Personnel: Olivia Olson (vocals); Carl Sturken (keyboards, drums, programming); Brian Higgins, Tim Powell (keyboards, programming); Steve Ferrera (drums); Tim Laracombe, Peter Vitesse, Jon Shave, Paul Statham, Andy Bradfield, Pascal Gabriel, Rob Dougan, James Sanger, Yoad Nevo (programming).
Audio Mixers: Chris Lord-Alge; Jim Tract; Geoff Foster ; Serge Tsai; Jay Newland; Mark "Spike" Stent; Allen Sides ; Matt Wallace ; The Miracles; Andy Bradfield; Rob Kirwan; Arif Mardin; Ash Howes; Tony Maserati ; Michael Brooks .
Liner Note Author: Richard Curtis .
Recording information: Air Studios, London, England; Cherokee Studios, Hollywood, CA; Ocean Way Studios, L.A; Platinum Sound studios, New York, NY; Swanyard Studios; The Enterprise, Burbank, CA; The Hit Factory, New York, NY; The Loft, Bronxville, NY; The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA; The River; Western Studios.
Director: Richard Curtis .
Arranger: Craig Armstrong.
In the liner notes that accompany the soundtrack to LOVE ACTUALLY, the movie's director Richard Curtis writes that the songs here are the "life and soul of the film." This perspective is naturally a welcome change from the often-mercenary and seemingly random perspective that plagues many original soundtrack releases. One listen quickly verifies Curtis' claim, as the disc is filled with unabashedly romantic modern pop.
Anyone who's seen comedies starring Hugh Grant knows his trademark combination of self-effacing, witty humor and slightly sophisticated regular-guy appeal. The music here (including artists such as the Beach Boys and Norah Jones) sounds exactly like what one might imagine a Grant character would be listening to on his home stereo. From the melancholy electronica-framed strains of Dido's gorgeous "Here with Me" to Joni Mitchell's world-wizened, contemporary take on her classic "Both Sides Now," the material on LOVE ACTUALLY perfectly suits the film's warmly humorous take on one of life's most joyous and confusing subjects.
Professional Reviews
Uncut (1/04, p.112) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Justin Timberlake's 'Like I Love You' is an astounding, epoch-defining pop single..."
