With the very first line in "Want U Back" by NEVE, which goes "Hey hello", it becomes evident that she is specifically talking to someone, rather than telling the listeners about someone. The song features a staticy sound that is reminiscent of a phone conversation. This song revolves around her missing her ex, which is a common feeling when you’re freshly out of a break-up. It's natural to reminisce about the good times and moments that were shared in the relationship. However, NEVE also acknowledges that her ex treated her poorly when she says, "You never did a thing you know you should". Despite this, she chooses to focus on the positive aspects of their time together and push away the negative memories. Being in a relationship is undoubtedly enjoyable, and NEVE recalls the fun times that they had together which brings a smile to her face ("Sometimes I forget that it's over just to crack a smile"). Although she deserved better, she is still holding onto the good memories they shared. It's understandable that she chooses to remember only the positive moments, as no one wants to dwell on the bad experiences. Ultimately, NEVE's "Want U Back" is a reflective and relatable song that deals with the mixed emotions that come with a break-up.
Within the first 10 seconds of this upbeat pop masterpiece, NEVE shares a couple of things with us very quickly. The first is that she’s on the phone, and the other is that she’s aware of how wrong it is to question whether or not she should go back to her ex, by asking, “Am I insane that I still miss you?” As the song goes on, it sounds as if she’s screaming. But we come to realize that she's arguing with herself. There’s a lot of back and forth going on in her mind about this person and it’s making her frustrated. She’s trying to figure her feelings out, but she's struggling, which is why we can hear her voice projecting and the anger in her voice when she asks herself, “Why do I only remember the good? I tell myself we were just misunderstood. When you never did a thing you know you should. If I could just kiss you, I know I would!” She then reveals the specific reasons for why her ex wasn't a good partner. She finds herself going back and forth, driving herself crazy between focusing on the positive memories of their relationship, which bring her comfort and happiness, and remembering why they broke up in the first place. A couple of lines where she reveals the reasons they broke up were, "You may have ruined love for me", "You never did a thing you know you should", and "How can you be the worst and the best I’ve had?" However, her mixed emotions get the best of her, and she caves in to the longing she feels for her ex, stating "If I could just kiss you, I know that I would. I’ll say it. Yeah, I want you, I want you, I want you back.”
NEVE is a London-based, but Ireland native singer and songwriter. She has studied musical theatre for years, as well as having endured classical training back in Ireland. She writes her songs in a way that allows her listeners to not feel alone when navigating throughtheir emotions, helping them feel understood, but also receiving more clarity for what they’re feeling and what's going through their minds. She states, "I want to act as an antidote for emotional pain.” This song is the perfect example of that, and NEVE is happy for achieving exactly that! This song is a big hit with currently over 250,000 streams on Spotify and over 5.5 million views on Tiktok. She’s had many successful tours as well, and as you can see, she’s been growing very quickly as an artist, and is extremely loved! Follow NEVE on her incredibly fast growing journey by clicking on the links below, and check out her latest single, “Want U Back”, out now on streaming platforms!
Written By Sneet Efrem
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