1991 Rock Song, From One of the 'Greatest' Supergroups of All Time Mr. Big, Is Still a Hit 35 Years Later
1991 Rock Song, From One of the 'Greatest' Supergroups of All Time Mr. Big, Is Still a Hit 35 Years Later
Geca FloresSun, August 23, 2026 at 2:11 AM UTC
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Mr. Big, an all-star band composed of acclaimed musicians from acts including The Knack and Racer X, released their 1991 song, “To Be With You,” which has remained one of the most recognizable songs even decades later.
Thirty-five years after the quartet, who were named one of the “greatest supergroups” of all time byBBC Music magazine, debuted the iconic track, it continues to resonate with listeners, further cementing its place among the memorable rock songs of the era.
On Spotify, “To Be With You” has nearly 500 million total streams, making it Mr. Big’s most-played song on the platform.
Reddit contributors shared their nostalgic moments associated with Mr. Big’s song and discussed how iconic its members were.
Mr. Big performing at a video shoot on February 27, 1992 in Chicago, Illinois. Paul Natkin/Getty Images
“I always find it funny that this band has both one of the best guitarists and bassists from the hair metal genre and their biggest hit is this simple acoustic song,” one wrote.
“Underrated supergroup,” a commenter said.
“Love this song. This was one of the songs that was part of the death rattle of hair metal. I was so sad to see that genre fade away and make way for grunge and alternative,” a fan remarked.
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“This song was always featured in those music compilation TV commercials,” a Reddit user recalled.
Written by lead singer Eric Martin when he was in his teens, “To Be With You” tells the true story of unrequited love he experienced.
“We were really, really good friends,” Mr. Big vocalist toldSongfacts. “I was totally enamored with this woman. She was beautiful. Smart. I mean, brains, beauty, break down the walls, made me crawl on my belly like a reptile! I just loved this woman, but she just wanted to be my friend. She’d have tons of boyfriends, and maybe she misconstrued promiscuity for love. But I wanted to be the knight in shining armor. That’s what I was, a knight in shining armor. But basically, I didn’t get my feet wet. I wrote it about how I would have done anything to just be more than a friend and a confidante.”
The acoustic-driven anthem was part of their sophomore album Lean Into It and appeared as the record’s 10th track.
“To Be With You” was their ticket to a breakthrough after the song secured the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band’s biggest commercial success.
Related: 1982 No. 1 Hit, Written by Iconic Rock Band From California, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Soft Rock Songs’ of All Time
This story was originally published by Parade on Aug 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
