Like I Do (Christina Aguilera song) explained

Like I Do
Cover:Christina_Aguilera_Like_I_Do.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Christina Aguilera featuring GoldLink
Album:Liberation
Genre:
Label:RCA
Producer:
Chronology:Christina Aguilera
Prev Title:Fall in Line
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:Haunted Heart
Next Year:2019

"Like I Do" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from her eighth studio album Liberation. American rapper GoldLink is featured on the song.[1] The track was released as the third single on June 7, 2018.[2] A lyric video for the song was later released on YouTube on June 21, 2018.[3] The single received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, held in 2019.[4]

Composition and recording

"Like I Do" is a mid-tempo song that blends elements of hip-hop, R&B, and house music.[1] Its final form was also influenced by genres such as neo soul, synth-pop, and future garage.[5] Music journalists noted that the track belongs to the subgenre of slow jam.

Critical reception

David Smyth of the Evening Standard called the song the "slickest, most appealing production" of its parent album.[6] Jennifer Drysdale (Entertainment Tonight) singled the track out as a "flirty" number while also showcasing "more of a pop sound" for the then upcoming Liberation album.[7] USA Today critic Patrick Ryan also defined the song as a "flirty" track "whose hypnotic high flutes and dexterous guest verse from rapper GoldLink will be lodged in your brain all summer".[8]

Writing for HotNewHipHop, Chantilly Post noted that "Like I Do" sounds "like home for GoldLink as if the song could have been on his previous album At What Cost" while giving the song a "hot" stamp.[9] According to Masani Musa of The Source, the track is noticeable for highlighting Aguilera's "smooth and subtle vocals", while also showcasing the vocalist's "unapologetically belting over an airy flute melody that is seeped in nostalgia". She also refers to the collaboration as "everything we needed".[10] Similarly, Sajae Elder, of Complex, noted the "great opening verse" and claimed the song's "syncopated, summery production [...] gives a sexy nod to love songs on the past".[11] The "sexy" approach was also highlighted by Paris Close, writing for PopCrush, who noted that "no one does sexy like Xtina" adding that "when it comes to performance, she can show you better than she can tell you", while praising the "straight to the point" lyrics at the same time the "flute-tipped instrumentals play in the distance".[12]

Idolator's Mike Nied defined the song as a "vibey mid-tempo", noting that "accenting the performance with vocal flourishes, it is a refreshing release that highlights Xtina's state of mind in 2018".[13] Rolling Stone contributor Brittany Spanos highlighted GoldLink's references to Aguilera's earlier songs ("Genie in a Bottle", "Ain't No Other Man"), while considering the song a "self-assured track".[14] Vrinda Jagota of Paper noted Anderson .Paak's production, especially the "whimsical wind instruments and synths", while also praising GoldLink's "slick contribution". Overall, "the song ambles on joyously for almost five minutes, a skittering drum beat and that boisterous flute line flitting throughout", according to the music critic.[15] Pitchfork contributor Claire Lobenfeld chose "Like I Do" as "one spot where contemporary pop fare suits Aguilera" on the Liberation album.[16] The BuzzFeed editor Dylan Nguyen labelled the song as "a modern R&B masterpiece".[17]

On the other hand, The Guardians Alexis Petridis criticized the track. According to the music critic, "the most interesting thing about Like I Do is how its hook echoes Maroon 5’s 'Moves like Jagger', the biggest hit Aguilera’s been involved with in years".[18] Similarly, Stereogum contributor Chris DeVille called the track a "squelchy, bouncy MILF encounter", while also referring to "Sick of Sittin'" as the "superior option" among the Anderson .Paak productions.[19]

Notes and References

  1. Darville. Jordan. Christina Aguilera Shares "Like I Do" featuring GoldLink and Anderson.Paak. The Fader. June 7, 2018. January 6, 2019.
  2. Christina Aguilera Releases Bouncy New Single 'Like I Do' Featuring Goldlink: Listen. Billboard. June 7, 2018. January 6, 2019.
  3. Web site: Christina Aguilera - Like I Do (Lyric Video) ft. GoldLink. June 7, 2018. YouTube. en. January 6, 2019.
  4. Web site: 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards. 2018-12-06. GRAMMY.com. en. January 6, 2019.
  5. Web site: New song: Christina Aguilera – "Like I Do" feat. GoldLink. SoulBowl. June 11, 2018. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20231111131103/http://soulbowl.pl/2018/06/11/nowy-utwor-christina-aguilera-like-i-do-feat-goldlink/. November 11, 2023. November 11, 2023. live.
  6. Web site: Albums of the week: Christina Aguilera's back with a big bonkers bang . Smyth . David . June 15, 2018 . Evening Standard . January 7, 2019 .
  7. Web site: Listen to Christina Aguilera's New Song 'Like I Do' Featuring GoldLink . Drysdale . Jennifer . June 7, 2018 . Yahoo! . January 7, 2019 .
  8. Web site: Review: Christina Aguilera's 'Liberation' is a mostly satisfying comeback album . Ryan . Patrick . June 14, 2018 . USA Today . January 7, 2019 .
  9. Web site: Christina Aguilera Grabs GoldLink For "Like I Do" . Post . Chantilly . June 7, 2018 . HotNewHipHop.com . January 7, 2019 .
  10. Web site: Christina Aguilera and GoldLink's 'Like I Do' Is The Collab We Didn't Know We Needed . Musa . Masani . June 12, 2018 . The Source . January 7, 2019 .
  11. Web site: Christina Aguilera Enlists GoldLink for Her Smooth New Track "Like I Do" . Elder . Sajay . June 7, 2018 . Complex.com . January 7, 2019 .
  12. Web site: Christina Aguilera Drops Sensual Slow Jam 'Like I Do' Feat. GoldLink (LISTEN) . Close . Paris . June 7, 2018 . Pop Crush . January 7, 2019 .
  13. Web site: Tune: Christina Aguilera's "Like I Do" Is A Self-Assured Delight . Nied . Mike . June 7, 2018 . Idolator . January 7, 2019 .
  14. Hear Christina Aguilera's Sexy, GoldLink-Assisted New Song 'Like I Do' . Spanos . Brittany . Brittany Spanos . June 7, 2018 . Rolling Stone . January 7, 2019 . November 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201129141933/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-christina-aguileras-sexy-goldlink-assisted-new-song-like-i-do-630111/ . dead .
  15. Web site: Christina Aguilera Drops Fourth Single 'Like I Do' . Jagota . Vrinda . June 7, 2018 . Paper . January 7, 2019 .
  16. Web site: Christina Aguilera, Liberation . Lobenfeld . Claire . June 20, 2018 . Pitchfork . January 7, 2019 .
  17. Web site: 6 Best R&B Albums Of 2018. https://archive.today/20200625073904/https://www.buzzfeed.com/nguyendylan1910/6-best-rb-albums-of-2018-31u8wfeecy. dead. June 25, 2020. BuzzFeed. Dylan. Nguyen. June 24, 2020. June 24, 2020.
  18. Web site: Christina Aguilera: Liberation review – #MeToo makeover hits high and low notes . Petridis . Alexis . June 14, 2018 . The Guardian . January 7, 2019 .
  19. Web site: Christina Aguilera's New Album Is Pretty Good. Does Anyone Care? . DeVille . Chris . June 14, 2018 . Stereogum . January 7, 2019 .
  20. Web site: Indonesian Top Digital Songs Chart by LIMA / June 8th, 2018. LIMA. June 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143952/http://oi68.tinypic.com/oqy3xs.jpg. January 25, 2021. 2018-06-12.
  21. Web site: Like I Do / Christina Aguilera TIDAL. Tidal. 7 June 2018 . January 6, 2019.