“Back to Life”—A Track That Came Together Like a Wild Puzzle
Let’s get real: Not every iconic song begins with a master plan. Case in point: Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) by Soul II Soul.
When Jazzie B and Nellee Hooper, the wizards behind the decks, started tinkering with the backing track in 1988, the track didn’t even have a name.
It was a work-in-progress cobbled together from a mix of samples, live drums, and bass lines that could shake walls.
And yet, despite its shaky start, it became the jam that would define British R&B for years.
The song was finally released on 29 May 1989 as the second single from Club Classics Vol. One.
Initially, they threw the song into the a cappella section of Club Classics Vol. One because they couldn’t decide what to do with it.
Bold move, right? Releasing a vocal-only track on an album built for the club crowd.
Still, when their record label wanted another hit after Keep on Movin’, they were like, “Let’s put some beats under that vocal and watch it blow up.” Spoiler alert: They were right.
This minimalist take, woven from the DNA of hip-hop, reggae, and soul, gave the song a wide appeal that went beyond the charts.
Sure, it topped the UK charts and hit #1 on the US Dance and R&B charts. But it also became a club classic that still holds sway decades later.
Caron Wheeler: The Voice That Pulled Us Back to Life
The voice behind Back to Life is none other than Caron Wheeler, the not-so-secret weapon of Soul II Soul.
Before becoming a household name, Wheeler was a backup singer for Phil Collins and Elvis Costello.
Yeah, you heard that right—she went from backing vocals for Sussudio to leading a global dance anthem.
But Wheeler wasn’t just crooning about romantic dilemmas or a bad breakup.
Nope. She had a near-death experience that gave her lyrics more emotional heft than your average pop song.
When Wheeler sings, “Back to life, back to reality,” she’s talking about returning to the grind after nearly crossing over to the other side.
That’s right—she was literally brought back to life. It doesn’t have the same joyful energy as a standard dance floor hit, does it?
Her vocals floated above the swirling mix of breakbeats and strings, and yet they carried a gravitas that went deeper than just making people dance.
The question “However do you want me, however do you need me” became not just a line in a song but a plea for understanding from someone who’s seen more than most of us can imagine.
Jazzie B and Nellee Hooper: The Magicians Behind the Magic
What makes Back to Life truly stand out is the production. The song is slick without being soulless, minimal but undeniably rich.
Jazzie B and Nellee Hooper didn’t just throw a drum machine at the track and call it a day.
They meticulously layered the track, adding a rolling bassline, shuffling breakbeats, and—perhaps the cherry on top—strings from the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Reggae Philharmonic was something of a wildcard in 80s pop music.
This isn’t your standard session string section; these violins brought a raw energy to the track that made it feel alive and organic.
The fusion of electronic beats with live instrumentation set Back to Life apart from its competitors, giving it the timeless quality that’s kept it in rotation for over 30 years.
Jazzie B often reflects on the track’s creation like it was a cosmic accident, saying that there was no plan to ride trends or fit into boxes.
It’s a good thing they didn’t because Back to Life might’ve lost its essence.
The result was something wholly original, something that captured both the soul of London’s underground scene and the spirit of a global dance movement.
The Music Video: Ethereal Vibes and a Woodland Rave
If you thought Back to Life was all about the sound, think again. The music video, directed by Andy Delaney and Monty Whitebloom, helped elevate the track to iconic status.
It’s not your typical flashy 80s music video with over-the-top costumes and choreographed dancing.
Instead, the band is seen performing in Epping Forest, a moody and atmospheric setting that adds a surreal, almost mystical quality to the song.
The video plays with contrasts—lush, green nature versus the sleek, urban feel of the music.
At one point, the band performs on a rooftop, juxtaposing cityscapes with forest scenes.
The use of the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra, seen playing violins in the forest, reinforces the song’s blend of organic and electronic elements.
This visual choice helped shape how the audience experienced the track, adding an extra layer of mystique to the song’s already deep and soulful sound.
The Impact: A Soundtrack for the Ages
What’s wild is how quickly Back to Life transcended from club hit to cultural touchstone.
After topping the UK charts, it made its way to the US, a market traditionally tough for British R&B acts.
And yet, it broke into the Top 10 on the Billboard charts. This wasn’t just a win for Soul II Soul—it was a win for British R&B, a genre that had often been overshadowed by American acts.
But more than just commercial success, the song became a symbol of the time.
The late 80s were a strange, transformative period in music. Dance music was evolving, house music was on the rise, and hip-hop was starting to dominate.
Soul II Soul, with their genre-defying sound, helped pave the way for British artists to blend styles and break boundaries.
And then there’s the video—a moody, cinematic piece shot in Epping Forest, which showed the band performing in what looked like some kind of ethereal woodland rave.
It’s not your typical flashy 80s music video, but it’s unforgettable.
The Legacy: From the Dance Floor to Pop Culture
So, what’s the legacy of Back to Life? Well, aside from influencing a generation of artists, it’s become a part of pop culture’s fabric.
From commercials for Dasani water (of all things) to the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony, this song has more lives than a cat.
Even now, decades after its release, Back to Life still pops up on playlists, proving that its appeal isn’t limited to any one era or group. It’s been remixed, sampled, and covered more times than we can count.
And here’s the kicker: The beat that Soul II Soul created for Back to Life went on to influence hip-hop and R&B production for years.
Artists like En Vogue and even Maxi Priest borrowed elements from the track, extending its influence across genres.
Not bad for a song that almost got left as an a cappella on the cutting room floor.
So, yeah—turn it up, get back to life, and maybe you’ll catch a little of the magic that’s kept this song spinning for over three decades.
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Soul II Soul Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) Lyrics
Intro
Back to life, back to reality
Back to life, back to reality
Verse 1
Back to life, back to reality
Back to the here and now, oh yeah
Show me how, decide what you want from me
Tell me maybe I could be there for you
Chorus
However do you want me
However do you need me, how
However do you want me
However do you need me
However do you want me
However do you need me, how
However do you want me
However do you need me
Verse 2
Back to life, back to the present time
Back from a fantasy, yes
Tell me now, take the initiative
I’ll leave it in your hands until you’re ready
Chorus
However do you want me
However do you need me, how
However do you want me (Hold me now, do you want me?)
However do you need me
However do you want me (However)
However do you need me, how
However do you want me
However do you need me
Post-Chorus
However do you need me
However do you need me
However do you need me
However do you need me
Bridge
I live at the top of the block
No more room for trouble and fuss (No more room, no, no, no there’s not)
Need a change (Oh), a positive change
Look, it’s my writing on the wall (Oh, oh, however do you want me, oh)
Chorus
However do you want me
However do you need me, how
However do you want me, how, how
However do you need me
However do you want me
However do you need me, how
However do you want me (Oh)
However do you need me (Tell me now, how do you want me to be?)
Verse 3
Back to life, back to the day we had
Let’s end this foolish game
Hear me out, don’t let it waste away
Make up your mind so I know where I stand
Chorus
However do you want me
However do you need me, how
However do you want me
However do you need me
However do you want me
However do you need me, how
However do you want me
However do you need me
Outro
However do you want me
However do you need me, how
However do you want me
However do you need me
However do you want me
However do you need me, how
However do you want me
However do you need me