"Little Black Backpack" is a song by American rock band Stroke 9 from their third studio album Nasty Little Thoughts (1999). It was released to radio as the lead single from the album in 1999, by Universal. The song was collectively written by Stroke 9 and produced by Jerry Harrison. The song was inspired by a women's fashion trend in the late-Nineties. Commercially, "Little Black Backpack" achieved moderate success in the United States and reached the top 20 in New Zealand.
Writing and inspiration
"Little Black Backpack" was collectively written by Stroke 9. According to frontman Luke Esterkyn, the song was inspired by a late-Nineties fashion trend among women. He stated: "[The band] would go out and notice all these little black backpack purse things. Everyone had them. All these seemingly intelligent and cool girls bought into the trend." The song's message of jealousy was inspired by Esterkyn's ex-girlfriend, as he witnessed her wearing a black backpack while out with another man.[1]
Chart performance and critical reception
"Little Black Backpack" achieved moderate success in the United States. The song peaked at number four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, in which it spent fourteen weeks on the chart.[2]
Heather Phares of AllMusic referred to the song as college rock, in which she praised the radio-friendly nature of it.[3]
Live performances
Stroke 9 performed the song at the 2000 California Music Awards.[4]
^Bell, Carrie (October 30, 1999). "The Modern Age". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 44. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 66. ISSN0006-2510. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
^Little Black Backpack (Australian CD single liner notes). Stroke 9. Universal. 1999. 158209-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
