“Do You Remember” by Chance the Rapper (ft. Benjamin Gibbard)

Chance the Rapper’s “Do You Remember” is split into two sections. The first verse and the choruses are based on the idea of Chance reminiscing on fond days past. This is especially true of Benjamin Gibbard’s chorus, which is founded on the idea how time ‘disappears’ quickly in our youth and ‘holding’ onto a feeling which is tantamount to the joy children derive during ‘summer’. But in the first verse most of the events Chance reminisces on actually occurred quite recently, with him even referencing “the same summer” the movie Avengers: Endgame was in theatres, which would be in the summer of 2019. That is to say that despite the chorus of “Do You Remember” being set in the past, the song’s actually verses are more centered on the present.

Indeed one of the major themes of the album this song is featured on (The Big Day) is the rapper’s recent ascent into the married, family life. And that’s primarily what the second verse of this song is about, Chance giving a shoutout to his wife and daughter and the “deep love” he has for them.

In fact during this part of the song, he exclaims, currently being at 26 years of age, that he “remember(s) the last summer of the teens” – likely alluding to his own teenage years – but “can’t recall too many in between”. And that is actually a telling statement within the context of this song, because its title is sort of misleading. For at the end of the day the majority of Chance’s raps are not centered on the past. And even at times when it appears that they are it is more in a metaphorical sense, as in his presenting the present as the past or being future-based, if you will.

Quick Facts about “Do You Remember”

• The chorus of this song is provided by Benjamin Gibbard of the rock band Death Cab for Cutie.            
• The origins of this collaboration can be traced back to “three years ago backstage at Bonnaroo”, when Death Cab for Cutie and Chance the Rapper unexpectedly met up. Upon meeting, they discovered they had a mutual interest in each other’s work.
• Chance the Rapper released “Do You Remember” as part of his maiden studio album (The Big Day) on 26 July 2019.

Song’s Creation

“Do You Remember” was produced by the following:

•  Justin Vernon
• Darius Scott
• Peter Cottontale
• Nate Fox
• Francis Farewell Starlite
• Chance the Rapper

 And all of the producers with the exception of Darius Scott also co-wrote the song along with the following:

• Nico Segal
• Garren Langford
• Eric Butler
• Dwayne Varner Jr.
• Benjamin Gibbard

FYI, famous English singer Phil Collins also has a track titled “Do You Remember”. That song shouldn’t be confused with this.