It was 2003. Low-rise jeans were everywhere, and the radio was dominated by a specific kind of slick, percussion-heavy R&B that felt like the future. Then came the whistle. That infectious, synthesized woodwind hook from Mya Love Is Like Wo started blasting out of car speakers, and suddenly, everyone was trying to figure out what "Wo" even meant.
Mya Harrison wasn't a newcomer by the time this track dropped. She’d already won a Grammy for the "Lady Marmalade" collaboration and established herself as the industry’s most versatile triple threat. But "My Love Is Like... Wo" was different. It wasn't the sweet, ethereal balladry of "It's All About Me." It was aggressive. It was confident. It was a masterpiece of mid-2000s production that basically redefined her image overnight.
The Missy Elliott Factor and the Sound of 2003
You can't talk about this song without talking about the production. While many people misattribute the beat to The Neptunes because of that signature "clack," it was actually produced by Missy Elliott and C. "Tricky" Stewart. Missy’s fingerprints are all over the track's DNA. It has that off-kilter, bouncy rhythm that shouldn't work on paper but feels undeniable in your bones.
The song served as the lead single for her third studio album, Moodring. At the time, Mya was transitioning from the "girl next door" persona into something more mature and experimental. Honestly, the track is a lesson in minimalism. Most pop songs today are layered with fifty different vocal tracks and a million synths. "My Love Is Like... Wo" relies on a thick bassline, that iconic whistle, and Mya’s own rhythmic delivery.
She doesn't just sing the lyrics; she rides the beat like a percussion instrument.
What does "Wo" even mean?
This was the question on every teenager's mind in 2003. Is it "Whoa"? Is it "Woah"? Mya explained in several interviews during the Moodring press circuit that "Wo" was a catch-all term. It was an adjective, a noun, an exclamation. It described something that was high-energy, impressive, or just flat-out incredible.
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It was a brilliant marketing move. By using a slang term that felt universal yet specific to her brand, she created a viral moment before "going viral" was even a thing. People weren't just singing the song; they were using the lingo.
A Music Video That Defined an Era
If you close your eyes and think of Mya, you probably see her in that music video. Directed by Paul Hunter—the same visionary behind Michael Jackson's "You Rock My World"—the visuals for Mya Love Is Like Wo were high-budget, high-concept, and physically demanding.
Mya performed almost all of her own stunts.
- She did her own choreography.
- She performed the tap-dancing sequences herself.
- She even did the scenes involving the "matrix" style wire-work.
The video features five different versions of Mya, each representing a different "vibe" or personality. There’s the street-style dancer, the glamorous diva, the edgy rocker, the "tough girl," and the sophisticated lady. It was a visual metaphor for the versatility of the song itself. This wasn't just a pop star standing in front of a green screen; this was a trained dancer showing why she was in a league of her own.
Interestingly, the tap-dance break in the middle of a mainstream R&B video was a massive risk. Tap wasn't "cool" in the hip-hop world of the early 2000s. But Mya, who started as a dancer before she was a singer, insisted on it. It added a layer of technical skill that her peers simply couldn't replicate. It made the song feel "Wo" in a way words couldn't describe.
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The Technical Brilliance of the Composition
Musically, the song is a bit of an anomaly. It's written in the key of C# Minor, which gives it a slightly dark, moody undertone that contrasts with the upbeat tempo. The tempo sits at about 95 BPM—the "sweet spot" for club tracks during that era.
Most people don't realize how difficult the vocal arrangement actually is. Mya uses a lot of staccato notes. Listen closely to the verses. She’s hitting these sharp, short notes that have to be perfectly synchronized with the snare hits. If her timing was off by even a fraction of a second, the whole song would fall apart.
Then you have the lyrics. They're playful. They’re slightly cocky.
"My ass is like wo, my waist is like wo."
It was an anthem for body positivity before that was a buzzword. She was celebrating her physicality in a way that felt empowering rather than just performative.
Why the Song is Still Relevant in 2026
We are currently living through a massive early-2000s (Y2K) revival. From fashion to music production, the influence of the Missy Elliott/Timbaland/Tricky Stewart era is everywhere. Artists like Doja Cat and Tinashe have clearly taken notes from the Mya blueprint.
Mya Love Is Like Wo remains a staple in "throwback" DJ sets because it doesn't sound dated. Some songs from 2003 sound like they are trapped in a time capsule because of certain cheesy synth sounds. But because this track was so experimental and percussion-focused, it still feels fresh.
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- The Whistle Sample: That high-pitched hook is instantly recognizable. It functions as a "sonic logo."
- The Danceability: It's one of the few songs that works in a hip-hop club, a pop lounge, and a dance studio simultaneously.
- The Authenticity: Mya actually lived the lifestyle she sang about. She wasn't a manufactured pop product; she was a musician and a dancer who had a heavy hand in her own creative direction.
Misconceptions About Mya’s Career During This Phase
A lot of critics at the time thought Mya was "chasing trends" by working with Missy Elliott. They couldn't have been more wrong. In reality, Mya was pushing the boundaries of what a female R&B artist was allowed to do. She was blending genres—pop, R&B, hip-hop, and even elements of jazz-tap—long before it was the industry standard.
Another common myth is that the song was a "one-hit wonder" moment for her. People tend to forget that she had a string of hits before and after this. But "My Love Is Like... Wo" was her highest-charting solo single in several territories for a reason. It captured the zeitgeist.
It reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the charts for twenty weeks. That kind of longevity is rare for a song that is essentially an experimental dance track.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Lovers and Creators
If you’re a songwriter, a dancer, or just a fan of music history, there’s a lot to learn from this specific moment in Mya’s career.
- Study the Percussion: If you’re producing music, listen to how the vocals in this track act as a drum kit. The "p's" and "t's" in her delivery provide a rhythmic texture that most modern songs lack.
- Visual Storytelling: Watch the music video again, but pay attention to the lighting and the character shifts. It shows how you can market different "facets" of an artist within a single four-minute window.
- Embrace the "Niche": Mya’s decision to include tap dancing was a "niche" skill that became her signature. Don't be afraid to bring your weirdest, most technical skills into your mainstream work.
- The Power of the Catchphrase: "Wo" proved that you don't need a complex chorus to make a song stick. Sometimes, a single, well-defined syllable is more powerful than a poetic bridge.
The legacy of Mya Love Is Like Wo isn't just about nostalgia. It’s a testament to what happens when a highly skilled performer meets a legendary producer and they decide to get a little bit weird. It’s a reminder that pop music doesn't have to be predictable to be successful.
Go back and add this to your "Gym" or "Get Ready" playlist. You’ll find that twenty-plus years later, the energy hasn't dipped one bit. It’s still, quite frankly, like wo.
Next Steps for the Deep-Dive:
- Watch the "Making of the Video" footage on YouTube to see Mya’s rehearsal process for the tap sequence.
- Listen to the Moodring album in its entirety. It features production from Rockwilder and Timbaland, offering a broader context for her sound in 2003.
- Compare the "Wo" production to Missy Elliott’s "Work It" to see how they utilized similar rhythmic structures to dominate the charts.