"Whatever" is a song by Norwegian DJ Kygo and American singer Ava Max. It was released on 19 January 2024 through RCA Records, as the lead single from Kygo's eponymous fifth studio album. The tropical house song was written by both artists alongside Cleo Tighe, Jonah Shy, Petey Martin and Rollo. It contains an interpolation of Shakira's 2001 song "Whenever, Wherever", with lyrics about a breakup; therefore, Shakira, Tim Mitchell and Gloria Estefan are credited as co-writers. The song reached number one in Norway and the top 10 in Sweden.
The song reached number 8 on the Australian Dance Singles Chart, becoming Kygo's first song to chart in Australia since "What's Love Got to Do with It" (2020).
Background and composition In early January 2024, Kygo and Max posted snippets of an upcoming collaboration on their social media accounts. On 10 January, Kygo announced the release date of the song. "Whatever" was released for digital download and streaming on January 19 through RCA Records and Sony Music. It was written by Kygo, Max, Cleo Tighe, Jonah Shy, Patrick Martin, and Rollo. The chorus interpolates Shakira's 2001 song "Whenever, Wherever". Shakira, Gloria Estefan, and Tim Mitchell were consequently credited as songwriters.
"Whatever" is a tropical house song. The lyrics of the original song's chorus were modified to "Whatever, whatever / We were never good together / I'll be here and you stay there / Truth is, I never cared", making for a "harsh rebuke of the limitless love" presented in the original song. The instrumental is built around an acoustic guitar and a "pumping" kick drum.
Critical reception The song received mixed reviews from critics. Jason Heffler from EDM.com called the song an "infectious cover" and "a saccharine anthem that will soon dominate dance radio". We Rave Yous Chris Vuoncino said to "expect 'Whatever' to be on repeat all year long at festivals and radio stations everywhere". Writing for Billboard, Andrew Unterberger described the song as "an undeniable club smash".
Less positively, Exclaim!s Sydney Brasil wrote that the song's "horrid interpolation" is its "main crime", and that it "turns the [interpolated] track's chorus into a lazy breakup anthem". Marius Ásp from Verdens Gang also criticized the interpolation, describing it as "lazy and uninspired"; he gave the song a 2 out of 5.
Music video The music video for "Whatever" was released on January 19, 2024. Directed by Dano Cerny, it is set in a desolate desert highway. The opening scene shows a telephone booth in the middle of the desert, which then frequently cuts between Max and the landscape, leading to a scene where Max, who is wearing a black leather outfit and holding a rosary in one of the hands, starts singing as she walks away from a car. After the first chorus, reflective blue gems start floating around the singer, who is now wearing a black dress with a necklace containing three crosses. The video ends with the blue gems merging and showing a reflection of Max.
Live performances Kygo and Max first performed "Whatever" together on 13 February 2024 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Track listing Digital download / streaming "Whatever" – 2:58
Digital download / streaming – Tiësto remix "Whatever" (Tiësto remix) – 2:45
Digital download / streaming – The Remixes "Whatever" (acoustic) – 3:45 "Whatever" (Lavern remix) – 2:46 "Whatever" (Klangkarussell remix) – 8:19 "Whatever" (Frank Walker remix) – 3:04 "Whatever" (Tiësto remix) – 2:45
Personnel Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll – production, songwriting Amanda Ava Koci – vocals, songwriting Petey Martin – production Cleo Tighe – songwriting Gloria Estefan – songwriting Jonah Shy – songwriting Patrick Martin – songwriting Roland Spreckley – songwriting Shakira – songwriting Tim Mitchell – songwriting Bryce Bordone – assistant engineer Serban Ghenea – mixing engineer Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for "Whatever" Chart (2024) Peakposition Australia Dance (ARIA) 8 Bulgaria Airplay (PROPHON) 8 Croatia International Airplay (Top lista) 3 Greece International (IFPI) 86 Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan) 6 Latvia Airplay (LaIPA) 3 Lithuania (AGATA) 87 Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) 13 Luxembourg (Billboard) 16 Malta Airplay (Radiomonitor) 1 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) 6 Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100) 95 North Macedonia Airplay (Radiomonitor) 2 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100) 20 Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) 78 Serbia Airplay (Radiomonitor) 2 Slovenia Airplay (Radiomonitor) 1 South Korea (Circle) 137 Spain Airplay (PROMUSICAE)2 Turkey International Airplay (Radiomonitor Türkiye) 7
Monthly charts + Monthly chart performance for "Whatever" Chart (2024) Peakposition Belarus Airplay (TopHit) 1 CIS Airplay (TopHit) 5 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100) 3 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) 44 Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 6 Kazakhstan Airplay (TopHit) 2 Latvia Airplay (TopHit) 24 Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) 16 Moldova Airplay (TopHit) 5 Romania Airplay (TopHit) 33 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 7 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100) 6 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) 30 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit) 7
Year-end charts + 2024 year-end chart performance for "Whatever" Chart (2024) Position Australia Dance (ARIA) 33 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 43 Belarus Airplay (TopHit) 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 48 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 41 CIS Airplay (TopHit) 8 Denmark (Tracklisten) 59 Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 23 France (SNEP) 89 Germany (GfK) 37 Global 200 (Billboard) 182Hungary (Dance Top 40) 61Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 17 Kazakhstan Airplay (TopHit) 11 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 55 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 54 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 23 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 41 UK Singles (OCC) 78 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 14 + 2025 year-end chart performance for "Whatever" Chart (2025) Position Belarus Airplay (TopHit) 92 Hungary (Dance Top 40) 84 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 93
Certifications
Release history +Release dates and formats for "Whatever" Region Date Format(s)Version Label(s) Various 19 January 2024 Original RCA Italy 26 January 2024 Radio airplay Sony Various22 March 2024Tiësto remixRCA29 March 2024The Remixes
References