"Music Gets the Best of Me" is a song by the British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released as the fourth and final single from her debut solo album, Read My Lips (2001). Written by Ellis-Bextor, Gregg Alexander and Matt Rowe, with Rowe and Alexander serving as producers alongside Steve Osborne, it was one of two new tracks that appeared on the re-issue of the album in 2002, along with previous single "Get Over You". Lyrically, "Music Gets the Best of Me" explores Ellis-Bextor's love of music, highlighting her commitment to music rather than a love life.
Following its release, the song peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Ellis-Bextor's first single to miss the top 10. Elsewhere, it peaked at number 15 in Italy and Romania. Prior to its release, the song received a radio edit for airplay, which reduced some of the backing vocals that were originally more prominent on the album version. Two music videos were made for the song: a "Day Version" and a "Night Version", with the night version of the music video being the one that was broadcast in the United Kingdom. The night version of the video attracted similarities for its production and style to that of "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)". "Music Gets the Best of Me" is Ellis-Bextor's ninth-best–selling single in the UK as of 2024.
Contents
Music video
There are two different music videos for the song. Both are directed by Sophie Muller. The first shows Ellis-Bextor in a tropical seaside setting, singing, playing, and dancing in daylight, both on the beach and in the water; at the end, she is at a night carnival. In much of the video, she wears headphones, as if listening to music. This video was the one released for television. The second video shows Ellis-Bextor going in to a dinner party uninvited; she puts on a CD and begins to perform, going from room to room; and ends by claiming that she had fun and leaving. This version was featured as an extra on her home video Watch My Lips.
Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the Read My Lips album booklet.
Studios
Recorded at Mayfair Studios (London, England)
Mastered at Sony Music Studios (London, England)
Personnel