Rather Be

The Making and Chart History of "Rather Be" by Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne

"Rather Be" was released on January 6, 2014, as the debut single from Clean Bandit's first studio album, New Eyes, released later that year through Atlantic Records in the United Kingdom and Warner Bros. Records in North America. The song became one of the defining pop hits of 2014, reaching number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and spending 31 weeks on the chart, while simultaneously achieving even greater success internationally, including a number-one position on the UK Singles Chart where it spent four weeks at the top. The single's global performance established Clean Bandit as a major force in contemporary pop music.

Clean Bandit is a British group formed in Cambridge, England, that blends classical music training with electronic dance music production. The group's core members include Grace Chatto, who plays cello, and brothers Jack and Luke Patterson, who handle programming and additional instrumentation. The classical string arrangement is central to the group's sonic identity, and "Rather Be" exemplifies this approach by weaving string quartet elements into a production framework that draws on UK garage, house, and contemporary dance-pop traditions.

The lead vocal on "Rather Be" was performed by Jess Glynne, a British singer and songwriter whose powerful, soulful voice was central to the song's commercial and emotional impact. Glynne had not yet released solo material at the time of the single's recording, and "Rather Be" served as an effective introduction to her vocal talent for international audiences. The collaboration with Clean Bandit launched her career in a highly visible context and set the stage for her own successful solo work in subsequent years.

The song was written by Grace Chatto, Jack Patterson, and James Napier, with additional contributions from the production team. The writing process drew on the group's characteristic approach of combining sophisticated harmonic material derived from classical training with contemporary pop songwriting techniques. The result was a track that felt simultaneously accessible and musically refined, capable of appealing to listeners who valued production craft while remaining broadly pop in its commercial orientation.

On the Billboard Hot 100, "Rather Be" debuted on June 28, 2014, at number 97, a modest entry that reflected the relatively limited initial American commercial infrastructure around the group. The song climbed steadily through the summer months and reached its peak position of number ten on October 11, 2014. This gradual ascent, sustained over a period of more than three months, reflected consistent radio promotion and growing streaming momentum rather than a sudden surge driven by a specific promotional event or media placement. The 31-week chart run confirmed the song's status as a genuine commercial staple rather than a brief chart novelty.

The music video was directed by Luke Monaghan and filmed in Hokkaido, Japan, presenting striking winter landscapes as a backdrop for the group and vocalist performing in various outdoor and architectural settings. The choice of Japan as a filming location gave the video a distinctive visual identity that set it apart from the urban studio-based aesthetics common to British pop videos of the period. The video received significant attention from both music and travel media and contributed to the song's positioning as a visually sophisticated production.

"Rather Be" won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 57th Grammy Awards in February 2015, a recognition that confirmed the song's standing not merely as a pop radio hit but as an artistic contribution to the dance music genre. The Grammy win gave the song a second wave of commercial attention and streaming activity, further extending its already considerable chart life. Critical reception had been similarly positive, with reviewers consistently noting the unusual and effective combination of classical instrumentation and electronic production that characterized the group's approach.

The song's commercial success transformed Clean Bandit from a British indie curiosity into a genuinely international pop act. Its performance on American charts demonstrated that a group with explicitly classical training and influences could achieve mainstream commercial success in the competitive global pop market. This precedent was significant for discussions about the boundaries between genres and the commercial viability of musically sophisticated pop production.