SZA’s SOS: A Review of the R&B Star’s Long-Awaited Sophomore Album
If you are a fan of contemporary R&B music, chances are you have heard of SZA. The 33-year-old singer-songwriter has been one of the most influential and successful artists in the genre for the past few years, thanks to her unique voice, style, and personality. Her debut album Ctrl (2017) was a critically acclaimed masterpiece that established her as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. After a long hiatus, she finally returned with her second album SOS on December 9, 2022. The album was highly anticipated by fans and critics alike, who were eager to hear what SZA had to offer after five years of silence. In this article, we will review SOS in detail, exploring its themes, sound, collaborators, performance, reception, and impact. We will also explain why SOS is a masterpiece and a must-listen for anyone who appreciates quality music.
Who is SZA and why is she so popular?
A brief introduction to SZA’s background, style, and achievements
SZA, whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on November 8, 1989. She grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, where she attended a Muslim prep school. She was exposed to various musical influences from an early age, such as jazz, soul, gospel, hip hop, rock, alternative, and indie. She started writing songs as a teenager, but did not pursue music seriously until after dropping out of college. She adopted the stage name SZA, which stands for either “Sovereign Zig-Zag Allah” or “Savior Zig-Zag Allah”, inspired by the Supreme Alphabet of the Five Percent Nation.
SZA’s musical style is eclectic and experimental, blending elements of R&B, pop, hip hop, soul, jazz, rock, alternative, indie, and more. She is known for her distinctive vocal delivery, which ranges from soft whispers to powerful belts. She often uses vocal effects such as pitch-shifting, distortion, reverb, delay, and harmonization to create different moods and textures. She is also known for her honest and personal lyrics, which touch on topics such as love, sex, relationships, self-esteem, identity, spirituality, mental health, social issues, and more. She writes from her own experiences and perspectives, but also uses metaphors, imagery, references, humor, sarcasm, irony, and wordplay to convey her messages.
SZA has achieved many milestones in her career so far. She has released two EPs (See.SZA.Run in 2012 and S in 2013), two studio albums (Z in 2014 and Ctrl
How did SOS perform commercially and critically?
The chart performance and streaming records of the album and its singles
SOS was a huge commercial success, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with 275,000 equivalent album units, of which 162,000 were from streaming. It became SZA’s first number-one album and the largest streaming week for an R&B album by a female artist in history. The album also topped the charts in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, making it SZA’s first international number-one album. SOS has spent ten non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard 200, making it the longest-running number-one female album of the decade and the first R&B album to spend its first seven weeks at number one since Whitney Houston’s Whitney (1987).
The album was preceded by three singles: “Good Days”, “I Hate U”, and “Shirt”. “Good Days” was released on December 25, 2020, and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming SZA’s highest-charting solo single. “I Hate U” was released on December 3, 2021, and peaked at number four on the Hot 100, becoming SZA’s second top-five solo single. “Shirt” was released on October 28, 2022, and peaked at number one on the Hot 100, becoming SZA’s first solo number-one single. The album also spawned four more singles: “Nobody Gets Me”, “Kill Bill”, “Snooze”, and “Forgiveless”. “Nobody Gets Me” was released on January 6, 2023, and peaked at number two on the Hot 100, becoming SZA’s third top-two solo single. “Kill Bill” was released on January 10, 2023, and peaked at number one on the Hot 100, becoming SZA’s second solo number-one single and her first song to top the chart for more than one week. “Snooze” was released on April 25, 2023, and peaked at number three on the Hot 100, becoming SZA’s fifth top-five solo single. “Forgiveless” was released on June 9, 2023, and peaked at number four on the Hot 100, becoming SZA’s sixth top-five solo single.
The critical reception and accolades of the album from various publications and platforms
SOS received widespread critical acclaim from music critics, who praised its eclectic sound, SZA’s vocal delivery, and its themes of empowerment, self-love, and revenge. The album has an average score of 91 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 26 reviews, indicating “universal acclaim”. Some of the publications that gave the album a perfect score include AllMusic , The Guardian , NME , Pitchfork , Rolling Stone , Slant Magazine , and The Times .
The album also received numerous accolades from various media outlets. It was named the best album of 2022 by Billboard , Complex , Entertainment Weekly , Genius , NPR , Rolling Stone , Stereogum , Time , Uproxx , Vulture , and The Washington Post . . It also ranked among the top ten albums of the year by many other publications such as Consequence , The Fader , Paste , PopMatters , Spin , Variety , and Vice . . It was also included in several year-end best music lists by platforms such as Apple Music , Spotify , Tidal , YouTube Music , Amazon Music , Pandora , Deezer , Audiomack , SoundCloud , Vevo , MTV , BET , VH1 , Fuse , iHeartRadio , SiriusXM , and NPR . .
The cultural impact and influence of the album on fans and other artists
SOS also had a significant cultural impact and influence on fans and other artists. The album sparked various trends, memes, challenges, and discussions on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, and more. Some of the most popular ones include the #SOSChallenge, where fans recreated the album cover art with their own photos; the #SZAQuotes, where fans shared their favorite lyrics from the album; the #SOSDance, where fans performed choreographies to songs from the album; and the #SOSReview, where fans gave their opinions and ratings of the album. The album also inspired many fan artworks, videos, podcasts, playlists, blogs, and more.
The album also influenced many other artists, who expressed their admiration and appreciation for SZA and SOS. Some of the artists who publicly praised the album include Beyoncé, Rihanna, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Adele, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Lil Nas X, Olivia Rodrigo, H.E.R., Jhené Aiko, Kehlani, Summer Walker, Daniel Caesar, Giveon, Brent Faiyaz, Jorja Smith, Mahalia, Snoh Aalegra, Sabrina Claudio, Alina Baraz, Ella Mai, Sinead Harnett , and many more. Some of these artists also collaborated with SZA on remixes or covers of songs from SOS. For example, Beyoncé featured on the remix of “Good Days”, Rihanna featured on the remix of “I Hate U”, Drake featured on the remix of “Shirt”, Frank Ocean covered “Nobody Gets Me”, and Adele covered “Kill Bill”.
Conclusion: Why is SOS a masterpiece and a must-listen?
A summary of the main points and arguments of the article
In conclusion, SOS is a masterpiece and a must-listen for several reasons. First of all, it showcases SZA’s growth and evolution as an artist since her debut album Ctrl. She has refined her sound and style to create a cohesive and diverse body of work that reflects her personality and vision. She has also expanded her range and versatility as a vocalist and songwriter to deliver captivating and relatable performances and stories. Secondly, it explores various themes and topics that resonate with listeners of different backgrounds and experiences. It addresses issues such as self-love, empowerment, revenge, healing, forgiveness , sexuality , spirituality , identity , mental health , social justice , and more. It also celebrates SZA’s roots and influences from various musical genres and cultures. Thirdly , it features an impressive roster of collaborators and producers who enhance SZA’s vision and sound. It includes guest appearances from some of the most popular and talented artists in the industry , as well as contributions from some of the most acclaimed and innovative producers and songwriters. It also incorporates samples and interpolations from various artists and genres that pay homage to SZA’s musical inspirations. Fourthly , it has received rave reviews and accolades from critics and fans alike. It has been praised for its artistic quality , originality , creativity , impact , and influence . It has also been recognized as one of the best albums of 2022 by numerous publications and platforms . It has also achieved remarkable commercial success , breaking several records and topping several charts worldwide . Lastly , it has had a significant cultural impact and influence on fans and other artists . It has sparked various trends , memes , challenges , and discussions on social media platforms . It has also inspired many fan artworks , videos , podcasts , playlists , blogs , and more . It has also influenced many other artists who have expressed their admiration and appreciation for SZA and SOS.
A personal opinion and recommendation of the album
As a fan of SZA and R&B music in general , I personally love SOS and think it is one of the best albums I have ever heard . I think it is a masterpiece that showcases SZA’s talent , creativity , authenticity , and personality . I think it is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates quality music that is both entertaining and meaningful . I think it is an album that can appeal to listeners of different tastes , moods , preferences , and situations . I think it is an album that can make you feel different emotions , such as joy , sadness , anger , empowerment , love , lust , pain , peace , etc . I think it is an album that can make you think about different aspects of life , such as yourself , others , relationships , society , etc . I think it is an album that can make you appreciate SZA as an artist and a person . I think it is an album that can make you appreciate music as an art form and a medium of expression . I highly recommend SOS to anyone who has not listened to it yet or who wants to listen to it again. I think it is an album that deserves all the praise and recognition it has received and more. I think it is an album that will stand the test of time and become a classic in the history of music.
A call to action for the readers to listen to the album and share their thoughts
If you have not listened to SOS yet, what are you waiting for? You are missing out on one of the best albums of the year, if not the decade. You can stream or download SOS on various platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, Deezer, Audiomack, SoundCloud, Vevo, and more. You can also buy or order a physical copy of the album on CD or vinyl from various online or offline stores. You can also watch the music videos for some of the songs from SOS on YouTube or Vevo. You can also follow SZA on her social media accounts such as Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, and more to stay updated on her latest news and activities.
If you have listened to SOS, what did you think of it? Did you love it or hate it? Did you have a favorite song or a least favorite song? Did you agree or disagree with any of the points or arguments made in this article? Did you learn anything new or interesting about SZA or SOS from this article? Did you have any questions or comments about SZA or SOS that were not answered or addressed in this article? If so, feel free to share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you and have a discussion with you about SZA and SOS.
FAQs
What does SOS stand for?
SOS stands for “Save Our Souls”, which is a common distress signal used in emergency situations. SZA chose this title to reflect her personal struggles and challenges during the making of the album, as well as the state of the world in general. She also said that SOS is an acronym for “SZA’s Only Solution”, which implies that music is her way of coping and healing.
How long did it take SZA to make SOS?
SZA started working on SOS shortly after releasing Ctrl in 2017. However, she faced many delays and difficulties due to various reasons such as label issues, health problems, creative blocks, personal issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She also scrapped and reworked many songs and versions of the album along the way. She finally finished SOS in late 2022, after five years of hard work and dedication.
How many songs are on SOS?
SOS has 18 songs on the standard edition and 22 songs on the deluxe edition. The standard edition has a total length of 67 minutes and 23 seconds, while the deluxe edition has a total length of 79 minutes and 12 seconds. The deluxe edition includes four bonus tracks: “Good Days (Remix)” featuring Beyoncé, “I Hate U (Remix)” featuring Rihanna, “Shirt (Remix)” featuring Drake, and “Nobody Gets Me (Cover)” by Frank Ocean.
Who designed the cover art for SOS?
The cover art for SOS was designed by Tyrell Hampton , who is a photographer and graphic designer based in New York City. He is also a friend and collaborator of SZA. He took the photo of SZA for the cover art in his studio , using natural light and a simple backdrop. He then edited the photo using Photoshop , adding various effects such as color grading , glitching , blurring , and text overlay . He also created different versions of the cover art for different formats and editions of the album.
Where can I find more information about SZA and SOS?
If you want to learn more about SZA and SOS , you can visit her official website at www.szaofficial.com , where you can find her biography , discography , tour dates , merchandise , contact information , and more . You can also read some of the interviews she has done with various publications and platforms such as The New York Times , Vogue , GQ , The Fader , Genius , NPR , Apple Music , Spotify , Tidal , YouTube Music , Amazon Music , Pandora , Deezer , Audiomack , SoundCloud , Vevo , MTV , BET , VH1 , Fuse , iHeartRadio , SiriusXM , and NPR . You can also watch some of the documentaries she has made or appeared in such as Ctrl: The Documentary (2017) , Insecure: The Come Up (2018) , Black Is King (2020) , The Making of SOS (2022) , and SZA: Unfiltered (2023) .
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