Want U Back

Album: Sticks + Stones (2011)
Charted: 25 12
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This sassy piece of pop finds Cher Lloyd singing about her jealousy of her former lover and his new girlfriend. It was written for the English singer's debut album by Swedish songwriter Johan Shellback, who also helped Adam Levine pen "Moves Like Jagger" and Texan songsmith Savan Kotecha who helped create One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" and JLS's "The Club is Alive."
  • Lloyd told Digital Spy that the song does not relate to anything that happened to her personally. Instead, she said, "it's basically a track from lots of different girls' stories out there. A lot of people are telling me they can relate to the track and they've been in that situation, but it's also got an element of fun in it."
  • The single version in some territories features guest vocals by X Factor USA contestant and American rapper Astro. Astro was mentored by L.A. Reid on the show and it was Reid who signed Lloyd to Epic Records in the United States.
  • The video was shot in Los Angeles, California and shows Lloyd's attempts to sabotage her former love's new relationship. It ends in a strange manner with Lloyd imitating the sounds of a helicopter. She explained to Digital Spy: "I was in the studio, and to get my mind off working all the time I'd talk to myself. I was being stupid! I was played the final edit and it was on there and I couldn't believe it. It's cool though - I'm glad they kept it in."

    Lloyd also recorded an alternate video for the US market, which sees the singer confronting her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend in an American diner.
  • The song starts off with an angry grunt that plays on loop. "I was in the studio, and for some reason, I couldn't hit a particular note," Lloyd explained to MTV News regarding the guttural noise. "I get really frustrated with myself when I can't do something, so I made the 'ugh' sound, and they kept it in."

Comments: 2

  • Tiffany from Sydney, AustraliaCool song
  • Chelsea from Phoenix , AzCher is just amazing!!!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Sam Phillips

Sam PhillipsSongwriter Interviews

Collaborating with T Bone Burnett, Leslie Phillips changed her name and left her Christian label behind - Robert Plant, who recorded one of her songs on Raising Sand, is a fan.