Love That Girl

"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.

For the sitcom, see Love That Girl!
"Love That Girl"
Single by Raphael Saadiq
from the album The Way I See It
ReleasedAugust 5, 2008 (2008-08-05)
Recorded2008
GenreSoul
Length3:04
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bobby Ozuna, Raphael Saadiq
Producer(s)Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq singles chronology
"I Want You Back"
(2004)		 "Love That Girl"
(2008)		 "100 Yard Dash"
(2009)

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]

Track listing
Digital single[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Love That Girl"Bobby Ozuna, Raphael SaadiqBobby Ozuna (co.), Raphael Saadiq3:04

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes for The Way I See It.[13]

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

References
  1. Finkel, Bari (November 16, 2010). "Tuesday Temptations: Raphael Saadiq, "Love That Girl"". WIUX Blog. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
  2. Farinella, David John (January 1, 2009). "Music: Raphael Saadiq". Mix. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. Mitchell, Gail (September 27, 2008). "The Way I See It". Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 39. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  4. Gill, Andy (February 27, 2009). "Album: Raphael Saadiq, The Way I See It (Columbia)". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
  5. Nero, Mark Edward (July 10, 2008). "Music: Raphael Saadiq - "Love That Girl"". About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
  6. "Raphael Saadiq - Love That Girl MP3 Download". CD Universe. Archived from the original on 2015-04-11. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
  7. "Video Premier: Saadiq's 'Love That Girl'". URB. West Hollywood. August 27, 2008. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
  8. Schneider, Michael (January 4, 2010). "TV One acquires 'Love That Girl'". Variety. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
  9. Tunzi, Kristina, ed. (December 5, 2009). "Saadiq Preps New Set". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 48. New York. p. 50. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  10. "Raphael Saadiq Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
  11. "Raphael Saadiq - Love That Girl" (in Dutch). ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
  12. Gingerlynn (December 4, 2008). "'09 Grammy Award Nominations: Al Green, M.I.A., Estelle, Jazmine Sullivan and more!". Okayplayer. Archived from the original on November 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  13. The Way I See It (CD liner). Raphael Saadiq. New York City: Columbia Records. 2008. 88697 08585 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. "Raphael Saadiq – Love That Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  15. "Raphael Saadiq Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  16. "Love That Girl by Raphael Saadiq". hmvdigital.ca. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  17. "Love That Girl (Album Version) (2010)". 7digital. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
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