"I Wanna B with U" is a song by German Eurodance band Fun Factory, released on 18 April 1995 by various labels as the first single from the band's second album, Fun-Tastic (1995). The song was written by Steve Bender, Toni Cottura and Rodney Hardison. It was a top-10 hit in Canada, while in Europe, it was a top-20 hit in Austria (18), Finland (12) and Germany (11). In the US, "I Wanna B with U" peaked at number 45 on the BillboardHot 100 and number ten on the BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart. It remains one of their most successful songs and is also their biggest hit in the US. The accompanying music video was directed by Frank Paul Husmann-Labusga,[1] featuring the band performing at a garden party, and produced by Music In Motion GmbH.[2] The track was released with remixes by Mousse T, Sequential One and Simon Harris.
Larry Flick from Billboard felt that songs like "I Wanna B with U" "are dance music in its purest and celebratory form."[3] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, writing, "A reggae-flavoured, summery song with the oft-repeated title line providing a great hook. Certain to make radio playlists, with big sales to follow."[4] Rupert Howe from NME was less enthustiastic, saying, "Fun Factory may look like yet another instant melting-pot-noodle of a Eurobeat combo along the lines of Clock/Corona/The Real McCoy etc, but in a trick of Faustian proportions turn out to be merely a horrible tuneless facsimile of the already horrible and tuneless Ace of Base."[5]James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as a "plaintive girl chanted and gruff chaps rapped Euro reggae lurcher".[6]
