Love Sex Magic

A song entitled "Magic," performed by Justin Timberlake, leaked online in November 2008. In February 2009, Rap-Up reported that Ciara and Timberlake had recorded a new duet for her then-upcoming album, Fantasy Ride. The final version of the song, initially titled "Love and Sex and Magic," featured Timberlake dueting with Ciara. Eventually known as "Love Sex Magic," the song was written by Timberlake, Mike Elizondo, and Timberlake's production team The Y's—James Fauntleroy, Timberlake, and Rob Knox. Timberlake wanted to create a song that both genders could relate to. The Y's and Elizondo produced the song. Ciara said that her collaboration with Timberlake was one of the best of her career, because they actually collaborated in the studio, rather than him being added as a guest feature after the initial recording. She explained, "I actually went into the studio to make the record from scratch, or he had the record there for me, but us being together was a very rare case I've had over the years." Ciara enjoyed her time with Timberlake, and valued the opportunity to work with him as an "artist and producer." She also noted how passionate Timberlake was about his work, and mentioned his humbleness and positive attitude. ==Composition==

With "Love Sex Magic," Ciara moved in a more pop direction than her past music. Jordan Sargent of PopMatters noted that while a pop fan might see the singer "back in her mind creatively," a Ciara fan would see the song as "signal[ing] the end of the singer's career as it once was." Sargent stated that the song "sounds nothing like the chrome-plated crunk&b nor the moonlit balladry that Ciara has staked her name on." as well as displaying disco and soul influences. Carter commented that Timberlake was "ushering Ciara away from her typically crunk-laced stylings in favor of JT’s electro-slide." Both Ciara and Timberlake provide verses, accompanied by vocal whims and falsetto. ==Critical reception==

Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Music said that with the track, Ciara "lucked into the sexiest thing to happen to pop since Timberlake's own FutureSex/LoveSounds," calling the song one of the "biggest anthems of the year." Gennoe went on to call the song the "highlight" and "saving grace" of Fantasy Ride. Nick Levine of Digital Spy said that "the track itself is nearly as sexy as the promo clip", commenting "Ciara purrs, and Timberlake, if you'll pardon the pun, more than rises to the occasion. All in all, 'Love Sex Magic' is pretty much spot on." Medina went on to call the song an early candidate for "song of the summer." Caramanica called it an unexpected twist, calling Ciara "still curiously anonymous". He noted that Timberlake, not a "vocal powerhouse" himself, out-sings Ciara on the track. Breihan pointed out that "Timberlake's nerdy swagger really highlights Ciara's total lack of presence." Andy Kellman of AllMusic called the song a "hobbling flop" and said that it was "easily forgettable." At the 52nd Grammy Awards, "Love Sex Magic" was nominated for the award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. ==Chart performance==

Love Sex Magic debuted at number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In its second week, the single jumped to number 27 on the chart. Although the single did not rank among Ciara's most successful singles in the United States, it performed well overall in international markets. In Canada, the song debuted at number nine on the Canadian Hot 100, and would later peak at number six. In New Zealand, the song debuted at number fourteen on the New Zealand Singles Chart. Across Europe, the single met a commercial success and charted in the top ten of seven charts, including France, in which it peaked at number 8, becoming Ciara's second top ten-hit in the country after "Takin' Back My Love" (2009) with Enrique Iglesias, which peaked at number 2 several months earlier. Also, the single peaked at number 4 in Ireland and Sweden, becoming her second top ten in the latter, number 7 in Germany and number 9 in Switzerland. It reached the top twenty of four others, including Austria, Belgium (both regions), Hungary and Denmark and top thirty in Finland. However, due to its numerous chartings in Europe, the song peaked at number six on the European Hot 100 chart. In the United Kingdom, "Love Sex Magic" debuted at number six on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number five the following week. The song spent seventeen non-consecutive weeks on the chart, as well as topping the UK R&B Chart for two weeks. In the Republic of Ireland, the song peaked at number four on the Irish Singles Chart, climbing from number seven the previous week. ==Music video==

Background The Diane Martel-directed music video for "Love Sex Magic" premiered on March 22, 2009. In an interview with MTV News, Ciara said: "It's all about showing another side of me with this video. I'm basically giving you a show you'd see in Vegas—and it's my love, sex and magic show. He's the voyeur and I play with him a little bit. I got my inspiration from the Crazy Horse show and just from the shows [in Vegas], period. It's giving you the elements of love and sex and magic." In a later interview about the video, Ciara stated that she had to lick Timberlake's ear, and at one point, he was licking her neck and they were "freestyling." Martel wanted them to do something "edgy," so they found a "cool way to do it." Ciara noted the different pauses in cuts in between the tapings, commenting "so it's licking on the neck, again, then his biting on my neck, again. It was really funny." Synopsis The video opens with Ciara and Timberlake face to face, caressing seductively. The camera cuts to Ciara who appears almost impervious to gravity. Dressed in lingerie, she maneuvers around a horizontal dance pole; background dancers are veiled in vibrant color schemes and alternating strobe lights. The video then cuts to Ciara in a leotard, posing in abstract and flexible poses. Ciara is then seen dressed in a tiger-striped catsuit performing solo dance moves on a stage. Timberlake performs his verse seated onstage while Ciara performs intricate tricks, such as snaking under his legs. Then the two begin to lightly move to the track before Ciara forms her body as an armrest as he leans on her. Ciara and the dancers perform choreography and cabaret-style moves on the pole. The bridge of the song puts Timberlake on the ground and Ciara, standing over him, turns and performs her signature "Matrix" over him as he guides her body toward his with his right hand. The two perform and as Ciara gets up, Timberlake smacks her side as she pops to the beat. The video then cuts to a scene with Ciara in the catsuit portraying a tiger in a cage. In the final scene, Ciara and the dancers perform, dressed in 1970s-inspired tuxedos and colored afros. The video ends with clips of Ciara's multiple performance scenes from throughout the video. Reception Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the video a positive review: "The video that accompanies this track is one of the year's best so far—and certainly the sexiest: Ciara licks Justin's ear, Justin reciprocates by slapping her bum, and, well, Ciara's flexibility would put many a poledancer to shame. Quite frankly, the whole thing could make a nun have impure thoughts." The video ranked at number thirty-nine on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown. The music video on YouTube has received over 75 million views as of April 2024. ==Live performances==

On May 9, 2009, Ciara performed the song on Saturday Night Live with Timberlake, that night's host. The writer pointed out that Timberlake was not even noted on the set until he began his verse. On May 13, 2009, Ciara performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, accompanied by background dancers. Ciara and the dancers performed choreography similar to that of the video and wore the 1970s-inspired suits and afros. Ciara performed the song at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Japan on May 30, 2009. ==Track listing and versions==

• German Maxi CD • "Love Sex Magic" (Main Version) – 3:40 • "Love Sex Magic" (Instrumental) – 3:40 • "Love Sex Magic" (PokerFace Club Mix) – 4:19 • "Love Sex Magic" (Jason Nevins Sex Club Radio Mix) – 3:28 • "Love Sex Magic" (Video) – 3:40 • UK and European CD Single • "Love Sex Magic" (Main Version) – 3:40 • "Go Girl" (featuring T-Pain) (Main Version) – 4:29 ==Credits and personnel==

• Ciara – vocals • Justin Timberlake – vocals, producer, writer, instruments, music programming • James Fauntleroy – producer, writer, music programming • Rob Knox – producer, writer, instruments, music programming • Mike Elizondo – producer, writer, instruments • Spike Stent – audio mixing • Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, CA - recording studio ==Charts==

Weekly charts Monthly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==