The song was a tribute from Jackson to friends who had recently passed from AIDS, as stated on album booklet of The Velvet Rope. Originally written as a ballad, the track was re-arranged as a dance song. The song became Jackson's eighth number one on the Billboard Hot 100—the only U.S. chart-topper from The Velvet Rope—and peaked at number eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single also became one of the biggest-selling singles from a female artist in the history of the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at number four. "Together Again" is Jackson's biggest international single, reaching the top five and top ten in several countries. Jackson has performed the song on all of her tours since its release, as the closing number, The Velvet Rope Tour and All for You Tour while the Rock Witchu Tour saw it moved to the middle of the setlist. Also, this song was in the ending of "Janet Megamix 04". The song is again a closing number on her current Number Ones: Up Close and Personal tour, in dedication to her late brother, Michael Jackson.