Valentine (What's It Gonna Be)

"**Valentine (What's It Gonna Be)**" is a single recorded by Rina Sawayama, released on 14 February 2018. This is Sawayama's first single after signing with label 88rising.

True to her past work, "Valentine" is influenced by 90s and 2000s R&B and pop. Appropriately, the single was released on Valentine's Day 2018 but takes a contrarian approach, abandoning the sappy romanticism normally associated with the holiday and replacing it with a bombastic anthem against archaic notions of monogamy.

## Background

Sawayama explained the inspiration behind the song: "I hate Valentines so I wrote a song with Clarence Clarity about toying with love–hope it gives u empowerment from the shackles of heteronormative commercialisation of dating." According to Rina, "Valentine (What's It Gonna Be) is "an anti-Valentine song for those who want a little no strings attached action on a day that perpetuates the boring age old narrative of heterosexual monogamy."

The song features bombastic electric guitars and sleek, high-sheen 90’s influenced pop.

## Critical reception

Describing it as a "Anti-Valentine’s Day anthem", *Vibes of Silence*'s Nacho, wrote that the song is "another proof" that Rina's "voice, image, lyrics and production are always on point to surprise the listener and make him fall hypnotised by her melodies." Robin Murray of *Clash* magazine described it as a "fresh, vivid, inventive pop vision," and added that Rina's "effortlessly stylish vocal" sits against the song's pixelated production.

Lauren O'Neill from *Vice* magazine wrote that "Valentine" is a "reminder of Rina's magnificent magpie qualities: she has the ability to take influence from and pay tribute to various artists through her music without ever feeling unoriginal, or like she's copied them."

## Lyrics

(Oh oh, oh oh)

What's it gonna, gonna be?

What's it gonna, gonna be?

What's it gonna, gonna be?

Be, be, be, be

Irresponsible, tired of taking control

It's not impossible for us to have it all

Your gendered principles were so incompatible

But it's not impossible for us to have it all

Let it be, know that we were never meant to be

One condition, at least, so you and I agree

What's it gonna, gonna be?

What's it gonna, gonna be?

What's it gonna be?

I don't think about the future (It doesn't matter)

Or whether we'll stay together (Whether we'll part)

Making promises is dangerous (I'm just a phase)

I'm just your valentine

Nowhere else to go

Turn to you but I hope you know

This love is just for show

One night and nothing more

Wreckless, but in control

Like girls, we run the world

So don't tell me it's impossible for us to have it all

Let it be, know that we were never meant to be

One condition, at least, so you and I agree

What's it gonna, gonna be?

What's it gonna, gonna be?

What's it gonna be?

I don't think about the future (It doesn't matter)

Or whether we'll stay together (Whether we'll part)

Making promises is dangerous (I'm just a phase)

I'm just your valentine

Can't you see that this is fading? (A love affair)

Baby, let's keep it out of our feelings (Baby, be fair)

Making promises is dangerous (I'm just a phase)

I'm just your valentine

And I don't wanna take this falling down, I'll be there

All I want is everything

I don't think about the future (It doesn't matter)

Or whether we'll stay together (Whether we'll part)

Making promises is dangerous (I'm just a phase)

I'm just your valentine

Can't you see that this is fading? (A love affair)

Baby, let's keep it out of our feelings (Baby, be fair)

Making promises is dangerous (I'm just a phase)

I'm just your valentine

Nowhere else to go

Turn to you but I hope you know

Nowhere else to go

Turn to you but I hope, turn to you but I hope

Nowhere else to go

Turn to you but I hope you know

Nowhere else to go

Turn to you but I hope, turn to you but I hope you know

## References

1. ↑ *Spin.* Rina Sawayama — “Valentine (What’s It Gonna Be)”
2. ↑ *Vibes of Silence.* Rina Sawayama amaze us with her Anti-Valentine's Day anthem "Valentine (What’s It Gonna Be)"
3. ↑ *Clash Magazine.* Listen: Rina Sawayama - 'Valentine (What's It Gonna Be)'
4. ↑ *Vice.* Rina Sawayama Just Put Out a New Type of Love Song