Music Sounds Better with U
{{For|the song by Stardust|Music Sounds Better with You}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Music Sounds Better with U
| cover = Big Time Rush "Music Sounds Better with U".jpg
| alt = A image of the four members of American band Big Time Rush; from left to right: James Maslow, Logan Henderson, Kendall Schmidt, and Carlos PenaVega. Above them reads "Music Sounds Better with U" in all-caps and a white font, followed by "Feat Mann" in a smaller, all-caps and black font. In the bottom right corner is the band's official logo in black and white.
| type = single
| artist = Big Time Rush featuring Mann
| album = Elevate
| B-side = Epic
| released = November 1, 2011
| recorded = 2011
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:09
| label =
| writer = Ryan Tedder, Thomas Bangalter, Benjamin Cohen, Brent Kutzle, Eric Bellinger, Frank Musker, Noel Zancanella, Alain Quême, Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Logan Henderson, Carlos PenaVega, Dominic Bugatti
| producer = Ryan Tedder
| chronology = Big Time Rush
| prev_title = Worldwide
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = Windows Down
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Mann
| type = singles
| prev_title = The Mack
| prev_year = 2011
| title = Music Sounds Better with U
| year = 2011
| next_title = Dance with You
| next_year = 2012
}}{{External music video|{{YouTube|hRXlyoVlWTs|"Music Sounds Better with U"}}}}
}}
"Music Sounds Better with U" is a song by American boy band Big Time Rush from their second studio album, Elevate. The song features American rapper Mann. "Music Sounds Better With U" was leaked two weeks before its official release, which was on November 1, 2011, as the first single from Elevate. Columbia Records released the song to US mainstream radio on November 15, 2011.
Background
"Music Sounds Better with U" premiered via On Air with Ryan Seacrest on October 21, 2011,{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/nngrnr/big-time-rush-music-sounds-better-with-u|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602153808/https://www.mtv.com/news/nngrnr/big-time-rush-music-sounds-better-with-u|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 2, 2024|title=New Song: Big Time Rush, 'Music Sounds Better With U'|website=MTV|author=Jenna Hally Rubenstein|date=October 24, 2011|access-date=June 2, 2024}} before it was released on November 1, as the lead single from Elevate, via digital download.
Composition
The band co-wrote "Music Sounds Better with U" with Noel Zancanella, Eric Bellinger, and OneRepublic members Ryan Tedder & Brent Kutzle. Production of the song was also handled by Tedder.{{cite AV media notes |title=Elevate |publisher=Columbia Records |year=2011}} On Big Time Radio, it was announced that before the final cut, there were around "nine or ten versions of the song".{{cite AV media|url=https://soundcloud.com/carlospenanow/big-time-radio-montage-2|title=Big Time Radio Montage #2|publisher=SoundCloud|minutes=5:40|accessdate=2014-01-05}} The track covers the chorus from the 1998 single "Music Sounds Better with You" by Stardust.{{cite AV media|url=https://soundcloud.com/carlospenanow/big-time-radio-montage-2|title=Big Time Radio Montage #2|publisher=SoundCloud|minutes=6:00|accessdate=2014-01-05}}{{cite web|url=http://ryanseacrest.com/2011/10/21/kendall-of-big-time-rush-premieres-music-sounds-better-with-you-audio/|title=WORLD PREMIERE: Listen To Big Time Rush's New Single 'Music Sounds Better With U' [AUDIO]|author=Michael Murray|publisher=Ryan Seacrest|date=2011-10-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022125226/http://ryanseacrest.com/2011/10/21/kendall-of-big-time-rush-premieres-music-sounds-better-with-you-audio/|archivedate=October 22, 2011|accessdate=2014-01-05}} Logan Henderson also revealed that the track features a guitar sample from Chaka Khan.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/big-time-rush-songs-memories-stories-dale-pa-ya-spanglish-boyfriend-worldwide-the-turd-song-interview-tour-reunion|title=Big Time Rush Share Favorite Memories From Their Biggest Hits, New Songs And One Unexpected Fan Favorite|author=Taylor Weatherby|publisher=Grammy Awards|date=August 25, 2022|access-date=June 10, 2024}}
Critical reception
Jenna Hally Rubenstein of MTV stated that the track "is a beyond addictive, polished and sugary pop song that's ready for da club... Tightly layered synths and guitars pair perfectly with the track's vocals." Kevin Apaza of Directlyrics called the song "a bit generic and dated," but still had praise for the track.{{cite web|url=https://www.directlyrics.com/big-time-rush--taio-cruz-debut-new-mvs-music-sounds-better-with-u--troublemaker-news.html|title=Big Time Rush and Taio Cruz Debut New MVs: "Music Sounds Better With U" & "Troublemaker"|website=Directlyrics|author=Kevin Apaza|date=November 13, 2011|access-date=June 2, 2024}}
Chart performance
"Music Sounds Better with U" peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart during a ten weeks chart run.
Music video
An accompanying music video premiered on Nickelodeon on November 12, 2011.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.j-14.com/posts/j-14-video-big-time-rush-music-sounds-better-with-u-4809/|title=J-14 Video: Big Time Rush 'Music Sounds Better With U'|magazine=J-14|date=November 14, 2011|access-date=June 2, 2024}}
Track listing
- Digital download{{cite web|title=Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single|website=iTunes |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/music-sounds-better-with-u-feat-mann-single/475489502}}
- "Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
- "Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
- "Epic" – 3:27
- "Music Sounds Better with U" (instrumental) – 3:02
- UK digital download{{cite web|title=Big Time Rush: Music Sounds Better With U (UK Digital Single)|website=iTunes |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/482960470}}
- "Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
- "Music Sounds Better with U" (instrumental) – 3:02
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Music Sounds Better with U" ! scope="col"| Chart (2011–2012) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| US Kid Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{Cite magazine|title=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/search/results/?chart-artistname=Big+Time+Rush&chart-charttitle=Music+Sounds+Better+With+U&chart-label=Nickelodeon&chart-date=2011-11-19&chart-chartcode=KDT|magazine=Billboard}}
| 1 |
|---|
| {{Single chart|Billboardpopsongs|26|artist=Big Time Rush|artistid=1536373|accessdate=February 11, 2012|rowheader=true|refname="US Billboard Pop Songs"}} |
Release history
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Big Time Rush (group)}}
{{Mann}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Ryan Tedder
Category:Songs written by Brent Kutzle
Category:Song recordings produced by Ryan Tedder
Category:Songs written by Noel Zancanella
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Songs written by Eric Bellinger
Category:Songs written by Thomas Bangalter