English language release have never been uncommon for K-pop groups but ever since BTS’ massive breakout a few years ago, it seems as though almost every group has been releasing material targeted towards the English market. Now this isn’t a bad thing at all, instead it sometimes allows groups to stretch their wings in new and exciting directions. Which is exactly the case with (G)I-IDLE’s effort, the gorgeous I Do.
Right off the bat, I Do‘s production is absolutely immaculate. Paired with 88Rising for the track, the girls tackle a soundscape thats pretty foreign to them to excellent results. The spacey synths coupled with some added doo-wop percussion work to create such a glorious soundscape, one that’s oh so easy to get lost in. Those opening synths especially are just such an immediate rush, one that’s been absent from much of this years musical landscape both in the Korean Peninsula and beyond. That coupled with Yuqi’s deep vocals lend to an utterly transcendent opening few seconds. This continues onto the verses which maintain the atmosphere without any needless jarring tempo or momentum shifts. It’s all great stuff, one that culminates in an equally potent chorus that reaches for the stars. (G)I-DLE and I have notoriously clashed in the chorus department but the chorus of I Do is an utter triumph, fulling embracing the one thing I hopelessly yearn for in almost every single one of their releases. Melody. It’s nothing too out of pocket or unique but sometimes you just have to stick to the basics. Long, melodic and yearningly performed. Three factors that give this synthy mid-tempo a stand out centrepiece and easily the strongest (G)I-DLE centrepiece in a long time.
But to be honest, the one thing that’s holding me back from truly loving this song is the performance. It’s not bad by any means but feels rather uneven. There are some parts that perfectly match the production and lyrics, delivering an absolute sucker punch in all departments before transitioning into a moment that just doesn’t feel right. I think with a more convinced performance, I Do could have really turned into something special. But if anything, I Do stands as the first K-pop or k-pop adjacent track in a while to really make me feel something. And that alone warrants a few accolades I think.
Verses: 9
Chorus: 9
Production: 10
Performance: 7
Final Rating: 8.75 / 10
KBopped 
For me, the production is just a little too generic. A few changes would make this really good, but as is, I honestly prefer the cringe of their rock singles (for the most part).
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