue=53|page=YE-99|date=December 30, 2000|access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> | 23 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Brian McKnight|title=Back at One |award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1999|certyear=2024|access-date=June 11, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Brian Mc Knight|title=Back at One|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=2006|digital=true|access-date=October 6, 2019|refname="riaa"}} {{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}} |- !scope="row" rowspan="4"|United States |August 9, 1999 |{{hlist|Adult contemporary|hot adult contemporary|modern adult contemporary radio}} |rowspan="4"|Motown |align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1311|pages=82, 86|date=August 6, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Gavin AC/Hot AC: Impact Dates|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2266|page=28|date=August 2, 1999}}</ref> |- |August 10, 1999 |{{hlist|Contemporary hit|urban AC|urban radio}} |align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds / AddVance Notice|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1311|pages=46, 61, 68|date=August 6, 1999}}</ref> |- |September 13, 1999 |Smooth jazz radio |align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1316|page=98|date=September 10, 1999}}</ref> |- |November 5, 2002 |Digital download |align="center"|<ref name="riaa"/> |}

==Mark Wills version== {{Infobox song | name = Back at One | cover = Back at One Mark Wills.png | alt = | type = single | artist = Mark Wills | album = Permanently | B-side = "Because I Love You"<ref name="whitburn">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|pages=470–471|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}</ref> | released = {{start date|1999|10|29}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Radio & Records October 29, 1999. |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1999/RR-1999-10-29.pdf}}</ref> | genre = Country | length = 4:06 | label = Mercury Nashville | writer = Brian McKnight | producer = Carson Chamberlain | prev_title = She's in Love | prev_year = 1999 | next_title = Almost Doesn't Count | next_year = 2000 }} American country music artist Mark Wills covered "Back at One" on his 2000 album ''Permanently'', also releasing it as that album's first single. Released in October 1999 (two months after McKnight's version), Wills' cover peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' country singles charts for a week.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Hot Country Songs|magazine=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-03-04/country-songs|access-date=October 19, 2014}}</ref> Despite not reaching the top spot in the US, the song did manage to reach number one on the Canadian ''RPM'' country tracks. In addition to his country chart success, "Back at One" also became his fifth entry on the Hot 100 charts, peaking at number 36 there.

===Music video=== The music video was directed by Jim Hershleder.

===Charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1999–2000) !Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|Canadacountry|1|chartid=9716|publishdate=February 28, 2000|access-date=July 8, 2013|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|36|artist=Mark Wills|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|2|artist=Mark Wills|rowheader=true}} |}

===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2000) !Position |- !scope="row"| US Hot Country Singles & Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/hot-country-songs| title=Best of 2000: Country Songs | magazine=Billboard |year=2000 | access-date=August 15, 2012}}</ref> | 22 |}

==Other versions== McKnight also performed the song with Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo on her album ''Festa'' (en: ''Party'').

In 2000, keyboardist Bob Baldwin released a cover of the song from the album ''BobBaldwin.com''.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r494536|pure_url=yes}}|title=BobBaldwin.com overview|work=Allmusic.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/bobbaldwincom-bob-baldwin-city-sketches-review-by-dion-polk|title=Bob Baldwin - BobBaldwin.com|work=Allaboutjazz.com}}</ref> Also in 2000, Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer Sanchez recorded a reggae cover version of the song over the "Fi Wi Rock" rhythm produced by King Jammy which became a popular dancehall hit in Jamaica and the US.

In 2001, UK music artist Lulu recorded the song for her album Together with a duet with Irish pop band Westlife and performed it live subsequently.

In 2003, Smooth jazz guitarist and musician Paul Jackson, Jr. covered the song as the closing track from the album ''Still Small Voice''.

Another instrumental rendition of this song has been performed by saxophonist Warren Hill, from his album 2005 ''PopJazz''.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r787780|pure_url=yes}}|title=Warren Hill PopJazz|work=Allmusic.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://smoothviews.com/cdreviews/hill_popjazz.htm|title=Warren Hill - PopJazz|work=SmoothViews.com}}</ref>

In 2006, British pop singer Shayne Ward also performed this song on his debut album ''Shayne Ward''.

Singer Mijares covered it in his 2009 Spanish album ''Vivir Así''.

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:1999 singles Category:1999 songs Category:Brian McKnight songs Category:List songs Category:Lulu (singer) songs Category:Mark Wills songs Category:Mercury Nashville singles Category:Motown singles Category:Music videos directed by Francis Lawrence Category:Song recordings produced by Carson Chamberlain Category:Songs written by Brian McKnight Category:Westlife songs