"Love Don't Cost a Thing," by Jennifer Lopez

Photographer: Michael Hart Thompson

Album: "J.Lo"

Release Date: December 2, 2000

Written by: Amille D. Harris, Jeremy Monroe, Georgette Franklin, Greg Lawson and Damon Sharpe

Produced by: Ric Wake

Twenty years later, "Love Don't Cost A Thing" remains one of Jennifer Lopez's hit songs: the "tale of a materialistic relationship."

"Love Don't Cost a Thing" is a pop and R&B song recorded for her second studio album, "J.Lo," in 2001. The track is described as an "exploration of love."

The song's initial idea came up with Lawson, and he thought it might be a good one for Lopez. It was primarily produced by Ric Wake, with additional production from Cory Rooney and Richie Jones. Lopez recorded her vocals with Dan Hetzel and Dave Scheyer at the Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York, mixed by Jones and Hetzel. Later, the song was mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York.

[Chorus]

"Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't

Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't

Even if you were broke

My love don't cost a thing

Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't

If I wanna floss, I got my own

Even if you were broke

My love don't cost a thing"

Lyrically, it's the "tale of a materialistic relationship" full of "credit cards and lavish gifts." As Lopez sings in the chorus: "Think you gonna keep me iced, you don't/ Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't/ Even if you were broke/ My love don't cost a thing." She also affirms that she's "not impressed" by her lover's Mercedes-Benz because "she's got her own."

"Floss" here refers to the expensive material goods. This ties to the first and second lines in the chorus, where said goods are referred to directly ("iced" implies having a sufficient amount of jewelry) and allusively (the action "spend your cash" means expenditure on luxury goods such as designer clothing or automobiles).

[Pre-Chorus]

"All that matters is

That you treat me right

Give me all the things I need

That money can't buy, yeah"

Reinforcing the theme song, the lyrics above says that money and materialism don't matter in love if loyalty and caring are taken.

The music video, directed by Paul Hunter and choreographed by actor and dancer Darrin Dewitt Henson, was shot in Miami, Florida. It received two nominations at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards: "Best Female Video" and "Best Dance Video."

The music video opens with Lopez at her rich boyfriend's mansion. He calls her to inform her that he can't make their date but has left her another golden bracelet. Strapped in jewelry, she furiously hangs up the phone and leaves. While driving, she throws a purse he gave her into the air. Lopez pulls over at a tropical beach, and the screen zooms into a dance break, where dancers back Lopez on a tropical beach.