"All I Ever Asked" by Rachel Chinouriri // Song Review

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Initially inspired by a friend's breakup, "All I Ever Asked" by Rachel Chinouriri later became a reflection of her own experiences as well. The song captures the quiet devastation of realizing that the simplest forms of commitment in a relationship was never truly there.

"When I've gone through a lot emotionally, it's easier to get a song out for me," Rachel said in an interview with Apple Music. "Friends tell me their heartbreak and stories, and I guess I just feel a lot when things happen, in proportions which I don't really understand sometimes. I'm a heavy feeler."

In another interview with DORK, she explained, "'All I Ever Asked' was inspired by a breakup my friend was going through, and it made me reflect on a similar situation I was going through too. The feeling of asking someone you love to respect you in the simplest form and realizing it's the bare minimum. It's also about realizing your own worth and not settling for someone who cannot be what you need."

The song's lyrics cut deep, as she delivers this direct and sharply written message through a beautifully simplistic melody. "Just a little more time, was it really that hard to do? It was all I ever asked of you," she sings in the chorus. Rachel doesn't hold anything back in conveying this intense longing and frustration she is drawing from with this song. 

The second verse continues to carry even more emotional weight, "I said it straight, maybe I didn't make it obvious, I would deny you found a way, to makе it 'bout yourself and all because you're always right, never know if you're sorry for what you said, for all I know, you adore me, but kept it all inside your head."

"All I Ever Asked" blends '80s synth-pop and indie influences, while also incorporating alternative and electronic elements to create a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The song was released in 2022 and despite initial hesitation, was later included on her 2024 debut album, What a Devastating Turn of Events. Though she hadn't originally planned for it to be part of the album, it became a launching point for many listeners who discovered her music during that time, while also playing a central role in her artistic growth between 2022 and 2024. It served as the perfect introduction to her artistry, proving why she is one of the most exciting rising artists in pop music today. After discovering her through this song and spending the past few months diving into her incredible body of work, I've only grown to appreciate her talent even more.

"All I Ever Asked" is such a beautifully written and deeply powerful reflection on self-worth and emotional closure, one that serves as a stunning showcase of Rachel Chinouriri's emotional vulnerability and raw honesty as a songwriter.


Check out more from my song of the week series here. ☆ Thanks for reading!


Photo Credit: Rachel Chinouriri, Parlophone Records



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