Music Sounds Better with U

"Music Sounds Better with U"
"Music Sounds Better with U"
Single by Big Time Rush featuring Mann
from the album Elevate
B-side	"Epic"
Released	November 1, 2011
Recorded	2011
Length	3:09
Label	Nickelodeon; Columbia;
Songwriters	Ryan Tedder, Thomas Bangalter, Benjamin Cohen, Brent Kutzle, Eric Bellinger, Frank Musker, Noel Zancanella, Alain Quême, Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Logan Henderson, Carlos PenaVega, Dominic Bugatti
Producer	Ryan Tedder
Big Time Rush singles chronology
Mann singles chronology
Music video
	"Music Sounds Better with U" on YouTube

"Music Sounds Better with U" is a song by American boy band Big Time Rush from their second studio album, Elevate. The song features American rapper Mann. "Music Sounds Better With U" was leaked two weeks before its official release, which was on November 1, 2011, as the first single from Elevate. Columbia Records released the song to US mainstream radio on November 15, 2011.

Background

"Music Sounds Better with U" premiered via On Air with Ryan Seacrest on October 21, 2011,^[1] before it was released on November 1, as the lead single from Elevate, via digital download.^[2]

Composition

The band co-wrote "Music Sounds Better with U" with Noel Zancanella, Eric Bellinger, and OneRepublic members Ryan Tedder & Brent Kutzle. Production of the song was also handled by Tedder.^[3] On Big Time Radio, it was announced that before the final cut, there were around "nine or ten versions of the song".^[4] The track covers the chorus from the 1998 single "Music Sounds Better with You" by Stardust.^[5]^[6] Logan Henderson also revealed that the track features a guitar sample from Chaka Khan.^[7]

Critical reception

Jenna Hally Rubenstein of MTV stated that the track "is a beyond addictive, polished and sugary pop song that's ready for da club... Tightly layered synths and guitars pair perfectly with the track's vocals."^[1] Kevin Apaza of Directlyrics called the song "a bit generic and dated," but still had praise for the track.^[8]

Chart performance

"Music Sounds Better with U" peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart during a ten weeks chart run.^[9]

Music video

An accompanying music video premiered on Nickelodeon on November 12, 2011.^[10]

Track listing

Digital download^[2]

"Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09

UK CD single^[11]

"Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
"Epic" – 3:27
"Music Sounds Better with U" (instrumental) – 3:02

UK digital download^[12]

"Music Sounds Better with U" – 3:09
"Music Sounds Better with U" (instrumental) – 3:02

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Music Sounds Better with U"
Chart (2011–2012)	Peak position
US Kid Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[13]	1
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[9]	26

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Music Sounds Better with U"
Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Austria	November 1, 2011	Digital download	Columbia	^[14]
Canada				^[15]
Cyprus				^[16]
Germany				^[17]
New Zealand				^[18]
Switzerland				^[19]
United States				^[2]
United States	November 15, 2011	Contemporary hit radio		^[20]
United Kingdom	December 9, 2011	CD		^[11]
United Kingdom	January 20, 2012	Digital download		^[12]

References

^ ^a ^b Jenna Hally Rubenstein (October 24, 2011). "New Song: Big Time Rush, 'Music Sounds Better With U'". MTV. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single". iTunes.
^ Elevate (Media notes). Columbia Records. 2011.
^ Big Time Radio Montage #2. SoundCloud. 5:40 minutes in. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
^ Big Time Radio Montage #2. SoundCloud. 6:00 minutes in. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
^ Michael Murray (October 21, 2011). "WORLD PREMIERE: Listen To Big Time Rush's New Single 'Music Sounds Better With U' [AUDIO]". Ryan Seacrest. Archived from the original on October 22, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
^ Taylor Weatherby (August 25, 2022). "Big Time Rush Share Favorite Memories From Their Biggest Hits, New Songs And One Unexpected Fan Favorite". Grammy Awards. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
^ Kevin Apaza (November 13, 2011). "Big Time Rush and Taio Cruz Debut New MVs: "Music Sounds Better With U" & "Troublemaker"". Directlyrics. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Big Time Rush Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
^ "J-14 Video: Big Time Rush 'Music Sounds Better With U'". J-14. November 14, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Big Time Rush: Music Sounds Better With U (CD Single)". Amazon UK.
^ ^a ^b "Big Time Rush: Music Sounds Better With U (UK Digital Single)". iTunes.
^ "Billboard". Billboard.
^ Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.
^ Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.
^ Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.
^ Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.
^ Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.
^ Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.
^ "Top 40/M Future Releases | Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ..." allaccess.com. November 15, 2011. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011.

[MTV-1] Jenna Hally Rubenstein (October 24, 2011). "New Song: Big Time Rush, 'Music Sounds Better With U'". MTV. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.

[United_States-2] "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single". iTunes.

[3] Elevate (Media notes). Columbia Records. 2011.

[4] Big Time Radio Montage #2. SoundCloud. 5:40 minutes in. Retrieved January 5, 2014.

[5] Big Time Radio Montage #2. SoundCloud. 6:00 minutes in. Retrieved January 5, 2014.

[6] Michael Murray (October 21, 2011). "WORLD PREMIERE: Listen To Big Time Rush's New Single 'Music Sounds Better With U' [AUDIO]". Ryan Seacrest. Archived from the original on October 22, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2014.

[7] Taylor Weatherby (August 25, 2022). "Big Time Rush Share Favorite Memories From Their Biggest Hits, New Songs And One Unexpected Fan Favorite". Grammy Awards. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

[8] Kevin Apaza (November 13, 2011). "Big Time Rush and Taio Cruz Debut New MVs: "Music Sounds Better With U" & "Troublemaker"". Directlyrics. Retrieved June 2, 2024.

[US_Billboard_Pop_Songs-9] "Big Time Rush Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2012.

[10] "J-14 Video: Big Time Rush 'Music Sounds Better With U'". J-14. November 14, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2024.

[CD-11] "Big Time Rush: Music Sounds Better With U (CD Single)". Amazon UK.

[United_Kingdom-12] "Big Time Rush: Music Sounds Better With U (UK Digital Single)". iTunes.

[13] "Billboard". Billboard.

[14] Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.

[15] Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.

[16] Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.

[17] Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.

[18] Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.

[19] Big Time Rush (November 1, 2011). "Music Sounds Better With U (feat. Mann) - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.

[20] "Top 40/M Future Releases | Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ..." allaccess.com. November 15, 2011. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011.

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v t e Mann
Studio albums	Mann's World
Singles	"Buzzin' (Remix)" "The Mack"
Featured singles	"Music Sounds Better with U"
Related articles	Beluga Heights Records Island Def Jam J. R. Rotem

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