“Heart Wants What It Wants” by Bebe Rexha
Bebe Rexha’s “Heart Wants What It Wants”, which was released through Warner Records on 17 February 2023, is not to be confused with Selena Gomez’s track of the same name which came out roughly 10 years prior.
This latest offering served as the lead single from Bebe, i.e. Rexha’s third studio album, which went on to be issued in full on April 28th. The songs “Satellite” and “Call On Me” were also released as singles from “Bebe”.
“Heart Wants What It Wants” was produced by Jussifer, Ray Goren, Rykeyz and Ido Zmishlany, all of whom are also granted songwriting credit alongside the following:
- Bonnie McKee
- Liana Bank$
- Solly
- Bebe Rexha
And the director of the music video is a Europe-based American artist named Michael Haussman, with this song first being announced, along with the album, on February 8th.
“Heart Wants What It Wants” proceeded to perform admirably chart-wise. For instance, it made it onto the top 30 of a couple of Billboard listings (Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40) stateside. But most notably, it reached the pinnacle of the Single Tip chart of the Netherlands, with Bebe herself, to note, being of Albanian ancestry though a native of New York City.
Also this track has been remixed a couple of times, including a rendition featuring Stevie Nicks which has yet to be released as of this writing. And speaking of Nicks, who traces her heyday back to the Fleetwood Mac era, this song has been pointed out for being based on a 1970s aesthetic both sonically and visually.
The Lyrics
The lyrics of this track are, honestly put, a bit cruel, especially from the perspective of guys like the addressee who, most simply put, is being ruthlessly dumped by his girlfriend. But the painful truth is that sometimes, the only way the other party gets the message that you’re no longer interested is by being bitterly frank with them.
And in the second verse, Bebe does sorta imply that being the situation at hand, that she’s compelled to take this heartless approach so that there won’t be any ambiguity as far as the intended recipient properly interpreting it.
That said, the pre-chorus especially is quite cruel, whereas the vocalist not only mocks the addressee’s tears but also clarifies that he was “just a game to” her. So the impression here is that he’s in love and furthermore thought this relationship was serious. But from Rexha’s perspective, she’s “already met a man” similar to the addressee, and as for the latter, has grown bored with him. So in her mind, it’s time to move on.
“My heart only wants what it wants
What it wants, what it wants ’til it doesn’t
I can’t promise you love, it was love
It was love, it was love ’til it wasn’t, oh”
And that then leads us to her explanation of this track. The fact of the matter is that sometimes people fall out of love, and so it is with the character whom Bebe portraying. Furthermore, as explained by the songstress, this song is about “not being apologetic for” coming to feel that way.
And beyond that, Rexha has put forth that “Heart Wants What It Wants” is meant to have a general applicability. Or let’s say conclusively that under her estimation, if a person finds themselves suddenly and strongly desiring something, they should give in to that feeling and not allow themselves to “feel conflicted” internally concerning the matter.
