Can't Believe the Way We Flow

"Can't Believe the Way We Flow" is a song by English electronic music producer and singer-songwriter James Blake from his fourth album, Assume Form. It was written by Blake and contained a sample of "It Feels So Good to Be Loved So Bad", written by Roger Joyce, Victoria Pike and Teddy Randazzo, performed by The Manhattans.[2]

"Can't Believe the Way We Flow"
Song by James Blake
from the album Assume Form
Released18 January 2019
GenreElectro-soul[1]
Length4:27
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)James Blake
Music video
"Can't Believe the Way We Flow" on YouTube

Production

During the "Verified" segment interview with Genius, Blake revealed the process of creating the song:

The point at which we made this song in this record was a turning point in the sense that I realized that I could make a happier album. That actually, the way I felt now, however it was I was feeling, needed to be the way the record sounded. This song was particularly pivotal in how the record ended up for me.[3]

About the "It Feels So Good to Be Loved So Bad" sample, Blake revealed that it "brought so many ideas to the table". He further said that as soon as Dominic Maker brought and played it, the mood of the session changed and Blake said that he "had to get on it".[3]

Critical reception

Upon the release of Assume Form, "Can't Believe the Way We Flow" was met with favourable reviews. Brian Howe of The A.V. Club called it as the highlight track of the album. Howe said: "['Can't Believe the Way We Flow'] recalls the Blake of yore, but instead of scissoring sideways through time, he contents himself with cutting it into lacy symmetries, like a child making paper snowflakes—just an elegant whir, the vocal floating atop it with open-hearted emotion."[4] Fred Thomas of AllMusic described the track as "standing blissfully awestruck at the brilliance of true love."[5] Comparing it to "It Feels So Good to Be Loved So Bad", Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called it "a blissful, lovely update of the sound that emerged" while he said that "practitioners of soft 70s soul keyed into the sleepy, small-hours feel of doo-wop ballads" about the latter track.[6] Writing for The Independent, Helen Brown compared the melody to Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind", described it as "the sonic sky around it fills with doo-wop syllables that glow like paper lanterns."[7]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Can't Believe the Way We Flow" was released on 7 August 2019. It was directed by Frank Lebon.[8] The video features montage of scenes between thirty real-life couples living in London and highlights the highs and lows of a relationship.[9]

Lebon was nominated for the Best Editing at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.[10]

Personnel
  • James Blake – vocals, production, synthesizer, piano, mixing, programming
  • John Armstrong – recording engineer assistance
  • Nathan Boddy – mixing
  • Dominic Maker – co-production, programming
  • Eric Eylands – recording engineer assistance

Credits adapted from Tidal.[11]

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[12] 33

References
  1. Reed, Ryan (7 August 2019). "Watch James Blake's Bizarre, Romantic 'Can't Believe the Way We Flow' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  2. "James Blake 'Assume Form'". XLR8R. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  3. "James Blake "Can't Believe The Way We Flow" Official Lyrics & Meaning - Verified". Genius. YouTube. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  4. Howe, Brian (22 January 2019). "James Blake's Assume Form is both a surprising twist and a logical conclusion". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  5. Thomas, Fred. "Assume Form - James Blake". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  6. Petridis, Alexis (17 January 2019). "James Blake: Assume Form review – lovestruck producer turns dark into light". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  7. Brown, Helen (18 January 2019). "James Blake, Assume Form, album review: Euphoric sepia soul and loved-up doo-wop". The Independent. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  8. Minsker, Evan (7 August 2019). "Watch James Blake's New "Can't Believe the Way We Flow" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  9. Kheraj, Alim (8 August 2019). "James Blake's new Frank Lebon-directed video features loads of irl couples kissing". i-D. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  10. Ginsberg, Gab (30 July 2020). "Ariana Grande & Lady Gaga Lead 2020 MTV VMA Nominations: See Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  11. "Credits / Assume Form / James Blake". Tidal. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  12. "James Blake Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
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