"My Love" is a song recorded by American singerJustin Timberlake for his second studio album,FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006). It was released on October 24, 2006, byJive Records as the second single from the album. The song features American rapperT.I. and background vocals fromTimbaland and was co-written by Timberlake, Timbaland,Nate "Danja" Hills, and T.I., and produced by Timberlake, Timbaland, and Danja.
Timberlake revealed that the song's creation process took time to imagine and execute.[1] He also stated that "My Love" was less about marriage and a more humble approach to love. The song features synthesizer chords with a slow beat and includesbeatboxing,percussion, andstaccato sounds. Timberlake described the track as "a rock-techno ballad".[1]
The track reached number one on the USBillboard Hot 100, being Timberlake's second consecutive single to do so. Among otherBillboard magazine's charts, it also topped theMainstream Top 40,Hot Dance Airplay, andHot Digital Songs charts. Internationally, the single peaked in the number two position on theUK Singles Chart, becoming Timberlake's fourth single to do so. In New Zealand, the track peaked at number one for five non-consecutive weeks, to become Timberlake's second number one single. In Brazil, the song has also peaked at number one.
In December 2005, Timberlake began working on his second album,FutureSex/LoveSounds, the follow-up toJustified (2002). Within three weeks, "My Love" was one of several songs that were recorded.[1] In September 2006, Timberlake toldRolling Stone that the song was "a hip-hop ballad" and that the process of creating "took two hours to imagine and execute".[1] While promoting the album in an interview withMTV News, Timberlake revealed that the second half of the album (including "My Love") focuses on anthems of love.[4] In another interview, he revealed that "My Love" was a "contradiction of sounds. You've got this operatic thing going on. If you take all thestaccato sounds out, the essence of the song is it's a ballad, but the way the beat is inlaid underneath the vocals, it becomes a percussive ballad."[5]
In discussion ofT.I.'s participation in the track, Timberlake said: "The second hook finished and I said, 'Oh, a rapper would sound good on this'."[6] Timbaland, who co-wrote and produced the song, agreed to the idea and suggested T.I. Timberlake agreed to the idea, although he doubted that T.I. would say yes,[6] and said that he was thankful that T.I. agreed to take part.[6]
Timberlake revealed in 2013 that he originally asked rapperJay-Z (whom he would collaborate with extensively in his later career) to appear on the track before T.I. "I wanted to do a record with him onFutureSex/LoveSounds ..." he explained "...and he at that time had done a record withBeyoncé, it was 'Déjà Vu.' And he said—respectfully, I can't knock him for saying like I have this one feature, I think he was working on his own music as well, so he didn't want to be on too many things. And I said, 'I totally respect that. I'm obviously not gonna get into any domestic anything. That's your wife.' But the record was 'My Love.' And it ended up being an interesting blessing in disguise because I thank Tip for that record—I mean, his verse is phenomenal."[7]
"My Love" is anelectro-R&B,hip hop andtechno ballad.[8][9][10][11][12] The song is composed in the key ofE ]minor, with a chord progression ofE-minor-B-minor-A-minor. It is set intime signature ofcommon time with atempo of 121beats per minute.[13] The song is composed with astuttering trance-stylesynthesizer.[14][15][16] It also includes Timbaland beatboxing and adding "toy sounds",[14][17] as well as Timberlake'sfalsetto. The track features a rap verse from rapper T.I.[14][18] It also carries a slower beat,[17] with an electro-Southern hip hop sound.[4]The Guardian described the song as a "languid love ballad, prickling with dark emotion",[2] while MTV News described thebeat as "slow and saucy".[19] Ben Williams ofNew York magazine wrote that it has "stabbing techno riff, crunched-together mouth-popping noises, and wailing opera singer".[3] Alexis Petridis ofThe Guardian said that the single is "a twitching mass of rave synthesizers and [agonizingly] slow beats".[15]
In July 2006,The Observer Music Monthly interviewed Timberlake and stated that the track "is arguably the album's 'Cry Me a River'."[2] In response, Timberlake said, "It is similar. You go back toAaliyah's biggest record, 'Are You That Somebody' – it's similar to that too because it's that percussive ballad."[2] When asked about the lyrics, "There's just one thing I need from you: say I do", beingautobiographical, he said no, adding that the line before that, "this ring here represents my heart", is about marriage and love. Timberlake stated, "It's not specifically about marriage, but about a humble approach to love. None of it is autobiographical, though obviously I have experience to draw from."[2]
Williams stated that the song is "an obvious sequel" to Timberlake's 2002 song "Cry Me a River".[3]The Georgia Straight's Martin Turenne interprets the song's background as Timberlake lowering himself on bended knee, proposing long walks on the beach and asking, "Would you date me on the regular?".[20] Dagny Salas ofNorth by Northwestern considered it a more romantic song, about Timberlake professing his love to a woman.[21] Others have opined that "My Love" is a marriage proposal.[22]
"A sort of hip-hop ballad with the inclusion of T.I.'s verse, this song crosses more than a few genre boundaries and was well-received. In typical Justin fashion, this track is smothered with falsetto notes that all come together to tell us a dreamy love tale."
InThe New York Times review of the album, criticKelefa Sanneh wrote: "...'My Love', a sumptuous collaboration with the rapper T.I. It starts with a 90-second 'prelude', a clattering rhythm track with a bit of rapping and snippets of melody. Then the real thing hits: sleek synthesizer chords punctuated by tiny bursts of silence."[24] Sal Cinquemani ofSlant Magazine wrote that the track "mixes Timberlake's proud beatboxing talent with colossal, futuristic synth swirls and a cartoonish, maniacal giggle that's looped ad infinitum a la the crying baby fromAaliyah's 'Are You That Somebody?'".[25] Matthew Gasteier ofPrefix magazine noted that the song "is probably the standout triumph here, with stuttering synths and a fade-in-fade-out shimmering beat that may be the best ever from Timbaland".[16] Lauren Murphy ofentertainment.ie stated that the single is "undeniably fluid and features some of the niftiest slo-mo effects around".[17] Jonah Weiner ofBlender magazine cited the song as the "standout" song from the album and wrote that the single "...straddles the album's up-tempoFutureSex and balladeeringLoveSounds halves — one coos about puppy love over the other's stroboscopic, salivating beat, and both trade devotionals on the chorus".[26]
"My Love" was criticized for some of the lyrics and sounds that were featured. Sanneh reported that Timberlake "exhales his clumsy pickup lines" with the lyrics "If I told you you were beautiful / Would you date me on the regular?".[24] Murphy contemplated that the song is "ultimately ruined" by a "bizarreCrazy Frog-meets-Laughing-Policeman underlay".[17] Emily Vaughan ofNorth by Northwestern commented that Timberlake claims to have gone around the world twice in "My Love" and "Damn Girl" and that he is also "running out of creative ways to say he would like you to go to bed with him".[21] Vaughan, however, was positive towards "My Love", stating that the song, along with "What Goes Around... Comes Around", sounded considerably different from the rest of the album.[21]
Additionally, the song wonASCAP Pop Music Awards in the category Most Performed Songs in 2007[33] and 2008,[34] an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award in 2008,[35] aBMI Urban Award in 2007,[36] and a BMI Pop Award in 2008.[37]
"My Love" was commercially successful in the United States. The single debuted at number 89 on September 23, 2006, on theBillboard Hot 100, prior to its physical release.[38] From number five on November 11, 2006,[39] it propelled to number one the following week. "My Love" became Timberlake's second consecutive number one hit on theBillboard Hot 100 from hisFutureSex/LoveSounds album, becoming the first male artist sinceUsher in 2004 to have three or more consecutive number one hits from one album.[40] The single peaked at number one on the Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks. In addition to the Hot 100, "My Love" also reached number one on the followingBillboard charts:Pop 100,Hot Dance Airplay and Top 40 mainstream charts, and has peaked at number three on theRhythmic Top 40.[41] Also, on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, "My Love" peaked at number two to become Timberlake's most successful single on this chart.[41] The song also charted on theHot Dance Club Play and Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks charts, peaking at number 15 and number 29, respectively.[41] "My Love" was certifiedPlatinum by theRIAA on February 26, 2007,[42] and has sold 2.5 million copies in the US as of February 2018.[43]
In the United Kingdom, "My Love" debuted at number 14 on theUK Singles Chart on November 12, 2006 (for the week ending date November 18, 2006), one week prior to its physical release, and ascended to its peak the following week at number 2 (having been beaten to the summit byAkon andEminem's "Smack That"; the reverse happened on the US chart), to become Timberlake's fourth single to reach the runner up position on the British charts.[44] The digital download sales helped propel the single to number two on November 20, 2006.[45] The song spent nineteen weeks within the top 75, retiring on March 24, 2007, spending four of those within the top ten.[44] The single entered the top five in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland,[46] and entered the top ten in France and Austria.[46] In Australia, "My Love" debuted and peaked at number four on the AustralianARIA singles chart on November 26, 2006, gaining the Highest Debut certification.[47] It spent a total of twenty-four weeks on the chart.[46] "My Love" was certifiedGold byAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[48] In New Zealand, the single debuted at number 25 and eventually peaked at number one for five non-consecutive weeks, to become Timberlake's second number one single.[46]
Themusic video for "My Love" was directed byPaul Hunter and premiered on the day before the single's release. The video includes theprelude to the song ("Let Me Talk to You"), which includes the song's producer,Timbaland and features T.I.[49] The video incorporates a black-and-white background and dancing, choreographed as the steps are in sync with the beat of the song.[50]
Timberlake with a female dancer in the music video.
The video starts with "Let Me Talk to You" as the background is surrounded by faulty fluorescent lighting, turning on and off in a programmed pattern. It also begins with Timberlake and Timbaland chanting "hey" to one another. The video proceeds with Timberlake dancing to the beat of the song. Timbaland then begins singing the first verse of the song, which then is proceeded by Timberlake. This is immediately followed with "My Love" playing; the first verse of the song, "Ain't another woman that could take your spot my", plays. Timberlake comes floating toward the camera, down the faulty fluorescent tube. Once Timberlake stops floating, he begins singing the main verse of the song, which violins begin to float swirling gently around him, for "If I wrote you a symphony / Just to say how much you mean to me". The scene then changes with Timberlake and various dancers dancing accordingly in a choreographed style. When Timberlake begins the second verse, "Now if I wrote you a love note / And made you smile at every word I wrote", pens and paper begin to float. This later exceeds with Timberlake singing "This ring here represents my heart" with a ring swirling into the camera. T.I. is then seen in the shot. T.I. beginsrapping his lines in the song. After T.I. finishes his verse, Timberlake is then seen dancing with a female back-up dancer. Though, as they continue dancing, the female then leaves the shot, leaving Timberlake to dance to the end of the song. In the closing moments, the camera swirls around him, proving, conclusively, from every angle, that everyone has gone.
At the2007 MTV Video Music Awards, Timberlake won Male Artist of the Year for "Let Me Talk to You/My Love", "SexyBack", and "What Goes Around ... / ... Comes Around".[51] He, alongside choreographers Blake Anthony and Marty Kudelka, won Best Choreography in a Video for "My Love".[51]
The music video onYouTube has received over 90 million views as of April 2024.[52]
VH1's Emily Exton in a 2013 article said that in the song Timberlake "reinvents mainstream pop music and increases his artistic credibility at the same time. The song is more sonically futuristic than others."[61] In an article about Timberlake's catalogue in 2016,Idolator staff stated the song "is one of the foundational texts of thePBR&B explosion of the 2010s," also noting the track's cyborg theremin wails, slo-mo rave synths and a frail falsetto "it's the midpoint between the space futurism ofAaliyah andGinuwine's hits, and the robo-blues that would emerge with808s & Heartbreak." They concluded saying that since the "narcotized" music became a chart-topper, it opened the door for artists likeThe Weeknd "to hit big with something as sinister as "The Hills" nearly a decade later."[62]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^Pitchfork Staff (August 21, 2009)."The 200 Best Songs of the 2000s".Pitchfork.Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. RetrievedOctober 22, 2022....but "My Love" was a full-on leap into the world of slo-mo techno.
^Kyles, Kyra (December 29, 2006). "Sacha Baron Cohen broke out this past year, making us laugh, and opening our eyes — Mr. Popular".Chicago Tribune.RedEye: 42.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 15. týden 2007 in the date selector. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
