"Darned If I Don't (Danged If I Do)" is a song written by

Dean Dillon Dean Dillon (born Larry Dean Flynn; March 26, 1955) is an American country musician and songwriter. Between 1982 and 1993, he recorded six studio albums on various labels, and charted several singles on the ''Billboard'' country charts. Since 1 ...

and

Ronnie Dunn Ronald Gene Dunn (born June 1, 1953) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record executive. Starting in 2011, Dunn has worked as a solo artist following the temporary dissolution of Brooks & Dunn. He released his Ronnie Dunn (alb ...

, and recorded by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

group Shenandoah. It was released in April 1995 as the second single from their album '' In the Vicinity of the Heart''. It peaked at number 4 in the United States, and number 7 in Canada. It would be their last Top 10 Hit. "Darned If I Don't" was nominated for the

Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal The Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded from 1970 to 2011. The award has had several minor name changes: * In 1970 the award was known as Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group * From 1971 to ...

at the Grammy Awards of 1995.

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' magazine reviewed the song unfavorably, telling the reader to look at the title and make up their own song because it is "bound to be more interesting than what is going on here." She goes on to say that while Shenandoah has released many quality singles, this is not one of them.''

'', April 8, 1995

Music video

The music video was directed by Steven Goldmann, and has seven acts in a play stage style, involving the lead singer and his girlfriend. They meet, then they get married, but it turns out that the lead singer was only daydreaming while looking at her. This was also the last video to feature Stan Thorn, who was a member of the band from 1984 to 1995 before he left to pursue a career in jazz.

Chart performance

"Darned If I Don't (Danged If I Do)" debuted at number 68 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of April 22, 1995.

Year-end charts

References

{{authority control 1994 songs Shenandoah (band) songs 1995 singles Songs written by Dean Dillon Music videos directed by Steven Goldmann Songs written by Ronnie Dunn Song recordings produced by Don Cook Liberty Records singles