Back to You (Louis Tomlinson song)

"Back to You" is the second solo single of English singer-songwriter Louis Tomlinson featuring American singer Bebe Rexha and English DJ and producer Digital Farm Animals. It was written by Tomlinson, Digital Farm Animals, Pablo Bowman, Richard Boardman, and Sarah Blanchard, while the production was handled by Digital Farm Animals and Tommy Danvers. The single was released on 21 July 2017;^[1] its accompanying music video premiered the same date.

"Back to You"
Single by Louis Tomlinson featuring Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals
Released	21 July 2017
Genre	Electropop
Length	3:10
Label	Syco Epic 78
Songwriter(s)	Louis Tomlinson Nicholas Gale Pablo Bowman Richard Boardman Sarah Blanchard
Producer(s)	Digital Farm Animals Tommy Danvers
Louis Tomlinson singles chronology
"Just Hold On" (2016) "Back to You" (2017) "Miss You" (2017)
Bebe Rexha singles chronology
"The Way I Are (Dance with Somebody)" (2017) "Back to You" (2017) "Meant to Be" (2017)
Digital Farm Animals singles chronology
"Digital Love" (2017) "Back to You" (2017) "Arms Around Me" (2017)
Music video
"Back to You" on YouTube

Background and release

"Back to You" is the second solo single released by Louis Tomlinson after the announced hiatus of One Direction. The song was released via his own label, 78 Productions.^[2] It was later confirmed Tomlinson signed a solo recording deal with Epic Records.^[3]

On 26 June, it was announced via two consecutive tweets from Tomlinson's Twitter that the song would be released at the end of July.^[4][5] The release date was later confirmed as 21 July.^[6]

Composition

"Back to You" comprises mid-tempo beats and piano chords.^[7] Lars Brandle of Billboard noted an "urban-textured" production.^[8] Lyrically, the song discusses returning to an on-again, off-again relationship.^[7][9] Tomlinson declared about its composition:

This song stood out to me across everything I've written. It’s quite minimal in the production; it's something that, even melodically, is quite different to something I would normally do.^[10]

Music video

A music video for the song was filmed in Tomlinson's hometown of Doncaster, England in May 2017,^[11] subsequently being released alongside the single on 21 July 2017. In the video Tomlinson and Rexha appear in various Doncaster locations, including Doncaster Rovers Football Club's Keepmoat Stadium.^[12] As of January 2025, the music video has received more than 510 million views on YouTube.^[13]

Critical reception

Mike Wass of Idolator wrote in his review, "As far as 1D solo offerings go, this is fairly solid."^[7] Mark Savage of BBC Music described the track as "a brooding pop concoction."^[9] In Entertainment Weekly, Ariana Bacle called it "[an] infectious jam."^[14]

Track listing

Digital download^[15]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Back to You"	3:10

Digital download – Digital Farm Animals and Louis Tomlinson remix^[16]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Back to You" (Digital Farm Animals and Louis Tomlinson remix)	4:22

Limited edition CD single^[17]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Back to You"	3:10
2.	"Back to You" (Digital Farm Animals and Louis Tomlinson remix)	4:22

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2017–18) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 11 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 21 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 30 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] 20 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[22] 33 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[23] 8 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[24] 10 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 14 France (SNEP)[26] 19 Germany (GfK)[27] 51 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[28] 12 Hungary (Single Top 40)[29] 4 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[30] 16 Ireland (IRMA)[31] 11 Italy (FIMI)[32] 52 Malaysia (RIM)[33] 2 Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[34] 39 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 17 Netherlands (Mega Top 50)[36] 32 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 22 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 12 Norway (VG-lista)[39] 12 Philippines (Philippine Hot 100)[40] 21 Portugal (AFP)[41] 17 Romania (Airplay 100)[42] 45 Scotland (OCC)[43] 6 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[44] 27 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[45] 12 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[46] 81 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[47] 38 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[48] 47 UK Singles (OCC)[49] 8 US Billboard Hot 100[50] 40 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[51] 31 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[52] 25

Year-end charts Chart (2017) Position Australia (ARIA)[53] 93 Hungary (Single Top 40)[54] 88 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[55] 60 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[56] 81 Chart (2018) Position Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[57] 100

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[58]	3× Platinum	210,000‡
Belgium (BRMA)[59]	Gold	10,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[60]	Platinum	80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[61]	Gold	45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[62]	Gold	25,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[63]	2× Platinum	120,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[64]	Platinum	30,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[65]	Platinum	60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[66]	Gold	10,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[67]	Gold	20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[68]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[69]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	21 July 2017	Digital download	Original	78 Productions Epic	[15]
Italy		Contemporary hit radio		Sony	[70]
United States	25 July 2017			Epic	[71]
	31 July 2017	Hot adult contemporary			[72]
Various	4 August 2017	Digital download	Digital Farm Animals and Louis Tomlinson Remix	78 Productions Epic	[16]

Awards and nominations

Year	Organization	Award	Result	Ref.
2017	CelebMix Awards	Best Collaboration	Won	[73]
2018	MPS Online Awards	Favorite Collaboration	Won	[74]