Back at One (song) explained

"Back at One" is a song written and performed by American recording artist Brian McKnight, taken from his fifth studio album of the same name (1999). The single was released on August 9, 1999.

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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. Young Ana Korunic made her music video debut.^{[3] [4]}

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999–2000)	Peak position
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[5]	7
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[6]	33

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100[7]	82
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[8]	70
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[9]	90
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[10]	21

Chart (2000)	Position
Brazil (Crowley)[11]	78
US Billboard Hot 100[12]	20
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[13]	7
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[14]	57
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[15]	55
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[16]	25
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[17]	33
US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)[18]	23

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	August 9, 1999		Motown	[19] [20]
	August 10, 1999			[21]
	September 13, 1999	Smooth jazz radio		[22]
	November 5, 2002	Digital download

Mark Wills version

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.^[25] 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.

Year-end charts

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.^{[27] [28]} 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.^{[29] [30]}

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.

Notes and References

1. https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0197709 Back at One
2. Billboard Top 100 – 1999. . October 19, 2014.
3. Production Notes . October 23, 1999 . . 94 . December 28, 2011.
4. With Eight, Lauryn Hill Tops Nominees for MVPA Awards . Hay . Carla . April 1, 2000 . . 102 . December 28, 2011.
5. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20050407221908/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf. April 7, 2005. Canadian Top 20 in 1999. Cross Canada Countdown. November 13, 2023.
6. News: Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (10.2– 16.2 2000). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 12. February 11, 2000. October 6, 2019.
7. Web site: Billboard Top 100 - 1999 . August 28, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090709044506/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999 . July 9, 2009 .
8. 1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Billboard. 111. 52. YE-57. December 25, 1999.
9. Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999. Airplay Monitor. 7. 52. 54. December 24, 1999.
10. Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1999. Airplay Monitor. 7. 52. 53. December 24, 1999.
11. Web site: Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2000. April 3, 2018. Crowley Broadcast Analysis. January 30, 2022.
12. Web site: Billboard Top 100 - 2000 . August 31, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090304120640/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2000 . March 4, 2009 .
13. The Year in Music 2000: Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. Billboard. 112. 53. YE-98. December 30, 2000. December 15, 2023.
14. Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2000. Airplay Monitor. 8. 51. 48. December 22, 2000.
15. The Year in Music 2000: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Billboard. 112. 53. YE-56. December 30, 2000. December 15, 2023.
16. Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2000. Airplay Monitor. 8. 51. 54. December 22, 2000.
17. Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2000. Airplay Monitor. 8. 51. 56. December 22, 2000.
18. The Year in Music 2000: Hot Top 40 Tracks. Billboard. 112. 53. YE-99. December 30, 2000. December 15, 2023.
19. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1311. 82, 86. August 6, 1999.
20. Gavin AC/Hot AC: Impact Dates. Gavin Report. 2266. 28. August 2, 1999.
21. Going for Adds / AddVance Notice. Radio & Records. 1311. 46, 61, 68. August 6, 1999.
22. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1316. 98. September 10, 1999.
23. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. 2008. 470–471. 978-0-89820-177-2.
24. Web site: Radio & Records October 29, 1999. .
25. Hot Country Songs. . October 19, 2014.
26. Best of 2000: Country Songs . . 2000 . August 15, 2012.
27. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r494536|pure_url=yes}} BobBaldwin.com overview]. Allmusic.com.
28. Web site: Bob Baldwin - BobBaldwin.com. Allaboutjazz.com.
29. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r787780|pure_url=yes}} Warren Hill PopJazz]. Allmusic.com.
30. Web site: Warren Hill - PopJazz. SmoothViews.com.