When Classic Meets Modern: BE:FIRST Revives The Jackson 5’s ‘I Want You Back’ with Bold New Energy

Seven-member vocal and dance powerhouse BE:FIRST returns with a fresh take on musical history. Leading their first-ever best album BE:ST, which drops today, the group reimagines The Jackson 5’s classic “I Want You Back”, turning a timeless hit into something unmistakably their own.

A contemporary rebuild of a classic

Produced by SKY-HI and Sunny, BE:FIRST’s take keeps the iconic funk bassline, rhythmic piano and strings in mind while pushing the song through a modern process: live band recordings were tracked through the legendary Neve 8068 analog console, then sampled and rebuilt with a HIP HOP mindset. The chorus melody is quoted from the original, with new BE:FIRST lyrics and rap sections delivering a 2025-forward feel without losing the heart of the classic.

SKY-HI on the cover
“We all carry deep respect for music history and culture. Using this best-of as a moment to salute The Jackson 5—the prototype of the modern boy band—we hoped to let the greatness of this song speak to 2025. We also wanted to go further into why we keep making music as a boy band in a high-speed, disposable era. From the instruments to the recording chain, we obsessed over every detail.”

MV: the moment you first fell in love with music

The MV bottles up that “first time music grabbed you” feeling. It hides easter eggs from BE:FIRST’s past eras (“Shining One,” “Betrayal Game,” “Mainstream,” “Blissful,” “Sailing,” “GRIT,” and more) and uses volumetric video to turn members into 3D dancing figures—a playful, future-meets-nostalgia concept befitting a best-of lead.

The Wait Is Over: BE:ST Hits the World Today

Packed with 32 tracks spanning every hit and milestone, BE:ST is a celebration of the group’s journey — from debut to global stages.

Choose your experience:

• Standard 3-CD set with a special non-stop mix by producer BANVOX
• LIVE edition with footage from their debut world tour, including New York
• MV edition featuring 24 music videos — including the brand-new “I Want You Back”
• Special BMSG Music Shop edition packed with behind-the-scenes content, fan-picked live performances, and exclusive collectibles

BMSG MUSIC SHOP：https://bmsg-music-shop.com/collections/befirst

Hi, mu-mo：https://hi.mu-mo.com/collections/befirst

New song “Stay Strong” — the theme for the film WIND BREAKER starring member JUNON — is co-produced by SKY-HI × Yaffle. With weighty strings, guitars, and drums, it sketches an expansive, experimental soundscape. JUNON co-writes lyrics that echo the film’s message: strength isn’t only about winning, don’t lose what you protect, don’t bend or look away—delivered with BE:FIRST’s signature power and delicacy.

Since debuting under BMSG, BE:FIRST has topped charts from pre-debut, filled Japan’s four major domes, and embarked on their first international world tour, performing in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Known for their extraordinary vocal, dance, and rap skills, as well as their creative input in songwriting and choreography, BE:FIRST is now poised to make their mark, redefining what a modern boy group can be.

About BE:FIRST
BE:FIRST is a Japanese boy group managed by BMSG and signed to B-ME, a joint record label with Avex. The group was formed on August 13th, 2021 through a reality audition program ‘THE FIRST’, which was hosted by Japanese producer and rapper SKY-HI. They debuted on November 3rd, 2021 with a final lineup of seven members: SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, RYOKI, and LEO with their song, “Gifted.”, which topped the Billboard Hot Trending Songs chart and ended up becoming the most-discussed song on Twitter. The song also topped various music charts in Japan, including the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart. By blending elements of dance, pop, hip-hop, and R&B, BE:FIRST showcases their artistic versatility and talent to create a musical sound that is unique and innovative for listeners to enjoy. With their fandom, BESTY, supporting them as the next global powerhouse group from Tokyo, Japan, BE:FIRST’s dynamic sound and charisma are one to watch.

BE:FIRST has also completed their first-ever world tour, BE:FIRST World Tour 2025 – Who is BE:FIRST? -, which took them to 12 cities across the globe.