I Don't Want You Back (F--k It!)

Album: I Don't Want You Back (2004)
Charted: 1 16
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Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a man who dumps his girlfriend after finding out she had sex with someone else. He tells her to f--k everything that is meaningful to this relationship.
  • Kenneth Tynan famously became the first person to use the word "F--k" on British television, in November 1965; since then, all manner of profanity has become not so much acceptable as mandatory, and programs shown after the "watershed" - when all good children are supposed to be in bed - are often replete with far worse. UK radio though is a different kettle of fish, although songs featuring the dreaded "F word" and occasionally worse are still played regularly.

    While profanity has by and large lost its shock value, it still has its place, and the debut single by Eamon rightly topped the UK charts for four weeks in April and May 2004 being replaced at #1 by the answer song "(F.U.R.B.) FU Right Back."

    Eamon was interviewed by Peter Robinson of NME for its April 24, 2004 issue wherein he was asked: "Why was your record 'F--k It (I Don't Want You Back)' at #1 for so long, Eamon?" To which he replied: "Because these people are retarded over here. No, because it's a good song" - adding "...I don't write things to shock." While of "F.U.R.B." he said, "It's a nice idea but it sounds so bad! She's got a pitch problem. Good try, bitch, but it's no good!"

    Of his own song he confirmed that he wrote it about an ex-girlfriend who "sucked a guy's dick behind my back!" adding "She could have f--ked my brother." (The song contains an explicit reference to giving head).

    This is a song for every man who has been wounded by infidelity in a personal relationship - its message is that words don't mean a thing because talk is always cheap. Without the obscenity it loses most of its potential, and indeed the edited version with the f*** and s*** bleeped out sounds silly. The version unleashed in England runs to 3 minutes 46 seconds. The song also made history; no UK #1 had ever before included an explicit swear word in its title; as far as can be ascertained, this is true of every other official national chart. And, in its June 5, 2004 issue, Music Week revealed that "F**k It (I Don't Want You Back)" had become the first #1 on the UK's new official ringtone chart. Previously, the Datafile column in the same trade journal on May 5 claimed the single had sold 55,732 copies the week before, 44% more than the runner up. Eamon's debut album had sold 76,418 copies. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • There are 33 profane words in the lyrics, which is one reason why most radio stations didn't play the song when it first came out. The following year an edited version arrived which had all the swears silenced. The DJs referred to the song as simply "I Don't Want You Back."
  • Eamon (last name: Doyle) found it hard to follow this song, thus adding him to the "One Hit Wonders" list.
  • About a year later, a female singer named Frankee released the answer song entitled "(F.U.R.B.) FU Right Back" which was the same tune and told a story from the girls' perspective. Frankee claimed that she was Eamon's ex, and the song was about her. Eamon passed her off as an attention seeker. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mjn Seifer - England, for above 3

Comments: 8

  • Daniel from Winchester, OhNice plan Lando i think you should do it
  • Michaela from Usa, NyLandon!I liked the way you handled the situation;with the song! =)
  • Landon from Winchester, OhThis song reminds me of my first girlfriend. I met up with her at a high-school dance. She asked me out, and I accepted. Her and I were four years apart, but I didn't know until later that it would cause problems. Sure enough, her dad said he didn't like me and after that this girl started becoming a snot. She broke up with me after being with me for 35 days. And two months later, she wants me back! I'm thinking about calling her at 3 in the morning and getting in contact with her answering machine, and letting this entire song play to make her see how I feel about her!
  • A.j. from Chicago, IlHe's a 1-hit wonder already? The song was only like 3 years ago. He still has the rest of his life to make another hit cuz he's only about 25.
  • Dave from Cardiff, Wales"Frankie" admitted in 2005 that she has never met Eamon in her life and that she only released a "reply" song as a short cut to fame. The whole thing was a conspiracy between two rival record labels, Jive and Marro. Eamon was not at all bothered by the reply song, as he received half of Frankie's royalties for it, adding to his own royalties for the original song. As Eamon explained in 2006: "Just to clear it up once and for all, I was not involved with 'F.U.R.B.' I have never met Frankie and she is definitely not my girlfriend or ex-girlfriend. The only way I was associated with it was when I was asked for licensing permission by Frankie's representatives, which makes me a writer on her song by copyright law. But I really didn't expect all this to come out of it - they are having fun with it, it's cool, but in the end they are paying me for their 15 minutes of fame and I welcome her to my world of Ho-Wop!" Eamon actually did go on to have a second UK hit with "I Love Them Ho's (Ho-Wop)", so he is not a one-hit wonder in the strictest sense
  • Mike from Hueytown , AlIve never heard this song before but if it makes women angry then I already love it hahahahaha
  • Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, EnglandWell I do, So there.
  • Sara from Traverse City, MiThis song is annoying, I don't like it.
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