"Do I" is a song co-written and recorded by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

artist Luke Bryan. It was released in May 2009 as the lead-off single from his album '' Doin' My Thing''. Bryan co-wrote the song with

Dave Haywood David Wesley Haywood (born July 5, 1982) is an American country musician and songwriter. He is one-third of the American country music band Lady A, in which he plays guitar, piano and mandolin, and sings backing vocals. Early life Haywood's fat ...

and

Charles Kelley Charles Burgess Kelley (born September 11, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter and lead singer and founding member of the country music trio Lady A, which was formed in 2006 and are signed to Big Machine Records. Early life and career Kelle ...

of the group

Lady A Lady A (formerly known as Lady Antebellum) is an American country music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2006. The group is composed of Hillary Scott (lead and background vocals), Charles Kelley (lead and background vocals, guitar), ...

ntebellum, whose co-lead singer

Hillary Scott Hillary Dawn Scott-Tyrrell (born April 1, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter. She is the co-lead singer of Lady A, previously known as Lady Antebellum, a country music group that was formed in 2006, and is signed to Big Machine Records ...

is featured on

background vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...

. "Do I" is about a couple questioning the status of their relationship. The song received mixed reviews from critics wary of Bryan's delivery in the lyrics. "Do I" peaked at number 2 on both the ''Billboard'' Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts respectively, both times behind Lady A's own song " Need You Now". It also gave Bryan his first top 40 hit on the Hot 100 chart, charting at number 34. The song was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and has sold 1,633,000 copies in that country as of November 2015. The song also charted in Canada, peaking at number 66 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. An accompanying music video for the song, directed by

Shaun Silva Shaun Silva is a music video director who works primarily in the country music field. He has directed a number of music videos for many country music artists, including many of Kenny Chesney's music videos. His other clients include Jason Aldean, D ...

, is set in a high rise condominium where Bryan contemplates his relationship with his girlfriend.

Content

Bryan told CMT that, "the song is about a couple that doesn't know if their worlds are right with each other, or they don't know how their relationship's going down hill". The song is in the key of A major, with Bryan's vocals ranging from C♯4 to F♯5.

Critical reception

Stephen M. Deusner of ''Engine 145'' gave the song a thumbs-down. Although he described the lyrics favorably by saying that "the scenario is all the more affecting for its mundanity" and "'Do I' implies no hint of a happily ever after, and that ambiguity gives the lyrics extra impact", Deusner criticized Bryan's vocal performance, saying "it never quite conveys much desperation or despair. There’s no worry in his voice, nor does it sound like he’s trying to keep a stoic front." Chris Neal of ''

Country Weekly ''Nash Country Weekly'' was an American lifestyle weekly magazine about country artists and their music. It was in circulation between April 1994 and May 2016. The publisher, Cumulus Media, now maintains the site ''Nash Country Daily''. Overview ...

'' described the song favorably in his review of the album, saying that it "shows a knack for convincingly delivering hymns to thwarted love."

Commercial performance

"Do I" debuted on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart at number 53 for the chart week of May 9, 2009. In November 2009, the song became his first top 40 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. The song has sold 1,755,000 copies in the U.S. as of March 2019.

Music video

The music video was directed by

and was filmed in a high rise condominium in downtown Nashville. It features Luke Bryan dealing with the relationship with his girlfriend. It premiered on Amazon.com on June 29, 2009.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{authority control 2009 singles Country ballads 2000s ballads Luke Bryan songs Music videos directed by Shaun Silva Songs written by Luke Bryan Songs written by Dave Haywood Songs written by Charles Kelley Capitol Records Nashville singles 2009 songs