U + Me (Love Lesson)

"U + Me (Love Lesson)" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige from her 13th studio album, Strength of a Woman (2017). It was released on February 17, 2017, as the album's second single. Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge produced "U + Me (Love Lesson)" and co-wrote it with Charles Hinshaw, David D. Brown, and Mary J. Blige. It is a soul ballad, and its lyrics revolve around a breakup.

"U + Me (Love Lesson)"
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album Strength of a Woman
ReleasedFebruary 17, 2017
Recorded2016
Genre
Length4:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge
  • Charles Hinshaw
  • David D. Brown
  • Mary J. Blige
Producer(s)
  • Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"American Skin (41 Shots)"
(2016)		 "U + Me (Love Lesson)"
(2017)		 "Love Yourself"
(2017)

Music critics identified its message as similar to that of Blige's previous single, "Thick of It" (2016). "U + Me (Love Lesson)" received positive reviews from critics for its composition and lyrics. The single charted on several Billboard charts, peaking at number one on the Adult R&B Songs chart. Blige promoted the song through live performances.

Recording and release

Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge produced "U + Me (Love Lesson)" and co-wrote it with Charles Hinshaw, David D. Brown, and Mary J. Blige. Hinshaw also provided background vocals. Jaymz Hardy-Martin III recorded and mixed the track, and David Kim worked as an assistant mixer. The vocals were recorded by Marshall Bryant, with assistance from Dexter Randall. The single was recorded at Windmark Recording in Santa Monica, California, engineered at the Marvin's Room, and mixed at the Chalice Recording Studio—both in Los Angeles.[1]

Capitol released "U + Me (Love Lesson)" as a digital download on February 17, 2017.[2][3] It was the second single from Blige's 13th studio album, Strength of a Woman (2017).[4] On May 2, 2017, she sang it at the iHeartRadio Theater in New York City.[5] On May 19, 2017, Blige performed the song as part of a medley during Today's Citi Concert series.[6][7]

Composition and lyrics

Lasting four minutes and 59-seconds,[10][lower-alpha 1] "U + Me (Love Lesson)" is a midtempo soul ballad.[10][12][13] Michael Saponara of Vibe wrote that it contained elements of soul music,[12] and Andy Kellman of AllMusic interpreted the composition as "a machine-soul ballad".[10] Ammar Kalia of Clash described the instrumental as composed of "trap-influenced sub-bass and heavier drum programming",[8] and Andy Gill of The Independent wrote that the song shared the same "skittish modern beats" as Blige's single "Love Yourself" (2017).[9]

Kyle Eustice of HipHopDX described the single as a "sultry breakup ballad" with lyrics referencing Blige's divorce from Kendu Issacs. Eustice wrote that the song revolves around "bouncing back from a devastating blow".[14] Music critics compared the song's message to that of Blige's previous single "Thick of It" (2016).[12][15][16] Andy Kellman felt that it "could not have been made at any other point in Blige's career".[10] Lyrics include: "The lies you told to me make it easy for me to leave, You plus me wasn't the best thing"[15] and "And I just can't deny the fact / we don't belong together / Guess it ain't the real thing."[17] She talks about a relationship that does not add up to a happy ending singing: "You plus me was a love lesson / In too deep with our imperfections." Blige also sings about getting over a breakup with the lyrics: "Gotta keep on pushin' / Love myself through the hard times."[4]

Reception

The song received a positive critical response. Praising how listeners could relate to the song's lyrics, a Jet writer said that Blige had "another vocal peak".[18] Kylie Eustice wrote that Blige "turned [her] pain into art",[14] and Michael Saponara described the song as "a therapeutic anthem to anyone going through a bad break up or tough times with a loved one".[12] Ammar Kalia enjoyed how the single differed from the "orchestral swells" typically used in Blige's music, and referred to it as "refreshing".[8] Soulbounce.com's D-Money commended the song for its "undeniable head nod factor and empowering lyrics".[4]

"U + Me (Love Lesson)" charted on several Billboard charts. The song peaked at number 18 on the R&B Songs Billboard chart on May 27, 2017, and stayed on the chart for five weeks.[19] It reached number 11 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Billboard chart on May 20, 2017, and remained on the chart for 20 weeks.[20] The single peaked at number one on the Adult R&B Songs Billboard chart on May 6, 2017, and remained on the chart for 25 weeks.[21] "U + Me (Love Lesson)" reached number eight on the Billboard Adult R&B songs year-end chart.[22] The song received a nomination for Outstanding Song, Traditional at the 2018 NAACP Image Awards.[23]

Track listing
Digital download[3]
No.TitleLength
1."U + Me (Love Lesson)"4:59

Personnel
  • Backing Vocals – Charles "Prince Charlez" Hinshaw
  • Engineer [Additional] – Marshall Bryant, Michael Frenke
  • Mixed By [Assistant] – David Kim
  • Mixed By, Recorded By – Jaymz Hardy-Martin III
  • Producer – Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge
  • Recorded By [Additional, Assistant] – Dexter Randall
  • Recorded By [Additional] – Marshall Bryant
  • Written-By – Brandon Hodge, Charles Hinshaw, David D. Brown, Mary J. Blige

Charts

Release history
Country Date Format Label Ref.
United States February 17, 2017 Digital download Capitol [2]

Notes
  1. "U + Me (Love Lesson)" is four minutes and 56-seconds on the album,[10] and five minutes on Blige's Vevo account.[11]

References
  1. Strength of a Woman (Media notes). Mary J. Blige. Capitol. 2017.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "Releases". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
  3. "U + Me (Love Lesson) - Single". Apple Music. February 17, 2017. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
  4. D-Money (February 17, 2017). "Mary J. Blige Shares A 'Love Lesson' With 'U + Me'". SoulBounce.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
  5. Papadatos, Markos (May 2, 2017). "Review: Mary J. Blige brings soul to iHeartRadio Theater in New York City". Digital Journal. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017.
  6. "Watch Mary J. Blige perform 'U + Me (Love Lesson)' live on Today". Today. May 19, 2017. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017.
  7. "Watch Mary J. Blige Perform A Hit-Filled Medley on 'Today'". Rap-Up. May 19, 2017. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017.
  8. Kalia, Ammar (April 28, 2017). "Mary J Blige - Strength Of A Woman". Clash. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017.
  9. Gill, Andy (May 3, 2017). "Album reviews: Kasabian, Blondie, Mary J Blige, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds". The Independent. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018.
  10. Kellman, Andy. "AllMusic Review by Andy Kellman". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018.
  11. "Mary J. Blige - U + Me (Love Lesson) (Audio)". Vevo. February 16, 2017. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018.
  12. Saponara, Michael (February 16, 2017). "Mary J. Blige Opens Up About Her Struggles On "U + Me (Love Lesson)"". Vibe. Archived from the original on October 29, 2017.
  13. Howard, Jacinta (February 17, 2017). "Mary J. Blige Drops New Break-Up Jam 'U + Me (Love Lesson)' [Listen]". The Boombox. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017.
  14. Eustice, Kyle (February 17, 2017). "DX Digest: Mary J. Blige Broods Over Divorce On "U + Me (Love Lesson)" & Pusha T Says That's "Enough" With Flume". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017.
  15. "New Music: Mary J. Blige - 'U + Me (Love Lesson)'". Rap-Up. February 16, 2017. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017.
  16. "Mary J. Blige Releases 'U + Me (Love Lesson)'". Rttnews.com. February 17, 2017. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
  17. "Mary J. Blige releases new single, "U + Me (Love Lesson)," from forthcoming album". ABC News Radio. February 17, 2017. Archived from the original on February 27, 2017.
  18. "Mary J. Blige Shares Her "Love Lesson" in new Single". Jet. February 16, 2017. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017.
  19. "Hot R&B Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
  20. "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
  21. "Adult R&B". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
  22. "2017 Year End Chart: Adult R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  23. Staff, THR (14 November 2017). "NAACP Image Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  24. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  25. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
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