No MIBs coming this time around for the "Men In Black 3" soundtrack. Just the dulcet grunts and growls of pop star Pitbull, who has appropriated the classic Mickey & Sylvia song "Love is Strange" for "Back in Time," the first single from "Men In Black 3."
Written by Pitbull himself (real name: Armando C. Perez), Marc Kinchen, Adrian Trejo and Urales Vargas, "Back in Time" features lyrics that reference the fact that its a soundtrack song ("You're groovy baby/let's make a movie baby") as well as the "Men in Black" franchise itself. Agent J and Agent K -- Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in the films, respectively -- are given shoutouts, as are their signature black suit-black skinny tie look.
Early impressions of the single from online observers have been muted. Movieline's Jen Yamato noted "the 9 worst, most idiotic and insufferable and insulting parts of this future hit single," while taking special offense to the use of the "Love is Strange," which you might remember from its use in "Dirty Dancing." Meanwhile, The Playlist summed up its feelings on "Back in Time" with a simple, "We miss Will Smith."
This is the first time Smith hasn't performed the "Men In Black" theme. In 1997, he sang "Men in Black," which heavily sampled the 1982 Patrice Rushen song "Forget Me Nots." In 2002, Smith sang "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)" for "Men in Black II."
Listen to Pitbull's "Back in Time" below. "Men in Black 3," with Smith, Jones, Josh Brolin, Emma Thompson, Jermaine Clement and Bill Hader arrives in theaters on May 25.