My Love Is Like...Wo

"My Love Is Like...Wo" was written and produced by American rapper Missy Elliott along with production duo CKB, consisting of brothers Charles and Kenneth Bereal. Additional production on the song was handled by Ron Fair. Before Mýa Harrison decided to release "My Love Is...Wo" as the first single from Moodring (2003), she admitted she was not always comfortable with the song and its graphic lyric content. Speaking to Billboard magazine, she explained, "Back then, I wasn't so confident in saying, 'My a** is like wo' [...] I was coming out of doing a program with young girls that talked about self-esteem and body image. I realized that I really couldn't worry about what people think of me. I'm at that point in my life now where I can say, 'My ass is like wo.' I wasn't even considering the song to be on the album at that time, but I later fought for it to be the single."{{cite magazine |last=Hall |first=Rashaun |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/70355/music-best-fits-myas-mood |title=Music Best Fits Mya's 'Mood' |magazine=Billboard |page=13 |volume=115 |issue=27 |date=July 5, 2003 |access-date=November 30, 2012}} She further called My "Love Is Like...Wo" a "very conceited song, and I love it. It's about self-love and feeling confident, and it's a little cocky and aggressive."{{cite web|last=Bliss |first=Karen|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/mya/articles/story/5935324/mya_gets_happy_on_moodring|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118193233/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/mya/articles/story/5935324/mya_gets_happy_on_moodring|title=Mya Gets Happy on "Moodring"|website=Rolling Stone|date= July 14, 2003 |access-date=July 27, 2023|archive-date=November 18, 2007}}

"My Love Is Like...Wo" is a mid-tempo song composed in the key of G major. The song's tempo is set a slow moderate sixty-nine beats per minute in common time. Mýa's vocal range spans from G₃ to D₅.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0045307 |title=Mýa – My Love Is Like...Wo Sheet Music |publisher=Musicnotes.com |access-date=October 30, 2010}} The lyrics for "My Love Is Like...Wo" are composed in the traditional verse-chorus form. Mýa opens the song with brief spoken lyrics. She begins the first verse, followed by the chorus leading her into the second verse. The song continues to the bridge, chorus, then fades out with the piano and Missy chanting "Wo! Wo! Wo! Wo! Wo!".

Billboard magazine gave "My Love Is Like...Wo" a positive review writing, "The doe-eyed girl next door is proving to be quite a versatile performer, with a decidedly vampish performance in the movie Chicago and new imaging that redresses Mýa as a sexy and certain young woman. The first single from forthcoming Moodring [...] is a playfully coy call to arms for the singer's more tactile attributes, from her love, her kiss, and her touch to her sex, ass, and body—all of which 'are like wo.' Get it? An appropriately hip-swaying beat swirls around the vocal, courtesy of ever-hitworthy producer Missy Elliott. This is the record that will propel Mýa to the A-list among today's pop/R&B icons; throughout the song, she delivers womanly strength and sass with a knowing wink. Moodring sounds like a perfect fit."{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/70600/my-love-is-like-wo |title=My Love Is Like . . . Wo |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=October 30, 2010}} In their review Music Week noted that Mýa "has not so far matched her US success over here", but was hopeful that would change due the songs growing support on MTV Base and Galaxy.{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-08-30.pdf|date=August 30, 2003|title=Reviews|magazine=Music Week|page=21|accessdate=August 28, 2023}}

In the United States, "My Love Is Like...Wo" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 81 on the issue dated June 28, 2003.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/hot-100?chartDate=2003-07-03&order=gainer |title=Hot 100 – Week of June 28, 2003 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=April 4, 2012}} The song reached its peak position of number 13 on the chart dated September 6, 2003, spending four consecutive weeks at its peak.{{cite web |url=http://acharts.us/song/207 |title=Mya – My Love Is Like... Wo |publisher=αCharts |access-date=April 4, 2012}} It spent 20 consecutive weeks altogether on the chart and became Mýa's fifth non-consecutive top 40 solo hit on that chart. On Billboard{{'}}s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, the single debuted at number 62 on June 21, 2003,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2003-06-21/r-b-hip-hop-songs?order=gainer |title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Week of June 21, 2003 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=April 4, 2012}} peaking at number 17 on August 23, 2003. It spent a total of 19 consecutive weeks on the chart and became Mýa's sixth non-consecutive top 40 solo hit on that chart.

Elsewhere, "My Love Is Like...Wo" became a modest hit. The single debuted and peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart for the week of September 14, 2003, dropping to number 53 the following week before falling off the top 75.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/My+Love+Is+Like...+Wo|title=The Official Charts Company - My Love Is Like... Wo by Mya Search |date=May 6, 2013|publisher=The Official Charts Company}} It debuted on the Irish Singles Chart at number 36 on September 11, 2003, and it remained on the chart for one week.{{cite web |url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2003&year=2003&week=37 |title=Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 11 September 2003 |publisher=Chart-Track. Irish Recorded Music Association |access-date=August 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002011057/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2003&year=2003&week=37 |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |url-status=dead }} In Australia, "My Love Is Like...Wo" debuted and peaked at number 25 on the ARIA Singles Chart during the week of September 1, 2003, spending three consecutive weeks at its peak position and 12 weeks in the top 50.{{cite web |url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=M%FDa&titel=My+Love+Is+Like%2E%2E%2E+Wo&cat=s |title=Mýa – My Love Is Like... Wo |publisher=australian-charts.com. Hung Medien |access-date=August 25, 2012}} The song debuted at number 49 in New Zealand for the week of September 21, 2003, peaking at number 33 six weeks later.{{cite web |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=M%FDa&titel=My+Love+Is+Like%2E%2E%2E+Wo&cat=s |title=Mýa – My Love Is Like... Wo |publisher=charts.nz. Hung Medien |access-date=August 25, 2012}}

The song's music video was featured on MTV{{'}}s Making the Video. The video was filmed and directed by Paul Hunter, who had previously worked with Mýa on "Lady Marmalade" (2001) with Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil' Kim, and Missy Elliott. His concept for the video was to have Mýa act as a one-woman show. Although this initially was not Mýa's vision or idea for the song's video, she reluctantly agreed to it. She envisioned a scenario, in which she and her crew of "pimped-out females," dress up a la the Nicholas Brothers, in tuxes, hold canes and smoke expensive cigars. Adding her own twist, Mýa also imagined them wearing fishnets and hot pants. She had pictured herself racily giving her male lead a "classy, Broadwayesque lapdance" to show him that her "love and ass is like WO!"{{cite web|url=http://www.myamya.com/news/article_swan.html |title= Mya: Flight Of The Swan|access-date=2018-10-10 |work=Mya Mya |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030618092651/http://www.myamya.com/news/article_swan.html|archive-date=2003-06-18}} However, she did voice her opinion in the styling of the video from the many different costumes changes. She came up with the ideas of the pimpstress and gangster look. In the video, Mýa smoked a cigar, then displayed her tap-dancing during the song's breakdown as well. The dance sequence in the video was choreographed by Travis Payne. The video was released on May 29, 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=195627&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=3871515 |title=Making the Video Episode Guide 2003 – Mya |work=TV Guide |access-date=April 7, 2012}}

Mýa made several television appearances to promote and perform "My Love Is Like...Wo." She premiered and performed the song on MTV Beach House during Spankin' New Music Week.{{cite web|url=http://www.myamya.com/news/index.asp?EventDate=all|title=Watch Mya Perform Live on TRL!|publisher=Mya Mya|access-date=July 16, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810034559/http://www.myamya.com:80/news/index.asp?EventDate=all|archivedate=August 10, 2003|url-status=dead}} On July 13, 2003, she performed "My Love Is Like...Wo" at MTV's Carson Daly Bash.{{cite web|url=http://www.myamya.com/news/index.asp?EventDate=all|title=Watch Mya on MTV's "Carson Daly Bash"!!|publisher=Mya Mya|access-date=July 16, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810034559/http://www.myamya.com:80/news/index.asp?EventDate=all|archivedate=August 10, 2003|url-status=dead}} She performed the song at Live! with Regis and Kelly on the release day of Moodring on July 22, 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=194957&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=3903628 |title=Live! With Kelly Episode Guide 2003 – 2003 July 22 |work=TV Guide |access-date=April 7, 2012}} On July 24, 2003, Mýa performed "My Love Is Like...Wo" on the NBC soap opera drama Passions.{{cite web|url=http://www.myamya.com/news/index.asp?EventDate=all|title=Mya Performs on Passions!|publisher=Mya Mya|access-date=July 16, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810034559/http://www.myamya.com:80/news/index.asp?EventDate=all|archivedate=August 10, 2003|url-status=dead}} Mýa appeared on BET's 106 & Park and performed "My Love Is Like...Wo" again on July 25, 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=194571&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=3917711 |title=106 & Park: Top 10 Episode Guide 2003 – Mya Performance; 112 Video Walk-On |work=TV Guide |access-date=April 7, 2012}} On August 6, 2003, Mýa performed a medley of "My Love Is Like...Wo" and "Whatever Bitch" (a track from Moodring) on The WB's Pepsi Smash. During the performance breakdown of "Whatever Bitch", she vogued with drag queens.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=203721&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=3888916 |title=Pepsi Smash Episode Guide 2003 – Pepsi Smash |work=TV Guide |access-date=April 7, 2012}}

"My Love Is Like...Wo" spawned several remixes, including two official sequel remixes. "Part II – My Love Is Like...Wo (Allstar Remix)" features additional production by Allen "Allstar" Gordon Jr. and contains an interpolation from Black Rob's 2000 song "Whoa!", written by Rob, Harve Pierre, and Buckwild and originally produced by the latter. Rapper John Doe contributed additional vocals to this version.{{cite web |url=http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.discogs.com%2F3Z8D9Vf2b1kLx7DzBU3Cwbt3oLc%253D%2Ffit-in%2F300x300%2Ffilters%3Astrip_icc()%3Aformat(jpeg)%3Amode_rgb()%2Fdiscogs-images%2FR-6517383-1421057922-7667.jpeg.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.discogs.com%2FMya-My-Love-Is-LikeWO-Part-II-And-Part-III%2Frelease%2F6517383&h=272&w=300&tbnid=m6eJbiebTvV6pM%3A&docid=G_AZ8i0rrEiCYM&itg=1&ei=CZepV5vUDMffUZGWl_AC&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=29&page=1&start=0&ndsp=59&ved=0ahUKEwjb_IDn97POAhXHbxQKHRHLBS4QMwg2KAwwDA&bih=1054&biw=1920 |title=Mya – My Love Is Like...WO (Part II And Part III) |publisher=Discogs|access-date=August 9, 2016}} "Part III – My Love Is Like...Wo (Swizz Mix)" was produced by Swizz Beatz, who recorded additional vocals with rapper Cassidy for the track. It contains an interpolation from Eve's song "Double R What", which appeared on her 2002 album Eve-Olution and was also produced by Swizz Beatz.

In her interview with Singersroom former Bad Boy signee turned indie recording artist Dawn Richard praised Mýa as a dancer and her "My Love Is Like...Wo" video, commenting, "That’s something I want people to see as an R&B artist, because you haven’t seen any R&B artist do that many techniques and styles since really, Mýa. She was tap dancing in one of her videos. She was one of the first artists to really push different styles of dance in her videos." Speaking on behalf of "My Love Is Like...Wo" and its video, she gushed, In “[My Love is Like] Whoa” she was tap dancing and she did a little bit of hip-hop, then there was jazz moments." Concluding, Mýa was "really pushing the bar."{{cite web|url=https://singersroom.com/content/2012-10-30/dawn-richard-talks-being-a-dancers-artist-spirit-killing-shoes-her-pick-for-president-more/|title=Dawn Richard Talks Being a Dancer's Artist, Spirit-Killing Shoes, Her Pick For President, More|access-date=2017-12-19|work=Singersroom|date=October 30, 2012 }} Australian singer Nicole Millar covered "My Love Is Like...Wo" with DJ/producer Zuri Akoko for their Covers EP (2015).{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com.au/dance/news/mtv-video-premiere-nicole-millar-x-zuri-akoko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517234150/http://www.mtv.com.au/dance/news/mtv-video-premiere-nicole-millar-x-zuri-akoko|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2015|title=mtv video premiere: nicole millar x zuri akoko!|access-date=2017-12-05|work=MTV}} Out of the three tracks they chose to cover, Nicole cited "My Love Is Like...Wo" as her favorite cover.{{cite web|url=http://www.moustachemagazine.com/2015/05/girl-talk-with-nicole-millar-and-zuri-akoko/|title=Girl Talk With Nicole Millar And Zuri Akoko|access-date=December 5, 2017|work=Moustache Magazine}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020|fix-attempted=yes}}

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• US CD single

1. "My Love Is Like...Wo" – 3:29
2. "No Sleep Tonight" – 3:46

• US 12-inch single

:A1. "My Love Is Like...Wo" (Main Mix) – 3:31

:B1. "My Love Is Like...Wo" (Acapella) – 3:31

:B2. "My Love Is Like...Wo" (Instrumental) – 3:29

• European CD single

1. "My Love Is Like...Wo" – 3:29
2. "Case of the Ex" – 3:55

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• European CD maxi single

1. "My Love Is Like...Wo" – 3:29
2. "Case of the Ex" – 3:55
3. "Little Too Much, Little Too Late" – 3:24
4. "My Love Is Like...Wo" (Video)

• UK 12-inch single

:A1. "My Love Is Like...Wo"

:B1. "Part II – My Love Is Like...Wo" (Allstar Mix) (Main Pass)

:B2. "Little Too Much, Little Too Late"

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Moodring.{{cite AV media notes |title=Moodring |type=liner notes |others=Mýa |publisher=Interscope Records |year=2003 |id=B0000734-02}}

• Recorded at The Record Plant (Hollywood, California) and Interscope Studios (Santa Monica, California)
• Mixed at Enterprise Studios (Burbank, California)
• Mastered at Oasis Mastering (Studio City, California)

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• Mýa – vocals, vocal arrangement
• Missy Elliott – production, additional background vocals
• CKB – co-production
• Eric Dawkins – vocal arrangement
• Ron Fair – vocal arrangement, string arrangements, string conducting, additional production
• Sue Ann Carwell – additional background vocals
• Tal Herzberg – Pro Tools engineering
• Dave "Hard Drive" Pensado – mixing
• Ethan Willoughby – mix engineering assistance
• Eddy Schreyer – mastering

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{{Reflist}}

{{Mýa songs}}

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Category:2003 singles

Category:2003 songs

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Paul Hunter (director)

Category:Mýa songs

Category:Songs written by Missy Elliott