"Love Don't Cost a Thing" is a song by American singerJennifer Lopez for her second studioalbumJ.Lo (2001). It was released on November 13, 2000, byEpic Records as thelead single from the album. The song was written byDamon Sharpe,Greg Lawson, Georgette Franklin, Jeremy Monroe and Amille D. Harris, and produced byRic Wake, Richie Jones andCory Rooney. At the time of the song's release, Lopez was transitioning into asex symbol and in a relationship with American rapperSean Combs. Lyrically, "Love Don't Cost a Thing" is described as an "exploration of love" in which Lopez is unhappy about her materialistic lover; provoking much media analysis as to whether or not it was an innuendo towards Combs. Ultimately, the pair's courtship ended shortly after its release.
Described as "frothy" and "catchy" by critics, it was noted for its message about love and commercial appeal to women. "Love Don't Cost a Thing" was met with worldwide commercial success and is considered "classic Lopez".[2] It peaked within the top ten in the United States and foreign markets including Australia, France, Germany and Ireland, as well as peaking at number one in Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, among other countries. "Love Don't Cost a Thing" was also a radio hit, becoming her first single to top theBillboardHot 100 Airplay chart.
The music video for "Love Don't Cost a Thing" directed byPaul Hunter and choreographed byDarrin Dewitt Henson was met with acclaim, garneringMTV Video Music Award andALMA Award nominations. It became one of the year's most-viewed clips, and was highly requested on the music video broadcasting series,Total Request Live. The music video subsequently became notorious after Lopez marriedCris Judd, one of the back-up dancers who appeared in it. Lopez has performed "Love Don't Cost a Thing" live on numerous occasions, including the2000 MTV Europe Music Awards and the2001 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City.
After a high-profile title role asSelena Quintanilla in the musical biopicSelena (1997), Jennifer Lopez began developing her own career in music, later being signed toWork Records byTommy Mottola.[3][4] Her debut album entitledOn the 6 (1999) became an instant commercial success, and spawned theBillboard Hot 100 number one song "If You Had My Love".[5][6] This led her to begin recording new material for her second album in April 2000.[7] Initially, the album was to be calledA Passionate Journey.[8] During this period, Lopez began to transition into asex symbol and was nicknamed J.Lo by the public, which is known as a nickname and "public persona".[9][10] Hence, she instead released an album entitledJ.Lo, which she credits as being more "personal" and "romantic" thanOn the 6.[6][11] "Love Don't Cost a Thing" was globally premiered on November 16, 2000.[12] The single began impacting US radio from mid-December.[13] "Love Don't Cost a Thing" was included on Lopez's greatest hits album,Dance Again... the Hits, which was released on July 24, 2012.[14][15]
In July 2000,Greg Lawson came up with an idea for a song he thought would be ideal for Lopez. He recalled: "I wrote and recorded a track which eventually turned out to be 'Love Don't Cost a Thing'. I calledDamon up, and I played the track and sang the melody to him over the phone. We ended up collaborating on the song, with both of us writing parts of the melody and the lyric. I came up with the title, and he came up with the key line, 'Even if you were broke,' in the chorus. Three other writers, Georgette Franklin, Jeremy Munroe and Amil Harris, also contributed parts to the song." In August, after a demo for "Love Don't Cost a Thing" had been recorded, Sharpe sent a CD of the song toRic Wake at his studio in New York. Wake, who loved the song, played it for Lopez, who also loved it. Not soon after, the master recording of "Love Don't Cost a Thing" was cut at Sony Studios in New York City.[16]
"Love Don't Cost a Thing" is apop[17] andR&B[18] song with a running time of three minutes and forty-two seconds (3:42).[19] It was primarily produced by Ric Wake, with additional production fromCory Rooney andRichie Jones. Lopez recorded her vocals for the song with Dan Hetzel and Dave Scheyer at the Cove City Sound Studios inGlen Cove, New York, which were mixed by Jones and Hetzel. Later, the song wasmastered byTed Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York.[1] According toMTV News, "Love Don't Cost a Thing" carries on Lopez' exploration of love in her music from her first single, "If You Had My Love". Additionally, the track details the "inner workings of love".[20] Lyrically, it is the "tale of a materialistic relationship" which is full of "credit cards and lavish gifts"; Lopez sings in the chorus: "Think you gonna keep me iced, you don't/ Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't/ Even if you were broke/ My love don't cost a thing."[10] She also states that she is "not impressed" by her lover'sMercedes-Benz because "she's got her own".[21]
It has been reported by multiple sources that the lyrical message of "Love Don't Cost a Thing" was based around her two-year relationship with rapperSean Combs, who allegedly "showered" her with expensive jewelry.[10][22][23] Shortly after the month's release, they broke up.[24][25][26] During their courtship, they were considered "hip-hop's most prominent couple".Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan ofThe Baltimore Sun speculated that materialism was the reason for their break-up, using Combs' signature hit "It's All About the Benjamins" vs. "Love Don't Cost a Thing" as an example.[27]
Entertainment Weekly's Marc Weingarten noted the song to be a "standard fare, booty thumpfunk, with a snapping snare and a female chorus of yes gals" but praised its "bold message", "'Love Don't Cost a Thing,' is a sharp rebuke to all of those male hip hoppers who kvetch about their women going for the bling bling".[17]Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani called the song a "cheap carbon copy" of producerRodney Jerkins' "style of frothy R&B."[28] In a review of its parent album, a reviewer from theToronto Star said Lopez is best on "fun" "r 'n' b-ish, uptempo tracks" such as "Love Don't Cost a Thing" where "the catchy hooks and thumping bass do most of the work."[29]
A writer from the websiteCrosswalk noted it to be a "fundance song" and said, "This song, with its addictive beat and familiar vocal riffs, has a bunch of young girls singing 'even if you were broke, my love don't cost a thing.'"[30]Stephen Thomas Erlewine ofAllMusic called it "ingratiating",[19] while Bill Lamb ofAbout.com called it a "frothy pop confection" which he felt was "strongly influenced by the hits ofDestiny's Child".[31][32]
"Love Don't Cost a Thing" experienced commercial success worldwide, and is considered one of Lopez' biggest hits; it was especially noted for its popularity on pop radio.[33] For the week ending December 9, 2000, "Love Don't Cost a Thing" made its debut at number 46 on the USBillboard Hot 100, winning the "Hot Shot Debut" of the week award.[34] Its second week saw it climb eighteen positions to number 28,[35] followed by a jump to number 22 the next week.[36] Weeks later, "Love Don't Cost a Thing" entered the chart's top ten, significantly jumping from number ten to four during the week ending January 27, 2001, as well as rising to number three on the USBillboardHot 100 Airplay chart.[37] Though the song began to fall on the Hot 100, it managed to peak at number one on the USBillboardMainstream Top 40 Pop Songs chart.[38] However, by the week ending February 24, 2001, "Love Don't Cost a Thing" peaked at number three on the Hot 100 after slowly rising the week prior; it also peaked atop the Hot 100 Airplay Chart. Despite this, the song failed to reach the top of the Hot 100, and stalled at number three for a total of two weeks.[39] Additionally, the song peaked at number nine on theBillboardHot Dance Club Play chart.[40]
Apart from its domestic success, "Love Don't Cost a Thing" topped numerous charts overseas, including Canada, where it became her second number one following "If You Had My Love".[41] It debuted at number nine on theSwiss Singles Chart, and peaked at number two.[42] It was given a Gold certification in Switzerland by theInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry, representing sales of more than 20,000 units.[43] In Finland, it debuted at number one, before slowly descending on the charts.[44] In the United Kingdom, the song topped theUK Singles Chart, becoming her first number one there.[45][46] It was later certified Gold by theBritish Phonographic Industry, which denotes sales and streams of 400,000 units.[47] In Spain, "Love Don't Cost a Thing" debuted at number one on January 13, 2001. It held this position for two more weeks, and remained in the top ten for a further six weeks.[48] In France, "Love Don't Cost a Thing" debuted in top ten at number five and stay five weeks in the top ten for fifteen weeks in total, becoming her third top ten after "If You Had My Love" and "Waiting For Tonight".[49] The song also made its debut at number one in Italy, and spent seven weeks in the top ten of theItalian Singles Chart.[50] It also peaked atop the Romanian and Dutch singles charts.[51][52]
In Australia, "Love Don't Cost a Thing" debuted and peaked on theARIA Singles Chart at number four on January 28, 2001.[53] By the end of 2001, it had been certified Platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association, which certifies shipment of over 70,000 units.[54] On January 14, the song debuted at number 37 in New Zealand, and peaked at number one seven weeks later on March 4, 2001, where it remained for two weeks.[55] "Love Don't Cost a Thing" placed No. 65 on About.com's "Top 100 Best Pop Songs of 2001" list.[32] Additionally, it ranked No. 26 onBillboard'sYear-End Hot 100 singles of 2001 chart.[56]
The music video for "Love Don't Cost a Thing" was shot from November 10–11, 2000 in Miami, Florida, with reshoots on November 20 in Malibu, California following Lopez's right ankle injury on the first day.[57] It was directed byPaul Hunter, a frequent collaborator with Lopez,[58][59] and choreographed by actor and dancerDarrin Dewitt Henson.[60] On December 4, 2000, the making of the video was featured onMTV'sMaking the Video.[61][unreliable source] The video is famously known for having featuredCris Judd as her back-up dancer. Months after the music video, he would go on to become Lopez's second husband.[62][63] The couple were said to have gotten close to each other during the video shoot, causing media speculation following her highly publicized split from Sean Combs.[9][64]
Following its release, the clip became an immediate hit on MTV'sTotal Request Live, which screened popular music videos; it became the most-requested music video on the series at one stage.[65] Throughout 2001, the music video for "Love Don't Cost a Thing" became one of the most-watched clips on the music video programming channels MTV,BET, andVH1.[66] In addition to this, the music video for "Love Don't Cost a Thing" received two nominations at the2001 MTV Video Music Awards:Best Female Video andBest Dance Video.[67] At the 2002ALMA Awards, the clip was nominated for the ALMA People's Choice Award for Outstanding Music Video.[68] John Mitchell of MTV News noted that the video continued Lopez's "trend" of "flaunting her men in videos".[69] The music video has been included on Lopez'sextended play/DVD,The Reel Me (2003), as well as her greatest hits,Dance Again... the Hits (2012).[14][70]
The music video opens with Lopez at her rich boyfriend's mansion. He calls her to inform her that he cannot make their date, but has left her another golden bracelet. Covered in jewelry, she angrily hangs up the phone and leaves. She gets in her Aston Martin convertible and begins driving down the highway. While driving, she throws a gold purse into the air. Lopez pulls over at a tropical beach and begins to strip her expensive jewelry off. She then pulls out a postcard he gave her; and the screen zooms into a dance break in which Lopez is backed by male dancers on a tropical beach. Lopez rips up the postcard, frolics on the beach, and finally removes her undershirt to take a dip bare.[71][72]
Lopez globally premiered the song on November 16, 2000, at the7th MTV Europe Music Awards inStockholm, Sweden. David Basham of MTV News noted that she arrived on-stage in "fly girl fashion via a "prop" plane".[12] On January 12, 2001, she performed the song during an appearance onTop of the Pops.[73] That month, she also performed the song at the2001 American Music Awards.[74] In February 2001, Lopez performed "Love Don't Cost a Thing" along with "Play" at a specialTotal Request Live event,CBS Sports Presents: MTV'sTRL The Super Bowl Sunday, which occurred inTampa, Florida atThe NFL Experience theme park.[75][76] Months later, the song was performed at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards on September 6.[77] From September 22–23, 2001, Lopez performed a set of two concerts in Puerto Rico, entitledLet's Get Loud. These served as the first concerts of her career, in which she was, "flanked by a 10-piece orchestra, a five-person choir and 11 dancers." "Love Don't Cost a Thing" was included on the concerts' set list.[78][79] In December 2001, Lopez,Kid Rock andJa Rule headlined a concert for theUSO troops in aGerman military base. Lopez sang "Love Don't Cost a Thing", among other songs.[80] On January 1, 2002, the concert aired as a special on the MTV Network hosted byCarson Daly,For the Troops: An MTV/USO Special.[81] Joe D'Angelo of MTV News noted that she wore "a series of skimpy outfits despite chilly temperatures."[80]
In February 2010, Lopez performed the song at theSanremo Music Festival 2010 in Italy, along with multiple other hits. Soraya Roberts of theNew York Daily News commented that her dance moves weren't "highly complicated" because she was restricted by a tight leather catsuit.[82] On October 22, 2011, she performed "Love Don't Cost a Thing" during a special concert which commemorated the 15th anniversary of theMohegan Sun Arena.[83] The song was included on the set list for her first world tour, 2012'sDance Again World Tour.[84][85][86] Elise Vout of theAustralian MTV News gave her performance of the song a positive review, "Working her bodacious booty under the lavish firework and pyrotechnic display, she putKim Kardashian andNicki Minaj to shame as she performed 'Love Don’t Cost A Thing'."[87]
Lopez performed the track along with several other hits during a July 2013 concert inHyde Park, London.[88] In March 2014, she sang "Love Don't Cost a Thing" during her concert at theDubai World Cup.[89] In June of that year, Lopez performed the song during a concert inThe Bronx which marked fifteen years since the release of her first albumOn the 6.[90] Three months later, performed the song again at the2014 Singapore Grand Prix, as part of a 90-minute set.[91] At her The Best Is Yet To Come concert which took place on New Year's Eve 2014 inCaesars Palace, Lopez included "Love Don't Cost a Thing" on her setlist.[92] She later performed the song as part of her medley during the2018 MTV Video Music Awards on August 20, 2018, atRadio City Music Hall inNew York City.[93]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^The Reel Me (Booklet).Jennifer Lopez. New York City, NY: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Don't Cost a Thing (US 12-inch single sleeve). Jennifer Lopez. Epic Records. 2001. 49 79547.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Don't Cost a Thing (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Jennifer Lopez. Epic Records. 2000. 34 79560.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Don't Cost a Thing (UK CD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. Epic Records. 2001. 670728 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Don't Cost a Thing (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Jennifer Lopez. Epic Records. 2001. 670728 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Don't Cost a Thing (UK cassette single sleeve). Jennifer Lopez. Epic Records. 2001. 670728 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Don't Cost a Thing (European CD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. Epic Records. 2001. EPC 669814 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Don't Cost a Thing (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. Epic Records. 2001. EPC 669814 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Don't Cost a Thing (French DVD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. Epic Records. 2001. EPC 2013029.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Don't Cost a Thing (Australian CD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. Epic Records. 2001. 670641 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Love Don't Cost a Thing (Japanese CD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez.SME Records. 2001. SRCS 2372.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Jennifer Lopez" (in Italian).Sony Music Italy. Archived fromthe original on April 18, 2001. RetrievedMarch 1, 2025....l'artista di New York pubblica un nuovo singolo 'Love Don't Cost A Thing' nei negozi dal 12 Gennaio... [...the New York artist releases a new single 'Love Don't Cost A Thing' in stores from January 12th...]
