Like I Love You
| "Like I Love You" | |||||||||||||||||
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| Single by Justin Timberlake featuring Clipse | |||||||||||||||||
| from the album Justified | |||||||||||||||||
| Released | August 20, 2002 | ||||||||||||||||
| Format | Digital download, CD single, 12" single | ||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | 2002 | ||||||||||||||||
| Genre | R&B, hip hop | ||||||||||||||||
| Length | 4:43 | ||||||||||||||||
| Label | Jive | ||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, Terrence Thornton, Gene Thornton | ||||||||||||||||
| Producer | The Neptunes | ||||||||||||||||
| Justin Timberlake singles chronology | |||||||||||||||||
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"Like I Love You" is the first single from Justin Timberlake's solo debut album Justified, featuring a rap from hip hop duo Clipse. Released in 2002, the Neptunes-produced single peaked at #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at #2 in the United Kingdom, with Dilemma keeping the song off the top spot[1], and stayed on the charts for sixteen weeks. The song's drums were an ode to the funk era according to producer Pharrell Williams, who came up with the music loop. This track received a nomination at the Grammy Awards of 2003 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.[2]
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[edit] Background and writing
After being part of the pop group *NSYNC, Timberlake changed his style on this song to R&B. In an interview with Newsround he said he "grew up on old soul music...Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Stevie Wonder."[3] He also commented "I really didn't try to make an effort to make urban music but I am a product of my inspirations. And growing up in a generation where you've got so much music to listen to, it's very inspiring."[4]
[edit] Covers
The best-known cover version of "Like I Love You" was by the British indie band Maxïmo Park, who covered it for a compilation commemorating 40 years of BBC Radio 1.[5][6] In their version, Timberlake's closing lyrics about waiting for "this moment since he was a little boy" were changed humorously to reference their lead singer's hometown of Billingham, and his less glamorous childhood.
This song has been covered by Bell X1. It was recorded for the "Today FM" CD titled Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 2 and as a B-side to their single "Eve, The Apple Of My Eye". Math metal band The Dillinger Escape Plan covered the song for their iTunes Music Store-only EP, Plagiarism.
The DJ group Deep Dish made a remix of this song marketed as the 'Deep Dish Zig Zag Remix'. It was highly successful in the US, reaching #1 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, but was unable to chart anywhere else significantly.
[edit] Track listing
- European single
- "Like I Love You" [album version] – 4:47
- "Like I Love You" [instrumental] – 4:47
- "Like I Love You" [extended mix I] – 5:37
- UK single
- "Like I Love You" [album version] – 4:44
- "Like I Love You" [instrumental] – 4:44
- "Like I Love You" [extended mix II] – 7:09
- US single
- "Like I Love You" [album version] – 4:44
- "Like I Love You" [instrumental] – 4:44
- "Like I Love You" [extended club mix] – 5:37
- "Like I Love You" [extended club mix II] – 7:08
[edit] Music Video
The video starts of as Timberlake speaking in a pitch black background and then he starts moving around a girl and flirting with her. He then follows and meets her in game mall and starts talking to her and flirting with her again. The next scene sets of as Timberlake and his girlfriend making out in Timberlake's apartment and touching her on her back. Then Clipse raps and Timberlake sings for one last time and Pharell Williams makes a cameo appearance and he and Timberlake dance together and Timberlake smiles in the black screen.
[edit] Remixes/official versions
- Album version – 4:44
- Instrumental – 4:44
- Radio edit #2 – 3:51
- Radio edit #3 – 4:10
- Extended club mix I – 5:37
- Extended club mix II – 7:08
- Basement Jaxx vocal mix – 6:03
- Basement Jaxx acid dub
- Basement Jaxx radio edit
- Deep Dish Zigzag remix – 9:40 (US Billboard Hot 100 #1)
- Deep Dish Zigzag radio edit (US Billboard Hot 100 #1)
- Deep Dish Zigzag dub (US Billboard Hot 100 #1)
- Phat Heads Remix – 5:51
- Joe Bermudez Out of Sync club mix – 7:54
- Joe Bermudez Out of Sync radio edit – 4:14
- Joe Bermudez Out of Sync "Billie Jean" edit – 4:22
- Junior Vasquez Main Mix 13:04
- DJ Matthew Sexyback Mashup 9:29
- DJ Matthew My Love Mashup 6:22
- DJ Amaya Hidden Sound Remix 7:56
[edit] Reception
[edit] Critical reception
The song received mostly 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".[7] 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."[8] 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."[9] 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 'N Sync's hit "Girlfriend" left off."[10]
