"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 October 31, 2011,[2] 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,[3] also reaching number one in Australia, 11 in New Zealand, number 10 in Ireland, and 9 in The United Kingdom.[4][5]

"Ass Back Home"
Single by Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch
from the album The Papercut Chronicles II
ReleasedOctober 31, 2011
Recorded2011
GenrePop-rap
Length3:39
LabelFueled by Ramen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Gym Class Heroes singles chronology
"Stereo Hearts"
(2011)
"Ass Back Home"
(2011)
"The Fighter"
(2011)
Neon Hitch singles chronology
"Bad Dog"
(2011)
"Ass Back Home"
(2011)
"Fuck U Betta"
(2012)

Composition

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"Ass Back Home" is a midtempo pop song that runs for 3 minutes and 39 seconds. It follows through a percussive beat influenced by electro.[6] 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".[7] The lyrics are centered around the troubles a couple experiences when one partner is away on business.[8][9] The male protagonist sings praises to his partner as the female protagonist urges her partner to come home.[7][9][10] Melinda Newman of HitFix.com interprets that the state of union between the two protagonists are strong.[8] Matt Lovett of The Lantern found the lyrics to be "hollow" and interpreted them as an attempt "to discuss some sort of personal conflict about being where "one belongs."[11]

Critical reception

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Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly praised the song as "stealthily sincere".[12] 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."[6] 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."[7] Jordy Kasko of The Tune wrote that the song could be a potential hit, along with "The Fighter".[13] 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."[11] Austin Gordon of Mind Equals Blown wrote that "could easily stir lots of radio play if they choose".[14] Megan Westerby of Live Music Guide finds the song to be "directionless and overly repetitive."[15]

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."[16]

Chart performance

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"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.[17] 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".[5]

Music video

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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 eighty-three million views as of June 19, 2021.[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.

Track listing

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Digital download[2]
No.TitleLength
1."Ass Back Home" (featuring Neon Hitch)3:42
Digital EP[20]
No.TitleLength
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

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[40] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[41] Gold 40,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[42] Platinum 15,000*
United States (RIAA)[43] Platinum 1,000,000*
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[44] Gold 450,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Label
New Zealand November 1, 2011[2] Digital download Fueled by Ramen
Spain November 1, 2011[45]
United Kingdom February 19, 2012[20]

Covers

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Post-hardcore band, Secrets, covered the track for the compilation album Punk Goes Pop 5, which was released on November 6, 2012.[46]

References

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  1. ^ "[REMIX] Gym Class Heroes ft. Neon Hitch "Ass Back Home" (Ashworth Remix)". Arjanwrites.com. January 30, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Ass Back Home (feat. Neon Hitch) – Single by Gym Class Heroes". iTunes Store. November 1, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  3. ^ "Gym Class Heroes & Neon Hitch 'Ass Back Home' – Chart Information". Billboard. February 8, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home". Top 40 Singles.
  5. ^ a b c "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ass Back Home". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Florino, Rick. "Gym Class Heroes 'The Papercut Chronicles II' Review – 5 out of 5 stars". ARTISTdirect. Rogue Digital, LLC. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c Grischow, Chad. "Gym Class Heroes: The Papercut Chronicles II Review". IGN. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Newman, Melinda. "Album review: Gym Class Heroes' 'The Papercut Chronicles ll'". HitFix.com. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "GYM CLASS HEROES – ASS BACK HOME". DJ Booth. The DJ Booth, LLC. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  10. ^ Radford, Jason (November 30, 2011). "Gym Class Heroes – The Papercut Chronicles II". Popstache. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Lovett, Matt. "Gym Class Heroes' 'Papercut Chronicles' sequel bleeds mediocrity". The Lantern. Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  12. ^ Anderson, Kyle. "The Papercut Chronicles II review". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly Inc. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  13. ^ Kasko, Jordy. "Review: Gym Class Heroes – The Papercut Chronicles II". The Tune. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  14. ^ Gordon, Austin. "Gym Class Heroes: The Papercut Chronicles II". Mind Equals Blown. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  15. ^ Westerby, Megan. "Gym Class Heroes – The Papercut Chronicles II". Live Music Guide. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  16. ^ Gym Class Heroes ft. Neon Hitch: 'Ass Back Home' – Single review. Digital Spy
  17. ^ "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart Irish Recorded Music Association. February 2, 2012. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  18. ^ "Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch – 'Ass Back Home' (lyric video)". October 31, 2011 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch – 'Ass Back Home' – Music Video". December 9, 2011 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ a b "'Ass Back Home (feat. Neon Hitch) – EP' – Gym Class Heroes". iTunes Store. February 14, 2012.
  21. ^ "Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  22. ^ "Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  23. ^ "Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home" (in French). Ultratip.
  24. ^ "Gym Class Heroes Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  25. ^ "Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  26. ^ "Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home". VG-lista.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  28. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201212 into search.
  29. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  30. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  31. ^ "Gym Class Heroes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Gym Class Heroes Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  33. ^ "Gym Class Heroes Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard.
  34. ^ "Gym Class Heroes Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  35. ^ "Gym Class Heroes Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  36. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2012". ARIA. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  37. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  38. ^ "Best of 2012 – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  39. ^ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  40. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  41. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Gym Class Heroes – Ass Back Home". Music Canada.
  42. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Gym Class Heroes – Ass Back Home". Recorded Music NZ.
  43. ^ "American single certifications – Gym Class Heroes – Ass Back Home". Recording Industry Association of America.
  44. ^ "Danish single certifications – Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Ass Back Home". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  45. ^ "Ass Back Home (feat. Neon Hitch) – Single by Gym Class Heroes". iTunes Store. October 31, 2011.
  46. ^ "SECRETS – Punk Goes Pop 5 announcement Gym Class Heroes – Ass Back Home". n.d. Retrieved October 1, 2012 – via YouTube.