Ass Back Home

"Ass Back Home"
Single by Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch
from the album The Papercut Chronicles II
Released October 31, 2011
Format Digital download
Recorded 2011
Genre Pop rap
Length 3:39
Label Fueled by Ramen
Writer(s) Travie McCoy, Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo, Eric Roberts, Matt McGinley, Benjamin Levin, Ammar Malik, Daniel Omelio, David Silberstein[1]
Producer(s) Benny Blanco, Robopop[2]
Gym Class Heroes singles chronology
"Stereo Hearts"
(2011)		 "Ass Back Home"
(2011)		 "The Fighter"
(2012)
Neon Hitch singles chronology
"Bad Dog"
(2011)		 "Ass Back Home"
(2011)		 "Fuck U Betta"
(2012)

"Ass Back Home" (edited version titled as "Get Yourself Back Home") is a song by American group Gym Class Heroes featuring British singer/songwriter Neon Hitch. The song was first released on November 1, 2011 in New Zealand,[3] as the second single from the group's fifth studio album, The Papercut Chronicles II. The track was co-written and produced by Benny Blanco, who also produced previous hit Stereo Hearts. "Ass Back Home" became the group's third biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when it peaked at number 12,[4] also reaching number one in Australia, 11 in New Zealand and number 10 in Ireland.[5][6] The song was released on October 31, 2011.

Composition

"Ass Back Home" is a midtempo pop song that runs for 3 minutes and 39 seconds. It follows through a percussive beat influenced by jazz and electro.[7] The song contains influences of dub, rock and reggae and features the use of a "shimmering" guitar. The overall sound of the song has been described as "breezy".[8] The lyrics are centered around the troubles a couple experiences when one partner is away on business.[9][10] The male protagonist sings praises to his partner as the female protagonist urges her partner to come home.[8][10][11] Melinda Newman of HitFix.com interprets that the state of union between the two protagonists are strong.[9] Matt Lovett of The Lantern found the lyrics to be "hollow" and interpreted the them as an attempt "to discuss some sort of personal conflict about being where "one belongs."[12]

Critical reception

Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly praised the song as "stealthily sincere".[13] Rick Florino of ARTISTdirect praised the song's unique style, writing "Neon Hitch's gorgeous line entwines with McCoy's rapping for a combination like no other."[7] Chad Grischow of IGN named "Ass Back Home" the best track on the album, writing "The breezy dub rock flavor of shimmering guitar and an adorable hook from Neon Hitch turn 'Ass Back Home' into the best of the album, as McCoy's beat-riding flow works wonders as he sings the praises of his patient woman."[8] Jordy Kasko of The Tune wrote that the song could be a potential hit, along with "The Fighter".[14] Matt Lovett of UWIRE wrote that the song, along with "Holy Horseshit, Batman", "sound like reflections of a 13-year-old finally using the naughty language he learned at school in his diary."[12] Austin Gordon of Mind Equals Blown wrote that "could easily stir lots of radio play if they choose".[15] Megan Westerby of Live Music Guide finds the song to be "directionless and overly repetitive."[16]

Robert Copsey of Digital Spy rated the song four out of five stars, writing that "The result makes for a more fascinating collab than if, say, they'd roped Ke$ha in on the track (although we wouldn't be adverse to that either), as Hitch's fresh but distinctive vocal ticks make for a far more interesting listen. In fact, she easily steals the show here, cracking the whip on an AWOL Trav on the head-nodding and Big Mac-sized chorus. That she manages to succeed on that alone is a huge achievement in itself."[17]

Music video

A lyrical music video was made available onto YouTube on October 31, 2011 to accompany the release of "Ass Back Home", at a total length of three minutes and forty-four seconds.[18] An official music video, directed by Dugan O' Neal was then made available on December 9, 2011—amassing over nine million views as of February 25, 2012.[19] The music video features Neon Hitch as Travie McCoy's girlfriend. It shows clips of him and the rest of the band on the road and on tour also showing clips of Neon Hitch at home and sad without Travie. At the end Travie returns home and embraces Neon Hitch.

Secrets Version

"Ass Back Home"
Single by Secrets
from the album Punk Goes Pop 5
Format Digital download
Recorded December 12, 2012
Genre Post-hardcore, metalcore
Label Rise Records, distributed through Fearless Records

Post-hardcore band, Secrets, covered the track for the compilation album Punk Goes Pop 5, which was released on November 6, 2012.[20]

Track listing

Digital download[3]
No. Title Length
1. "Ass Back Home" (featuring Neon Hitch) 3:42
Digital EP[21]
No. Title Length
1. "Ass Back Home" (featuring Neon Hitch) 3:42
2. "Ass Back Home" (featuring Neon Hitch) (Black Cards Remix) 5:12
3. "Ass Back Home" (featuring Neon Hitch) (Ken Loi Extended Mix) 5:42

Chart performance

"Ass Back Home" made its first chart appearance in Ireland on the chart week ending February 2, 2012 - when it debuted at number twenty-seven on the Irish Singles Chart.[22] On its second charting week, the single rose seventeen places to number ten, marking the group's fourth top ten hit in the country; after "Cupid's Chokehold", "Clothes Off!!" and "Stereo Hearts".[6]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2011–12) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[23] 1
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[24] 59
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[25] 15
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] 24
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 81
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[5] 11
Norway (VG-lista)[28] 15
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[29] 7
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[30] 45
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[31] 3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[32] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[33] 12
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[34] 38
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[35] 14
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[36] 5
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[37] 16

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[38] 3× Platinum 210,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] Platinum 15,000*
United States (RIAA)[40] Platinum 1,000,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
Australia (ARIA)[41] 33
US Billboard Hot 100[42] 51

Release history

Region Date Format Label
New Zealand 1 November 2011[3] Digital download Fueled by Ramen
Spain 1 November 2011[43]
United Kingdom 19 February 2012[21]

References

  1. ↑ "BMI Search > 'Ass Back Home' - Songwriting + Composition". BMI. 2012-02-10.
  2. ↑ "[REMIX] Gym Class Heroes ft. Neon Hitch "Ass Back Home" (Ashworth Remix)". Arjanwrites.com. 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Ass Back Home (feat. Neon Hitch) - Single by Gym Class Heroes". Itunes.apple.com. 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  4. ↑ "Gym Class Heroes & Neon Hitch 'Ass Back Home' - Chart Information". Billboard. 2012-02-08.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Charts.org.nz – Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home". Top 40 Singles.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Chart Track: Week 6, 2012". Irish Singles Chart.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Florino, Rick. "Gym Class Heroes "The Papercut Chronicles II" Review — 5 out of 5 stars". ARTISTdirect. Rogue Digital, LLC. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Grischow, Chad. "Gym Class Heroes: The Papercut Chronicles II Review". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Newman, Melinda. "Album review: Gym Class Heroes' 'The Papercut Chronicles ll'". HitFix.com. HitFix.com. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "GYM CLASS HEROES - ASS BACK HOME". DJ Booth. The DJ Booth, LLC. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  11. ↑ Radford, Jason. "Gym Class Heroes – The Papercut Chronicles II". Popstache. Popstache. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lovett, Matt. "Gym Class Heroes’ ‘Papercut Chronicles’ sequel bleeds mediocrity". The Lantern. The Lantern. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  13. ↑ Anderson, Kyle. "The Papercut Chronicles II review". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly Inc. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  14. ↑ Kasko, Jordy. "Review: Gym Class Heroes – The Papercut Chronicles II". The Tune. The Tune. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  15. ↑ Gordon, Austin. "Gym Class Heroes: The Papercut Chronicles II". Mind Equals Blown. Mind Equals Blown. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  16. ↑ Westerby, Megan. "Gym Class Heroes - The Papercut Chronicles II". Live Music Guide. Live Music Guide. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  17. ↑ Gym Class Heroes ft. Neon Hitch: 'Ass Back Home' - Single review. Digital Spy
  18. ↑ "Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch - 'Ass Back Home' (lyric video)". YouTube. 2011-10-31.
  19. ↑ "Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch - 'Ass Back Home' - Music Video". YouTube. 2011-12-09.
  20. ↑ "SECRETS - Punk Goes Pop 5 announcement Gym Class Heroes - Ass Back Home". YouTube.com. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "'Ass Back Home (feat. Neon Hitch) - EP' - Gym Class Heroes". iTunes. 2012-02-14.
  22. ↑ "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart Irish Recorded Music Association. 2012-02-02.
  23. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  25. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home" (in French). Ultratip.
  26. ↑ "Gym Class Heroes Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Gym Class Heroes.
  27. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  28. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home". VG-lista.
  29. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-03-03". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  30. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201212 into search.
  31. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-03-03" UK R&B Chart.
  32. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-03-03" UK Singles Chart.
  33. ↑ "Gym Class Heroes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Gym Class Heroes.
  34. ↑ "Gym Class Heroes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Gym Class Heroes.
  35. ↑ "Gym Class Heroes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay for Gym Class Heroes.
  36. ↑ "Gym Class Heroes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Gym Class Heroes.
  37. ↑ "Gym Class Heroes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Gym Class Heroes.
  38. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  39. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
  40. ↑ "American single certifications – Gym Class Heroes – Ass Back Home". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  41. ↑ http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2012.htm
  42. ↑ "Best of 2012 - Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  43. ↑ "Ass Back Home (feat. Neon Hitch) - Single by Gym Class Heroes". Itunes.apple.com.

External links