"Music Sounds Better with U", retitled "Music Sounds Better" in later releases, is a song by Big Time Rush. It was released on November 1, 2011 as the lead single from the band's second studio album, Elevate. Taking a sample from the 1998 Stardust single of the same name, the band worked with American producer Ryan Tedder and Noel Zancanella to write and produce the song, a synth-pop dance track that also features American rapper Mann.
Upon release, "Music Sounds Better with U" received generally positive reviews from critics, who have described the song as an "addictive, polished and sugary pop song".[2] The song received moderate success on commercial radio, reaching #1 on Billboard's "Kids Digital Song Sales" in the week of November 19, 2011.[3] Ryan Seacrest of kiss.fm described the single as Big Time Rush's opportunity to "break out of the box" and pursue a more mature, mainstream sound, compared to their previous releases, which had been closely tied to their Nickelodeon television show.[4]
A music video was released on November 13, and follows the members of Big Time Rush as they party and dance in an empty warehouse, surrounded by their friends.
Background and composition
OneRepublic member Ryan Tedder, who produced "Music Sounds Better with U".
On August 1, 2011, the band met with professional producer and OneRepublic member Ryan Tedder in Denver, Colorado, with the intention of writing a "smash" single for their upcoming album.[5][6] Big Time Rush wrote the bridge, while Tedder brought them the structure of the song and completed it.[7] The band described Tedder as an "amazing" producer, remarking that he was "instrumental" to the song's creative process, and they recalled instinctually feeling an "instant hit" upon their first listen.[7] The song takes a sample from the 1998 single "Music Sounds Better With U", the only song released by French house group Stardust, a trio comprising vocalist Benjamin Diamond, DJ Alan Braxe, and producer Thomas Bangalter, the latter of whom is best known as a member of the electronic music duo Daft Punk. Stardust's own single samples a guitar riff from Chaka Hahn's 1981 song "Fate". According to James Maslow, "Music Sounds Better" is a song that has gone through "a few generations", and Big Time Rush was honored to continue its legacy and "make it into their own."[7]
Production
Production was helmed primarily by Tedder, who created the instrumental track with fellow OneRepublic members Noel Zancanella and Brent Kutzle. Chris Rojas assisted with additional vocal production.[8] Kendall Schmidt said that the single took "a long time" to create, with the band going "back and forth" with Tedder until they achieved the desired sound.[7] They created "nine or ten versions" of the song before they were satisfied.[7]
Big Time Rush with Mann during the shoot for the "Music Sounds Better" music video.
The band members initially were not expecting to have another artist featured on the song, but when the label opened up a "spot" for a feature, rapper Mann "jumped at the opportunity" recorded a version of the song and sent it over to the band, only weeks before the official release of the single.[9] The band "fell in love" with Mann's addition to the song and, upon compiling the track, unanimously agreed that the finished product was "exactly how 'Music Sounds Better' should sound."[7]
The final version track was engineered by Smith Carlson, Bobby Campbell, Terrence DH, and John Hanes, and mixed by Serban Ghenea, with Fabien Waltmann providing additional programming. The final master was completed by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound.[10]
Release
Big Time Rush first announced "Music Sounds Better with U" in a live Ustream on October 18, 2011, in which they confirmed that their second album would be titled Elevate and that "Music Sounds Better" would be the lead single for the album. Three days later, on October 21, Kendall Schmidt appeared on KIIS.FM's "On Air With Ryan Seacrest" for a brief interview and to introduce the world premiere of the single.[4]
"Music Sounds Better" was released as a digital single on November 1, 2011. The single was the namesake of the Better with U Tour, which was announced on November 9 to promote both the single and upcoming album. An accompanying music video premiered live on Nickelodeon as part of the Big Time Rush: Music Sounds Better with U behind-the-scenes television special, aired on November 12, and was officially released for digital download on November 13. "Music Sounds Better" appears as the opening track on Elevate, released on November 21.
The song was also released as a physical single exclusively in Germany, where it was released in stores on December 9, 2011. "Epic" is included on the B-side of the CD.
Music video
Big Time Rush ft. Mann - Music Sounds Better (Official Video)
The accompanying music video was directed by Marc Klasfeld and was filmed in a warehouse in Vancouver, Canada between October 24–25, 2011.[9][11] The video depicts the band members talking to their dates and partying, interspersed with close-up shots of the individual members against a blue background. An alternate music video was additionally created for airing during Nickelodeon commercial breaks, directed by Marcus Wagner, who directed several promotional videos for the band. The video is one minute in length and depicts the four members of Big Time Rush writing and recording in a studio together.[12]
Live performances
"Music Sounds Better" has been performed on every tour since its release, having been featured on the Better With U Tour, Big Time Summer Tour, Summer Break Tour, Live World Tour, and Big Time Rush Live setlists. In place of Mann's verse, the band sometimes replaces it with a vocal bridge, while at other times, one or members of the band perform the rap themselves.
Big Time Rush performed the song live on the the Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2012.
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| AT40 | 25 |
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 12 |
Credits and personnel
Credits transcribed from the liner notes of Elevate.[8]
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Track listing
- Digital download
- "Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
- German CD single
- "Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
- "Epic" – 3:27
- "Music Sounds Better with U" (Instrumental) – 3:02
- German digital download
- "Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
- "Music Sounds Better with U" (Instrumental) – 3:02
Remixes
Several remixes and alternate versions of "Music Sounds Better with U" have been officially released as B-sides or bonus tracks:
- "Music Sounds Better with U" (Instrumental)
- "Music Sounds Better with U" (Karmatronic Club Remix)
- "Music Sounds Better with U" (Karmatronic Club Mix)
- "Music Sounds Better with U" (Karmatronic Radio Remix)
- "Music Sounds Better with U" (Karmatronic Dub Remix)
- "Music Sounds Better with U" (Halatrax Radio Remix)
Acoustic version
Big Time Rush released an acoustic version of "Music Sounds Better" on streaming platforms on April 15, 2022. It was recorded during press for the Forever Tour in February 2022, with guitar played by Cody Perrin.[13]
Lyrics
Lyrics transcribed from Elevate liner notes.[8]
I try to write this down |
Gallery
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Big Time Rush Wiki has images related to Music Sounds Better with U. |
Videos
References
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