3-Way (The Golden Rule)

"3-Way (The Golden Rule)"
"3-Way (The Golden Rule)"
Single by the Lonely Island featuring Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga
from the album The Wack Album
Written	May 19, 2011
Released	May 24, 2011
Recorded	May 20, 2011
Genre	R&B; new jack swing;
Length	2:51
Label	Universal Republic
Songwriter(s)	Andy Samberg; Akiva Schaffer; Jorma Taccone; Justin Timberlake; Alex Schwartz; Joe Khajadourian;
Producer(s)	The Futuristics; Asa Taccone; Ryan & Smitty;
The Lonely Island singles chronology
Justin Timberlake singles chronology
Lady Gaga singles chronology
Music video
	"3-Way (The Golden Rule)" on YouTube

"3-Way (The Golden Rule)" is a song recorded by American comedy music group the Lonely Island, featuring American singers Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga. The R&B and new jack swing track was written by Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, and Timberlake, while produced by the Futuristics with further production from Asa Taccone and Ryan & Smitty. It appeared as an SNL Digital Short on May 21, 2011, in the episode of the sketch comedy television series Saturday Night Live, which saw Timberlake and Gaga as the host and musical guest, respectively. She commented that Samberg and Timberlake were nervous about presenting the idea to her. The song was released as a single on May 24, 2011, three days after the broadcast.

"3-Way" and the sketch received positive reviews from critics, who called it one of the funniest moments of the episode. It received a nomination at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, but it lost to another song from the same SNL episode. During the ceremony, the Lonely Island performed a medley including the song. The accompanying music video, which aired on the SNL broadcast, is a sequel to the "Motherlover" (2009) sketch that finds Samberg and Timberlake reprising their roles from the skit as they sing about having a threesome with Gaga.