Can I Have It Like That

Album: In My Mind (2005)
Charted: 3 48
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This R&B/Hip-Hop fusion features Gwen Stefani on the hook. The No Doubt frontwoman's vocals consist of a single sample of her saying "you got it like that," which were recorded by Pharrell during the laying down of her The Great Escape album in 2005. Williams, meanwhile raps about his current lifestyle as well as his life and achievements.
  • This was released as the lead single from Pharrell Williams' debut solo studio album, In My Mind. The record received generally mixed reviews from critics and debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, outsold by Destiny's Child exile LeToya Luckett's debut album and the compilation Now 21.

    Reflecting on its poor commercial performance during a 2014 interview with GQ magazine, Williams admitted: "I wrote those songs out of ego. Talking about the money I was making and the by-products of living that lifestyle. What was good about that? What'd you get out of it? There was no purpose. I was so under the wrong impression at that time."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Early Days of MTV

Early Days of MTVFact or Fiction

If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

Sam Phillips

Sam PhillipsSongwriter Interviews

Collaborating with T Bone Burnett, Leslie Phillips changed her name and left her Christian label behind - Robert Plant, who recorded one of her songs on Raising Sand, is a fan.