Get Down (You're the One for Me)

"Get Down (You're the One for Me)" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys. It was released on April 30, 1996 by Jive Records, as the third single from their international self-titled debut album (1996). It was written and produced by Bülent Aris and Toni Cottura, and later included on their US debut album. The song was a number-one hit in Lithuania and a top-10 hit in countries like Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The accompanying music video was directed by Alan Calzatti, featuring the band performing on a disco ball.

"Get Down (You're the One for Me)"
Single by Backstreet Boys
from the album Backstreet Boys (international and US)
Released	April 30, 1996
Studio	Matiz (Hamburg, Germany)
Genre	Teen pop dance-pop hip hop
Length	3:50
Label	Jive
Songwriter(s)	Bülent Aris Smooth T.
Producer(s)	Aris Toni Cottura
Backstreet Boys singles chronology
"I'll Never Break Your Heart" (1995) "Get Down (You're the One for Me)" (1996) "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" (1996)
Music video
"Get Down (You're the One for Me)" on YouTube

Background

In some countries, "Get Down" was released as their debut single. The song features a rap in the second verse by both Smooth T. of the group Fun Factory and band member AJ McLean. When performed live, other than a few isolated cases in which Smooth T. was able to join the band, McLean raps alternate lyrics during Smooth T.'s verse. The alternate first rap verse was recorded for the song and was used in the Markus Plastik Vocal Remix of the song: "So get ready - ready for the flavor we are bringin' / It's time I set it off and get your body swingin' / When we're alone, girl, I wanna push up / Can I get it? (yeah!) Everybody throw your hands up."^{[citation needed]}

Critical reception

British magazine Music Week gave the song four out of five, writing, "The US boy band have had two massive hits throughout Europe but are yet to break into the UK Top 40. This infectious, upbeat number should do it."^[1]

Music video

Background

The music video for "Get Down (You're the One for Me)" was directed by Alan Calzatti, and was filmed in Orlando, Florida on April 10, 1996.^[2] It was released in May 1996.^{[citation needed]} As of May 2025, the video has over 77 million views on YouTube.^[3]

Synopsis

The band performs on the top half of a disco ball lit in a cold, bright, white light. They are also inside a second disco ball, with several females dancing inside individual cabins. Each member is seen wearing big black trousers and shoes, silver necklaces, and various oversized jackets; Nick wearing yellow and red, Brian wearing orange, Howie wearing black, AJ wearing dark yellow, and Kevin wearing bright yellow.^[4] Smooth T. appears and hovers around the band during his rap verse.

Track listing

European 12-inch single[5] No. Title Length 1. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (Smokin Beats Club Mix)" 7:14 2. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (Smokin Beats Dub)" 5:13 3. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (Blue Haired Beats)" 7:56 4. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (DEZIGN Dub)" 7:04

German cassette single[6] No. Title Length 1. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (LP Edit)" 3:50 2. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (DEZIGN Radio Edit II)" 3:53 German maxi single[7] No. Title Length 1. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (LP Edit)" 3:50 2. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (DEZIGN Radio Edit I)" 3:58 3. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (CL Vocal Journey Radio Edit)" 4:21 4. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (Markus Plastik Vocal Radio Edit)" 4:02 5. "Get Down (You're the One for Me) (DEZIGN Dub Radio Edit)" 5:11

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the single's liner notes.^[8]

• Produced by Bülent Aris and Toni Cottura
• Vocal Recording by Hakan Wollard at Matiz Studios, Hamburg, Germany
• Rap by Toni Cottura
• All Instruments programmed by Bülent Aris and Toni Cottura

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref.
1996	MTV Europe Video Music Awards	MTV Select: Get Down (You're the One For Me)	Won	[9]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[10] 44 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[13] 5 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] 39 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[15] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[16] 36 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[17] 7 Croatia (HRT)[18] 20 Czech Republic (IFPI CR)[19] 10 Denmark (Tracklisten)[20] 11 Estonia (Eesti Top 20)[21] 2 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[22] 8 Europe (European Hit Radio)[23] 12 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 18 France (SNEP)[25] 15 Germany (GfK)[26] 5 Hungary (Mahasz)[27] 4 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[28] 18 Ireland (IRMA)[29] 19 Latvia (Latvijas Top 30)[30] 3 Lithuania (M-1)[31] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[32] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 3 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[34] 34 Scotland (OCC)[35] 11 Spain (Top 40 Radio)[36] 31 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[37] 17 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 7 UK Singles (OCC)[39] 14

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[40] 35 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[41] 45 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[42] 47 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[43] 52 France (SNEP)[44] 73 Germany (Media Control)[45] 22 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[46] 58 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[47] 50 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[48] 23