We've Got It Goin' On

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"We've Got It Goin' On"
Single by Backstreet Boys
from the album Backstreet Boys (international and US)
B-side
  • "Album Medley"
  • "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming"
ReleasedSeptember 11, 1995 (1995-09-11)[1]
RecordedJune 1995[2][3]
StudioCheiron (Stockholm, Sweden)
Genre
Length3:39
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Denniz Pop
  • Max Martin
Backstreet Boys singles chronology
"We've Got It Goin' On"
(1995)
"I'll Never Break Your Heart"
(1995)
Backstreet Boys US singles chronology
"We've Got It Goin' On"
(1995)
"Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)"
(1997)
Music video
"We've Got It Goin' On" on YouTube

"We've Got It Goin' On" is the debut single of American boy band Backstreet Boys. It was released on September 11, 1995, as the lead single from their self-titled debut album (1996). The song was recorded at Cheiron Studios in Sweden during a week in June 1995.[5] It was written and produced by Max Martin and his then-mentor Denniz Pop, with extra writing from Herbert Crichlow and was later included in the US album and achieved success worldwide. The single peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 20 weeks on the chart. It was released across Europe, where it reached the top five in several countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song reached number five.

Background[edit]

The group was brought over to Stockholm for a week to record the song in June 1995. However, they finished unexpectedly in just two days, which producers Max Martin and Denniz Pop then suggested recording "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" immediately afterwards.[6]

Critical reception[edit]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Photogenic young male quintet looks ready to jump into the void long left open by the now-absent New Kids On The Block. They harmonize, grunt, and chant with faux-street authority over a Euro-savvy pop/jeep groove. Odds are good that they will go home winners."[7] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report noted that ranging in age from 15 to 22, "this Orlando-based quintet counts acts like Boyz II Men, Shai and Jodeci among their influences. The approach though is very much their own and the music fills a void on Top 40 right now. They shouldn't have to wait long to go on playlists."[8]

Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian commented in her review of the album, "However, they muster an unexpected guttural naughtiness on "We've Got It Goin' On" that keeps things from hitting Boyzone-like depths of sickliness."[9] Pan-European magazine Music & Media said, "The two cousins from Kentucky and their three Florida friends are no strangers to Boyz II Men's brand of soulful spine-chilling harmonizing, and they do it with style."[10] They also described the song as both "up-tempo" and "infectious".[11] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, adding, "They're America's New Kids but Backstreet Boys' first single sounds more like MN8. It's powerful, dirty, soulful and commercial enough to catch on in the UK."[12]

Chart performance[edit]

"We've Got It Goin' On" entered the top 10 in Austria, Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland (3) and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it reached number five. In the UK, the single peaked at number three during its second run on the UK Singles Chart, on August 18, 1996.[13] Additionally, "We've Got It Goin' On" was a top-20 hit in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, and Sweden. Outside Europe, it reached number 11 on the Canadian Singles Chart, number 36 in New Zealand, number 69 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 74 in Australia. The single received a gold record in Austria and Germany.

Music video[edit]

The band's first music video, which was for "We've Got It Goin' On", was filmed on August 19, 1995, in Orlando, Florida was directed by Lionel C. Martin, and is prefaced by a radio interview with the now-former on-air staffer “Hildi” on XL 106.7 (WXXL). The video itself shows the band singing at a gym, outdoors at a park area, and in a studio space, as well as dancing onstage at a club, and playing at an arcade pool hall. In an episode, Brian Littrell deserts his girlfriend washing a Jeep Grand Cherokee to play basketball, for which she takes revenge by soaking him. The scene featured Brian's actual then-girlfriend Samantha Stonebraker and her brother Steven, while AJ McLean's then girlfriend Marissa Jackson appears as the money collector during the Pool game in the video. There is also a brief cameo by Lou Pearlman.[14]

Track listings[edit]

1995 release[edit]

1996 release[edit]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[59] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[60] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[61] Gold 250,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Europe September 11, 1995 CD Jive [1]
United States September 19, 1995 [62]
United Kingdom October 9, 1995
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[63]
United Kingdom (re-release) August 12, 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
[64]
Japan January 22, 1997 CD [65]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Backstreet Boys – We've Got It Goin' On" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  2. ^ Golden, Anna Louise (September 15, 2015). Backstreet Boys: They've Got It Goin' On!. ISBN 9781250098207.
  3. ^ "BACKSTREET BOYS FACE THE NEW 'MILLENNIUM' | Mitch Schneider Organization".
  4. ^ Molanphy, Chris (November 30, 2018). "The Give Me a Sign Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Golden, Anna Louise (September 15, 2015). Backstreet Boys: They've Got It Goin' On!. ISBN 9781250098207.
  6. ^ Interview with Backstreet Boys, management, and others from Entertainment Weekly 10th Anniversary Issue.
  7. ^ Flick, Larry (October 7, 1995). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 103. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  8. ^ Sholin, Dave (September 15, 1995). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2072. p. 78. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  9. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (September 13, 1996). "Music: This week's pop CD releases". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. November 18, 1995. p. 14. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  11. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. February 17, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 30, 1995. p. 10. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  14. ^ "Backstreet Boys - We've Got It Goin' On (AC3 Stereo)". YouTube. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  15. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (US CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 1995. 01241-42329-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (US cassette single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 1995. 01241-42329-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (US 12-inch single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 1995. 01241-42328-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 1995. JIVE CD 386.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 1995. JIVE T 386.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (European CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 1995. 74321 33360 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (European 7-inch single sleeve). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 1995. 74321 33360 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (UK CD1 liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 1996. JIVE CD 400.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (Australasian CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Liberation Records, Jive Records. 1996. D1431.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (UK CD2 liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 1996. JIVE RCD 400.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ We've Got It Goin' On (Japanese CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 1996. AVCZ-95001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ "Backstreet Boys – We've Got It Goin' On". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  27. ^ "Backstreet Boys – We've Got It Goin' On" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
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  31. ^ Danish Singles Chart. March 22, 1996.
  32. ^ "Billboard - 9 March 1996". Billboard. March 9, 1996.
  33. ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. February 3, 1996. p. 14. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  34. ^ "Backstreet Boys: We've Got It Goin' On" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
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  36. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.11.1995 – 10.11.1995)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 4, 1995. p. 26. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  37. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – We've Got It Goin' On". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
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  41. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
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  46. ^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  47. ^ "R&R CHR/Pop Top 50" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 17, 1995. p. 36. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  48. ^ 1996 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
  49. ^ 1996 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
  50. ^ 1996 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
  51. ^ "1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  52. ^ 1996 French Singles Chart Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
  53. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  54. ^ "Single top 100 over 1996" (PDF) (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  55. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  56. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  57. ^ 1996 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved April 20, 2010)
  58. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. January 18, 1997. p. 25.
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  63. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. October 7, 1995. p. 47.
  64. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 10, 1996. p. 39.
  65. ^ "ゴーイン・オン | バックストリート・ボーイズ" [Goin' On | Backstreet Boys] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 29, 2023.