"Return of the Mack" is a song written and recorded by British R&B singer Mark Morrison, released by WEA and Atlantic as the third single from his debut album by the same name (1996) (contrary to the lyrics, this was not a 'comeback song'). The song was produced by Morrison with Phil Chill and Cutfather & Joe, and topped the UK Singles Chart a month after its release, then became a European and Australian hit. In the United States, it reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and went platinum.[3] The music video for the song, directed by Jake Nava, was released in the United Kingdom in March 1996 and in the United States in February 1997. Billboard magazine featured "Return of the Mack" in their lists of "Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s" in 2019[4] and "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time" in 2023.[5]
Larry Flick from Billboard felt that UK crooner Mark Morrison "energizes a deflated U.S. R&B scene" with the song,[9] noting that he "shows international promise with fresh lyrics and vocals, and classic soul production reminiscent of R&B's '80s heyday."[1] Matt Diehl from Entertainment Weekly remarked that Morrison "comes off more like a funked-up Seal, promising revenge to a deceitful lover in a warbly croon. The end result is an odd but infectious new-jack-swing variation on "Hey Joe", buoyed by bubbly beats and the insistent title refrain."[2] Another EW editor, Leah Greenblatt, described the track as a "new-jackalicious breakup jam".[10] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger noted that "the music certainly has his back – the rubbery basslines cocooning the song, the satisfying crunch of the drums, the light keyboard touches helping Morrison glide along his comeback trail." He added that it "is a pleasure to listen to, a well-tailored suit of sound."[11]
Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian concluded in her album review, "He plays the sunglasses-at-night role to perfection on the album's title (and best) track".[12] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, adding that the singer "looks to maintain the momentum of his hit 'Crazy' with another assured mix of R&B and ragga."[13] Ralph Tee from the Record Mirror Dance Update gave it a top score of five out of five, writing, "This simply is every bit as good as what you would get from an American r&b act on a major label — and the song's better than most of what's coming out from across the pond of late." He added further, "The urban street production is a perfect vehicle for Mark's Jamaica-style tinged soul vocal on a song that deserves to be a smash, or an anthem at the very least."[14]
"Return of the Mack" was very successful on the charts on several continents, peaking at number-one on both the RPM Dance/Urban chart in Canada and the BillboardRhythmic chart in the United States. In Europe, it hit number-one in the United Kingdom in its sixth week at the UK Singles Chart, on 14 April 1996.[15] The single spent two weeks at the top position. It entered the top 10 also in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland (2), the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden (2) and Switzerland, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100 where it peaked at number five.[16] Outside Europe, "Return of the Mack" also reached number-one in Zimbabwe, number two in Australia and on the BillboardHot 100. In New Zealand, it peaked at number three, while peaking at number 17 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada.
The single earned a gold record in Denmark (45,000), France (250,000) and Germany (250,000), and a platinum record in Australia (70,000), New Zealand (10,000) and the US (1,400,000). In the UK, it was awarded with a 2× platinum record after selling 1,800,000 units.
The accompanying music video for "Return of the Mack" was directed by British director Jake Nava.[17] It begins with Morrison arriving in London by Concorde flight in the evening. In his car (a silver Mercedes-Benz SL-Class) travelling towards the city, he starts singing. He has flashbacks of himself and his girlfriend, now ex. The car then stops in front of his ex and her new boyfriend standing by the street. The singer sings as he watches the new couple. Later he arrives at an underground club and hands the DJ a record which is immediately played. Shortly afterwards, the ex shows up in the club with her new guy. Standing in the crowd of dancing people, Morrison sings towards his ex. Then (in a flashback of the breakup) he sits down at a desk, inside an office. The ex comes in and sits down. They are confronting each other, and she ends up getting up, letting the chair fall as she leaves, looking at Morrison with a regretful face. The video ends with a close-up of Morrison sitting in the office in thoughts, while he smiles to the camera.[18]
The ex-girlfriend is played by then unknown model Suzannah Agrippa miming to a featured vocal performance by Angie Brown.[19] Numerous other extras were friends of the director.[20]
In December 1996, Melody Maker ranked "Return of the Mack" number nine in their list of "Singles of the Year", writing, "Forever playing in the mini-cab home, smooth and assured and absolutely f**ing diamond-sharp, Mark Morrison ruled supreme. The first great British swing record."[21] In 2007, Stylus Magazine ranked it number 40 on its list of the "Top 50 One-Hit Wonders", stating that "over plush keyboards, fake turntable scratches, and a rhythm track that will be around 'til time immemorial, Morrison relates his griefs with an ex who he's returned to—what? Gloat in her face? Point out he's still surviving, even thriving? Nope, he's really returned to show what sleek R&B grooves and odd vocal cadences he's developed since being dumped."[22] In August 2012, Polish Porcys ranked "Return of the Mack" number 71 in their list of "100 Singles 1990-1999".[23]
In 2017, Billboard magazine ranked it number five in their list of "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997", writing, "From its first seconds, "Return" busts through the wall like the Kool-Aid Man, and just picks up stream from there, more undeniable in its boom-bap strut with each You liiiiiied to me braying and Once again! ad lib. Between this, Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" and Backstreet Boys' "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)", the '90s proved beyond a doubt that you don't need to be gone in the first place to have a triumphant banger proclaiming your return."[24] Same year, BuzzFeed ranked it number 48 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s".[25] In 2019, Billboard ranked it number 102 in their ranking of "Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s"[4] while in October 2023, it was ranked number 318 in their "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time".[5]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
American rapper Mann released a cover version of the song, featuring vocals from Snoop Dogg and Iyaz. His version is simply titled "The Mack". The single was released in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2011 as a digital download and in the United States on 5 July 2011.
A music video to accompany the release of "The Mack" was first released onto YouTube on 23 June 2011 at a total length of three minutes and fifty-five seconds. It features Mann, Iyaz and Snoop Dogg, at a pool party that starts off in the day into the night and they are surrounded by women. Mark is also shown entering London Heathrow Airport and then driving a car.[86]
American DJ Nevada remixed the song and retitled the release "The Mack", 20 years after the release of the original version[93][94] Nevada's version features the re-recorded vocals of Mark Morrison, and additional vocals from American rapper Fetty Wap.[95] The song was written by Morrison, William Maxwell, Daniel Stephenson, and Jonathan White.[96] It was released to digital download through Straightforward Music, Nourishing Music, and Capitol Records on 23 September 2016.[97]
In October 2022, Post Malone, Morrison and Sickick released a mashup of "Cooped Up" and "Return of the Mack", as "Cooped up / Return of the Mack". The song went viral on social media, then was made available for retail purchase.[129]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 48. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 46. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
