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"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. The track was released as the third single on June 7, 2018. A lyric video for the song was later released on YouTube on June 21, 2018. The single received widespread acclaim from music critics, praised for its sexiness, "slick" production values and Aguilera's "smooth" vocal delivery. It also received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, held in 2019.
Composition and recording[]
"Like I Do" is a mid-tempo song that blends elements of hip-hop, R&B, and house music. Its final form was also influenced by genres such as neo soul, synth-pop, and future garage. 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. 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. 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".
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. 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". 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". 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".
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". 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". 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. Pitchfork contributor Claire Lobenfeld chose "Like I Do" as "one spot where contemporary pop fare suits Aguilera" on the Liberation album. The BuzzFeed editor Dylan Nguyen labelled the song as "a modern R&B masterpiece".
On the other hand, The Guardian's 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". 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.
Lyric Video[]
Official lyric video for "Like I Do" was released on Aguilera's YouTube channel on June 21, 2018. The song's lyrics are displayed as the backdrop for scenes of a dancing couple. A man and a woman move in a sensual manner, almost as if engaged in a dance battle, and in other scenes they passionately embrace under a shower of water. The song's lyrics are also shown on old television sets. The video is presented in black and white, and the footage was shot at the Please Space recording studio in Brooklyn, New York. The lyric video was directed by KIT Walters and Turkish-born photographer Ece Gürlü.
Track listing[]
| Digital download | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 1. | "Like I Do" | 4:49 | ||||||||
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1: GoldLink]
Right, heaviest heaven, talk to the reverend
But I know you bad as fuck and I'm tryna fuck
And you know we perfect baby girl, look at us
Make a young n**** cash out and run it up
All that little booty in your trunk
Make a man wanna say hallelujah when they jump
Make 'em buy a little Porsche, I'm around you so we stunt
Black men, black car, let you buy you what you want, uh
No, wait, baby you a problem
Sagittarius, hmm, exciting
Link and Aguilera, so you know we're gossip
Coexistence, you the moon, I'm the sun
Genie in my bottle, I'm trying to rub on your hips
Ain't no other man who can talk to you like I did, that's real
Let's start a family, I'm Uncle Phil, you my Aunt Viv
Fly to Spain, go to Rome
We don't ever have to ever go home
I wanna love you from your head to your toe
I like a little fuss and fighting when I go
You say leave, tell me stay, want me go
Then I leave, pump fake like I'm gone
But you know I never leave you on your own
And you're too bad for these brothers who be on your phone like
[Verse 2: Christina Aguilera]
Let me make this simple for ya
Lay it out on the table for ya
In case you need a little reminder
I've been doing this way before you
Boy, you already know my story
You were raised in all my glory
You might also like
[Pre-Chorus: Christina Aguilera]
I don't need your little money
I can put you under something
Stop talking, we can get along
We can Marvin Gaye and get it on
Where you want to be, I've been before
Shh, say no more
Boy, you're so much better when you don't speak
If you get somethin', get one thing
Can't play me, boy, I'm out of your league
[Chorus: Christina Aguilera & GoldLink]
No, baby, you can't do it quite like I do
I do
Like I do
I may not want, but just might have to show you
Show you
What I do
And you can't do it quite like I do
[Verse 3: Christina Aguilera]
This feeling is legendary
Welcome to my sanctuary
Every time like the first time
But, baby, girls like me ain't temporary
Can't fake it when it comes this natural
I ain't ever tried, it's just natural, ha
[Pre-Chorus: Christina Aguilera]
I don't need your little money
I can put you under something
Stop talking, we can get along
We can Marvin Gaye and get it on
Where you wanna be, I've been before
Shh, say no more
Boy, you're so much better when you don't speak
If you get somethin' get one thing
Can't play me, boy, I'm out of your league
[Chorus: Christina Aguilera & GoldLink]
No, baby, you can't do it quite like I do
I do
Like I do
I may not want, but just might have to show you
Show you
What I do
And you can't do it quite like I do
[Bridge A: Christina Aguilera]
Oooh (Oooh)
Can't keep running your mouth (Can't keep running your mouth)
I got time but (Got time now)
What I gotta lie, what I gotta lie about? (What I gotta lie about?)
Oooh
There you go running your mouth (There you go, running your mouth)
Show me what it is
Show me right now (Show me what it is, show me right now)
'Cause I can do (Oh, oh)
[Bridge B: Christina Aguilera & GoldLink]
Don't talk for a second
Just get all this lesson
Don't you second guess it
Just show some respect and
It can go far for you
I know it's kind of hard for you
It's not my job, but you're working so hard
I can share a bar or two
Plus you're kinda cute
[Pre-Chorus: Christina Aguilera]
Stop talking, we can get along
We can Marvin Gaye and get it on
Where you wanna be, I've been before
Shh, say no more (say no more)
Boy, you're so much better when you don't speak
If you get somethin', get one thing
Can't play me, boy, I'm out of your league
[Chorus: Christina Aguilera & GoldLink]
No, baby, you can't do it quite like I do (Woo)
I do (Yeah)
Like I do (Like I do)
I may not want, but just might have to
Show you (Let me show you what I do now, baby)
Show you (Can't do it, boy, like I do, yeah, yeah)
What I do (Yeah)
And you can't do it quite like I do (Woo)
[Outro: Christina Aguilera]
Hahaha
Hey
Uh
Yeah
Hey yeah
Oh
Oooh
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Wooo