Britney Spears "Me Against The Music" vs Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You"

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Get Britn0r's new single from here, then discuss.

Use of first person reference in song title - check.
Sparse mid-tempo guitar strumming - check.
Identical rhythm - check.

Lack of 'Ever since I was a little girl... drums' moment - bad. Britney goes all 'mosey mo, grab a partner by the hand' instead.

And, whereas Justin's all about love, getting together and doing it, 'Me Against The Music' makes it clear that it's supposed to be about music and dancing - none of that nasty obscene 'love' stuff which could upset mummy and daddy. It does have some pervy 'All night long...' bits, though.

In summary, Britney's new song is almost exactly the same as 'Like I Love You'. Except with some key differences - ie it is weaker. I expect 'Me Against The Music' will end up as the single.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Friday, 5 September 2003 11:38 (twenty-two years ago)

(cue all of ILM groaning and saying, "NO DO NOT GIVE DAN AND NED THAT OPENING!!!")

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 5 September 2003 12:15 (twenty-two years ago)

(fnarr)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 5 September 2003 12:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't even need to say anything now!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 5 September 2003 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

If only Brit said "Drums!" and we could have a 3-way battle between her, Justin and Tiga.

― Barima (Barima), Friday, 5 September 2003 12:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't get to that site anyway.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 5 September 2003 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, this song is to say, Janet Jackson's early stuff as Justin's stuff is to 80s Michael Jackson.

Except the key difference is that it seems to have a melody! It's great, anyway.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 5 September 2003 12:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't get to it either, but that sounds like I should wanna hear it. Who's on production?

― Barima (Barima), Friday, 5 September 2003 12:37 (twenty-two years ago)

it's hard to really say much about it based on that live mp3, i'd like to hear the studio version first. the fast bits on the verses are cool, but mostly it's 'eh'.

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 5 September 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't get to the site, but the title is fantastic.

― Larcole (Nicole), Friday, 5 September 2003 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I liked the live version, and I'm sure the song is to be a hit. C'mon - how many singers make first person references? It's like in at least 75$% of everything on the radio. I mean, they are stars so it has to be all about them, or some random you they sing to (usually in love songs). I only noticed the guitar at the beginning reminding me of Justin's LILY and the beats, while similar, are not exactly the same. And unlike Justin, any voiceover work that Brit does in a song is not cheesy and vomit-enducing.
I also can't wait for the actual album cut of this song. I think it sounds so fresh and cutting-edge for Britney. She is like a fine wine getting better with age, and she's never looked better!

― Breck Feldmann, Saturday, 6 September 2003 09:57 (twenty-two years ago)

The beat is totally different than Like I Love You. More like a breakbeat disco thing. Britney sings way less on this as compared to backup than prior. Reminds me of the JC Chavez single more than anything else. I love britney's "awwwwn" crooning drawl which she never lets loose with. This is totally a Janet direction as opposed to an MJ direction. Also the "zaaawwn" "awwwn" bit really delivers a rhythmic payoff. This reminds me of Anticipating but via Soul II Soul.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Saturday, 6 September 2003 22:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't listen to the track right now, but unless it's glorious I can't imagine a song called "me against the music" being a hit.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 6 September 2003 22:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Both titles are grammatically incorrect - Britney's should be "I Against The Music" and Justin's should be "As I Love You"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 6 September 2003 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Glad to see the Janet connection isn't just in my head. The best thing (or perhaps the only good thing) about the Co-ed version of "Boys" was how Britney said "Nasty!" - so this direction seems obvious.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 7 September 2003 04:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Both titles are grammatically incorrect - Britney's should be "I Against The Music" and Justin's should be "As I Love You"

Huh? The Britney title comes from the line "It's just me against the music," so clearly the accusative "me" is correct.

As for Justin's title, well, using "like" with a verb might be considered incorrect in an academic monograph, but it's perfectly fine as idiomatic spoken English. If you object to this, there aren't a lot of pop lyrics you'll find acceptable.

― Angus Gordon (angusg), Sunday, 7 September 2003 07:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't you mean "the accusative maaaaaaaaaaae"?

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 7 September 2003 08:11 (twenty-two years ago)

The "me" should be "I" because it is the predicate nominative of a linking verb ("is")

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 7 September 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmmm. Actually, you're right. In that case, my defence changes to "'I Against the Music' would look bloody idiotic, grammar be damned."

― Angus Gordon (angusg), Sunday, 7 September 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

hi i would like more info how to contack justin timberlake thanks

― chante' clark, Thursday, 9 October 2003 04:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Just reach out and grab his twinkie. Contack will be made.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Thursday, 9 October 2003 11:49 (twenty-two years ago)

"Hey Britney, you say you wanna lose control
(Come over here I got somethin' to show ya)
Sexy lady, I'd rather see you bare your soul
(If you think you're so hot, better show me what you got"

― Sam J. (samjeff), Friday, 10 October 2003 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

"The music wins!"

― Sam J. (samjeff), Friday, 10 October 2003 18:34 (twenty-two years ago)

It's an okay dance track. I just miss Max Martin. There's no point to Britney otherwise!

― Sam J. (samjeff), Friday, 10 October 2003 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

This song is amazing! I've already memorized it I've played it so many times. I love the use of the guitar and the bass riff is off the chain! The radio stations are already lapping it up like a cherry lollipop. Way to go Britney- you did it again!

― Jonathan Deisenroth, Saturday, 11 October 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Does this sound as much like Parliament as I think it does or do I have a screwy version?

But then, all the Strokes tracks I have DL'ed appear to be 14 minutes long and sound like Pole...

― adaml (adaml), Saturday, 11 October 2003 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

It rocks! Britneys song I mean...justin timberlake is such a loser anyway, a washout without the other boys of Nsync, justin timberlakes voice is winey and annoying. Me against the Music is at least halfway catchy

― Riley Windsor, Saturday, 11 October 2003 22:30 (twenty-two years ago)

There is no title more apt for a britney song.

― Cacaman Flores, Saturday, 11 October 2003 22:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Dude, this track sounds like Prince and the NPG from 1995 threw up! I think I could probably find the cure for cancer before I find an actual melody in this song. Justin Timberlake's LILY is absolutely infectious...Brit's MATM just infects and itches like a bad rash!

I hope this track isn't indicative of the rest of In The Zone...if so, it belongs In The Trash.

― Street Faerie, Thursday, 16 October 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

i would like to deck NERD in the pump.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 16 October 2003 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

ha!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 16 October 2003 19:29 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

Completely outstanding. I found it difficult to suppress laughter during the "I want to get in the zone" part but that just makes me want to hear it again. The production sounds rather raw until those synth strings swell up unexpectedly. It's almost as if the seprerate parts of the songs arrangement are at odds with each other. The song's concept of dancing as a competitive act with music makes me jealous for not having conceived it.
This is a perilous moment in Britney's career and the release of "In the Zone" is a major pop cultural event. Her very authenticity as a human being has been questioned and I suspect America, and most definitely the rest of the world, would like to see her publicly fail. The inclusion of Madonna on the track might insure said failure. It's funny that Britney is bringing Madonna in for credibility/authenticity while Madonna's desperate association with Britney, coming after the Gap ads and American Life, just further devalues her place in the zeitgest.
Well, this song is seriously fucking good. It does not really sound like JT's (equally fantastic) LILY either. Anyone know who produced Me Against the Music?

― theodore fogelsanger, Thursday, 30 October 2003 19:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I like Britney's songs better than Justin
's

― Taylor Marie Frotten, Saturday, 1 November 2003 12:26 (twenty-two years ago)

The drums, if nothing else, sound Neptunes-y.

― Nick H, Saturday, 1 November 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Despite the obvious similarities between the two songs, Britney wins A) because she and Madonna mesh together like a rampaging mecha-popstress and B) the backing track sounds like it was actually mixed together and composed with the various components in mind as opposed to slapped together from disparate, ill-matched recording sessions.

The secret, I think, is the overdubbing of Britney and Madonna that fills in the empty space. Also, since Britney already sounds like a robot, matching her to martial hypermarch beats works, whereas with Justin it emphasises that he is all too human and all to fallable; he really needs a warmer, organic sound to match his voice (note the songs where he sounds best are the ones that could be called the most "human" in their accompaniment, namely "Gone" on the NSync side and "Senorita" and "Rock Your Body" of his solo singles).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 1 November 2003 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

that is good criticism dan.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Saturday, 1 November 2003 21:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan is always very good at this sort of stuff when he doesn't succumb to unreasoning Justin-hate!

I like "Me Against the Music" more than I expected to. It's sorta just *there* but I do like the sneaky bass pulse stuff. Madonna is less excruciating than she was on "American Life".

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 2 November 2003 00:54 (twenty-two years ago)

"Me Against The Music" was produced by newbie Atlanta-based production team RedZone.

― Bryan Joel, Sunday, 2 November 2003 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I so want to make a Coleman Francis reference. But only Ned if anybody would get it.

I thought I heard this song coming out of a store today but what I heard was so bland that I can't imagine it's the same one people are describing here.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 2 November 2003 01:31 (twenty-two years ago)

"those are all the malt cups from his previous takes"

― strongo hulkington's ghost (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 2 November 2003 01:34 (twenty-two years ago)

(who loves ya, tony)

― strongo hulkington's ghost (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 2 November 2003 01:35 (twenty-two years ago)

DAWG!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 2 November 2003 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I can never tell if "Like I Love You" is so bad it's good or simply good. Either way I enjoy the hell out of it. Sometimes I like my Urkel Soul with the word Urkel underlined.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 2 November 2003 01:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I want to know what the hell you guys are thinking?! You call this stuff music? It's a very sorry excuse. It's people like you that help these , these people make millions, and for what? They seldomly write their own lyrics, never play any instruments, and never actually perform live (lip synching doesn't count as live music). Hell, these people can't even perform their own dance routines, everything is choreographed. I can't believe that either of these "performers" are still being recorded. In my opinion, their careers should have ended with the Mickey Mouse Club (Britney still sounds like she's 12)...... I don't know how I even found this page! Glad I did though. Someone needs to set you guys straight!

― Mike Hunt, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 01:41 (twenty-two years ago)

taking sides: Madonna vs. The Clipse

― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 01:51 (twenty-two years ago)

these people can't even perform their own dance routines, everything is choreographed

Yeah, real dance routines are all freestyle.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Finally, somebody has got the point. Good call, Mike Hunt, but you have come to a place where the idea of the singer/songwriter is considered evil because he has never been dominant in R&B...

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 01:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I rarely enjoy 'live' music.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:00 (twenty-two years ago)

You know, I rarely enjoy 'live' music, but if I ever go to a concert, it is nice to know that if the performer really wanted to sing, they could..... and they wouldn't have to rely on a previous recording.

― Mike Hunt, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Sometimes ILX reminds me of a communal "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, where everyone started reading at different times and made different choices, and some people go back and try going through making alternative choices only to find that there's someone new standing at the cave entrance for the very first time.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 03:33 (twenty-two years ago)

(Clearly "Mike Hunt" is a regular trying to troll people into acting stupid! C'mon, fess up.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 04:31 (twenty-two years ago)

you britney haters shut up!!!! she is the best among the best!!!!!

― jing bautista, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 05:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Every Time off Brit's new album is perfect AOR ballad material. It makes me cry, almost.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 07:31 (twenty-two years ago)

although my appreciation for the whole album makes me wonder if i've just become a sucker for mindless exoticism.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 07:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think "exoticism" is a word I ever expected to hear used in conjunction with a Britney album.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

you britney haters shut up!!!! she is the best among the best!!!!!

No, J-Lo is a lot hotter. (Not speaking of the music, of course, the music becomes irrelevant when discussing this kind of "genre" anyway)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

They both rock

― Annette McCully, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

if yall had bodies like her , you would show it to. if you had a voice like her, you would sing to. so get off her ass and find something to do with your time instead of just making comments about various artists. let them do their thing and leave everyone the hell alone. kay? great

― Heather Nichole Edwards, Wednesday, 19 November 2003 19:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Heather, have you heard of a band called Garbage?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 19:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

But I love Various Artists, Heather. They put out some of the best albums this year, much better than the overrated OST.

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 20:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan still loves Heather, aw.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

It was a tender love that transcended space and time.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

four weeks pass...

All you guys are stupid! Britney's new song can be heard anywhere and someone will start dancing. Forget the fact that it's Britney Spears and listen to the beat! It kicks ass and anyone with class might be able to understand that just cause it's pop that doesn't mean it's not good. Have you ever tried to actually dance intstead of shaking your ass to a 50 CENT song!? Yeah pretty hard huh? But when Britney's song comes on you can do any type of dancing who knows maybe even ballet. And if ya'll think it sucks so bad then why the hell are you posting your opinions on this website complaining bout it? Ya'll jealous or something!?!? And where in the hell does it sound like Justin's song in the melody? What are ya'll talkin bout? Britney does her own thing and she doesn't need to go completely fake and try to copy mixes off her ex-boyfriend! She kicks ass! Whether she's dancing, writing more songs, or just singing out her emotions her cd is gonna blow up this year...and when it does i'ma laugh in everyone of ur faces! Britney is Britney and all of you that are sitting here critisizing her new song are probably gonna be the ones who end up buyin her cd and supporting her! So...thanks!

― Danielle Porter, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

"Me Against the Music" is completely homogenous-sounding and unmemorable to me, while "Like I Love You" is crisp and energetic and sexy and soulful ("I just wanna love ya, baby!"). I'm just waiting for "Toxic" to be released as a single.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 23:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Danielle fell in here a bit accidentally.

And I'm with jaymc - "Toxic" must be a single.

― Thomas Inskeep (submeat), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 23:51 (twenty-two years ago)

From what I have heard "Toxic" will be the next single.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Thursday, 18 December 2003 00:53 (twenty-two years ago)

"I Got the Boom Boom" vs. "Toxic"! I'm feeling Boom Boom more this week.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 18 December 2003 01:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"boom boom" as euphemism for shit = adolescent snickers from Dan-O.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 18 December 2003 01:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought that was "boo boo".

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 18 December 2003 01:38 (twenty-two years ago)

It can be either.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 18 December 2003 01:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll take "Me Against the Music", mostly for the fast-singing part in the chorus. It kind of reminds me of Yello's "Bostich". I just cannot get enough of it. And yeah, "Toxic" deserves to be a single too.

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 18 December 2003 01:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Justin track better than brintey track STOP All supporters of britney dumb STOP Could do well to pay attention to how much madonna's contribution sucks STOP

END OF TRANSMISSION

(DRUMS)

― Jole, Thursday, 18 December 2003 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Jole so OTM. Thread over. Nothing to see here. Move along now. Drums

― neil simpson (neil simpson), Thursday, 18 December 2003 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

(If this continues, we will be able to prove BY SCIENCE that ending your posts with "DRUMS" is a sign of brain damage.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 18 December 2003 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree wholeheartedly, Dan.

Drums!

― Thomas Inskeep (submeat), Thursday, 18 December 2003 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

― hihi, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 23:53 (twenty-two years ago)

seventeen years pass...

hi i would like more info how to contack justin timberlake thanks

― chante' clark, Thursday, October 9, 2003 12:52 AM bookmarkflaglink
Just reach out and grab his twinkie. Contack will be made.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Thursday, October 9, 2003 7:49 AM bookmarkflaglink

― Gardyloominati (Neanderthal), Thursday, 7 October 2021 14:59 (four years ago)

also this is "Like I Love You", though I like both songs.

― Gardyloominati (Neanderthal), Thursday, 7 October 2021 14:59 (four years ago)

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