Reitse Machiel leans into emotional honesty while keeping one foot firmly on the dancefloor with “Can’t Do Better,” which walks the tightrope between heartfelt emotions and pulsing pop energy. Coming off the momentum of his previous release, he doubles down on contrast, bringing vulnerability in an engaging rhythm.
The song opens in an immersive space, giving his deep, sincere voice room to breathe. Opening the song, he sings, “I wish that someone would have told me the way the world can drag you low,” like he’s lending a hand and asking for the door to open to let him in.
But just as you settle into that calm, the beat kicks in—and it kicks in hard. Thumping, dance-pop rhythms take over, adding an urgency to the emotion. There are heavy feelings wrapped in a track you could easily hear in a club. It amplifies the energy with a boost that could uplift those struggling.
As the chorus hits, “We’re falling out of love, and we can’t do better now,” Machiel really lets loose. His voice soars with a restrained desperation, like he’s trying to hold something together that’s already slipping through his fingers. He repeats, “you, you, you,” reinforcing that sense of emotional distance.
Lyrically, the song circles around miscommunication and emotional disconnect, with two people drifting, unable (or one of them unwilling) to fix what’s breaking. He sings about walking alone, feeling lost, and not knowing what to say, keeping things grounded and relatable. What really makes a difference is how he’s willing to be there for the other person, even when they are shutting him out and mistreating him as a partner.
By the end, “Can’t Do Better” leaves you in that unresolved space between trying and giving up.
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Review by: Naomi Joan