Music Sounds Better with U explained

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
Length:3:09
Label:
Producer:Ryan Tedder
Chronology:Big Time Rush
Prev Title:Worldwide
Prev Year:2011
Next Title:Windows Down
Next Year:2012

"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,[1] 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.[2] On Big Time Radio, it was announced that before the final cut, there were around "nine or ten versions of the song".[3] The track covers the chorus from the 1998 single "Music Sounds Better with You" by Stardust.[4] [5] Logan Henderson also revealed that the track features a guitar sample from Chaka Khan.[6]

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."[1] Kevin Apaza of Directlyrics called the song "a bit generic and dated," but still had praise for the track.[7]

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.[8]

Track listing

  1. "Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
  1. "Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
  2. "Epic" – 3:27
  3. "Music Sounds Better with U" (instrumental) – 3:02
  1. "Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
  2. "Music Sounds Better with U" (instrumental) – 3:02

Charts

Chart (2011–2012)! scope="col"
Peak
position
US Kid Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[12] 1

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
AustriaNovember 1, 2011Digital downloadColumbia[13]
Canada[14]
Cyprus[15]
Germany[16]
New Zealand[17]
Switzerland[18]
United States
November 15, 2011Contemporary hit radio[19]
United KingdomDecember 9, 2011CD
January 20, 2012Digital download

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Song: Big Time Rush, 'Music Sounds Better With U'. https://web.archive.org/web/20240602153808/https://www.mtv.com/news/nngrnr/big-time-rush-music-sounds-better-with-u. dead. June 2, 2024. MTV. Jenna Hally Rubenstein. October 24, 2011. June 2, 2024.
  2. Elevate . . 2011.
  3. Big Time Radio Montage #2. SoundCloud. 5:40. 2014-01-05.
  4. Big Time Radio Montage #2. SoundCloud. 6:00. 2014-01-05.
  5. Web site: WORLD PREMIERE: Listen To Big Time Rush's New Single 'Music Sounds Better With U' [AUDIO]]. Michael Murray. Ryan Seacrest. 2011-10-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20111022125226/http://ryanseacrest.com/2011/10/21/kendall-of-big-time-rush-premieres-music-sounds-better-with-you-audio/. October 22, 2011. 2014-01-05.
  6. Web site: Big Time Rush Share Favorite Memories From Their Biggest Hits, New Songs And One Unexpected Fan Favorite. Taylor Weatherby. Grammy Awards. August 25, 2022. June 10, 2024.
  7. Web site: Big Time Rush and Taio Cruz Debut New MVs: "Music Sounds Better With U" & "Troublemaker". Directlyrics. Kevin Apaza. November 13, 2011. June 2, 2024.
  8. J-14 Video: Big Time Rush 'Music Sounds Better With U'. J-14. November 14, 2011. June 2, 2024.
  9. Web site: Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single. .
  10. Web site: Big Time Rush: Music Sounds Better With U (CD Single). Amazon UK .
  11. Web site: Big Time Rush: Music Sounds Better With U (UK Digital Single). .
  12. Billboard. Billboard.
  13. Web site: Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music. Big Time Rush. November 1, 2011. music.apple.com.
  14. Web site: Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music. Big Time Rush. November 1, 2011. music.apple.com.
  15. Web site: Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music. Big Time Rush. November 1, 2011. music.apple.com.
  16. Web site: Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music. Big Time Rush. November 1, 2011. music.apple.com.
  17. Web site: Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music. Big Time Rush. November 1, 2011. music.apple.com.
  18. Web site: Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music. Big Time Rush. November 1, 2011. music.apple.com.
  19. Web site: Top 40/M Future Releases Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates .... November 15, 2011. allaccess.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20111030040123/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases. October 30, 2011.