Like I Love You
Encyclopedia
"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, 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
.
he said he "grew up on old soul music...Marvin Gaye
, Al Green
, Stevie Wonder
." 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."
indie
band Maxïmo Park
, who covered it for a compilation commemorating 40 years of BBC Radio 1
. 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.
'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". 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." 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." 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."
|- valign="top"
| width="50%" |
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (2002-03)
!align="left"|Peak
Position
|-
|align="left"|Australia ARIA Top 50 Singles
|align="center"|8
|-
|align="left"|Austria Top 75 Singles
|align="center"|29
|-
|align="left"|Belgium (Flanders)
|align="center"|6
|-
|align="left"|Belgium (Wallonia)
|align="center"|27
|-
|align="left"|Denmark Top 20 Singles
|align="center"|4
|-
|align="left"|Germany Top 100 Singles
|align="center"|16
|-
|-
|align="left"|Ireland Top 50 Singles
|align="center"|5
|-
|align="left"|Italy Top 50 Singles
|align="center"|17
|-
|align="left"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40
)
|align="center"|5
|-
|align="left"|New Zealand RIANZ Top 40 Singles
|align="center"|6
|-
|align="left"|Norway Top 20 Singles
|align="center"|10
|-
|align="left"|Sweden Top 40 Singles
|align="center"|14
|-
|align="left"|Switzerland Top 100 Singles
|align="center"|14
|-
|align="left"|UK Singles Chart
|align="center"|2
|-
|align="left"|U.S. Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"|11
|-
|align="left"|U.S. Billboard Pop Songs
|align="center"|4
|-
|align="left"|U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
|align="center"|1
|-
|align="left"|U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
|align="center"|53
|}
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
's solo debut album Justified
Justified (album)
Justified is the debut album by American pop singer Justin Timberlake. Released during the hiatus of the group *NSYNC, the album signaled Timberlake's desire to craft a more mature image than that of a "boy band member". The album features guest performances by Timbaland, Clipse, Bubba Sparxxx, and...
, featuring a rap from hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
duo Clipse
Clipse
Clipse is a Virginia Beach, Virginia-based hip hop duo. Formed in 1992 by brothers Malice and Pusha T , the group is heavily affiliated with production team The Neptunes and signed to Star Trak Entertainment.- Exclusive Audio Footage :The Thornton brothers were born in The Bronx, New...
. Released in 2002, the Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
-produced single peaked at #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It also peaked at #2 in the United Kingdom, with Dilemma
Dilemma (song)
"Dilemma" is a song by the American rapper Nelly, featuring R&B singer Kelly Rowland. The single was released in 2002 from the Nelly's album Nellyville, and Rowland's album Simply Deep...
keeping the song off the top spot, and stayed on the charts for sixteen weeks. The song's drums were an ode to the funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
era according to producer Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...
, who came up with the music loop
Music loop
In electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
. This track received a nomination at the Grammy Awards of 2003
Grammy Awards of 2003
The 45th Grammy Awards were held on February 23, 2003. Musicians accomplishments from the previous year were recognized. Norah Jones was the night's big winner winning five awards including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal...
for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
The Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality songs on which rappers and singers collaborate...
.
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 NewsroundNewsround
Newsround is a BBC children's news programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972, and was one of the world's first television news magazines aimed specifically at children...
he said he "grew up on old soul music...Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
." 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."
Covers
The best-known cover version of "Like I Love You" was by the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
indie
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park are a British alternative rock band, formed in 2000. They are signed to Warp Records. The band consists of Paul Smith , Duncan Lloyd , Archis Tiku , Lukas Wooller and Tom English...
, who covered it for a compilation commemorating 40 years of BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. 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
Billingham
Billingham is a town in the unitary authority of Stockton on Tees, in north east England, with a population of 35,765 . It was founded circa 650 by a group of Saxons known as Billa's people, which is where the name Billingham is thought to have originated...
, and his less glamorous childhood.
This song has been covered by Bell X1. It was recorded for the "Today FM
Today FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
" CD titled Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 2
Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 2
Even Better Than the Real Thing Vol. 2 is an Irish charity album featuring a variety of artists performing acoustic cover versions of popular songs. It was released in 2004 by RMG Chart Entertainment Ltd...
and as a B-side to their single "Eve, The Apple Of My Eye". Math metal
Mathcore
Mathcore is a rhythmically complex and dissonant fusion style of hardcore punk and Metal. It has its roots in bands such as Converge, Botch, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The term mathcore is suggested by analogy with math rock. Both math rock and mathcore make use of unusual time signatures...
band The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
covered the song for their iTunes Music Store-only EP, Plagiarism
Plagiarism (EP)
-Personnel:* Ben Weinman – guitar, keyboards, producer, engineer* James Love - guitar * Liam Wilson – bass guitar* Greg Puciato – vocals...
.
The DJ group Deep Dish
Deep Dish
Deep Dish is a duo of DJs and house-music producers consisting of Iranian-American members Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi. Based in Washington, D.C., Shirazinia and Tayebi are well known for providing house or dance remixes of tracks of famous stars such as Madonna, Cher and Gabrielle,...
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
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart, but was unable to chart anywhere else significantly.
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
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.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 JaxxBasement JaxxBasement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...
vocal mix – 6:03 - Basement JaxxBasement JaxxBasement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...
acid dub - Basement JaxxBasement JaxxBasement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...
radio edit - Deep DishDeep DishDeep Dish is a duo of DJs and house-music producers consisting of Iranian-American members Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi. Based in Washington, D.C., Shirazinia and Tayebi are well known for providing house or dance remixes of tracks of famous stars such as Madonna, Cher and Gabrielle,...
Zigzag remix – 9:40 (US Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
#1) - Deep DishDeep DishDeep Dish is a duo of DJs and house-music producers consisting of Iranian-American members Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi. Based in Washington, D.C., Shirazinia and Tayebi are well known for providing house or dance remixes of tracks of famous stars such as Madonna, Cher and Gabrielle,...
Zigzag radio edit (US Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
#1) - Deep DishDeep DishDeep Dish is a duo of DJs and house-music producers consisting of Iranian-American members Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi. Based in Washington, D.C., Shirazinia and Tayebi are well known for providing house or dance remixes of tracks of famous stars such as Madonna, Cher and Gabrielle,...
Zigzag dub (US Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
#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 SexybackSexyBack"SexyBack" is a song by American recording artist Justin Timberlake from his second studio album, FutureSex/LoveSounds . It was released on July 7, 2006, by Jive Records as the lead single from the album...
Mashup 9:29 - DJ Matthew My LoveMy Love (Justin Timberlake song)"My Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake from his second studio album, FutureSex/LoveSounds . It was released on September 26, 2006, by Jive Records as the second single from the album...
Mashup 6:22 - DJ Amaya Hidden Sound Remix 7:56
Critical reception
The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
's Craig Seymour wrote "Over a lo-fi Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
-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". In his review of the album Justified for Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, 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." Denise Boyd, writing for BBC Music
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, 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." Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
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
'N Sync
N Sync was an American boy band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich, *NSYNC consisted of JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick...
's hit "Girlfriend
Girlfriend ('N Sync song)
"Girlfriend" is the third and final single from 'N Sync's third studio album, Celebrity, released on April 15, 2002. It was the last single the group ever released.-Background:...
" left off."
Charts
{| width="0%"|- valign="top"
| width="50%" |
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (2002-03)
!align="left"|Peak
Position
|-
|align="left"|Australia ARIA Top 50 Singles
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
|align="center"|8
|-
|align="left"|Austria Top 75 Singles
|align="center"|29
|-
|align="left"|Belgium (Flanders)
|align="center"|6
|-
|align="left"|Belgium (Wallonia)
|align="center"|27
|-
|align="left"|Denmark Top 20 Singles
|align="center"|4
|-
|align="left"|Germany Top 100 Singles
|align="center"|16
|-
|-
|align="left"|Ireland Top 50 Singles
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
|align="center"|5
|-
|align="left"|Italy Top 50 Singles
|align="center"|17
|-
|align="left"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40
Dutch Top 40
The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting...
)
|align="center"|5
|-
|align="left"|New Zealand RIANZ Top 40 Singles
|align="center"|6
|-
|align="left"|Norway Top 20 Singles
|align="center"|10
|-
|align="left"|Sweden Top 40 Singles
|align="center"|14
|-
|align="left"|Switzerland Top 100 Singles
|align="center"|14
|-
|align="left"|UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
|align="center"|2
|-
|align="left"|U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
|align="center"|11
|-
|align="left"|U.S. Billboard Pop Songs
|align="center"|4
|-
|align="left"|U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
|align="center"|1
|-
|align="left"|U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
|align="center"|53
|}