Released: 2024
Features: Ava Max
“Whatever” by Kygo, featuring Ava Max, is a keen exploration of post-breakup emotions, defiance, and the self-affirmation of moving on. It’s a cathartic pop anthem — groovy and teary-eyed all at the same time, singing about the trials of moving forward after a relationship ends.
The song starts by laying bare the heartache as Max sings “There’s a space in my heart, when it all comes crashing down. Anytime I hear your name out in public” . This line is all about the lingering pain and the ache, the emptiness one feels when a relationship ends. It’s a poetic way of showcasing how even the mere mention of a name can open up old wounds.
Yet, this song isn’t all about the pain. The chorus, “Whatever, whatever, we were never good together…” is Max’s way of declaring her independence. It’s a clear statement of moving on, with a unapologetic mix of indifference and strength. The repeated “Wont see me cry no tears” is a mantra of resilience, an act of defiance to the pain that once was.
Max also refers to a past relationship, as she sings “Two years, that ain’t forever”. This is her way of expressing that a limited period of time doesn’t equate to a permanent impact on life, reinforcing the idea that she’s moving on.
In the lines “Never mind, never mind, feels like you were never mine”, Max captures a sense of regret and the bitter reality about the impermanence of relationships. It’s a frank admission of the melancholy and the momentary feelings of lost love.
Adding more depth, the lines “it sucks sometimes in love, you try your best, but it doesn’t work out” reflect the acceptance of an unfortunate reality about love. Love, as much as it unites, can also end up in heartbreak and it’s not always because of a lack of effort.
The ending reprises the chorus, emphasizing Ava’s resolve to move on from the relationship. It’s a culmination of all the emotions, the hurt, the defiance, and ultimately the acceptance, that she is better off without the baggage of a doomed love affair.
In essence, “Whatever” is a pop narrative that straddles the line between mourning what was and celebrating what could be — capturing the complex emotions tied to the end of a relationship, and the empowering feeling of taking control of one’s own future.
