Luv Me, Luv Me
by Shaggy (featuring Janet Jackson)

Album: How Stella Got Her Groove Back Soundtrack (1998)
Charted: 5 76
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The songwriting/production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis put this together for the 1998 movie How Stella Got Her Groove Back - they were in charge of the soundtrack. The song features Janet Jackson, who they had been working with since her 1986 album Control.

    The film stars Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg, and Taye Diggs, and has a screenplay by Terry McMillan. The soundtrack also has contributions from Mary J. Blige, K-Ci & JoJo, and Stevie Wonder. It went Gold, selling over 500,000 copies in America.
  • In this song, Shaggy puts on his "Mr. Lover" persona, going full-on seduction. It's a variation of the character he assumed in his 1995 hit "Boombastic."
  • Janet Jackson's "Ooh boy I love you so" hook - lyrics and melody - was lifted from the 1977 Rose Royce song "Ooh Boy." The rapper Candyman found it first, sampling this bit on his 1990 hit "Knockin' Boots."
  • In addition to "Ooh Boy," "Luv Me, Luv Me" uses a drum break and various elements from "Impeach The President," an oft-sampled 1973 track by The Honey Drippers. That song's writer, Roy C. Hammond, gets a credit on this song, as does Norman Whitfield, who wrote "Ooh Boy."
  • Shaggy was dropped from his label after his 1997 album Midnite Lover underperformed. "Luv Me, Luv Me" got him back on track; he signed with MCA and in 2000 released the album Hot Shot, which sold over six million copies and produced two #1 hits: "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel."
  • Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis remixed this for Shaggy's 2000 album Hotshot, removing Janet Jackson's vocals because of legal matters and replacing them with new ones from Samantha Cole. This new version with Cole was released as a single and got it's own music video.
  • Making the How Stella Got Her Groove Back soundtrack was a challenge for Jam and Lewis because they had to work with artists who were scattered all over the world. Janet Jackson ended up recording her vocals in London while they listened in on a phone call from America.
  • The video, directed by Marc Klasfeld, opens with a scene from the movie where Whoopi Goldberg is ranting in the back of a cab. The action then turns to Shaggy, who is in a tropical setting with a bevy of beauties.

Comments: 2

  • Amber from Allegan, MiGive a little bit of this, Give a little bit of that. Let 'em know ya. Shaggy! Mmm.
  • Natasha from London, EnglandThis is a very lovey-dovey song
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