Watch Me Do

"Watch Me Do" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor from her second major-label studio album Thank You (2016). It was released on March 25, 2016 to digital download platforms by Epic Records as the album's first promotional single. Produced by Ricky Reed, he co-wrote the song with Trainor, Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Gamal Lewis. "Watch Me Do" is a hip hop-influenced pop song, with lyrics about female empowerment. The track received mixed reviews from music critics, with some of them appreciating its empowering theme but others being critical of Trainor's rapping skills. It was performed during Trainor's The Untouchable Tour (2016).[2][3][4]

"Watch Me Do"
Promotional single by Meghan Trainor
from the album Thank You
ReleasedMarch 25, 2016 (2016-03-25)
GenrePop
Length2:49[1]
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ricky Reed

Background and composition
"Watch Me Do" was produced and co-written by Ricky Reed.

"Watch Me Do" was written by Meghan Trainor along with Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Gamal Lewis and Ricky Reed, with the latter also having produced the song. The song was released as the first promotional single from Trainor's second major-label studio album Thank You (2016), on March 25, 2016 by Epic Records.[5][6] It is an upbeat, brass-heavy pop track where Trainor references a number of rap songs,[7] containing "90s hip hop throwback vibes" according to MTV News.[8] Colin Stutz of Billboard 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 the doo-wop influences of Trainor's first album and few hit singles" and compared it to the works of Christina Aguilera and Destiny's Child.[6] Sam Warner of Digital Spy described it as a "2000s banger", and "a typically Trainor-esque empowering anthem". He likened it to the early work of Britney 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]

Critical reception

"Watch Me Do" received mixed reviews from music critics. Spin's Dan Weiss was positive of the song, and compared it to Mark Ronson's work.[12] Entertainment Weekly's Isabella Biedenharn called it one of the best tracks on Thank You, and said that Trainor "brings hip-hop flavor to this booty-shaking banger".[13] Writing for USA Today, Patrick Ryan was positive about "Watch Me Do", stating that it makes clear that Trainor can "successfully do" several genres.[14] Writing for The New York Times, Jon Caramanica called the song "tough-stand", likening it to Destiny'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 on Thank You.[16]

Writing for PopMatters, Chris Conaton said that "Watch Me Do" has a "pretty strong" hook and called the James 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 of The 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 and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Thank You.[1]

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[21] 36

References
  1. Thank You (Media notes). Meghan Trainor. Epic Records. 2016.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Ball-Dionne, Caila (July 23, 2016). "Meghan Trainor At L.A.'s Greek Theatre: Self Empowerment Reigns". Idolator. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  3. Goodman, William (July 18, 2016). "Meghan Trainor: A Retro-Pop Everywoman at Seattle Show". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  4. Craddock, Lauren (July 23, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Performs With James Corden, Hailee Steinfeld Covers Justin Bieber at L.A. Concert". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  5. Stutz, Colin (March 25, 2016). "Meghan Trainor is All Swagger on New Track 'Watch Me Do'". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  6. Menyes, Carolyn (March 25, 2016). "Meghan Trainor 'Watch Me Do' Review: New 'Thank You' Track Keeps It Old School". Music Times. Archived from the original on March 29, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  7. Lindner, Emilee (March 25, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's 'Watch Me Do' is a Culmination of Every Rap Cliche Ever". Fuse. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  8. Geffen, Sasha (March 25, 2016). "Hear Meghan Trainor Assume Her Hip-Hop Alter Ego On 'Watch Me Do'". MTV News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  9. Falcone, Dana Rose (March 25, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's on a 'Low Hater Diet' in New Track 'Watch Me Do'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  10. Warner, Sam (March 25, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Releases Another HOT 2000s Banger with 'Watch Me Do'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  11. Williott, Carl (March 25, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Is In Full Flaunt Mode on 'Watch Me Do'". Idolator. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  12. Weiss, Dan (May 17, 2016). "Review: Meghan Trainor, 'Thank You'". Spin. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  13. Biedenharn, Isabella (May 12, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's 'Thank You'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  14. Ryan, Patrick (May 12, 2016). "Review: Meghan Trainor exudes confidence on 'Thank You'". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 8, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  15. Caramanica, Jon (May 12, 2016). "Review: Meghan Trainor and Mike Posner, Taking Stabs at Pop Stardom". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  16. Roberts, Amy (May 13, 2016). "21 Empowering Meghan Trainor's 'Thank You' Lyrics To Make Your New Anthem". Bustle. Archived from the original on September 26, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  17. Conaton, Chris (May 25, 2016). "Meghan Trainor: Thank You (Deluxe Edition)". PopMatters. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  18. Camp, Alexa (May 7, 2016). "Meghan Trainor: Thank You". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  19. Weintraub, Allison (March 25, 2016). "Friday brings new tunes from Grande, Fifth Harmony, Trainor and Banks, but not all of them are hits". The Oklahoma Daily. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  20. Grace Garis, Mary (May 13, 2016). "Ranking Meghan Trainor's 'Thank You' Track List From 'Bleh' To 'All About That Track'". Bustle. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  21. "Meghan Trainor (Chart Search)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
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