GIVĒON, RATHER BE | Song Review

Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter GIVĒON can’t seem to move on from his ex-girlfriend on his emotional, hypnotic, and vulnerable neo-soul single, “RATHER BE.”

“Rather be a fool / Than to start with somethin’ new.” Eyebrow-raising lyrics, GIVĒON (Giveon Evans).  The titular lyrics aren’t easy to figure out on this one, as the Grammy-nominated R&B artist sings them a lot. “RATHER BE” marks Evans’ second single of 2025 following “TWENTIES”.  Both songs bear similarities as they hearken back to the soul of old.  The neo-soul sound suits GIVĒON perfectly.  There is a rhythm section, including organ, woodwinds, brass, and strings.  “RATHER BE” features nine songwriting credits, including the artist as well as the five producers, Matthew Burnett, Sevn Thomas, Jahaan Sweet, Maneesh Bidaye, and Jeff Gitty Gitelman.

With beautiful sounds accompanying him, it is unsurprising that GIVĒON delivers a gorgeous vocal performance.  His voice is distinct, given its depth, and he impresses with his expressiveness and tone. Although he sings with ease, he still packs a mean punch. Evans also gets a lift from radiant background vocals.  Throughout “RATHER BE,” GIVĒON reiterates his reluctance to move on. He is emotionally attached and won’t let go.  His vulnerability shines brightly in the second verse, where he sings, “Now I’m in this room / Wishin’ you would settle down or come around / I’ve been dancin’ to all the songs that you love all alone / Lost in the dark /… When I see your face in my phone, I can’t erase the memory.” My, my, my.  Ultimately, “RATHER BE” has a hypnotic quality – it sucks you in.  That is sort of what has happened to GIVĒON regarding his ex, right? This ‘old-school’ approach works well with his voice.  Perhaps this isn’t the most exciting R&B song, but it is beautiful, relatable, and a vibe.  

GIVĒON // “RATHER BE”//Epic / Not So Fast LLC  // 5.16.25

[: Epic / Not So Fast LLC ]