The single was the first taste of the band's change in direction, eschewing the electronic-leaning production of their previous album for guitar-led rock. In the United States, "Why Do You Love Me" became Garbage's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 in six years, since "Special" reached number 52 in May 1999, as well as the band's fifth top 10 songs on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, and first since "I Think I'm Paranoid" peaked at number six in September 1998. Across the Atlantic, the song was Garbage's first top 10 single on the UK Singles Chart since "When I Grow Up" peaked at number nine in January 1999. "Why Do You Love Me" propelled the Bleed Like Me album to the top five in Australia, United Kingdom and in the United States, where the album debuted at a career-high number four.
The single was the first taste of the band's change in direction, eschewing the electronic-leaning production of their previous album for guitar-led rock. In the United States, "Why Do You Love Me" became Garbage's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 in six years, since "Special" reached number 52 in May 1999, as well as the band's fifth top 10 songs on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, and first since "I Think I'm Paranoid" peaked at number six in September 1998. Across the Atlantic, the song was Garbage's first top 10 single on the UK Singles Chart since "When I Grow Up" peaked at number nine in January 1999. "Why Do You Love Me" propelled the Bleed Like Me album to the top five in Australia, United Kingdom and in the United States, where the album debuted at a career-high number four.