Self-described as an electronic and dance-pop song, it contains numerous elements including J-pop and techno.

The accompanying music video for "You Make Me Want to Be a Man" was shot in Tokyo by Kōji Morimoto and Kiriya; it features an android-Utada inside of an industrial-cyber utopia.

The Maxi CD version of the single contains three remixes of "You Make Me Want to Be a Man", and the accompanying music video.

[3] A bonus promo package included a separate CD and DVD of the single, and featured unreleased artwork of Exodus.

[3] Utada described the song as "very electro" and "dance-pop" with numerous musical elements including J-pop and techno.

[1][6][7] Lucas Villa from Axs.com deciphered the themes of the track: "Tougher subjects Utada tackled on Exodus included her dissolving marriage to Kazuaki Kiriya on 'You Make Me Want to Be a Man.'

'[8] Several critic publications, including Renowned for Sound, #PopHatesFlops, and MuuMuse, quoted similar aspects of her relationship and feminism views as key themes to the song.

[13] The accompanying music video for "You Make Me Want to Be a Man" was directed by anime director Kōji Morimoto and Kiriya.

"[1] Utada said she was influenced by her Japanese heritage, anime and otaku culture, and Japan's advances in technology during the early 2000s.

"[1] Utada revealed that she shared her creative input with Kiriya because "It's very difficult, but a bit of companionship was exactly what I needed.

Throughout the video, several inter-cuts of archive footage feature heavy use of modern technology and small scenes of human functionality.

[16] As several inter-cuts of archive footage appear, the verses open with another robotic Utada witnessing the small screens with red eyes.

[16] By the second verse, a robotic male companion emerges from a mercury-like substance, and is seen on a rooftop, displaying himself and the cityscape.

The light then turns into a final form of the robotic Utada, covered in shiny gloss and with red eyes.