Who performed the original 2003 recording used for McDonald's “I'm Lovin' It” campaign?

Justin Timberlake performed the original 2003 recording used for McDonald's “I'm Lovin' It” campaign.

The campaign began in 2003 and used the phrase “I'm Lovin' It” with a pop-oriented musical identity. Timberlake recorded the vocal track associated with the campaign, while the broader project involved music producers and advertising agencies rather than being a conventional solo-artist release.

The campaign's short five-note musical hook became known as the “ba da ba ba ba” jingle. Its global rollout helped McDonald's create a more unified international voice at a time when the company was adapting its marketing to many countries.

Timberlake's role is sometimes confused with Pharrell Williams's production involvement or with other performers linked to later versions. The precise answer concerns the original vocal recording used in the 2003 launch campaign.