I Like Me Better

"I Like Me Better" is a celebration of the transformative power of love and its profound impact on self-perception. The song's core message is that the right relationship can bring out the best version of oneself. Lauv wrote the song reflecting on his experience of moving to New York City for college, a time when he felt lost and unsure of his identity. Two months into this new chapter, he fell in love, and this relationship provided a sense of grounding and validation amidst the uncertainty. The central lyrical theme, "I like me better when I'm with you," is a direct expression of this feeling; his partner's presence made him feel more confident, secure, and happier in his own skin. The song explores themes of self-discovery, highlighting that personal growth is often intertwined with shared experiences and connections. It's not just a love song about adoring another person, but about how that person's love helps you to love and accept yourself more fully. The setting of New York City itself becomes a character, representing new beginnings, adventure, and the vibrant, exciting backdrop for this personal and romantic journey.

The narrative opens with the artist reflecting on a transformative period in his life, specifically moving to New York City. He describes the feeling of being young, uncertain of his identity, yet simultaneously feeling a sense of security and rightness as long as his partner is with him. This juxtaposition of being lost and found at the same time is a central theme. The experience of being in love in a bustling, iconic city is painted with vivid imagery: carefree, drunken moments and intimate, sleepless nights that stretch into the morning, filled with deep conversation over coffee. These experiences are portrayed as precious and formative, highlighting a time of intense connection and discovery.

The chorus serves as the song's emotional anchor and core message: a direct and heartfelt declaration that the singer prefers the version of himself that exists when he is with his significant other. This isn't just a simple statement of affection for the other person, but a profound acknowledgment of their positive impact on his self-perception and confidence. The repetition of "Yes, I do" underscores the certainty and sincerity of this feeling. He knew from their very first encounter that this connection was significant and lasting.

The second verse delves deeper into the intimacy of the relationship. It describes waking up next to his partner, a simple act that brings a feeling of limitless potential, as if there is "no ceiling" to their world. In a world where distractions are constant, the ability to simply let the day pass by, absorbed in each other's company, is a rare and cherished experience. There's a playful intimacy suggested in the lines about potentially revealing secrets, indicating a deep level of trust and comfort.

Throughout the song, the narrative circles back to the central idea of self-improvement through love. The relationship provides a stable ground during a period of personal flux, allowing him to navigate the uncertainties of young adulthood. The love he shares doesn't just provide happiness; it actively helps him grow and appreciate himself more. The story is one of mutual enhancement, where the connection unlocks a better, more confident, and happier version of himself, a sentiment that feels both personal to his story and universally relatable.

"I Like Me Better" was written by Lauv (Ari Leff) and his collaborator Michael Matosic and produced by Lauv himself. The song was released on May 19, 2017. The inspiration stems directly from Lauv's personal experience of moving from San Francisco to New York City to attend New York University (NYU) at age 18. He felt lost and was trying to figure out his path in life when he fell in love for the first time just two months after the move. This relationship became a stabilizing force in his life.

Lauv has described it as the fastest song he ever wrote. The creative process was spontaneous; he went into the studio with no preconceived ideas, lyrics, or concepts. He started by playing with new synth sounds, which formed the chorus chords, and a drum loop. The distinctive melodic hook in the post-chorus came to him, and he quickly recorded it as a voice memo on his iPhone to not forget it. He initially intended to replace this rough voice memo recording but ended up liking the raw quality so much that he chopped it up and used it in the final production. The entire song was written and produced in his bedroom. The song was part of his playlist project titled "I Met You When I Was 18 (The Playlist)," which chronicles the story of this significant relationship.

The song's rhythmic structure is built on a mid-tempo, driving electronic beat that gives it a cheerful, easy-going, and danceable feel. The rhythm is consistent and straightforward, creating a sense of stability that mirrors the emotional grounding the lyrics describe. The use of finger-snaps and a jangly guitar loop in the verses adds a light, intimate texture that builds into the fuller, synth-driven chorus.

Lyrically, the song doesn't adhere to a strict, traditional rhyme scheme, leaning more towards a free verse structure with occasional rhymes that feel natural rather than forced. For instance, in the first verse, "City" and "me" create a soft slant rhyme. The pre-chorus uses rhyming couplets ("talking"/"coffee" in some interpretations, though not a perfect rhyme) leading into the chorus. The focus is less on complex rhyme patterns and more on the conversational flow of the lyrics. The lyrical rhythm is melodic and syncopated, fitting neatly within the pop structure and making the lines catchy and memorable, especially the central hook, "I like me better when I'm with you."

"I Like Me Better" employs a blend of musical and literary techniques to create its distinct, heartfelt vibe:

• Musical Techniques: The song is a fusion of electropop and indie pop, characterized by its bright synth chords, a steady, upbeat drum machine beat, and simple finger-click percussion. A key stylistic element is the unique vocal chop melody used as a hook, which was created from a voice memo Lauv recorded on his phone. This gives the song a uniquely personal and modern texture. Lauv's vocal delivery is sincere and gentle, enhancing the song's emotional honesty. The arrangement is relatively minimal, which puts the focus on the melody and the vulnerable lyrics.
• Literary Techniques: The lyrics utilize a direct and conversational narrative voice, making the story feel personal and relatable. Lauv uses juxtaposition effectively, particularly in the line "To not know who I am but still know that I'm good long as you're here with me," which captures the complex feeling of being simultaneously lost in life but secure in a relationship. The use of concrete, sensory imagery like "midnight into morning coffee" paints a vivid picture of intimacy for the listener. The repetition of the title phrase serves as a powerful and memorable refrain that reinforces the song's central theme.

"I Like Me Better" was a significant breakout hit for Lauv, establishing him as a prominent artist in the indie-pop scene. It became a sleeper hit in the United States, spending over six months on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and eventually peaking at number 27. The song achieved multi-platinum certifications in numerous countries, including the US, Australia, and Canada, and has amassed over a billion streams on Spotify. Its slow climb on the Mainstream Top 40 chart set a record for the longest ascent into the top 10, taking 35 weeks.

The song's relatable theme and catchy melody led to its widespread use in popular media. Most notably, it was featured in the trailer for the popular Netflix romantic comedy To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018), which significantly boosted its popularity and cemented its status as a quintessential modern love song. It has also appeared in other shows like Netflix's The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia, an Android Auto commercial, and during the Miss Universe 2018 evening gown competition. The song's success solidified Lauv's place in the music industry and remains one of his most recognized and beloved tracks.

The song uses several key symbols and metaphors to convey its message:

• New York City: The city itself is the primary symbol in the song. It represents a vast, overwhelming world of new beginnings, adventure, and the chaos of young adulthood. Being "young and in love in New York City" is a potent image that encapsulates the excitement and intensity of both the relationship and this phase of life. It's a backdrop that magnifies the feelings of being simultaneously lost and found.
• "Midnight into morning coffee": This phrase is a vivid metaphor for deep, uninterrupted connection and intimacy. It symbolizes the kind of conversations and shared time where the outside world fades away, and hours are spent completely absorbed in each other's company, blurring the lines between night and day.
• "No ceiling": This imagery, used when he's waking up next to his partner, symbolizes a feeling of limitless potential and freedom. It suggests that with this person, any anxieties or limitations disappear, and the future feels open and boundless.
• "Yellow and green": While not explicitly in the song, one analysis suggests that the feeling Lauv describes evokes colors of warmth, growth, and change, like time moving in "yellow and green." This metaphorical coloring suggests moments that are both fleeting (yellow) and full of life and growth (green).

The most significant recurring motif in "I Like Me Better" is the titular phrase itself: "I like me better when I'm with you." This line is the song's central thesis and appears in the chorus and at key moments, acting as a constant refrain and emotional anchor. Its repetition drills home the core message of the song—that the narrator's sense of self is positively transformed by his partner's presence. It's not just a hook; it's a declaration that gains earnestness with each repetition, reinforced by the confirming phrase "Yes, I do."

Another recurring image is the idea of being young and in love in New York City. This phrase, which opens the song, establishes the setting and emotional context. The concept of the city, with its associated feelings of adventure and uncertainty, is a constant backdrop for the personal narrative of love and self-discovery. The motif of shared, intimate moments, such as "midnight into morning coffee," also recurs, emphasizing the depth and quality of the connection.