SZA's SOS: Everything You Need to Know About the R&B Star's Sophomore Album
SZA is one of the most acclaimed and influential artists in modern R&B. Since her debut album Ctrl in 2017, she has won multiple awards, collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, and amassed a loyal fanbase that eagerly awaits her every move. After a long wait, SZA finally delivered her second studio album, SOS, on December 9, 2022. Here is everything you need to know about this highly anticipated project.
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The Release Date
SOS was announced on December 3, 2022, during SZA's performance of "Shirt" on Saturday Night Live. The album's release date was revealed in the background of her stage set up, along with a morse code message that spelled out "SOS". This confirmed the fan theories that had been circulating since SZA teased the album title in a video clip and a tattoo on her wrist earlier that year.
SOS arrived almost five years after Ctrl, which was widely regarded as one of the best albums of 2017. During this time, SZA faced several challenges and delays, including vocal cord issues, label disputes, and personal struggles. She also released several singles and collaborations, such as "Good Days", "I Hate U", "Kiss Me More" with Doja Cat, and "All the Stars" with Kendrick Lamar for the Black Panther soundtrack.
The Cover Art
The cover art for SOS shows SZA sitting on a diving board over a large body of water, looking up at the sky. She is wearing a football jersey with "SOS" stitched on the sleeve. The image is inspired by a 1997 photograph of Princess Diana on Mohamed Al Fayed's yacht, taken one week before her death. SZA said she wanted to pay homage to the "isolation" that the photo conveyed.
The cover art also reflects some of the themes and moods of SOS, such as loneliness, vulnerability, freedom, and escape. SZA has often used water imagery in her music and visuals, such as in her songs "Drew Barrymore", "Garden (Say It Like Dat)", and "Broken Clocks". Water can symbolize both life and death, as well as change and renewal.
The Tracklist
SOS consists of 23 songs, making it SZA's longest album to date. It features guest appearances from Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. The tracklist is as follows:
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SOS
Kill Bill
Seek & Destroy
Low
Love Language
Blind
Used (feat. Don Toliver)
Snooze
Notice Me
Gone Girl
Smoking on my Ex Pack
Ghost in the Machine (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
F2F
Me (feat. Travis Scott)
Shirt
Good Days
Wish You Well
Shimmy Shimmy Ya (feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard)
Hit Different
I Hate U
Power Trip
Runaway
Outro
The album's lead single, "Shirt", was released on November 19, 2022. It is a catchy and upbeat song that showcases SZA's vocal range and confidence. The song's chorus samples the 1999 hit "Thong Song" by Sisqo, adding a nostalgic and playful touch. The music video for "Shirt" was directed by SZA herself, and features her dancing and posing in various outfits and locations.
The second single, "Used", was released on December 2, 2022. It is a collaboration with Houston rapper Don Toliver, who is known for his melodic and auto-tuned style. The song is a sultry and smooth R&B track that explores the feelings of being used and manipulated by a lover. The song's title is a reference to SZA's previous song "The Weekend", which was also about sharing a partner with someone else.
The Production
SOS boasts an impressive roster of producers and songwriters who helped SZA craft her sonic vision. Some of the notable names include Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Hit-Boy, Frank Dukes, Boi-1da, Metro Boomin, The Neptunes, and Sounwave. SZA also co-wrote and co-produced most of the songs on the album, showcasing her creative input and versatility.
The album's sound is diverse and eclectic, drawing from various genres and influences such as R&B, hip-hop, pop, soul, rock, and alternative. SZA said she wanted to experiment with different sounds and styles on SOS, and not limit herself to one genre or label. She also said she was inspired by artists such as Prince, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Björk, Radiohead, and Kanye West.
The Themes
SOS is an acronym for "Save Our Souls", which reflects some of the themes and emotions that SZA explores on the album. She said she wanted to express her "rawest" and "realest" feelings on SOS, and not hold back anything. She also said she wanted to make an album that was "for me and by me", and not cater to anyone else's expectations or opinions.
Some of the main topics that SZA tackles on SOS are revenge, love, self-doubt, empowerment, identity, and growth. She sings about her experiences with toxic relationships, cheating partners, unrequited feelings, insecurities, self-love, confidence, independence, and maturity. She also addresses some of the challenges and pressures that she faced as a successful artist in the music industry.
The Reviews
SOS has received widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike, who praised SZA's vocal performance, songwriting, production, and artistic growth. The album has a score of 93 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 25 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Some of the publications that gave SOS positive reviews include Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The Guardian, NME, and Billboard.
Some of the common compliments that SOS received were that it was "stunning", "brilliant", "masterful", "powerful", and "groundbreaking". Critics also noted that SOS showcased SZA's versatility, creativity, and authenticity, and that it was a worthy follow-up to Ctrl. Some of the highlights and standout tracks that were mentioned were "Shirt", "Used", "Blind", "Ghost in the Machine", and "Shimmy Shimmy Ya".
SOS also received some criticism from a few reviewers, who felt that the album was too long, too experimental, or too personal. Some of the drawbacks and flaws that were pointed out were that some of the songs were "fillers", "skippable", or "forgettable", and that some of the lyrics were "vague", "repetitive", or "self-indulgent". Some of the tracks that received mixed or negative feedback were "Snooze", "F2F", and "Power Trip".
The Impact
SOS has been a huge success both commercially and culturally, proving SZA's popularity and influence as a leading voice in contemporary R&B. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 302,000 equivalent album units in its first week. It also topped the charts in several other countries, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
SOS also broke several records and milestones for SZA and for R&B music in general. It became SZA's first number one album in the US and her highest-selling album to date. It also became the longest R&B album by a female artist to reach number one in the US, surpassing Beyoncé's Lemonade. It also became the most-streamed R&B album by a female artist in Spotify history, surpassing Rihanna's ANTI.
SOS also had a significant impact on the culture and society, as it sparked conversations and debates about various topics and issues that SZA addressed on the album. Some of these topics include feminism, sexuality, mental health, racism, and spirituality. SZA also inspired many people with her story of overcoming adversity and achieving her dreams. She also received praise and support from many of her peers and idols in the music industry, such as Drake, Adele, Taylor Swift, Lizzo, and Cardi B.
Conclusion
SOS is a remarkable album that showcases SZA's talent, vision, and evolution as an artist. It is a captivating and compelling listen that takes the listener on a journey through SZA's mind and heart. It is an album that is honest, relatable, and empowering, and that speaks to the current times and generations. It is an album that deserves all the praise and recognition that it has received, and more.
If you are a fan of SZA or R&B music in general, you should definitely check out SOS. You can download it as a zip file from various sources online, or stream it on your favorite platform. You will not regret it.
FAQs
Q: What does SOS stand for?
A: SOS stands for Save Our Souls, which reflects some of the themes and emotions that SZA explores on the album.
Q: How long did it take for SZA to make SOS?
A: It took almost five years for SZA to make SOS, due to various challenges and delays that she faced.
Q: Who are some of the producers and features on SOS?
A: Some of the producers and features on SOS include Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Hit-Boy, Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, and Ol' Dirty Bastard.
Q: What are some of the genres and influences that SZA experimented with on SOS?
A: Some of the genres and influences that SZA experimented with on SOS include R&B, hip-hop, pop, soul, rock, alternative, Prince, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Björk, Radiohead, and Kanye West.
Q: What are some of the records and milestones that SOS achieved?
of the records and milestones that SOS achieved are: - It became SZA's first number one album in the US and her highest-selling album to date. - It became the longest R&B album by a female artist to reach number one in the US, surpassing Beyoncé's Lemonade. - It became the most-streamed R&B album by a female artist in Spotify history, surpassing Rihanna's ANTI.
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