View source for I'm Lovin' It (song)

{{Short description|2003 single by Justin Timberlake}}
{{For|McDonald's advertising jingle|McDonald's advertising#Current campaign}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = I'm Lovin' It
| cover      = I'm Lovin' It.png
| alt        =
| border     = yes
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Justin Timberlake]]
| album      = [[Justin Timberlake: Live from London|Live from London]]
| B-side     = Last Night
| released   = {{start date|2003|11|20}}
| recorded   = 2003
| studio     =
* Hovercraft Recording (Virginia)
* [[Criteria Studios|Hit Factory Criteria]] (Miami)
* [[Record Plant]] (Los Angeles)
| genre      =
| length     = {{duration|m=3|s=42}}
| label      = [[Jive Records|Jive]]
| writer     =
* [[Pharrell Williams]]
* Tom Batoy
* Franco Tortora
* Andreas Forberger
| producer   = [[The Neptunes]]
| prev_title = [[Señorita (Justin Timberlake song)|Señorita]]
| prev_year  = 2003
| next_title = [[Signs (Snoop Dogg song)|Signs]]
| next_year  = 2005
}}

"'''I'm Lovin' It'''" is a song by American singer-songwriter [[Justin Timberlake]]. The song, originally written as a jingle for American [[fast food]] chain [[McDonald's]], was produced by [[the Neptunes]] and is credited as being written by [[Pharrell Williams]], Tom Batoy, Franco Tortora, and Andreas Forberger.<ref name="p4k"/> It was released as a single on November 20, 2003, and became a chart hit in a few European countries, reaching the top 20 in Greece, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

==Background==
The song was written as a jingle for [[McDonald's]] commercials based on a pre-existing German campaign originally developed as "Ich Liebe Es."<ref name="5things">{{cite news|last1=Moran|first1=Alec|title=Five Things You Never Knew About 'I'm Lovin' It'|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/November-2014/McDonalds-Im-Lovin-It-Campaign/|work=Chicago magazine|date=October 14, 2014|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616134626/http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/November-2014/McDonalds-Im-Lovin-It-Campaign/|url-status=live}}</ref> Timberlake was paid $6 million to sing the jingle; despite this, Timberlake has since regretted the deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/gq-music-justin-timberlake-interview|title=Timberlake Inc.|website=[[GQ|British GQ]]|date=March 29, 2012|access-date=October 10, 2021|archive-date=October 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010155709/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/gq-music-justin-timberlake-interview|url-status=live}}</ref> Soon thereafter, [[the Neptunes]] produced a song based on the jingle and released it (along with an instrumental version) as part of a three-track [[Extended play|EP]] in November 2003. A digital download EP with the same name was also released through the [[iTunes Store]] on December 16, 2003. The extended play included the title-track and a remix for all of the singles from Timberlake's first solo studio album, ''[[Justified (album)|Justified]]''. The song was also included on the bonus audio CD of Timberlake's first live DVD, ''[[Justin Timberlake: Live from London|Live From London]]''.<ref name="5things"/>

Rapper [[Pusha T]] revealed his involvement with the song in June 2016 and claimed that he had created the "I'm Lovin' It" jingle.<ref name="p4k">{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/1227-the-contentious-tale-of-the-mcdonalds-im-lovin-it-jingle/|title=The Contentious Tale of the McDonald's "I'm Lovin' It" Jingle {{!}} Pitchfork|last=Hogan|first=Marc|website=Pitchfork|date=July 14, 2016|access-date=July 14, 2016|archive-date=July 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715152344/http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/1227-the-contentious-tale-of-the-mcdonalds-im-lovin-it-jingle/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, co-writers Batoy and Tortora, as well as several others involved with the jingle's creation, have disputed his claim.<ref name="p4k"/> Larry Light, former McDonald's chief marketing executive, has denied Pusha T's claim.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Colin |date=July 14, 2016 |title=McDonald's' Marketing Exec, Music Agency, & Jingle Engineer Agree Pusha T Didn't Write 'I'm Lovin' It' Jingle |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mcdonald-marketing-exec-music-agency-155606821.html |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=Yahoo Entertainment}}</ref> Nevertheless, Pusha T's rap vocals do appear on the track for the first ad to air with the new hook and slogan; however, he was only paid on a one-time basis without royalties.

==Music video==
A music video to promote the single was released in late 2003 and was directed by [[Paul Hunter (director)|Paul Hunter]]. In the video, Timberlake is seen chasing [[Lindsay Frimodt]] around [[New York City]]. The music video on [[YouTube]] has received over 15 million views as of April 2024.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IHcp8Pl_X4 Justin Timberlake - I'm Lovin' It (Official Video)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321023814/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IHcp8Pl_X4 |date=March 21, 2024 }}.[[YouTube]]</ref>

==Track listings==
* '''European CD single '''<ref name="eurcd">{{cite AV media notes|title=I'm Lovin' It|others=[[Justin Timberlake]]|year=2003|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Jive Records]]|location=New York City|id=82876 58172 2}}</ref>
# "I'm Lovin' It" – 3:42
# "I'm Lovin' It" (instrumental) – 3:42
# "Last Night" – 4:47

* '''Digital download EP'''<ref name="lovin">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/im-lovin-it-ep/id271350941|title=I'm Lovin' It&nbsp;– EP by Justin Timberlake|work=iTunes Store|publisher=Apple|access-date=June 24, 2013|archive-date=February 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214034746/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/im-lovin-it-ep/id271350941|url-status=dead}}</ref>
# "I'm Lovin' It" – 3:48
# "[[Rock Your Body]]" (Sander Kleinenberg Just in the Club mix) – 9:42
# "[[Cry Me a River (Justin Timberlake song)|Cry Me a River]]" ([[Dirty Vegas]] vocal mix) – 8:21
# "[[Like I Love You]]" ([[Basement Jaxx]] vocal mix) – 6:12
# "[[Señorita (Justin Timberlake song)|Señorita]]" (Num Club mix) – 7:53

==Credits and personnel==
Credits are lifted from the European CD single liner notes.<ref name="eurcd"/>

'''Studios'''
* Recorded at Hovercraft Recording Studios ([[Virginia]], US), [[Criteria Studios|The Hit Factory Criteria]] ([[Miami]], [[Florida]], US), and the [[Record Plant]] (Los Angeles, [[California]], US)
* Mixed at MixStar Studios ([[Virginia Beach]], Virginia, US)
* Mastered at [[The Hit Factory]] (New York City, US)

'''Personnel'''
{{div col}}
* [[Pharrell Williams]] – writing, all instruments
* Tom Batoy – writing
* Franco Tortora – writing
* Andreas Forberger – writing
* [[Chad Hugo]] – all instruments
* The Neptunes – production
* Andrew Coleman – recording
* Brian Garten – recording (Record Plant)
* [[Serban Ghenea]] – mixing
* John Hanes – additional [[Pro Tools]] engineering
* Daniel Betancourt – engineering assistance
* Steve Robillard – engineering assistance
* Jun Ishizeki – engineering assistance
* Tim Roberts – engineering assistance
* Herb Powers, Jr. – mastering
* Fredrik Peterhoff – art direction
{{div col end}}

==Charts==
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Chart (2003–2004)
!scope="col"|Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|Austria|55|artist=Justin Timberlake|song=I'm Lovin' It|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|25|artist=Justin Timberlake|song=I'm Lovin' It|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia Tip|1|artist=Justin Timberlake|song=I'm Lovin' It|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|CIS|64|artist=Justin Timberlake|song=I'm Lovin' It|songid=561|rowheader=true|access-date=November 12, 2020}}
|-
!scope="row"|Greece ([[IFPI Greece|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm|title=Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 15–21/2|publisher=[[IFPI Greece|IFPI]]|language=el|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040219095003/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm|archive-date=February 19, 2004|access-date=February 19, 2004}}</ref>
|17
|-
{{single chart|Hungarysingle|6|year=2004|week=3|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|15|artist=Justin Timberlake|song=I'm Lovin' It|rowheader=true|access-date=January 20, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|13|artist=Justin Timberlake|song=I'm Lovin' It|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|27|artist=Justin Timberlake|song=I'm Lovin' It|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|Romania ([[Romanian Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10102.html|title=Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 3, saptamina 19.01 – 25.01, 2004|publisher=[[Romanian Top 100]]|language=ro|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050220101750/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10102.html|archive-date=February 20, 2005|access-date=May 15, 2020}}</ref>
|90
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|43|artist=Justin Timberlake|song=I'm Lovin' It|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|47|artist=Justin Timberlake|song=I'm Lovin' It|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|79|date=20040110|rowheader=true|access-date=September 16, 2019}}
|-
{{single chart|UKrandb|28|date=20040110|rowheader=true|access-date=March 4, 2023}}
|}

==Release history==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format
! scope="col"| Label
! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row"| Spain
| rowspan="2"| November 20, 2003
| rowspan="3"| [[Music download|Digital download]]
| rowspan="7"| [[Sony Music Entertainment]]
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://es.7digital.com/artist/justin-timberlake/release/im-lovin-it|title=I'm Lovin' It|work=7digital|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210417/http://es.7digital.com/artist/justin-timberlake/release/im-lovin-it|archive-date=August 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| Singapore
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://sg.7digital.com/artist/justin-timberlake/release/im-lovin-it|title=I'm Lovin' It|work=7digital|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705163106/http://sg.7digital.com/artist/justin-timberlake/release/im-lovin-it|archive-date=July 5, 2013}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| Germany
| rowspan="3"| December 1, 2003
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://de.7digital.com/artist/justin-timberlake/release/im-lovin-it|title=I'm Lovin' It|work=7digital|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812212447/http://de.7digital.com/artist/justin-timberlake/release/im-lovin-it|archive-date=August 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Maxi single]]
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/IM-Lovin-It-Justin-Timberlake/dp/B0000WNJO2|title=I'm Lovin' It: Amazon.de: Musik|work=amazon.de|access-date=August 31, 2017|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306220526/http://www.amazon.de/Im-Lovin-It-Justin-Timberlake/dp/B0000WNJO2|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| Luxembourg
| rowspan="3"| Digital download
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://lu.7digital.com/artist/justin-timberlake/release/im-lovin-it|title=I'm Lovin' It|work=7digital|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812221408/http://lu.7digital.com/artist/justin-timberlake/release/im-lovin-it|archive-date=August 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| France
| December 9, 2003
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://fr.7digital.com/artist/justin-timberlake/release/im-lovin-it|title=I'm Lovin' It|work=7digital|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812220547/http://fr.7digital.com/artist/justin-timberlake/release/im-lovin-it|archive-date=August 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| United States
| December 16, 2003
| <ref name="lovin"/>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Justin Timberlake songs}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2003 singles]]
[[Category:2003 songs]]
[[Category:Jive Records singles]]
[[Category:Justin Timberlake songs]]
[[Category:McDonald's advertising]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Paul Hunter (director)]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by the Neptunes]]
[[Category:Songs used as jingles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Pharrell Williams]]