"I Will" is a country music

Country music

Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

 song written by Dave Pahanish

Dave Pahanish

David "Dave" Pahanish is an American singer-songwriter. He co-wrote the No. 1 Billboard country music singles "Do You Believe Me Now” by Jimmy Wayne, "American Ride" by Toby Keith, and "Without You" by Keith Urban...

 and Rory Lee Feek

Rory Lee Feek

Rory Lee Feek is an American country music singer and songwriter. In his career, he has written singles for Clay Walker, Blake Shelton, Tracy Byrd and other artists. He and his wife, Joey Martin Feek, comprise the duo Joey + Rory, who placed third on the first season of the CMT talent show Can You...

, and recorded by Jimmy Wayne

Jimmy Wayne

Jimmy Wayne Barber is an American country music singer and songwriter. He released his self-titled debut album in 2003 on the DreamWorks Records label. Four singles were released from it, including "Stay Gone" and "I Love You This Much", which both reached Top Ten on the Billboard country charts...

. It is the second single from Wayne's 2008 album Do You Believe Me Now

Do You Believe Me Now

Do You Believe Me Now is the second studio album of American country music singer Jimmy Wayne. It was released on August 26, 2008. The album is also Wayne's first album in five years and his debut for Valory Music Group, a subsidiary of Big Machine Records...

, his sixth Top 40 country hit, and his eighth overall single release.

Content

"I Will" is a mid-tempo power ballad mostly accompanied by piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 and electric guitar

Electric guitar

An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...

, with more of a country pop

Country pop

Country pop, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock, is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s. Although the term first referred to country music songs and artists that crossed over to Top 40 radio, country pop acts are now more likely to cross over to...

 sound. Its lyrics show a man who wants to show his lover that he loves her, and that he is willing to do anything for her.

The radio edit shortens the intro, and omits the final chorus.

Reception

Brady Vercher of The 9513 gave the song a "thumbs down" review. Vercher criticized the song for being overproduced and not sounding country. He also considered Wayne's vocals "hyper-excitable" and said that the lyric "hardly offers anything and comes across as too melodramatic in the process." It was given a C- rating by Country Universe critic Blake Boldt, who criticized the production as well, calling it an "overanxious rush to go nowhere." He also thought that Wayne's voice sounded strained on the song.

Deborah Evans Price of Billboard

Billboard (magazine)

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

gave the song a more favorable review, saying "the lyric is a beautiful statement of love and devotion that provides an ideal showcase for Wayne's soulful vocals." "I Will" was also described favorably by Country Standard Time critic Jessica Phillips, who called it "soaring" and "heartfelt."

Music video

A music video

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

 was filmed for the song in November 2008. Directed by Deaton-Flanigen, it starts out with Wayne and a woman (played by Tiffani McCarter) walking out towards a taxi, and they hug before she leaves. It then alternates between scenes of Wayne singing the song in a small room, him playing guitar in front of many lights, and his lover having pictures taken.

Chart performance

"I Will" debuted at #52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs

Hot Country Songs

Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...

 chart for the week of October 25, 2008, and entered the Top 40 in its third chart week. It charted for a total of 28 weeks, and peaked at #18 on the country chart dated April 4, 2009.
>

Chart (2008-2009)	Peak position
US Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Bubbling Under Hot 100	2