: 4 5 ▁ ▁" I ▁W ant ▁You ▁Back " ▁( R ip rock ▁& ▁Alex ▁G .' s ▁Sm ooth ▁V ibe ▁Mix ) ▁– ▁ 4 : 2 7 ▁ ▁Ch arts ▁ ▁Week ly ▁charts ▁ ▁Year - end ▁charts ▁ ▁Cert ifications ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : 1 9 9 6 ▁songs ▁Category : 1 9 9 6 ▁debut ▁singles ▁Category : 1 9 9 8 ▁singles ▁Category : NS Y NC ▁songs ▁Category : R CA ▁Records ▁singles ▁Category : S ongs ▁written ▁by ▁Max ▁Martin ▁Category : S ong ▁record ings ▁produced ▁by ▁D enn iz ▁Pop ▁Category : S ong ▁record ings ▁produced ▁by ▁Max ▁Martin ▁Category : T orch ▁songs <0x0A> </s> ▁John ▁Michael ▁St ipe ▁( born ▁January ▁ 4 , ▁ 1 9 6 0 ) ▁is ▁an ▁American ▁singer - song writer ▁best ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁lead ▁singer ▁and ▁ly ric ist ▁of ▁alternative ▁rock ▁band ▁R . E . M . ▁throughout ▁its ▁history . ▁He ▁is ▁known ▁for ▁his ▁distinct ive ▁vocal ▁quality , ▁po etic ▁lyr ics ▁and ▁unique ▁stage ▁presence . ▁ ▁Poss ess ing ▁a ▁distinct ive ▁voice , ▁St ipe ▁has ▁been ▁noted ▁for ▁the ▁" m umb ling " ▁style ▁of ▁his ▁early ▁career . ▁Since ▁the ▁mid ▁' 8 0 s , ▁St ipe ▁s ings ▁in ▁" w ail ing , ▁ke ening , ▁arch ing ▁vocal ▁figures " ▁that ▁R . E . M . ▁bi ograph er ▁David ▁Buck ley