I Love You (Martina McBride song)

"I Love You"
Single by Martina McBride
from the album Runaway Bride: Music from the Motion Picture and Emotion
B-side	"Whatever You Say"
Released	July 26, 1999 (1999-07-26)
Genre	Country pop
Length	2:52
Label	RCA Nashville BMG
Songwriter(s)	Keith Follesé Adrienne Follesé Tammy Hyler
Producer(s)	Paul Worley Martina McBride
Martina McBride singles chronology
"Whatever You Say" (1999) "I Love You" (1999) "Love's the Only House" (1999)

"I Love You" is a song by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was written by Keith Follesé, Adrienne Follesé, and Tammy Hyler along with being produced by McBride and Paul Worley. It was recorded for the soundtrack of the 1999 film Runaway Bride and was released as the lead single from McBride's sixth studio album Emotion (1999).

Released originally on July 26, 1999 to country radio, it spent five weeks atop the US Hot Country Songs chart. It also became a crossover hit, peaking at number 21 on the Adult Contemporary chart and peaking at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song would later be included in her Greatest Hits package.

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price of Billboard magazine gave a favorable review, comparing the song to Faith Hill's "This Kiss".[1] In his retrospective series "Every No. 1 Single of the Nineties", Kevin John Coyne gave it an unfavorable review, calling it a "This Kiss" re-write "sung in a baby voice that would've made even Barbara Fairchild say, 'That's a bit much.'"[2]

Chart performance

"I Love You" debuted at No. 43 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of July 31, 1999. It subsequently reached No. 1 in late 1999 and remained there for five consecutive weeks.[3] The song also charted at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 21 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

Music video

The song's music video shows McBride singing in a dress at a wedding hall, with video screens of the Runaway Bride film in the background. It was directed by Gerry Wenner.

Track listings

US 7-inch single[4] A. "I Love You" (single version) – 2:53 B. "Whatever You Say" – 4:29 Australian CD single[5] "I Love You" (pop version) – 2:53 "I Love You" (remix) – 2:53 "Happy Girl" – 3:27 German CD single[6] "I Love You" (album version) – 2:53 "I Love You" (single version) – 2:53

UK CD single[7] "I Love You" (international remix) – 2:54 "I Love You" (Runaway Bride system) – 2:52 "Happy Girl" – 3:26 European CD single[8] "I Love You" (pop version) – 2:52 "Happy Girl" – 3:27 "Valentine" – 3:13

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 38 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[10] 20 Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[11] 1 Germany (GfK)[12] 79 Italy (FIMI)[13] 21 US Billboard Hot 100[14] 24 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[15] 21 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[17] 5 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] 50 US Hot Country Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[19] 24 Chart (2000) Position US Hot Country Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[20] 50

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United States	July 26, 1999	Country radio	RCA Nashville BMG	[21]
	August 2, 1999	Adult contemporary hot adult contemporary modern adult contemporary radio		[22][23]

References

1. Price, Deborah Evans (July 31, 1999). Taylor, Chuck (ed.). "Reviews & Previews | Singles: Martina McBride – "I Love You"". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 31. Nielsen Business Media. p. 21. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
2. Coyne, Kevin John (October 12, 2022). "Every No. 1 Single of the Nineties: Martina McBride, "I Love You"". Country Universe. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
4. I Love You (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Martina McBride. RCA Records Nashville, Bertelsmann Music Group. 1999. 07863 65896-7.
5. I Love You (Australian CD single liner notes). Martina McBride. RCA Records, Bertelsmann Music Group. 1999. 74321710692.
6. I Love You (German CD single liner notes). Martina McBride. RCA Records, Bertelsmann Music Group. 1999. 74321703852.
7. I Love You (UK CD single liner notes). Martina McBride. RCA Records, Bertelsmann Music Group. 1999. 74321710692.
8. I Love You (European CD single liner notes). Martina McBride. RCA Records, Bertelsmann Music Group, Ariola. 1999. 74321 69771 2.
9. "Martina McBride – I Love You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
10. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9971." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 15, 1999. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
11. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 8456." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 11, 1999. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
12. "Martina McBride – I Love You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
13. "Martina McBride – I Love You". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
14. "Martina McBride Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
15. "Martina McBride Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
16. "Martina McBride Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
17. "RPM 1999 Top 100 Country Tracks". RPM. Retrieved March 8, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
18. "The Best of '99: Most Played Adult Contemporary Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 48.
19. "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Country Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. pp. YE-66.
20. "The Year in Music 2000: Hot Country Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-64.
21. "Country: Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1309. July 23, 1999. p. 119.
22. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1310. July 30, 1999. pp. 89, 94.
23. "Gavin AC/Hot AC: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2266. August 2, 1999. p. 28.