Back to Friends

Commercial performance

"Back to Friends" experienced a significant surge in on-demand streams in March 2025 after going viral on the video-sharing platform TikTok.^[2] The song subsequently debuted at number 140 on the Billboard Global 200 for the chart dated April 5, 2025, marking Sombr's first entry on the chart.^[5] In its tenth week, it entered the top ten at number nine,^[6] and later peaked at number five on the chart dated September 27, 2025.^[7]

In the United States, "Back to Friends" debuted at number eight on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart dated April 5, 2025.^[8] The following week, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 90, becoming Sombr's first appearance on the chart.^[2] In its ninth week, it jumped 26 spots from number 62 to enter the top 40 at number 36.^[9] In its 40th week, it reached the top ten at number seven on the chart dated January 10, 2026, becoming his highest-charting single and first top-ten entry on the chart.^[10][11] "Back to Friends" also marked Sombr's first appearance on several rock and alternative charts,^[12] including topping the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs for 16 weeks as of February 21, 2026.^[13] In addition to rising streams, the song gained increased radio airplay, topping the Alternative Airplay^[14][15] and Pop Airplay charts,^[16][17] and reaching number two on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.^[18] It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 12, 2025.^[19] In Canada, the song debuted at number 74 on the Canadian Hot 100 for the week of April 12, 2025,^[20] and reached number 9 in its 30th week.^[21] It has been certified quadruple platinum by Music Canada.^[22]

In the United Kingdom, "Back to Friends" debuted at number 97 on the UK Singles Chart for the week of March 14, 2025, and peaked at number seven in its thirteenth week.^[23][24] In Ireland, the song debuted at number 33 on the Irish Singles Chart for the week of March 28, 2025, and reached number four in its fourteenth week, becoming Sombr's second top-five single in the country, following "Undressed".^[23][25] The song has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.^[26] Elsewhere in Europe, it achieved top five positions in Austria (No. 3),^[27] the Czech Republic (No. 3),^[28] Lithuania (No. 2),^[29] Luxembourg (No. 5),^[30] and Switzerland (No. 3),^[31] and entered the top ten in Germany (No. 7),^[32] Greece (No. 6),^[33] and Sweden (No. 7).^[34]

In Australia, "Back to Friends" debuted at number 39 on the ARIA Singles Chart dated April 14, 2025,^[35] and peaked at number three in its seventh week.^[36] In New Zealand, it debuted at number 36 for the week beginning April 4, 2025,^[37] and reached number four in its ninth week.^[38] The song has been certified quadruple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and double platinum by the Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ).^[39][40] In Southeast Asia, "Back to Friends" reached the top five in the Philippines and Singapore,^[41][42] the top ten in Malaysia,^[43] and the top 20 in Indonesia.^[44]

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, "Back to Friends" was the 16th best-selling song of 2025, with over 970 million units worldwide, based on a combination of subscription and ad-supported streaming activity and digital downloads.^[45]

Critical response

In June 2025, Rolling Stone named "Back to Friends" one of the year's best songs so far, highlighting Sombr's ability to channel the nostalgic 2014 Tumblr grunge aesthetic era. The magazine also wrote that "the indie pop record plays out like an impassioned conversation that bleeds through the walls and captures the melodrama of teenage love".^[46] In December, the magazine ranked the song the 27th best song of the year.^[47] The song was also included in The New York Times's Jon Caramanica's year-end list.^[48]