Like U Like Explained

Like U Like
Cover:Aggro-santos-like-u-like-official-single-cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Aggro Santos featuring Kimberley Walsh
Album:AggroSantos.com
Length:3:26
Label:Mercury, Future Records
Producer:Steve Mac
Chronology:Aggro Santos
Prev Title:Saint or Sinner
Prev Year:2010

"Like U Like" is a song by the British recording artist Aggro Santos featuring the Girls Aloud member Kimberley Walsh. The song was written by Steve Mac, Wayne Hector, and Aggro Santos and produced by Mac for his first album, AggroSantos.com (2011). After Santos mentioned to Gary Barlow that he was interested in making a duet with Walsh, Barlow contacted her and arranged their duet. Originally, Walsh's part was sung by a male. The song uses synthesiser noises while Walsh's voice was described by reviewers as sultry and monotone.

The song received mixed reviews from critics complimenting the synthesiser noises but criticising Walsh's contribution to the song. An accompanying music video, directed by the Lennox Brothers, shows Santos trying to win Walsh's affections during speed dating. It was noted that Walsh looked like her bandmate Cheryl Cole. The single entered at number eight and thirteen on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart, respectively.

Background and composition

In an interview with MTV United Kingdom, Santos said that Walsh replaced a male vocalist on the song. "I think it suits a girl's vocal more. It's more of a softer song and Kimberley did a great job on the vocals."[1] He also said that Gary Barlow had arranged the duet. "I was a big fan of Girls Aloud for years and I mentioned that to Gary Barlow who is a friend of Kim's. I said I would be up for working with her. He spoke to her and she was up for it, so we made 'Like U Like'."[1]

"Like U Like" is a rap-electro song which uses "grinding synths", "techno bleeps" and "catchy hand-claps" with Walsh providing a sultry voice. The song was written by Mac, Hector and Santos. Santos said that "Like U Like" "[is] more pop, bubbly and commercial than my last track, 'Saint or Sinner'".[2]

Critical reception

"Like U Like" received mixed reviews from critics. Robert Copsey from Digital Spy wrote, "[Kimberley Walsh's] sultry tones garnishing 'Like U Like's spicy mix of grinding synths, techno bleeps and catchy hand-claps in oh-so tasty fashion."[3] Leanne Rain of Hive Magazine praised the song. "[The] single has all the ingredients of a pop classic, and possesses one of the biggest pop hooks of the year."[4] Other critics criticised Walsh's appearance. Jon O'Brien from AllMusic said, "[the song] won't exactly threaten Cheryl Cole's status as the band's chief success." He also described "Like U Like" as a "tuneless dirge".[5] Rach Read from Teentoday also commented on Walsh's appearance. "Like U Like is a tacky trashtastic 'club banger' that would have completely slipped under our radar [if it] had it not featured Girls Aloud's most shapely member [...] That's in addition to looking extremely lovely, working some super-sexy moves and contributing some not terribly good vocals."[6] Morwenna Ferrier from The Guardian wrote that Santos raps like he has chips stuffed in his cheeks.[7]

Music video

The music video for "Like U Like" was directed by the Lennox Brothers.[8] The video has Santos adopting a variety of different looks to try to win the affections of Walsh during speed dating.[9]

Reception

Rach Read from Teentoday described the speed dating as the "worst speed-dating session in the world" because "every other participant seems to be Aggro himself. Get your money back, love!"[6] A reviewer from Sugar said that he loved the video particularly commenting on Kimberley's dance moves.[10]

Formats and track listings

Digital download

  1. "Like U Like" (featuring Kimberley Walsh) - 3:25

Like U Like - EP[11]

  1. "Like U Like" (featuring Kimberley Walsh) - 3:25
  2. "Like U Like" (Digital Dog Remix) - 6:09
  3. "Like U Like" (Instrumental) - 3:10
  4. Album Preview Mix - 5:23

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United KingdomJanuary 14, 2011Digital download[12] Mercury Records
January 16, 2011Extended play
Ireland[13] Digital downloadUniversal Music

Notes and References

  1. News: Aggro Santos: Gary Barlow Sorted Kimberley Duet. https://web.archive.org/web/20110406100325/http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/aggro-santos/news/253865-aggro-santos-girls-aloud-kimberley-walsh-like-u-like. dead. April 6, 2011. MTV UK. Dorken. Joanne. 1 January 2011. 18 January 2011.
  2. Web site: Music - Singles Interview - Aggro Santos . . Copsey . Robert . 13 January 2011 . 1 February 2011.
  3. Web site: Music - Singles Review - Aggro Santos ft. Kimberley Walsh: 'Like U Like' . Digital Spy. Copsey . Robert . 11 January 2011 . 25 January 2011.
  4. Web site: Music Video: Like U Like by Aggro Santos feat. Kimberley Walsh. Raine. Leanne. 22 November 2010. Hive Magazine. 9 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110711171934/http://www.hivemag.com/watch-aggro-santos-ft-kimberley-walsh-like-u-like/. 11 July 2011. dead.
  5. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r2112971|pure_url=yes}} Aggro Santos.com - Aggro Santos ]. 30 January 2011. AllMusic. O'Brien . 28 July 2010. Jon. Rovi Corporation.
  6. Web site: Aggro Santos featuring Kimberley Walsh – Like You Like video: shit or hit?. 1 March 2011. Teentoday. Read . 20 November 2010. Rach.
  7. News: This week's new singles . . Ferrier . Morwenna . 15 January 2011 . 13 February 2011.
  8. Web site: Aggro Santos' Like U Like featuring Kimberley Walsh by Lennox Brothers. Promonews . 9 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110221193305/http://www.promonews.tv/2010/12/03/aggro-santos%E2%80%99-like-u-like-featuring-kimberley-walsh-by-lennox-brothers/. 21 February 2011. dead.
  9. Web site: Aggro Santos - Like U Like. 23 November 2010. 4Music. 9 January 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20120717233337/http://www.4music.com/artist/aggro-santos/like-u-like-video-featuring-kimberley-walsh.html. 17 July 2012.
  10. Web site: Kimberley Walsh goes speed dating in new video. . 27 November 2010 . 13 February 2011.
  11. Web site: Like U Like - EP by Aggro Santos & Kimberley Walsh. 24 January 2011. . 24 January 2011.
  12. Web site: Like U Like: Kimberley Walsh: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads. . 16 January 2011 . 24 January 2011.
  13. Web site: Kimberley Walsh / Aggro Santos - Like U Like MP3 Downloads - 7digital. https://archive.today/20110707070009/http://uk.7digital.com/artists/kimberley-walsh-aggro-santos/like-u-like/. dead. 7 July 2011. Ie.7digital.com. 16 January 2011. 24 January 2011.