Back To You

Back To You explores the complex and often painful reality of a cyclical, toxic relationship where the emotional connection remains severed but not dissolved. The song operates on two distinct levels of meaning: the personal narrative of the artist and the thematic requirements of the soundtrack it leads.

The Cycle of Addiction: Lyrically, the song describes a romance that is technically over but emotionally very much alive. The protagonist admits to a lack of self-control when it comes to this specific person, acknowledging that despite the pain ("You could break my heart in two"), they are willing to endure it again for the highs of the relationship. It captures the essence of "unfinished business," where the closure seemingly achieved by a breakup is illusory. The narrator is physically moving forward—perhaps even with new partners—but mentally stagnant, trapped in the memory of the ex-lover.

Contextual Connections:
1. The Justin Bieber Connection: Widely interpreted by fans and critics as an autobiographical reflection on Selena Gomez's on-again, off-again relationship with Justin Bieber. Released shortly after one of their breakups, lyrics like "Let a couple years water down how I'm feeling about you" align with their public timeline of separation and reconciliation.
2. 13 Reasons Why Narrative: As the lead single for the 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 soundtrack, the song also mirrors the relationship between the show's main characters, Clay Jensen and Hannah Baker. It reflects Clay's inability to let go of Hannah after her death, his obsession with their past interactions, and his wish to go back and change the outcome, even if it leads to the same tragic end.

The narrative begins in a moment of impulsive decision-making, likening the arrival of a lover to a sudden, potent shot of alcohol that hits the system immediately. There is a sense of attempted denial, where the protagonist admits to trying to dilute their intense feelings over the span of several years, hoping that time would wash away the attachment. However, the effort proves futile. Every interaction, no matter how small, seems to carry the weight of their entire history, building tension until the facade of indifference crumbles. The protagonist finds themselves in an internal battle, trying to convince their rational mind that they do not want this connection, even while every fiber of their being screams that they do.

As the story unfolds, the conflict deepens. The protagonist confesses to a cycle of vulnerability where heartbreak is almost guaranteed. Yet, there is a paradoxical healing process where the heart, once broken by this specific person, only beats properly for them again upon repair. It is a confession of weakness and truth simultaneously. The narrator describes the physical and emotional torture of being with someone else but mentally drifting back to this one specific former lover. They are physically present in a new situation, perhaps lying close to a new partner, but their mind is held captive by the memory of the past. The recurring realization is an admission of defeat: given the chance to rewrite history and avoid the pain, they would essentially choose to make the same \"mistake\" and return to this person all over again.

The internal monologue continues with a reflection on the messy nature of their communication. The protagonist is haunted by old conversations, playing them on a loop in their mind, overanalyzing every syllable and regretting how things were left. This overthinking feels foreign and uncomfortable, a behavior they despise yet cannot stop. The pretense of hiding their true feelings becomes exhausted; everybody around them is already aware of the \"unfinished business\" that hangs in the air. The fear of regret becomes a driving force—the terrifying thought that if they don't speak up now, the possibility of what could have been will haunt them forever. Ultimately, the narrative resolves not in moving on, but in the acceptance of this inescapable magnetic pull that defies logic, pride, and the advice of others.

Back To You was released on May 10, 2018, as the lead single for the soundtrack of the second season of the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why, on which Selena Gomez served as an executive producer. The track was written by Selena Gomez alongside Amy Allen, Parrish Warrington, Diederik van Elsas, and Micah Premnath. Production duties were handled by the duo Trackside and hitmaker Ian Kirkpatrick (known for Dua Lipa's "New Rules" and Gomez's own "Bad Liar").

The song was born out of the need to find a track that fit the specific emotional tone of the series—dealing with trauma, regret, and memory—while also functioning as a standalone pop hit for Gomez. It marked a return to dance-pop for Gomez after a series of more experimental, alternative-pop releases like "Fetish" and "Bad Liar." The release was accompanied by a vertical video on Spotify and later a cinematic music video inspired by the French New Wave film Pierrot le Fou. The song became a commercial success, reaching the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving multi-platinum certification.

The song generally follows a Verse-Chorus pop structure. The rhyme scheme in the verses is often AABB or ABAB, but with a loose meter that accommodates the conversational tone of the lyrics. For example, "shot / not" and "evening / feeling" (slant rhyme).

Rhythmic Interplay: The most defining rhythmic element is the syncopation in the chorus. The vocal melody on the line "I wanna hold you when I'm not supposed to" interacts tightly with the driving 4/4 percussion. The "drop" relies on a catchy, repetitive instrumental hook (vocal chops) that provides a rhythmic release after the tension built in the pre-chorus. The tempo is set at a mid-to-upbeat pace (approx. 102 BPM), which creates a sense of urgency and movement, contrasting with the static nature of the lyrics where the narrator is emotionally stuck in the past.

Musical Contrast: The song employs a distinct dichotomy between its verses and its chorus. The verses feature a stripped-back, acoustic guitar riff that gives the song a raw, singer-songwriter feel, emphasizing the vulnerability of the confession. This builds into a massive, EDM-inspired drop in the chorus, utilizing vocal chops and heavy synths to transform the melancholic sentiment into a danceable anthem. This contrast mirrors the conflict between the sad reality of the lyrics and the manic energy of the emotions involved.

Vocal Delivery: Gomez uses a breathy, intimate register in the verses, sounding almost like she is whispering a secret. In the chorus, her vocals are more processed and layered, blending with the electronic production to create a sense of overwhelming feeling.

Literary Devices: The lyrics use hyperbole ("You could break my heart in two") to emphasize vulnerability. Paradox is central to the hook: "I wanna hold you when I'm not supposed to." The song also uses colloquialisms and conversational flow ("I know it's forward but it's true") to make the song feel like a genuine, modern confession.

Back To You cemented Selena Gomez's status as a "Sad Pop" icon, blending heavy emotional themes with radio-friendly production. It was a significant commercial success, peaking at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 10 in countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK. It has been certified Double Platinum by the RIAA.

Culturally, the song is inextricably linked to the 13 Reasons Why franchise, serving as the sonic identity for the show's second season. The music video was critically noted for its artistic homage to Jean-Luc Godard's film Pierrot le Fou, showcasing Gomez's desire to elevate her visual artistry with cinema history references. The video's aesthetic—vintage filters, subtitles, and retro fashion—influenced Instagram and TikTok trends in 2018. The song remains a fan favorite for its relatability regarding toxic exes and "the one that got away."

The lyrics and imagery of Back To You utilize specific symbols to convey the difficulty of moving on:

• "Took you like a shot": This simile compares the lover to a shot of hard liquor. It implies an impulsive decision that is immediately intoxicating but likely to cause a "hangover" or regret later. It suggests the relationship is a vice or an addiction rather than a healthy bond.
• "Cold evening": Used to represent the loneliness and harsh reality of life without the partner. The attempt to "chase" the shot with a cold evening suggests trying to sober up or numb the intensity of the love with the passage of time.
• "Unfinished business": A metaphor for the lingering emotional attachment. It frames the relationship as a transaction or a contract that was never properly closed, leaving the protagonist in a state of limbo.
• "Cutting my hair": In the bridge (and visualized in the music video), this references the classic trope of changing one's appearance post-breakup to reclaim identity. However, the lyrics admit the futility of this action ("I could try... but it's useless"), symbolizing that superficial changes cannot fix deep-seated emotional wounds.

"I know I'd go back to you": This is the central hook and the thesis statement of the song. Its repetition at the end of the chorus reinforces the inevitability of the protagonist's actions. It transforms from a confession to a resignation.

"Unfinished business": This phrase acts as the justification for the protagonist's inability to move on. It frames the toxicity as something that simply needs resolution, rather than something to be escaped.

"If I could do it all again": This conditional phrase highlights the lack of regret. It emphasizes that the pain of the relationship is considered worth the price of the experience, a common motif in songs about addictive love.