Rather Be
Encyclopedia
"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
." 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. 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".
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.
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."
The band recorded both b-sides for the single in late September 2008, a month later after the album's release.
UK promo CD
Digital Bundle
CD
7" gatefold
7" clear vinyl
Exclusive Download from Verve Official Online Store
Exclusive Download from iTunes Store
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
and is the third track on their fourth album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Forth. The song was released as the second single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the album on November 17, 2008, following summer hit "Love Is Noise
Love Is Noise
"Love Is Noise" is a song by English alternative rock band The Verve and is the second track on their fourth album, Forth. It was released as the first single from the album on August 3, 2008 as a digital download, with the physical release on August 11, 2008 in the United Kingdom...
." Richard Ashcroft
Richard Ashcroft
Richard Paul Ashcroft is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer and occasional guitarist of alternative rock band The Verve from their formation in 1990 until their split in 1999, and continues as a lead vocalist working with guitars and keyboards...
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
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and was initially released as an exclusive for The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
's website on October 17, 2008. 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
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
This song is featured in the film Marley & Me
Marley & Me (film)
Marley & Me is a 2008 American comedy-drama film directed by David Frankel. The screenplay by Scott Frank and Don Roos is based on the memoir of the same name by John Grogan...
along with the song "Lucky Man".
Background
According to the band, the song was written by Richard AshcroftRichard Ashcroft
Richard Paul Ashcroft is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer and occasional guitarist of alternative rock band The Verve from their formation in 1990 until their split in 1999, and continues as a lead vocalist working with guitars and keyboards...
just a few months before they got together in mid 2007. Different approaches for it were considered. As stated by Nick McCabe
Nick McCabe
Nick McCabe is a musician best known as the lead guitarist of The Verve.-Early life:Nick McCabe was the son of a bus driver and has two older brothers, Alan and Paul...
a "psychedelic version" of the song was his personal favorite.
As for the interpretation of the song's meaning, Richard has cleared it out on an interview with Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
, 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."
The band recorded both b-sides for the single in late September 2008, a month later after the album's release.
Track listings
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.UK promo CD
- "Rather Be" (Radio Edit) - 4:01
- "Rather Be" (Album Version) - 5:38
Digital Bundle
- "Rather Be" (Edit) - 4:01
- "All Night Long" - 7:26
- "Major Force" - 5:52
- "Love Is Noise" (Tom MiddletonTom MiddletonTom Middleton is a prolific British recording artist, music producer, remixer and DJ.A classically trained pianist and cellist, Middleton worked in the early 1990s with Richard D. James , co-producing "En-Trance To Exit" on the Analogue Bubblebath EP for Exeter's influential Mighty Force Records...
Remix) - 7:23
CD
- "Rather Be" (radio edit) - 4:01
- "Love Is Noise" (Tom Middleton remix) - 7:23
7" gatefold
- "Rather Be" (radio edit) - 4:01
- "Major Force" - 5:52
7" clear vinyl
- "Rather Be" (radio edit) - 4:01
- "All Night Long" - 7:26
Exclusive Download from Verve Official Online Store
- "Rather Be" (Live at Rock A Field Festival, LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
- 21/06/08) - 6:13
Exclusive Download from iTunes Store
- "Rather Be" (Caned & Able remix) - 5:32