| "Watch Me Do" | |
|---|---|
| Promotional single byMeghan Trainor | |
| from the albumThank You | |
| Released | March 25, 2016 (2016-03-25) |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 2:49[1] |
| Label | Epic |
| Songwriters | |
| Producer | Ricky Reed |
"Watch Me Do" is a song by American singer-songwriterMeghan Trainor from her second major-label studio album,Thank You (2016). It was released on March 25, 2016, todigital download platforms byEpic Records as the album's firstpromotional single. Produced byRicky Reed, he co-wrote the song with Trainor,Jacob Kasher Hindlin andGamal Lewis. "Watch Me Do" is ahip hop-influencedpop song, with lyrics about female empowerment. The track received mixed reviews frommusic critics, with some of them appreciating its empowering theme but others being critical of Trainor's rapping skills. It was performed during Trainor'sThe Untouchable Tour (2016).[2][3][4]
"Watch Me Do" was written byMeghan Trainor along withJacob Kasher Hindlin,Gamal Lewis andRicky Reed, with the latter also having produced the song. The song was released as the firstpromotional single from Trainor's second major-label studio albumThank You (2016), on March 25, 2016, byEpic Records.[5][6] It is an upbeat, brass-heavypop track where Trainor references a number ofrap songs,[7] containing "90ship hop throwback vibes" according toMTV News.[8] Colin Stutz ofBillboard noted the presence of "swagger" and "groove", and writing "she opens the track singing over a funky drum beat before going on to gloat".[5]Entertainment Weekly's Dana Rose Falcone described it as a "female-empowerment" track, adding that she "peppers her new song with some hip-hop and doesn't play the modesty card".[9]
Music Times' Carolyn Menyes described the track as a notable departure from Trainor's previous work, writing "it differs greatly from thedoo-wop influences of Trainor's first album and few hit singles" and compared it to the works ofChristina Aguilera andDestiny's Child.[6] Sam Warner ofDigital Spy described it as a "2000s banger", and "a typically Trainor-esque empowering anthem". He likened it to the early work ofBritney Spears.[10]Idolator's Carl Williott wrote that Trainor was in "full flaunt mode", adding "she preens over a syncopated synth-horn-snare beat".[11]
"Watch Me Do" received mixed reviews frommusic critics.Spin's Dan Weiss was positive of the song, and compared it toMark Ronson's work.[12]Entertainment Weekly's Isabella Biedenharn called it one of the best tracks onThank You, and said that Trainor "brings hip-hop flavor to this booty-shaking banger".[13] Writing forUSA Today, Patrick Ryan was positive about "Watch Me Do", stating that it makes clear that Trainor can "successfully do" several genres.[14] Writing forThe New York Times,Jon Caramanica called the song "tough-stand", likening it toDestiny's Child's "Independent Women (Part 1)".[15]Bustle's Amy Roberts included "I ain't saying I'm the besteses / But I got nice curves, nice breasteses/ I don't erase the textes from my exeses/ All in my DMs, leaving messages" and "I'm the shh, be quiet/ I've been on a low-hater diet" in her list of the most empowering lyrics onThank You.[16]
Writing forPopMatters, Chris Conaton said that "Watch Me Do" has a "pretty strong" hook and called theJames Brown references catchy, but noted that its lyrics shift from "ingénue to braggadocious star".[17]Slant Magazine writer Alexa Camp was critical of the song, saying that it confuses "delusional self-importance with self-worth".[18] Allison Weintraub ofThe Oklahoma Daily criticized it, describing it as "terrible pseudo-rap", with "weirdly pluralized words".[19]Bustle's Mary Grace Garis criticized Trainor's use of the term "nice breasteses", and called "Watch Me Do" one of the weakest tracks on its parent album.[20]
Credits adapted from the liner notes ofThank You.[1]
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[21] | 36 |
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)| Studio albums | |
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| Extended plays | |
| Singles |
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| Featured singles | |
| Promotional singles | |
| Other songs | |
| Concert tours | |
