| "Rather Be" | ||||
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CD, 7" clear vinyl cover |
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| Single by The Verve | ||||
| from the album Forth | ||||
| B-side | "Major Force", "All Night Long" | |||
| Released | November 17, 2008 | |||
| Format | digital download, 7", CD | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 4:01 (radio edit) 5:38 (album version) |
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| Label | Parlophone | |||
| Writer(s) | Richard Ashcroft | |||
| Producer | Chris Potter, The Verve | |||
| The Verve singles chronology | ||||
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"Rather Be" is a song by English alternative rock band The Verve and is the third track on their fourth album, Forth. The song was released as the second single from the album on November 17, 2008, following summer hit "Love Is Noise."[1] Richard Ashcroft is credited for being the sole composer of the track, although as stated by band members the song has changed a lot since the initial version brought over by Ashcroft thanks to his companion's aid.
The song's video was filmed at May Hill, Gloucestershire and was initially released as an exclusive for The Sun's website on October 17, 2008.[2] Richard Ashcroft directed the video, and is the only member seen on the clip.
"Rather Be" debuted and peaked at #56 on the UK Singles Chart.
This song is featured in the film Marley & Me along with the song "Lucky Man".
According to the band, the song was written by Richard Ashcroft just a few months before they got together in mid 2007. Different approaches for it were considered. As stated by Nick McCabe a "psychedelic version" of the song was his personal favorite.[3]
As for the interpretation of the song's meaning, Richard has cleared it out on an interview with Steve Lamacq, saying "lyrically in a way it’s kind of we’re bombarded with so much information now. There’s too much. You know, there’s a point where you have to just switch off, because I don’t believe we are sort of wired to be able to take in so much information, we become even numb to it or it makes us very, very fearful of the world outside the door when you’ve got the rolling news going, you’ve got all this death and destruction and yet on the other hand, even what it’s saying is I’d rather be here, you know, it’s, I’ve said it before, ‘We’re on a rock in infinity. We’re on this planet, man.’ It’s just, isn’t that the miracle? Is this the miracle, the miracle?’ Is waking up and looking out? It’s very difficult, I think, in the modern age to find time to, or space, to really invest a bit of thought into the fact that you are on a planet in infinity."[3]
The band recorded both b-sides for the single in late September 2008, a month later after the album's release.
The band released via their online store an exclusive live version of the song on November 16. A day later both vinyl editions plus the CD-single and digital bundle were available.
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