Don't Lie

"Don't Lie" was written by all the members of the Black Eyed Peas along with songwriting and production duo Peters & Peters. The production of the song was mostly done by Adams under his stage name will.i.am while additional music production was orchestrated by Ron Fair. It was recorded at The Stewchia in Los Feliz, California. In addition to co-writing and producing the song, Adams engineered the track with Jason "ill-aroma" Villaroman and Tal Herzberg; Herzberg also programmed the song with the use of Pro Tools. Adams is also responsible for the drum machine and bass instruments performed on the song. Fair, along with providing additional production, also played the harmonica. George Pajon, Jr. and Ray Brady were featured on the track as its guitarists. The song was finally mixed by Mark "Spike" Stent, who also mixed the previous single "Don't Phunk with My Heart".

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According to the digital music sheet published at Musicnotes.com by Hal Leonard Corporation, the song is written in a key of D major and maintains a tempo of 66 beats per minute.{{cite web|title=Black Eyed Peas - Don't Lie Sheet Music (Print Instantly)|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/scorchVPE.asp?ppn=SC0027151&|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129080051/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/scorchVPE.asp?ppn=SC0027151&|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2013|work=Musicnotes.com|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|access-date=May 20, 2012}} Christian Horder of Rolling Stone described "Don't Lie" as a "breezy, grooving romantic apology starring MC Will.i.am".{{cite magazine|last=Hoard|first=Christian|title=Monkey Business|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/monkey-business-20090617|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 20, 2012|date=June 17, 2009}} Adams claims that the song was written from an experience in which he deceptively bended the truth to an ex-girlfriend. He further stated the song's lyrics: "It's a song about owning up and apologizing and realizing your faults. It's about being a man or a woman - an adult - and confronting situations honestly."{{cite web|title=The Black Eyed Peas|url=http://www.hiphopgalaxy.com/Black-eyed-peas-hip-hop-2054.html|work=Hip Hop Galaxy|access-date=May 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125114418/http://www.hiphopgalaxy.com/Black-eyed-peas-hip-hop-2054.html|archive-date=January 25, 2013}} "Don't Lie" was released as the second single from Monkey Business, after the successful "Don't Phunk with My Heart". Record label Interscope Records serviced the song to mainstream radios on July 26, 2005 in the United States.

Tom Day of musicOMH dismissed the lyrics for not being as thought provoking as their previous singles and commented that the chorus was "poor" and the melody and sample were "plagiarised".{{cite web|last=Day|first=Tom|title=Black Eyed Peas - Don't Lie|url=http://www.musicomh.com/singles/black-eyed-peas-3_0805.htm|work=musicOMH|publisher=OMH|access-date=May 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022195936/http://www.musicomh.com/singles/black-eyed-peas-3_0805.htm|archive-date=October 22, 2012}} The staff at Boston.com praised Fergie's vocals on the song, while commenting, "a nice change since she's often reduced to just singing hooks."{{cite web|title=Black Eyed Peas keep it light, funky on 'Monkey Business'|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/06/07/black_eyed_peas_keep_it_light_funky_on_monkey_business/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118214618/http://articles.boston.com/2005-06-07/news/29216857_1_fergie-elephunk-latest-album|url-status=live|archive-date=January 18, 2013|work=Boston.com|publisher=The New York Times Company|access-date=May 20, 2012|date=June 7, 2005}} Bill Lamb of About.com gave the song a three and a half star rating, highlighting the song's Latin-tinged beats, sentiment, and family-oriented lyrics as pros. Lamb also commented that the song maybe too pop-oriented for their hip-hop followers and found the lyrics to be less challenging.{{cite web|last=Lamb|first=Bill|title=Don't Lie - Black Eyed Peas|url=http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/dontliebep.htm|work=About.com|publisher=The New York Times Company|access-date=May 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614090240/http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/dontliebep.htm|archive-date=June 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}{{better source needed|date=August 2020}} A reviewer for Contactmusic.com praised the song as a clever hip-hop song that diverges away from the dangerous lyrics present in most rap music and presents a family-friendly message.{{cite web|title=The Black Eyed Peas - Don't Lie Single Review|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/pages/theblackeyedpeasx28x09x05|work=Contactmusic.com|date=September 28, 2005|publisher=Contactmusic.com Ltd|access-date=May 20, 2012}}

"Don't Lie" made its first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 13, 2005, entering at number eighty-one.{{cite magazine|title=Hot 100 (August 13, 2005) - Biggest Jumps|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2005-08-13/hot-100?order=gainer|magazine=Billboard|date = September 12, 2008|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=May 25, 2012}} It moved up to number 50 in the following week and up to 31 in the week after.{{cite magazine|title=Hot 100 (August 20, 2005) - Biggest Jumps|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2005-08-20/hot-100?order=gainer|magazine=Billboard|date = September 12, 2008|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=May 25, 2012}} In its fifth week, the song peaked at number 14, where it stayed for two weeks. "Don't Lie" lasted a total of 20 weeks on the chart and charted on several Billboard component charts, including the Pop Songs and Radio Songs.{{cite magazine|title=The Black Eyed Peas Album & Song Chart History|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the black eyed peas|chart=all}}|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=May 25, 2012}}

"Don't Lie" proved to replicate the success of their previous single "Don't Phunk with My Heart" in European countries. In Austria, the song entered the singles chart at number 19 on August 28, 2005, and rose to number 12 in the next week. "Don't Lie" peaked at number six on September 11, 2005.{{cite web|title=The Black Eyed Peas - Don't Lie - austriancharts.at|url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Black+Eyed+Peas&titel=Don%27t+Lie&cat=s|work=austriancharts.at|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=May 25, 2012}} On August 27, 2005, the song debuted on the Dutch Singles Chart at number 19. On September 10, 2005, it reached a peak at number seven.{{cite web|title=dutchcharts.nl - The Black Eyed Peas - Don't Lie|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Black+Eyed+Peas&titel=Don%27t+Lie&cat=s|work=dutchcharts.nl|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=May 25, 2012}} On August 28, 2005, "Don't Lie" debuted and peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and continued to chart for 10 weeks, selling a total of 125,000 copies.{{cite web|title=Black Eyed Peas - The Official Top 20|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/charts/official-uk-countdowns/black-eyed-peas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010185645/http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/charts/official-uk-countdowns/black-eyed-peas|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 10, 2010|work=MTV|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=May 20, 2012}}

In France, the song debuted at number 99 on the singles chart and rose to number 20 in the following week, becoming its peak position and the week's "greatest chart gainer".{{cite web|title=France Singles Chart - September 17, 2005|url=http://acharts.us/france_singles_top_100/2005/37|work=aCharts.us|access-date=May 20, 2012}} "Don't Lie" charted successfully in Oceanian countries. In Australia, it debuted and peaked at number six and continued charting for 18 more weeks.{{cite web|title=australian-charts - The Black Eyed Peas - Don't Lie|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Black+Eyed+Peas&titel=Don%27t+Lie&cat=s|work=australian-charts.com|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=May 25, 2012}} The song entered the New Zealand Top 40 on September 19, 2005, at number seven. On October 10, 2005, in its fourth week on the chart, the single peaked at number five after three weeks of holding at number seven.{{cite web|title=charts.nz - The Black Eyed Peas - Don't Lie|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Black+Eyed+Peas&titel=Don%27t+Lie&cat=s|work=charts.nz|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=May 25, 2012}} The song also proved successful in other European countries, peaking inside the top 10 in Denmark, Italy, and Norway and attained top 20 positions in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The music video for the song was directed by The Saline Project. It starts off with a still photograph of all four members of the Black Eyed Peas. The members start moving as the music picks up pace and then dance a little. The 'photograph' establishes that the video is set in Brazil by showing Rio de Janeiro. Later in the video, other iconographic locations are shown, such as the rainforest and the slums. First up, will.i.am sings his verse. As he rides on his scooter, he suddenly spots himself and an ex-girlfriend arguing. He stops the scooter and walks by them, still singing his part. Then we switch to Fergie, walking in a bikini-top and a sarong-like bottom and singing the hook. Its Apl's turn after it, he sings his verse as we are shown clips of him and Taboo flirting. Again, Fergie sings the hook. Then finally, Taboo takes over for the bridge/third verse. And this time, the wardrobe and the scenario changes. All four members of the Black Eyed Peas are now on-stage at a mini-concert in Parque Lage in Rio. Taboo seemingly sings to a girl standing in the very first row. Near the end of his verse, however, it is shown that there are several versions of the girl in different outfits, all dancing with different men. Fergie dances and sings the verse. This goes on until the end, when the camera zooms out on another still photograph of the band posing.

Part of the music video is set in the same building at Parque Lage in Rio de Janeiro that Snoop Dogg's music video for "Beautiful" is, but filmed around two years ago. However, the courtyard actually contains a pool (visible in the Snoop Dogg video) that is ignored in computer-generated image composition in the "Don't Lie" video—the partygoers would actually be falling in the water. In real life, the building serves as a community art school, although it does occasionally hold intimate jazz performances.

UK and European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Lie|others=The Black Eyed Peas|year=2005|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group|id=9884438}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Lie|others=The Black Eyed Peas|year=2005|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group|id=0602498843635}}

1. "Don't Lie"
2. "Shake Your Monkey"

Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Lie|others=The Black Eyed Peas|year=2005|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group|id=9884362}}

1. "Don't Lie" – 3:40
2. "Shake Your Monkey" – 3:54
3. "Don't Lie" (Beets & Produce NY mix) – 4:07
4. "Don't Lie" (video)

Japanese CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Lie|others=The Black Eyed Peas|year=2005|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group|id=UICA-5009}}

1. "Don't Lie"
2. "Don't Phunk with My Heart" (Chicago house remix)

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Monkey Business, A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group, Interscope Records.{{cite AV media notes|title=Monkey Business|title-link=Monkey Business (Black Eyed Peas album)|others=The Black Eyed Peas|date=2005|type=CD album liner notes|publisher=A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group, Interscope Records}}

Recording and sample

• Recorded at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, London, England and The Record Plant in Los Angeles, California.
• Contains elements of "The Ruler's Back", written by Ricky Walters under Songs Of Universal, Inc. (BMI)

Personnel

• Songwriting – William Adams, Jaime Gomez, Allan Pineda, Stacy Ferguson, Chris Peters, Drew Peters, Ricky Walters
• Production – will.i.am, Ron Fair (additional)
• Recording Engineers – will.i.am, Jason "ill-aroma" Villaroman, Tal Herzberg
• Pro Tools music programming – Tal Herzberg
• Drum machine and bass – will.i.am
• Guitars – George Pajon, Jr., Ray Brady
• Harmonica – Ron Fair
• Mixing – Mark "Spike" Stent
• Vocals – will.i.am, Fergie, Taboo, apl.de.ap

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Don't Lie"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|access-date=May 26, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Black Eyed Peas|title=Don't Lie|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2024|access-date=May 26, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2006|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.radioscope.co.nz/afawcs0115079/ID=3355/SID=799582325/productdetails.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001180331/http://www.radioscope.co.nz/afawcs0115079/ID=3355/SID=799582325/productdetails.html|archive-date=1 October 2006|title=Certifications March 12 2006|access-date=September 19, 2022|publisher=radioscope.co.nz|url-status=dead}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Black Eyed Peas|title=Don't Lie|award=Silver|relyear=2005|certyear=2023|id=19404-969-1|access-date=October 27, 2023}}

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Category:2005 singles

Category:2005 songs

Category:A&M Records singles

Category:Black Eyed Peas songs

Category:Songs written by apl.de.ap

Category:Songs written by Fergie (singer)

Category:Songs written by will.i.am

Category:Songs written by Slick Rick

Category:Songs written by Taboo (rapper)