| "Back to Sleep" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byChris Brown | ||||
| from the albumRoyalty | ||||
| Released | November 5, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2015 | |||
| Studio | The Record Plant (Los Angeles, California) | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 3:21 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers | ||||
| Chris Brown singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Back to Sleep" onYouTube | ||||
"Back to Sleep", also known by the censored version title "Sex You Back to Sleep",[1] is a song by American singerChris Brown from his seventh studio albumRoyalty. The song was released as the album's third single and its first urban single on November 5, 2015. Three official remixes of the song were released during the first months of 2016: The first featuringUsher andZayn, the second featuringMiguel,August Alsina, andTrey Songz, and the final featuringTank,R. Kelly andAnthony Hamilton.
The song received universal acclaim from contemporary music critics, noting it as one of the album's highlights, celebrating its production and Brown's vocal performance. Some critics defined it as the bestR&B song of its decade. The song received comparisons to Brown's previous singles "Take You Down" (2008) and "No Bullshit" (2011), and also toMarvin Gaye's 1982 song "Sexual Healing", for its similar musical direction. The song became the most successful one from theRoyalty album, peaking at number 20 on the USBillboard Hot 100 and number 5 on the USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Its music video was released on December 14, 2015, and is part ofRoyalty music videos storyline, following the conclusion of Brown's "Fine by Me" music video. The videoclip displays an intimate sexual situation between Brown and his love interest .
The song was written byChris Brown and August Rigo, and was produced byVinylz andBoi-1da. The song was recorded in 2015 atRecord Plant in Los Angeles, California. "Back to Sleep" was premiered viaSoundCloud on November 5, 2015, and was sent to radio four days later as the album's third single, also receiving its commercial release for digital download on November 9, 2015.[2][3][4]
.jpg)
"Back to Sleep" is amid-tempoR&Bslow jam, about late night sex, that features minor influences offunk, androland TR-808 beats reminiscent ofMarvin Gaye's 1982 song "Sexual Healing".[5][6][7]Vibe stated that the song infuses elements of "new school R&B" with "a light dusting of 1980s pop".[8][9] According toBillboard, the lyrical content of "Back to Sleep" features "Brown fresh off a late night flight into town", detailing how he plans to go to his girlfriend's house, wake her up at 3:30 a.m. to have sex with her, then tuck her in for actual sleep.[6][10]
The music video for "Back to Sleep" was directed by Brown,[11] and released on December 14, 2015, on his YouTube andVevo account.[12]
The video follows the conclusion of Brown's "Fine by Me" music video, and starts with the singer making a phone call to his girlfriend, asking her if he could "come over" to her house even though it's late at night, because of "weird" things happening to him throughout the night. As soon as Brown arrives to her house, they get intimate, with scenes showing them kissing and touching in the shower and bedroom, intercut with scenes of Brown performing the song in a club, with a female band.[13][14]
Brown promoted the song with live performances on televised shows and festivals, includingJimmy Kimmel Live!,[15]Taraji & Terrence's White Hot Holidays,[16] the "Lil' Weezyana Fest 2016", and the3rd iHeartRadio Music Awards.[17] The song was included on all the setlists of Brown's tours following its release.
Chris Brown has released three remixes to the song. Part 1 featuresUsher andZayn,[18] and was released as "Back to Sleep (Remix)" on February 26, 2016;[19] in addition to verses from Usher and Zayn Malik, the remix also features a new verse from Brown where he mentions his ex-girlfriendKarrueche Tran and cancels out the rest of the song except the chorus and bridge.[20] Part 2 featuresMiguel,August Alsina, andTrey Songz, and was released as "Back to Sleep (Remix)" on April 8,[21][22] while Part 3 was released on April 10 as "Back To Sleep (Legends Remix)", and featuresTank,R. Kelly andAnthony Hamilton.[23] On August 29, 2016, R&B singerBrandy shared a version of the song with Brown.[24][25] On July 15, 2016, another remix version was released, dubbed as the "Secret Garden Remix". The song featured previously released verses fromR. Kelly,Usher,Tank, and an additional verse from R&B singer and actorTyrese Gibson.[26]
"Back to Sleep" received widespread acclaim from music critics. In 2018, the co-host ofThe Breakfast Club,Charlamagne tha God, defined the song as "the best R&B record in the past 15 years" along with "Adorn" byMiguel.[27]AllMusic's editor Andy Kellman stated that the track is the best one on theRoyalty album.[28] Brad Wete ofBillboard said that it "excels as a quality addition to his catalog’s stellar collection of panty-dropping and baby-making songs", comparing the song to Brown's previous singles "Take You Down" (2008) and "No Bullshit" (2011), and also toMarvin Gaye's 1982 song "Sexual Healing".[6]
Mikael Wood ofThe Courier-Journal praised Brown's "great vocal performance" on the track, describing it as "a smooth depiction of genuine sexuality".[29][30]Soul Bounce called it "The highlight ofRoyalty" and "a polished, well-produced song that spotlight's Brown's talent".[31]Renowned for Sound complimented the song's "impressive vocals" and its production, saying that "the synth R&B arrangement is as smooth as ever", stating that the chorus has a "risqué" sex appeal.[32]Vibe said that "Back to Sleep" is "a super sexy song", findingshock value in its sexually explicit lyrics.[33]
On theBillboard Hot 100, the song debuted at number 64 on the week ending January 2, 2016,[34] and reached number 48 on the week ending February 13, 2016.[35] On the week ending March 12, 2016, it reached number 36 on the Hot 100,[36] and number 2 on theMainstream R&B/Hip-Hop chart.[37] On the week ending March 19, 2016, it reached number 20 on the Hot 100 and became the top Digital Gainer of the week,[38] debuting at number 13 on theDigital Songs chart,[39] having sold 42,000 downloads that week, 32% of which stemmed from the Part 1 remix.[40] The same week, it reached number 5 on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[40] number 2 on the R&B Digital Songs chart,[41] and number 3 on theHot R&B Songs chart.[42] By April 2, 2016, the single had sold 300,620 copies in the US.[43]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[64] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[65] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[66] | 3× Platinum | 90,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[67] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[68] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
.jpg)