narrative, and its hook is the pick-up line, "You make me wanna leave the one I'm with and start a new relationship with you". Usher told Rolling Stone that the song was inspired by one of his own memories of "juggling three women". Release "You Make Me Wanna..." was distributed by LaFace Records and Arista Records. In the United States, it was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio on July 15, 1997. The song was then released via maxi single on August 5, 1997. On September 9, 1997, the track was added to US contemporary hit radio. "You Make Me Wanna..." was released via cassette single, CD single, and 12-inch vinyl in the UK on January 19, 1998. The vinyl was made available in the US on April 24, 2001. Unauthorized copies of the song were distributed in Europe before its release, due to its popularity. "You Make Me Wanna..." serves as the opening track to Usher's second studio album, My Way, while an extended version concludes the album. Critical reception BBC Music's Christian Hopwood stated that "You Make Me Wanna..." had "universal appeal". Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Vocally strumming his notes as gently and powerfully as the guitar player who accompanies him, Usher makes no enemies by professing an attraction to a friend while being involved with another. The track promises to be a hit among all generations and genders as his loyal young female fan base will eagerly jump aboard. Older women will easily fall prey to the very thought of his musings, while men now have an interesting avenue to express similar feelings." Robert Christgau noted "You Make Me Wanna..." as one of the best tracks from My Way. Entertainment Weekly Whitney Pastorek gave it an A− rating, and complimented its minimal production. The Daily News reviewer called the single "very wonderful". Alan Jones from Music Week viewed it as "a superbly sublime and soulful semi-acoustic debut which recalls similarly styled singles from Tony Rich and Babyface. It actually has a very complex vocal, with Usher singing in and around the gaps on his own chorus. A very promising cuitain-raiser." According to Ann Powers of The New York Times, the song "put the spice back in the word 'relationship'." David Fricke from Rolling Stone said it is one thing: "tiptoe love funk with a spare, gangsta air and Usher doing overdubbed ensemble singing like a one-man Blackstreet."