Do It (Chloe x Halle song)

"Do It"
Single cover for "Do It"
Single by Chloe x Halle
from the album Ungodly Hour
ReleasedMay 14, 2020 (2020-05-14)
Recorded2019
Genre
Length2:56
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)Scott Storch
Chloe x Halle singles chronology
"Catch Up"
(2020)
"Do It"
(2020)
"Forgive Me"
(2020)
Music video
"Do It" on YouTube

"Do It" is a song by American duo Chloe x Halle, released on May 14, 2020, as the second[1] single from their second studio album Ungodly Hour (2020). It was written by Chloe, Halle, and Victoria Monét, as well as Vincent van den Ende and Scott Storch, who handled the production. An accompanying music video directed by C Prinz was released on May 15, 2020. In the video, the sisters perform coordinated choreography while wearing a number of glittering outfits. The duo also created a dance challenge for the song on the popular video sharing app TikTok in 2020. A remix of the song with Doja Cat featuring City Girls and Latto was released on September 4, 2020.

"Do It" became the duo's first song to achieve major chart success in the US, becoming their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 63.[2] Pitchfork ranked the song at number 15 on their list of the 100 Best Songs of 2020.[3] At the 2021 ceremony, the song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Song.

Background and composition

[edit]

"Do It" was written by Chloe and Halle Bailey, Victoria Monét, Scott Storch, Avedon and Anton Kuehl-Joergensen. The song was produced by Storch, with co-production by Avedon and Asoteric.[4] The song's main concept is about getting dressed up and partying with your friends.[5] According to the duo, "Do It" is meant to send a positive and uplifting message amid the current circumstances of the world. "During this time, music brings a lot of healing," Chloe x Halle said, per a press release. They further elaborated: "We hope this song inspires someone to get up and dance, shake all the stress and anxiety away, and to 'Do It' as the song says. We felt so good writing a song that will make people wanna bop to it and lift their spirits."[6]

"Do It" is a song set in common time with an energy-filled tempo of 83 beats per minute.[7][8] The song is written in the key of F minor.[7] A preview video of the duo singing the chorus of "Do It" was uploaded via TikTok on May 12, 2020.[9]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Do It" received acclaim from music critics.[10] Ebone Chatman of Black Hollywood Live called it "the perfect summer anthem".[11] Deep Shah of Color X Studios praised the duo's musical sound and smooth R&B style, saying that the song serves as "another sublime slice of the pair's sultry and silky smooth R&B".[12] In his review for Entertainment Weekly, Eli Enis declared the song as the duo's "most danceable track yet", and said it is "something you can stripper-kick around the house to while still enjoying their uniquely complex harmonies."[13] HotNewHipHop labeled the song as having a "smooth, easy-going nature".[14] Mike Wass of Idolator described the song as a "party jam" and a "feel-good bop".[15] Uproxx's Carolyn Droke wrote: "The duo's mesmerizing harmonization melts over a fluttering backbeat". Droke highlighted the lyrics "I beat my face / Moving fast 'cause the Uber on the way / Taking pictures make sure you can't see no lace", which the duo "croon at the single's hook".[16]

Music video

[edit]

A music video for "Do It" was released on May 15, 2020, a day after the song's release. It was directed by C Prinz, while production was handled by Freenjoy Productions and choreography was handled by Kendra Bracy and Ashanti Ledo.[17] Andrew Makadsi served as the video's creative director.[18][19]

Accolades

[edit]
Year Ceremony Award Result Ref.
2020 MTV Video Music Awards Best R&B Nominated [20]
Best Quarantine Performance Nominated
Soul Train Music Awards Song of the Year Nominated [21]
The Ashford And Simpson Songwriter's Award Nominated
Best Dance Performance Nominated
Video of the Year Nominated
2021 Grammy Awards Best R&B Song Nominated [22]
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) Nominated [23][24]
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album Nominated
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song Won
iHeartRadio Music Awards Favorite Music Video Choreography Nominated [25]
BET Awards Video of the Year Nominated [26]

Live performances

[edit]

Chloe x Halle first performed "Do It" at the Dear Class of 2020 virtual commencement event on June 6, 2020, which premiered via YouTube.[27] The performance was broadcast from their backyard with both of them wearing custom cage dresses designed by Zana Bayne, created with stylist Zerina Akers, in white leather paired with latex undergarments, by Venus Prototype.[28][29] On June 16, 2020, Chloe x Halle performed the song on The Today Show.[30] On June 28, 2020, they performed the song at the BET Awards 2020.[31] On August 3, 2020, they performed the song during the 31st GLAAD Media Awards with drag queens Mayhem Miller, Naomi Smalls, and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo.[32] "Do It" was also performed during the duo's NPR Tiny Desk Concert, released on December 8, 2020,[33] and during NBC's New Year's Eve 2021 special on December 31, 2020.[34]

Chart performance

[edit]

The song peaked at number 3 on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart, making it their first top five hit on that chart.[35]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[44] Platinum 40,000
United States (RIAA)[45] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Remix

[edit]
"Do It" (remix)
Single by Chloe x Halle featuring Doja Cat, City Girls, and Latto
ReleasedSeptember 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)
Recorded2020
Genre
Length4:17
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)
  • Storch
  • Chloe Bailey
Chloe x Halle singles chronology
"Forgive Me"
(2020)
"Do It" (remix)
(2020)
Doja Cat singles chronology
"Shimmy"
(2020)
"Do It" (remix)
(2020)
"Del Mar"
(2020)
City Girls singles chronology
"Pussy Talk"
(2020)
"Do It" (remix)
(2020)
"Said Sum" (remix)
(2020)
Latto singles chronology
"Wake Up"
(2020)
"Do It" (remix) / "Down"
(2020)
"On God"
(2020)

At midnight on September 4, 2020, a remix of "Do It" featuring American rappers Doja Cat, City Girls, and Latto was released with no official prior announcement.[46][47][48] However, its imminent release was hinted at by the collaborators over social media within hours before its release.[49]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]

The "Do It" remix includes new verses from all members on the track, with Clash referring to the song as being "torn to pieces and re-assembled by Doja Cat, City Girls and Mulatto."[50] The artists are included in the intro of the song, using their taglines, such as City Girls' "Period" and Latto's nickname-turned tag "Big Latto". Doja Cat starts the song with her verse after leading the intro and the song transitions into Chloe's first verse from the original song. The song goes into the pre-chorus with added ad-libs from Doja Cat and original chorus before both City Girls take turns rapping their verses. After the second chorus, Latto proceeds to rap her verse which leads into the final chorus and new additional verses from both Chloe and Halle.

Critical reception

[edit]

The remix was mostly met with positive reception, however Yung Miami (of City Girls) received backlash from fans online for her verse, which Chris Murphy of Vulture described as "less than her best effort".[51] Yung Miami responded with humour to the criticism, tweeting, "That's wrong y'all said I ruined the song", and telling fans, "Maybe it'll grow on y'all".[52] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard listed the song as among the most essential releases of the week, describing the remix as one that "unites six rising stars", and that it "will be a quietly important moment". He praised "Doja Cat's raucous energy, City Girls' melodic flow and Latto's confident drawl", while reminding readers to not "overlook the classy vibe Chloe x Halle carried over from the original".[53]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for the remix version of "Do It"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[54] 38

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Do It"
Region Date Format(s) Version Label(s) Ref.
Various May 14, 2020 Original [55]
United States July 7, 2020 Rhythmic radio [56]
Various September 4, 2020
  • Digital download
  • streaming
Remix [46]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Harvin, Darian Symoné (June 11, 2020). "Chloe x Halle Talk Police Brutality and Postponing Their Album". Teen Vogue. Retrieved December 8, 2020. a vibe you can hear and see in "Do It," the second single off of Ungodly Hour.
  2. ^ "Chart Check: Chloe x Halle Hit Career Hot 100 Peak Due to 'Do It' Remix". That Grape Juice. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2020". Pitchfork. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  4. ^ Do It (liner notes). Chloe x Halle. Columbia Records. 2020. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Elizabeth, De (May 17, 2020). "Chloe x Halle Perform "Do It" at Teen Vogue's Virtual Prom". Teen Vogue. Condé Nast, Inc. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
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  46. ^ a b "Do It (Remix) [feat. City Girls and Mulatto] Single by Chloe x Halle & Doja Cat". Apple Music. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  47. ^ Hussey, Allison (September 4, 2020). "Chloe x Halle Enlist City Girls, Doja Cat, Mulatto for New "Do It" Remix: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
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  52. ^ Cane, Isaiah (September 4, 2020). "Yung Miami Defends "Do It" Verse: "Maybe It'll Grow On Y'all"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
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  56. ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020.