"Heart Wants What It Wants" is a song by American singer and songwriter Bebe Rexha from her third studio album Bebe (2023). It was written by Rexha, Bonnie McKee, Ido Zmishlany, Jussi Karvinen, Liana Banks, Ray Goren, Ryan Williamson and Sarah Solovay, with the production completed by Zmishlany. The song was released as the lead single from the album for digital download and streaming in various countries by Warner on February 17, 2023. It has been described as 1970s disco, funk and pop song that discovers the emotion of when you fall out of love. Upon release, the song garnered positive reviews from music critics for its music, lyrics and Rexha's vocal delivery. Commercially, it reached number 10 in Bulgaria and number 21 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart as well as the top 40 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 rankings. The 1970s-themed music video premiered on Rexha's YouTube channel on February 17 that showcases her performing in a retro-described setting with behind-the-scenes process of the shoot.
Background and composition
On February 8, 2023, Rexha announced her third studio album Bebe (2023) and its lead single "Heart Wants What It Wants" at a listening party in Los Angeles. Following the singer's widespread success garnered with the previous collaboration "I'm Good (Blue)" with French disc jockey David Guetta, the song emerges as a follow-up single to it and leads to the forthcoming single "Call On Me". It was written by Rexha, Bonnie McKee, Ido Zmishlany, Jussi Karvinen, Liana Banks, Ray Goren, Ryan Williamson and Sarah Solovay, with the production completed by Zmishlany. With a length of three minutes and two seconds, the song was released for digital download and streaming in various countries by Warner on February 17, 2023. "Heart Wants What It Wants" has been described as a 1970s disco, funk and pop song, incorporating a dance-pop beat. The song discovers the emotion of when "you fall out of love" and themes of empowerment and self-love. During the lyrics, Rexha aims to make it clear to her significant other that she cannot guarantee to love him eternally, having previously believed that her ex was her one true love until her heart decided otherwise. Lyrics include: "My heart only wants what it wants/ What it wants, what it wants 'til it doesn't/ I can't promise you love, it was." Two remixes, which were done by MK and Nicky Romero, accompanied the single's release in March 2023.
Reception
Upon release, "Heart Wants What It Wants" garnered positive reviews from music critics. As of George Griffiths from the Official Charts Company, the song is as a "breakout hit" that serves as a "perfect lead-in" to Rexha's third studio album and complies in the "soundscape of the 1970s." Eryn Murphy for Euphoria Magazine characterized the song as an original creation and the best preview of the album and responded positively to Rexha's "unmistakable" vocal performance that "elevates the disco-pop feel" of the song. Alex Gonzalez of Uproxx highlighted Rexha's "breezy, pop" vocals and the song's "groovy, disco-inspired" sound that is ready to "hit the dancefloor." Jennifer Machin from Hypebae complimented the song for its catchiness and Rexha for delivering "some serious disco dance vibes." Janet Mfumuzingi for Chérie FM designated the song as a "bold and addictive" title and commented that it showcases a "mature and fulfilled" side of Rexha. Jordi Bardají of Jenesaispop linked the song to British-American band Fleetwood Mac's single "Landslide" (1975) and noted that it "isn't quite as good" as the latter but "gracefully ushers us" into the new era of Rexha.
Commercially, "Heart Wants What It Wants" reached number 10 in Bulgaria, number 18 in Lebanon, number 38 in Hungary, number 61 in Croatia and number 62 in Poland. The song also peaked in the top 30 on the New Zealand Hot Singles, the US Billboard Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 rankings, and reached the top 50 on the Canadian CHR/Top 40 and Hot AC charts.