"Lover Like Me"
Single by CL
from the album Alpha
ReleasedSeptember 29, 2021
Genre
Length2:58
LabelVery Cherry
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Freedo
  • Nick Lee
CL singles chronology
"Spicy"
(2021) 		"Lover Like Me"
(2021) 		"Tie a Cherry"
(2021)
Music video
"Lover Like Me" on YouTube

"Lover Like Me" is a song by South Korean rapper, singer, and songwriter CL. It was released on September 29, 2021, through her self-managed Very Cherry as the second single from CL's debut studio album, Alpha (2021). The song was written by CL, Anne-Marie, Freedo, Nafla, Cleo Tighe, and Sarah Blanchard, whilst production was handled by Freedo and Nick Lee.

Background and composition

On September 17, four days after attending the annual Met Gala fashion event in New York City, CL announced via her social media platforms that her upcoming second single, titled "Lover Like Me", would be released on September 29. It was made available for digital download and streaming as the second single off of her debut studio album, Alpha.[1]

Composed in the key signature of C♯ major, the song contains a tempo of 158 BPM.[2] Stylistically, "Lover Like Me" showcases a different charm in contrast to Alpha's first single, "Spicy", which was released a month prior. Caitlin White from Uproxx commented that "'Lover Like Me' has the braggadocio of 'Spicy' but it's undercut with some of the softness of her pop sound."[3] Teen Vogue's Jazmine Denise commented that it "will instantly trigger nostalgic feelings associated with early '00s R&B; it oozes self-confidence and sass as CL brazenly reminds an ex-lover that she’s one of a kind."[4] Regarding its lyrical content, W Korea noted that "although it looks like a story about love, it can also be interpreted as a story about CL as a musician", the refining of her identity.[5]

Reception

Writing for Beats Per Minute, Chase McMullen contrasted the song to the open aggressiveness of "Spicy", saying it "practically glides, with CL displaying her equal strength for softer vocals. That doesn't mean she’s dropped even an ounce of that famous attitude." He additionally highlighted its catchiness, calling it "an instant, delightfully bitter, earworm."[6] In its debut week, the song entered at number 35 on the Gaon Download Chart.[7]

Music video and promotion

The music video for "Lover Like Me" was uploaded to CL's YouTube channel simultaneously with the release of the single on September 29; a teaser video was uploaded via the same platform two days prior.[8][9] The music video features shots of CL in brightly colored sets, including a room covered in sunflowers, as well as a red-tinted studio full of vintage television sets.[10]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Melon.[11]

Release history

Release formats for "Lover Like Me"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various September 29, 2021 Digital download, streaming Very Cherry [11]

References

  1. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (September 29, 2021). "앤마리 손잡은 CL, 빠져들 수밖에 없는 멋진 기지배 'Lover Like Me'[들어보고서]". Newsen (in Korean) – via Naver.
  2. ^ "Key, BPM of Lover Like Me By CL". Musicstax. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  3. ^ White, Caitlin (September 29, 2021). "CL's Swaggering New Single 'Lover Like Me' Closes The Door On The Past". Uproxx. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  4. ^ Denise, Jazmine (October 1, 2021). "CL, Wallows, Kali Uchis ft. SZA, and More Best New Music Friday". Teen Vogue. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "CL, 'Lover Like Me' 발매. 앤 마리 참여" [CL releases 'Lover Like Me'. Anne-Marie participates]. W Korea (in Korean). September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  6. ^ McMullen, Chase (September 29, 2021). "Korean icon CL eviscerates an ungrateful ex on the effortless earworm that is 'Lover Like Me'". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  7. ^ "2021년 40차 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Yoon, Sang-geun (September 27, 2021). "CL 'Lover Like Me' 뮤비 티저..파워풀한 보컬+파격 레드 비주얼". Star News (in Korean). Retrieved September 29, 2021 – via Naver.
  9. ^ Kim, Yeeun (September 29, 2021). "CL Drops Empowering New Track, "Lover Like Me"". Hypebae. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  10. ^ Chin, Carmen (September 29, 2021). "CL unveils eccentric music video for 'Lover Like Me'". NME. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Lover Like Me - CL" (in Korean). Melon. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
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