Christina Aguilera, assisted by GoldLink, returns with one final advance single before unleashing ‘Liberation’ – the Anderson .Paak-produced “Like I Do.”

Prepare for the Liberation – Christina Aguilera is at least! Liberation marks the pop artist’s first new album in six years (Lotus, 2012).  Overall, Liberation marks her eighth album, though arguably it’s her sixth ‘proper’ studio album.  “Like I Do,” featuring GoldLink, marks the fourth advance single from the LP, following “Accelerate” (arguably, among the worst songs of the year), “Twice”, and “Fall in Line”.

“Like I Do” appears in the middle of Liberation.  Notably, the record is produced by Anderson .Paak, which gives it a unique, West Coast-infused sound.  GoldLink ‘gets the party started,’ following the colorful, unique instrumental intro.  His flow is captivating and overall superb.  Does he say anything game changing? Nah, but he definitely sets up Christina Aguilera for success.  Expectedly, she sounds strong on both her verses, with the second following the rap sans-hook.  Each verse is followed-up by an enjoyable pre-chorus and of course, the chorus.  Can you guess the premise of the chorus? Using Aguilera’s own words, “No, baby, you can’t do it quite like I do.” Yep, love and sex are the premise.

Final Thoughts 

So, how does “Like I Do” work out for Christina Aguilera? It’s enjoyable and well-performed, but certainly not game changing.  Honestly, I enjoy the production and the vibe more than the song itself.  Anderson .Paak truly outdoes himself behind the boards, while GoldLink is perfect for the rap feature.  Aguilera gives a strong performance (we expect no less), but I’m not prepared to call this the ‘second coming’ or groundbreaking.  Nonetheless, it’s bop overall.  “Fall in Line” still takes the trophy for Liberation advance singles though.

Christina Aguilera • Like I Do (Ft. GoldLink) – Single • RCA • Release: 6.15.18

Photo Credit: RCA