"Why Do You Love Me" | ||||||||||||||
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Single by Garbage | ||||||||||||||
from the album Bleed Like Me | ||||||||||||||
B-side |
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Released | March 8, 2005 | |||||||||||||
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Recorded | 2003–04; Smart Studios (Madison, Wisconsin) |
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Length | 3:52 | |||||||||||||
Label | A&E | |||||||||||||
Writer(s) | Garbage | |||||||||||||
Producer(s) | Garbage | |||||||||||||
Garbage singles chronology | ||||||||||||||
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"Why Do You Love Me" is a song by alternative rock band Garbage, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Bleed Like Me (2005). The single was the first taste of the band's change in direction, eschewing the electronic-leaning production of their previous album for guitar-led rock.
In the United States, "Why Do You Love Me" became Garbage's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 in six years, since "Special" reached number 52 in May 1999, as well as the band's fifth top 10 song on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, and first since "I Think I'm Paranoid" peakd at number six in September 1998. Across the Atlantic, the song was Garbage's first top 10 single on the UK Singles Chart since "When I Grow Up" peaked at number nine in January 1999. "Why Do You Love Me" propelled the Bleed Like Me album to the top five in Australia, United Kingdom and in the United States, where the album debuted at a career-high number four.
In 2007, "Why Do You Love Me" was remastered and included on Garbage's greatest hits album Absolute Garbage.
"Why Do You Love Me" was written and recorded at the band's own Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. Garbage had quietly disbanded during the sessions for Bleed Like Me in October 2003, before reforming to make a fresh start on the album early the next year. Drummer Butch Vig found himself confused over which direction to take the band's sound, before deciding to strip back to the basics of electric guitar, bass guitar and drums, using more first takes from vocalist and lyricist Shirley Manson's vocals, and reducing the synth components. Preferring to oversee the recording of drum tracks from the studio control booth, Vig approached Matt Walker to perform drums on some of the album; Walker's provided these for "Why Do You Love Me". Similarly, bass was performed by session musician Justin Meldal-Johnsen. "Why Do You Love Me" was mastered by Emily Lazar and Sarah Register at The Lodge in New York.