The Perfect Country-Pop Crossover
Released in 2017, "Meant to Be" became a massive hit by blending the soulful pop stylings of Bebe Rexha with the country flair of Florida Georgia Line. The song relies heavily on a relaxed groove and conversational phrasing, making it an excellent track for singers learning how to convey emotion without over-singing.
The structure is standard: Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus. The challenge lies in the "pocket"—staying right on the beat while maintaining a laid-back feel. Let's break down how to approach the vocals.
AI Coach Tip: Don't Rush the Phrasing
Because the lyrics are conversational ("Baby, lay on back and relax"), many singers tend to rush ahead of the beat. Our analysis shows that singing slightly behind the beat creates that authentic "country cool" vibe.
Phase 1: The Verses (Florida Georgia Line Style)
The verses are sung in a comfortable baritone/tenor range. The key here is articulation. You want to sound like you are talking to a friend.
The Technique: Use a warm chest voice. Don't push too much air. On words like "feet" and "seat", keep the vowels relatively flat to mimic the American country accent, which adds stylistic authenticity to the track.
Phase 2: The Pre-Chorus & Chorus (Bebe's Style)
Bebe enters with a smoother, more R&B-influenced tone. The pre-chorus builds tension not by getting louder, but by becoming more melodic. When the chorus hits ("If it's meant to be, it'll be"), the melody lifts.
- Resonance: Switch to a bright, forward placement (mix voice) for the chorus. It needs to cut through the mix.
- Harmony: If you are singing the lead, stay grounded in the melody. If you are harmonizing, aim for a third above the melody line to replicate the duo effect.
- Breath: The lines are long. Take a solid diaphragm breath before "If it's meant to be" to sustain the phrase without wavering.
Phase 3: The High Ad-libs
towards the end of the song, Bebe adds runs and higher belts, touching a C5. These should be sung with a "heady mix"—allowing more head resonance in whilst keeping the vocal cords connected, ensuring the notes sound powerful but not strained.
Focus on the emotion of surrender in the lyrics. The song isn't about fighting for the notes; it's about letting them happen naturally.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main melody goes up to a B♭4, but ad-libs and harmonies reach up to a C5 in the final chorus sections.
Yes! While it is a duet, many solo artists cover this by singing both the male and female parts. Just be prepared to switch vocal colors between the verse and pre-chorus.
Relax your jaw and widen your vowels slightly. Using Singing Coach AI, you can compare your vowel shapes directly to the original track.
