Team You Explained

Team You
Cover:Mýateamyousinglecover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Mya
Album:Smoove Jones
Released:December 8, 2015
Recorded:The HitList Recording Studios
Genre:R&B
Length:4:13
Label:Planet 9
Producer:Terence Odige
Prev Title:Welcome to My World
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Coolin'
Next Year:2017

"Team You" is a song recorded by American singer Mya taken from her seventh studio album Smoove Jones (2016). It was written by Damar Beckett, Fred Jenkins and Mýa, while production was helmed by Terence Odige. A throwback to '90s R&B "Team You" was chosen as the second single from Smoove Jones and released December 8, 2015. Upon release, it received mixed to favorable reception from music critics, with some highlighting it a standout track while others referred to "Team You" as mildly "cheesy" with redundant chorus.

Background and recording

"Team You" was written by Damar Beckett, Fred Jenkins, and Mýa, while production was handled by Terence Odige. Speaking with SOHH, Mýa explained how the song was created. In 2014, Harrison began working with several people from Los Angeles and was immediately introduced to New Jersey native production duo The HitList. Subsequently, the trio began working on music together and one of the first of many tracks Harrison recorded with them was "Welcome To My World". Harrison credits Fred as the person behind the idea of "Team You", clarifying, "it was The HitList's Fred who actually started that concept of "Team You" and when she heard it she "loved it". Commenting, "It’s so now, it’s very 90's with the music but it has very contemporary lines and has melodies." Upon hearing the track, Mýa promptly added her writing to it and completed the song with him. Thus, that's how "Team You" was born. In retrospect, Mýa acknowledged, "We live in a world where everybody is hard, from girls to guys, and we keep poppin’ that swag out of our mouths." Reminiscing, "It’s very 90’s and you got that from the SWV's where it was OK to voice your affection and your love for somebody. So I wanted to take it back."[1]

Critical reception

In reviewing Smoove Jones, "Team You" received "mixed" to "favorable" reviews. Ryan B. Patrick of Exclaim!, highlighted "Team You" as one of stand out tracks, opining the song "recall late-'90s/early '00s R&B".[2] While, United Kingdoms Gay Times, commented "Team You is well intentioned but has a mildly cheesy and repetitive chorus."[3]

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mya Says She Called Up Her Hitmen For "Team You" Banger: "We Keep Poppin' That Swag Out Of Our Mouths" [AUDIO]]. 2017-09-20. SOHH.
  2. Web site: Smoove Jones Review. 2016-02-18. Exclaim!.
  3. Web site: Review: Mýa's new album Smoove Jones. 2016-02-25. Gay Times.
  4. Web site: Team You. 2017-09-18. Amazon.