Love That Girl
2008 single by Raphael Saadiq
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"Love That Girl" is a song by American recording artist Raphael Saadiq, released as a single on August 5, 2008, by Columbia Records. It was the lead single for Saadiq's 2008 album The Way I See It. The song was written by Saadiq and co-producer Bobby Ozuna. "Love That Girl" is a Motown-inspired soul song with sweet-natured, innocent lyrics about affection.
| "Love That Girl" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Raphael Saadiq | ||||
| from the album The Way I See It | ||||
| Released | August 5, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 2008 | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 3:04 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriters | Bobby Ozuna, Raphael Saadiq | |||
| Producer | Raphael Saadiq | |||
| Raphael Saadiq singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The single peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.
Music and lyrics
"Love That Girl" is a Motown-inspired soul song with repetitive bass lines, echo chamber-like claps, and call and response choruses.[1] It also features Motown-styled instruments by Jack Ashford, including tambourine, vibraphone, bells, and shakers.[2] Gail Mitchell of Billboard characterizes it as "a swing tune that calls to mind the Temptations' signature brand of suave grooves".[3] Andy Gill of The Independent writes that the song has "the poise of the David Ruffin-era Temptations."[4] The song's lyrics are sweet, innocent, and expressing affection for a love interest.[5] They also feature rhyme schemes similar to those of classic soul songs and restrained falsetto vocals by Saadiq.[1] About.com's Mark Edward Nero finds its subject matter reminiscent of Mary Wells' 1964 song "My Guy".[5]
Release and reception
"Love That Girl" was released as the lead single from The Way I See It.[5] It was released as a digital download on August 5, 2008, by Columbia Records.[6] Its music video was released on August 27,[7] and featured Saadiq and his band in vintage attire, including matching suits and a flowing red dress worn by the backing vocalist.[1] "Love That Girl" was later used as the theme song for the sitcom of the same name,[8] on which Saadiq served as executive producer.[9]
"Love That Girl" charted for 20 weeks on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, peaking at number 45 on November 15, 2008.[10] It also charted for four weeks and peaked at number 15 in Belgium.[11] The song was nominated for the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.[12]
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes for The Way I See It.[13]
- Jack Ashford – bells, shaker, tambourine, vibraphone
- Charles Brungardt – recording engineer
- Tom Coyne – mastering
- Bobby Ozuna – co-producer, composer
- Raphael Saadiq – composer, instrumentalist, mixing, producer, recording engineer, vocals
Charts
| Chart (2008–09) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[14] | 15 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] | 45 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada[16] | August 5, 2008 | Columbia Records | digital download |
| United States[6] | |||
| United Kingdom[17] | February 10, 2010 |