Love Me Like You Mean It

"Love Me Like You Mean It" is a song co-written and recorded by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini. Ballerini co-wrote the song with Josh Kerr, Forest Glen Whitehead and Lance Carpenter.[1] It was released on July 8, 2014, as Ballerini's debut single and the lead single from her debut studio album, The First Time, released on May 19, 2015, by Black River Entertainment.[2][3] The song is about a young woman showing interest in a man. The song was previously released in promotion of Ballerini's 2014 self-titled EP.[4]

Not to be confused with "love me like a girl", a song by Kelsea Ballerini, from the album kelsea.
"Love Me Like You Mean It"
Artwork for initial digital release
Single by Kelsea Ballerini
from the album The First Time and the EP Kelsea Ballerini
ReleasedJuly 8, 2014 (2014-07-08)
Recorded2014
GenreCountry pop
Length3:19
LabelBlack River
Songwriter(s)
  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Josh Kerr
  • Forest Glen Whitehead
  • Lance Carpenter
Producer(s)Forest Glen Whitehead
Kelsea Ballerini singles chronology
"Love Me Like You Mean It"
(2014)		 "Dibs"
(2015)
Music video
"Love Me Like You Mean It" on YouTube

"Love Me Like You Mean It" peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, making Ballerini the first solo female to top that chart with her debut single since Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel" in 2006 and the first female country music artist to accomplish that on an independent label. It also charted at number five on the Hot Country Songs chart and number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 596,000 units in the US as of May 2016. It achieved similar chart success in Canada, peaking at number three on the Canada Country chart and number 61 on the Canadian Hot 100. It garnered a Gold certification from Music Canada, denoting sales of 40,000 units in that country.

The accompanying music video for the song, directed by Kristin Barlowe, was shot in Nashville and features Ballerini playing party games outside with her friends and performing throughout various locations.

Content

The song is a mid-tempo country pop song that, according to the digital sheet music published by Hal Leonard Music Publishing, is composed in the key of E major, in cut time with a primary chord pattern of E–B–F♯m7add4–Asus2. Ballerini's vocal ranges one octave, from B3 to B4.[5] Natalie Wiener of Billboard called "Love Me Like You Mean It" a song "about being a young woman who's openly expressing interest in a man," making the song a subtle message of feminism.[6] She compared the song's opening line, "Oh hey, boy with your hat back/Mmm I kind of like that/if you wanna walk my way," to Carly Rae Jepsen's 2012 hit, "Call Me Maybe".[6]

Reception

Critical

Taste of Country reviewed the single favorably, saying that "Ballerini mixes modern production techniques with a straight-up country message to create an identifiable country-pop blend."[7] In 2017, Billboard contributor Chuck Dauphin placed "Love Me Like You Mean It" at number one on his top 10 list of Ballerini's best songs.[8]

Commercial

"Love Me Like You Mean It" debuted at number 60 on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of October 18, 2014,[9] and debuted at number 48 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of December 13, 2014. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart for the week of July 4, 2015, making Ballerini the first solo female to send her debut single to the top of that chart since Carrie Underwood did with "Jesus, Take the Wheel" in 2006; it also made her the first female country music artist to do so on an independent label.[10] The song was certified Gold by the RIAA on July 14, 2015, and certified Platinum on August 4, 2016.[11] The song has sold 596,000 copies in the US as of May 2016.[12] In Canada, the song reached the top three of the Canada Country chart and peaked at number 61 on the Canadian Hot 100. It was certified Gold by Music Canada on September 12, 2016.[13]

Music video

An acoustic music video was directed by Robert Chavers and premiered in November 2014.[14] The official music video, directed by Kristin Barlowe,[15] was filmed in Nashville[16] and premiered in March 2015.[17] In it, Ballerini is seen playing games like musical chairs and Twister with her friends outside, while performing the song from various locations inside a trailer and in the doorway of a house.

Reception

The video was nominated at the 2015 CMT Music Awards in the category of Breakthrough Video of the Year, but lost to Sam Hunt's "Leave the Night On".[18][19]

Track listing
Digital download[2]
No.TitleLength
1."Love Me Like You Mean It"3:19
Country Dance Mix single[20]
No.TitleLength
1."Love Me Like You Mean It" (Country Dance Mix)3:35
Dance Mix single with Dave Audé[21]
No.TitleLength
1."Love Me Like You Mean It" (featuring Kelsea Ballerini) (Dance Mix)3:28
CD single[22]
No.TitleLength
1."Love Me Like You Mean It"3:03
2."Untitled"3:03
3."Untitled"3:03
4."Research Hook #1"0:18
5."Research Hook #2"0:10
Total length:9:37

Charts and certifications

Release history
Country Date Format Version Label Ref.
Worldwide July 8, 2014 Digital download Original Black River [2]
United States September 22, 2014 Country radio [30]
Worldwide August 28, 2015 Digital download Country Dance Mix [31][32][20]
February 12, 2016 Dave Audé Dance Mix [21]

References
  1. Ward, Jaimie (July 13, 2014). ""Love Me Like You Mean It" The Debut Single By Kelsea Ballerini Is Digitally Available Now". Music News Nashville. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  2. "Love Me Like You Mean It (2014) | Kelsea Ballerini | MP3 Downloads | 7digital United States". 7digital (US). Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  3. Thompson, Gayle (February 18, 2015). "Kelsea Ballerini Announces Debut Album, 'The First Time'". The Boot. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  4. Parker, Eric T. (November 24, 2014). "Black River Releases Breakout EP By Kelsea Ballerini". MusicRow. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  5. "Kelsea Ballerini "Love Me Like You Mean It" Sheet Music in E Major (transposable)". Musicnotes.com. Hal Leonard Music Publishing. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  6. Wiener, Natalie (June 30, 2015). "'Yeah Boy': Why Kelsea Ballerini Is Country Radio's Gutsiest Songwriter". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  7. Taste of Country Staff (December 1, 2014). "Kelsea Ballerini, 'Love Me Like You Mean It' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  8. Dauphin, Chuck (August 21, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  9. Morris, Edward (October 10, 2014). "Blake Shelton Tops Album List With Bringing Back the Sunshine". Country Music Television. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  10. Trust, Gary (June 22, 2015). "Kelsea Ballerini first female to lead with debut single since 2006" (PDF). Billboard. p. 5. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  11. "American single certifications – Kelsea Ballerini – Love Me Like You Mean It". Recording Industry Association of America.
  12. Bjorke, Matt (April 18, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart: April 18, 2016".
  13. "Canadian single certifications – Kelsea Ballerini – Love Me Like You Mean It". Music Canada.
  14. "CMT : Videos : Kelsea Ballerini : Love Me Like You Mean It (Acoustic)". Country Music Television. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  15. "EXCLUSIVE: Kelsea Ballerini Takes You Behind the Scenes of Her "Love Me Like You Mean It" Video". Country Weekly. American Media. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  16. Ragusa, Tammy (March 5, 2015). "EXCLUSIVE: Kelsea Ballerini Takes You Behind the Scenes of Her "Love Me Like You Mean It" Video". Country Weekly. American Media. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  17. "CMT : Videos : Kelsea Ballerini : Love Me Like You Mean It". Country Music Television. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  18. Parton, Chris (May 13, 2015). "Carrie Underwood Leads 2015 CMT Awards Nominations". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  19. CMT.com Staff (June 10, 2015). "2015 CMT Music Awards: The Winners". CMT. Viacom. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  20. "Love Me Like You Mean It – Single by Kelsea Ballerini". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  21. "Love Me Like You Mean It (feat. Kelsea Ballerini) [Dance Mix] – Single by Dave Audé". iTunes Store (Canada). Apple Inc. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  22. "Love Me Like You Mean It – Kelsea Ballerini | Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  23. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  24. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  25. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  26. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  27. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  28. "Best of 2015: Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  29. "Best of 2015: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  30. "Future Release for Country Radio". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on September 22, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  31. "Love Me Like You Mean It – Single by Kelsea Ballerini". iTunes Store (AU). Apple Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  32. "Love Me Like You Mean It – Single by Kelsea Ballerini". iTunes Store (UK). Apple Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
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