The Release of “Atavista”: A Neo-Soul Summer Jam
Leave it to Donald Glover to sneak some serious philosophical vibes into one of the chillest summer jams you’ll hear all year.
The slyly profound Atavista, released on May 13, 2024, as part of Childish Gambino’s final album, somehow makes confronting the big existential questions feel as breezy as cracking a cold one at the beach.
The Artistry Behind “Atavista”: Gambino and Göransson’s Collaboration
Produced by Gambino himself and co-written with frequent collaborator Ludwig Göransson, the track has this irresistibly mellow, neo-soul groove going on—all buttery vocals, airy piano twinkles, and a drummer’s circle-style beat that just oozes cool.
“Atavista” Lyrics: A Dive into Gambino’s Poetic Mind
With sounds this smooth, you’d be forgiven for zoning out and letting the vibes simply wash over you at first.
But pay closer attention to Childish Gambino’s poetic lyricism, and you’ll find yourself wading into deeper waters before you know it.
Those opening lines alone are enough to make you go “…wait, what was that?”:
You think I’m crazy, but I’m high all the time.
And every day I wake, my life is on the line.
Is he talking about substances, a state of mind, or simply seeing the world a little differently?
It’s left open to interpretation, drawing you into his perspective.
Talk about an artistic mission statement. While the rest of us are just trying to make it through the week, Gambino’s out here living on the gleefully unhinged edge, fully embracing the madness inherent in pursuing your creative truth.
It’s a bold challenge wrapped up in one of the stickiest earworm hooks you’ll hear all year.
From there, he eases you into even headier territory with slick, lived-in imagery and plenty of sly social commentary.
The first verse paints a cautionary portrait of the “beasts untamed” that’ll chew you up and spit you out if you stick around complacency-ville for too long.
But then, a few lines later, he’s musing on all the ways we rationalise just skating through life without making waves:
Now, you can have your cake if it’s all you need.
And what can you do? There are mouths to feed.
It’s like Childish Gambino anticipated all the excuses we’d make for being too caught up in mere survival to prioritise pursuing our deeper callings.
But rather than wag his finger, he’s extending an invitation to join him in shaking off that existential ennui.
He delivers this message with a laid-back flow, as if to say, “Yeah, it’s tough, but we gotta keep moving.”
The chorus, with its repeated “Atavista,” is a mantra-like affirmation. It’s a call to tap into our primal instincts and find meaning in a world that often feels meaningless.
Childish Gambino isn’t offering easy answers; he’s inviting us to contemplate life’s bigger questions alongside him.
The Vibe of “Atavista”: Philosophizing with a Groove
By infusing those weighty themes into a track so ridiculously groovy, Childish Gambino makes philosophising about life’s bigger questions feel like just another delightfully chill kickback with your most introspective pal.
Blast Atavista from Gambino’s farewell album at your next summer hangout, and you may just find yourself pondering your greater purpose in the universe between sips of your frosty beverage.
Now that’s a vibe.
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Childish Gambino Atavista Lyrics
Refrain
You think I’m crazy, but I’m high all the time
And every day I wake, my life is on the line
You know I’ve got to keep on movin’, yeah
Verse 1
There are beasts untamed
Who will eat the young
And you’ll become the same
If you stay too long
Chorus
If the drug is faint
Then the high is low
Atavista, Atavista
Atavista
Refrain
You think I’m crazy, but I’m high all the time
This life is something that is more than a lie
And every day I wake, my life’s on the line
You know I’ve got to keep on movin’, yeah
Verse 2
The game we play ain’t fair, but play it, do we dare?
But people, do they care ’bout what’s happenin’?
Now, you can have your cake if it’s all you need
And what can you do? There are mouths to feed
Chorus
And it’s not insane
If we all believe
Atavista, Atavista
Atavista