"Like I Love You" is the debut solo single of American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake from his debut studio album, Justified (2002), which features American hip hop duo Clipse. It was co-written by Timberlake and the Neptunes (Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams), who also produced it. The song was released on September 16, 2002, as Timberlake's debut solo single, following the announced hiatus of NSYNC earlier that year. According to Williams, the song's drums were an ode to the funk era.
MTV News reported in July 2002 that Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams (known collectively as the Neptunes) were working on multiple tracks for Justified.[3] When the duo picked Timberlake up from his hotel in Virginia Beach, they listened to Earth, Wind & Fire albums during the car ride. The background of the songs was the feeling the duo wanted to implement into the musical content of the album.[4] In response to this, Timberlake said: "Nobody's ever heard anything like that before ... a white boy singing this kind of music." Hugo revealed that Timberlake "didn't care what people would say."[4] The production duo commented that despite not being content with sampling music, for inspiration, they listened to both Off the Wall and Thriller, albums by Michael Jackson.[4] Hugo commented that "We just wanted to re-create that sense of those timeless, classic songs, without any of the 'bling, bling, hit me on my two-way' style of the new R&B. It has elements of the old and the new."[4]
"Like I Love You" was the first song they recorded together and the first song Timberlake recorded for Justified.[5] The song was written by Timberlake, Hugo and Williams, while the production was done by the latter two. The song features a rap verse written and performed by hip hop duo Clipse.[6] "Like I Love You" was recorded at Master Sound Recording Studios and Windmark Recording both located in Virginia Beach with Andrew Coleman serving as a recording engineer.[6] Serban Ghenea mixed the song at Windmark Recording, while Daniel Botancourt and Tim Roberts were additional engineers.[6] John Hanes provided the additional Pro Tools engineering. All the instrumentation was delivered by Hugo and Williams, while the song's vocal arrangement was provided by Williams together with Timberlake.[6]
Release
"Like I Love You" was chosen as Timberlake's debut single and the lead single of Justified. According to Timberlake, there was "never any question" in his mind whether or not the song would be released as his debut single. Of the song, Timberlake said: "It sounded so original to me. And I kind of consider myself a new artist. This is a new beginning for me, so why call on some big-name hip-hop artist when I could get somebody that feels new so it could feel like we were chomping at the bit at the same time?"[5]
On October 14, 2002, a CD single was released in Germany containing the album version of the song, its instrumental and two club extended mixes.[7] The same version of the single was released in Canada on October 17, 2002.[8] In the UK, the album version of "Like I Love You", its instrumental and one extended remix was physically released on October 21, 2002.[9] The song was released as a 12-inch single on November 19, 2002, in Italy and Spain.[10][11] On November 24, 2002, it was also released in France as a CD single.[12]
Critical reception
"This is quite possibly the best post-boy-band debut single of all time. He booked the hottest producers (The Neptunes) and a bubbling-under hip-hop duo (Clipse) to show that the bubblegum had officially popped. There couldn't have been a better introduction to Justin Timberlake, solo star."
The song received positive reviews from music critics. Entertainment Weekly's Craig Seymour wrote "Over a lo-fi Neptunes-produced track dashed with Spanish guitar, live drums, and Planet Rock-like electro bleeps... [Justin proves that] while no innovator, he is a fine student".[14] In his review of the album Justified for Rolling Stone, Ben Ratliff wrote "In Like I Love You, a nasty funk rhythm on loud, live drums shares the space with a tiny guitar strum and Timberlake's breathy, studied tenor; it's minimalism influenced by Michael Jackson. But a softer, harmony-and-hook-filled chorus sets it off, thus pleasing preteen girls and beat junkies alike."[15]
Denise Boyd, writing for BBC Music, said that the song was a "sure bet for success" with the Neptunes producing the song but "Justin's vocal arrangement has given this offering a distinctive edge and it stands out as one of the best Neptunes productions this year."[16]Slant Magazine called it a "well-oiled Neptunes production" and "the acoustic guitar loops and snap-crackle-pop percussion of "Like I Love You" pick up where NSYNC's hit "Girlfriend" left off."[17]
In 2013, Lauren Nostro from Complex wrote, "The song catapulted Timberlake's career... It was the quintessential R&B/pop/hip-hop track filled with soulful lyrics and a heavy beat. It presented JT as a full-fledged musician, and not just the lead singer of 'N Sync."[18] Adelle Platon from Billboard opined in 2016, "This groovy number cemented J.T.'s solo career as a genre-fusing wunderkind."[19] In 2017, Spin staff ranked it as the best boy-band solo debut single.[20]
Chart performance
"Like I Love You" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 67 for the issue dated September 7, 2002.[21] The next week it climbed to number 46.[21] It eventually reached a peak of number 11 and stayed on the chart for 36 weeks. The song was more successful on the US Pop Songs and Hot Dance Club Songs charts where it peaked at number four and one respectively. Additionally it charted on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart where reached a peak of 53. The song was more successful in Oceania. On the Australian Singles Chart, the song debuted at number nine for the week dated October 27, 2002.[22] The next week it fell to number 11, before eventually reaching its peak of number eight in its third week and remaining there for three consecutive weeks.[22] "Like I Love You" stayed on the chart for a total of twelve weeks[22] and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments of 70,000 units.[23] It debuted and peaked at number six on the New Zealand Singles Chart for the week dated November 10, 2002, staying on the chart for twelve weeks.[24]
In the United Kingdom, "Like I Love You" debuted at its peak of number two for the issue dated November 2, 2002.[25] It stayed on the chart for 16 weeks, making its last appearance on February 15, 2003, at number 57.[25] The song debuted and peaked at number five on the Irish Singles Chart.[26] "Like I Love You" debuted and peaked at number four on the Danish Singles Chart, managing to stay at the position for two consecutive weeks before starting to fall on the chart. It stayed on the chart for total of 14 weeks.[27] The single debuted at number 14 on the Norwegian Singles Chart for the week dated October 25, 2002. After three weeks, it managed to peak at number 10 on the chart.[28] Additionally, the song charted and peaked at number 14 on the Swiss Singles Chart.[29]
Music video
Background
The official music video was released on September 9, 2002, as featured in an episode of MTV's Making the Video.[30] It was filmed in Weston, Ontario, Canada, and was directed by Diane Martel from August 22–24, 2002. James "Marty" Kudelka, who created the choreography, can be seen dancing in the video.[31] As of April 2024, the music video has over 105 million views on YouTube.[32]
Synopsis
The video is spliced into three parts; Justin Timberlake dancing outside a 7-Eleven store at night wearing a 7-Eleven shirt and red beanie, Timberlake inside an arcade wearing a leather jacket and snapback, and close-up shots of Timberlake singing to the camera.[33]Clipse and Pharrell Williams both appear during Clipse's rap verse in the arcade alongside Timberlake.
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