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Are You Even Real

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"Are You Even Real"
Single by Teddy Swims featuring Giveon
from the album I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2)
ReleasedJanuary 10, 2025
Genre
Length2:27
LabelWarner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Julian Bunetta
  • Peter Thomas
Teddy Swims singles chronology
"Georgia Ways"
(2024) 		"Are You Even Real"
(2025)
Giveon singles chronology
"The First Noel"
(2023) 		"Are You Even Real"
(2025)
Music video
"Are You Even Real" on YouTube

"Are You Even Real" is a song by American singer-songwriter Teddy Swims featuring the American R&B singer Giveon. The song was released on January 10, 2025, as the second single from his upcoming second studio album I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2).

Background and composition

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"Are You Even Real" was written by Swims and Giveon, together with Abby Keen, Lawson, Sarah "Solly" Solovay, Sean Kennedy, TaeJaun Ellis, Julian Bunetta, and Peter Thomas, with the latter two also producing the song. The song is described as "about being so taken aback by the intensity of the love they feel that they question whether it’s genuine or merely a product of their imagination".[3][4]

About the making of the song, Swims said, "I'm in love with a perfect woman and I am so lucky that sometimes it feels too good to be true!" Talking about his collaboration with Giveon, he said, "I’m so grateful to have my dear friend Givēon on 'Are You Even Real' with me! He is a once in a generation talent, I’m trying to get this man to do a whole record with me!"[5] Giveon added that the "song came together in such a natural way".[6]

Music video

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The music video for "Are You Even Real" was directed by Cameron Dean.[7] The video employed a laid-back approach, with Swims and Giveon mostly singing their verses from a seat that backs the other person.[8]

Reception

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Alex Thomas from Neon Music praised the song for its vulnerability. He described "Are You Even Real" as a song that "builds its emotional core through carefully crafted vocal performances." He further added that Swims' vocal delivery "shifts between whisper-soft confessions and more powerful moments of realization, each word carefully shaped to maximize emotional impact." He also described the song's lyrics as traversing "a dreamscape where love feels both tangible and imaginary." Finally, he praised the minimalist production of the track, saying that it "underscores the vocals, with gentle instrumentation that enhances the song’s ethereal quality."[9]

Writing for Billboard magazine, Mitchell Peters described "Are You Even Real" as a song which "blends Swims' heartfelt vocals with Giveon's signature deep tones, creating a rich contrast accentuated by tight harmonies in the track's latter half."[10] Nmesoma Okechukwu from the online magazine Euphoria. praises the song's lyrics, saying that they heard something truly magical. Moreover, they said: "I bet you that if you've listened to it, you're going to find something to love about the song from the get-go."[8]

Credits and personnel

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  • Jaten Dimsdale – songwriter, vocals
  • Giveon Dezmann Evans – songwriter, vocals
  • Peter Thomas – drums, guitar, bass, synthesizer, piano, songwriter, producer, recording engineer
  • Julian Bunetta – drums, songwriter, producer, recording engineer
  • TaeJaun Ellis – background vocals, songwriter
  • Abby Keen – songwriter
  • Lawson – songwriter
  • Sarah "Solly" Solovay – songwriter
  • Sean Kennedy – songwriter
  • Alex Ghenea – mixing engineer
  • Brian Cruz – recording engineer
  • Jeff Gunnell – recording engineer
  • Nathan Dantzler – mastering engineer
  • Harrison Tate – assistant mastering engineer
  • Terena Dawn – assistant recording engineer

Charts

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Chart performance for "Are You Even Real"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 65
Global 200 (Billboard)[12] 91
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 89
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[14] 2
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[15] 18
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[16] 23
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 59
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 10
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[19] 37

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Are You Even Real"
Region Date Format(s) Version Label Ref.
Various January 10, 2025
Original Warner [20]

References

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  1. ^ Abraham, Mya (January 10, 2025). "Otis Kane, Kyle Dion, Teddy Swims, Giveon And More New R&B To Hold Onto". Vibe. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  2. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (January 10, 2025). "Friday Music Guide: New Music From Teddy Swims, Lil Baby, Wallows & More". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  3. ^ Williams, Kyann-Sian (January 10, 2025). "Listen to Teddy Swims and Giveon's sultry new duet, 'Are You Even Real?'". NME. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  4. ^ Beaudet, Beaudet (January 10, 2025). "Teddy Swims et Giveon : "Are You Even Real", le hit de ce début d'année 2025 ?" [Teddy Swims and Giveon: "Are You Even Real", the hit of the start of 2025?]. NRJ (in French). Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  5. ^ Todd, Nate (January 10, 2025). "Teddy Swims Ponders 'Are You Even Real' With Givēon On Sultry New Single". JamBase. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  6. ^ Sharpe, Josh (January 10, 2025). "Teddy Swims & GIVĒON Team Up for Soulful New Single 'Are You Even Real'". Broadway World. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  7. ^ Logan, Philip (January 10, 2025). "Teddy Swims teams up with GIVEON on captivating new single 'Are You Even Real'". Celeb Mix. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Okechukwu, Nmesoma (January 14, 2025). "Teddy Swims – Are You Even Real (feat. GIVĒON)". Euphoria. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  9. ^ Harris, Alex (January 14, 2025). "Breaking Down "Are You Even Real": Teddy Swims and Givēon's Soulful Collaboration". Neon Music. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  10. ^ Peters, Mitchell (January 12, 2025). "Fans Choose Teddy Swims & Giveon's 'Are You Even Real' as This Week's Top New Music in All-Genre Poll". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "Teddy Swims Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  12. ^ "Teddy Swims Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  13. ^ "Teddy Swims feat. Giveon – Are You Even Real" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  14. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart – 17-23 January 2025". Recorded Music NZ. January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  16. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  17. ^ "Teddy Swims Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  18. ^ "Teddy Swims Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  19. ^ "Teddy Swims Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  20. ^ "Are You Even Real - Song by Teddy Swims & GIVĒON". Apple Music. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
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