Released: 2024
“React” by Bakar is a raw exploration of emotional conflict within relationships, underscored by a weary acknowledgment of the cyclical patterns that often emerge in strenuous interpersonal dynamics. Bakar’s lyricism spins a tale of how miscommunication and incompatibility result in turmoil, painting a picture of a relationship in the throes of turbulence.
The hook and chorus, woven through the entirety of the track, (“You just wish that I react more/That’s why we’re at war…”) express the crux of Bakar’s struggle in the relationship. The other person desires a more emotional response from him, an element of drama that Bakar is not willing to provide, leading to contention. The term “at war” is an ode to the continuous battles in their relationship, while the recurring phrase “You just talk ’cause you love action/That’s why we’re fractured” points out a key dichotomy – Bakar’s longing for tranquility versus his partner’s desire for action and intensity, which is in turn contributing to their unresolved issues.
In the verse, Bakar delves deeper into his emotions, expressing his transformation due to the toxic environment (“I had been livin’ in darkness too long…”). He admits to having morphed from a “nice guy” into someone more emotionless, a “heartless” figure, a coping mechanism to shield himself from his partner’s lies and manipulations (“Babe, you feel better with your white lies/Lead me on like I was the right guy, yeah-yeah”).
Bakar continues unveiling his emotional state, stating “Tryna save my little heart from the mess/Hate the fact that you know my address/Cause you’re the same little, ugh, from the ends”. Here, Bakar is expressing his desire to shelter his heart from further damage while highlighting his frustration at the emotional proximity his partner still commands despite the relationship’s toxicity. The term “from the ends” is a common UK slang term for someone from the same neighborhood or area, suggesting an intimate familiarity that now feels abusive.
The ending statement (“Simmer down, simmer down, simmer down”) rings out as a desperate plea for calm, a cry for the turbulent emotional waters to retreat. It’s a raw call to break the cycle of emotional warfare, symbolizing Bakar’s desire for resolution and peace.
