Return Of The Mack

Album: Return Of The Mack (1996)
Charted: 1 2
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Songfacts®:

  • Mark Morrison wrote this uplifting club banger, which was a huge hit in the summer of 1997. Morrison said in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, "When I wrote that song, it was all about my moving from the negative to the positive. And that's how it turned out. Within the space of a year, I went from the lowest point of my life to return as The Mack and move forward to what's become the highest point of my life."
  • This uses a sample of a Kool & The Gang instrumental called "N.T."
  • Morrison decided to become a singer after spending three months in jail in 1995 for his part in a nightclub disturbance. In 1997 he was given a community service order for attempting to take a stun-gun onto a plane. When it was discovered Morrison was paying somebody else to complete his order on his behalf he was sentenced to a year in jail.
  • With a big, ear-catching chorus, this song became a comeback anthem, but in the verse lyrics, Morrison sings from the perspective of a guy who got his groove back after his girl betrayed him.
  • When this song topped the British chart, Morrison became the first black male solo artist to reach #1 in the UK in the '90s.
  • Director Jake Nava (who helmed Adele's "Someone Like You") shot a music video in London, including some scenes of Morrison driving around the city. Sounds simple enough, except the singer didn't have a license and didn't even know how to drive. Nava kept Morrison on the side streets so his erratic driving wouldn't get them into trouble.
  • Mark Morrison's hit song returned to people's ears when it was featured in the third episode of the Netflix series Master of None in November 2015.
  • The Los Angeles rapper Mann released a cover version of the song, featuring vocals from Snoop Dogg and Iyaz. Their breezy re-imagining peaked at #28 in the UK in 2011.
  • Morrison had a few more hits in the UK, but never again got higher than #76 ("Moan & Groan") in America. A series of arrests derailed his career.
  • In 2017, this was used in Burger King commercials promoting their Mac N' Cheetos offering. In the spot, the heads of Chester Cheetah and Burger King's King are superimposed on people in the original video, which is as trippy as it sounds.

Comments: 5

  • Jeff from BostonThis song really hit home for me when it came out as I'd been dumped by my girl and was trying to move on and be single again. I love the message: "The best revenge is living well." He isn't mooning over this chick, stalking her or begging her to come back, he's just letting her know that he's doing great and living his best life without her.
  • Shea from Christiansburg Va.Love this song soooo much ! Brings back awesome memories of when I met the greatest man ever !!
  • Jackie from Baltimore, MdThis song never seems to go out of style - love it.
  • Pytlak from Bakersfield, CaThis song was on an episode of Entourage a while back.
  • Jason from Dublin, Irelandgreat song reminds of my childhood when i loved this song and thought that mark was one cool dude.
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