Star singer SZA reached a new milestone with her latest album, SOS, reaching No.1 on the Billboard 200 charts after a five-year hiatus. Her debut is among one of the five highest album debuts of 2022. TDE songstress SZA’s latest album SOS has reached early success as it is now No. 1 on the Billboard […]
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SZA just unveiled SOS, her first No. 1 album and long-awaited follow-up to Ctrl. The record has a lot of people emotional, even Lizzo posted her teary-eyed reaction to it. From blends of her signature, R&B ballads to the songwriter’s venture into rock, on the track “Ghost In The Machine” featuring Phoebe Bridgers, many fans find the album to be extra poignant. However, SZA is tired of her material being immediately classified as “sad girl music.”
In a new tweet, the singer wrote, “Ignoring songs like ‘SOS,’ ‘PSA,’ ‘Conceited,’ ‘Low,’ ‘Forgiveless,’ ‘Seek N Destroy,’ ‘Notice Me,’ or ‘Ex Pack,’ to pretend I only make sad girl music is dumb,” later adding, “Forgot ‘Good Days’,” in the replies.
Forgot good days
— SZA (@sza) December 19, 2022
Despite its downtrodden lyrics, even the pop-punk anthem “F2F,” has a catchy, upbeat sonic texture that doesn’t feel sad at all.
SZA was very nervous upon the release of this LP. On a recent podcast appearance, she said she “100 percent did not think” she would become so famous. She also didn’t think her fans would enjoy S.O.S.: “I never thought in a million years that people would like it,” she said. “My dad’s visiting right now with my mom. Everybody came down to make sure I didn’t lose my mind if the album went bad once it came out. And now we’re just hanging out ’cause it didn’t go badly!”
SZA wrapped up 2022 with one of the year’s highlight albums, the long-anticipated SOS. In a recent interview, SZA revealed she wasn’t sure how the album would be received, saying, “I never thought in a million years that people would like it. My dad’s visiting right now, with my mom. Everybody came down to make sure I didn’t lose my mind if the album went bad once it came out. And now we’re just hanging out, ’cause it didn’t go badly!”
Indeed, people have enjoyed the LP and now the charts are reflecting that: On the new Billboard 200 chart dated December 24, SOS is No. 1, making it SZA’s first chart-topping album of her career. To claim the spot, it overtook Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains, which debuted at No. 1 last week. Previously, 2017’s Ctrl topped out at No. 3 while SZA’s 2014 Z EP peaked at No. 39.
Star power played at least some part in the album’s success: People were really excited about Phoebe Bridgers featuring on “Ghost In The Machine” and the album also features appearances from Travis Scott, Don Toliver, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard. It was almost busier than that, as SZA wanted to get Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Drake, Finneas, Frank Ocean, Halsey, Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves, Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo, Rosalía, Tyler The Creator, and others on the album, too.
It comes as no surprise that good friends SZA and Lizzo have a few would-be hits in the vault. We’re days into celebrating SOS, SZA’s sophomore effort that has reportedly earned her another No. 1 album. The singer fuses several genres, including R&B and Rock, and it’s a sound her fans are praising worldwide. Rolling Stone reports SZA’s alternative SOS track “F2F” features a “hidden” addition by Lizzo, who apparently just happened to be in the studio as SZA was recording.
The outlet stated that Lizzo “also did some writing” on the song’s bridge. Producer-engineer-songwriter Rob Bisel explained how the unplanned moment came to be while speaking with the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast. “We just happened to have that one pulled up the day that that Lizzo was there,” he said.
“They were putting some energy into it,” songwriter-producer Carter Lang also revealed. “That was the thing that I feel sparked SZA really taking it into her own world and figuring out how it can be part of her story in an authentic way and not like, ‘Hey, I just did a rock joint.’”
Bisel adds that “there’s definitely a handful [of tracks with Lizzo].” It’s a revelation that should get fans excited. “I don’t want to incriminate myself here, but there’s some stuff floating around for sure.”
Meanwhile, SZA is thrilled to collaborate with her friend who she says understands her on a deeper level. “We just have so much fun together,” said SZA of Lizzo. “And I feel like she gets me.”
“She’s another person who has hella [wide] music tastes and doesn’t fit in anybody’s box of anything. She makes it seem like she doesn’t even care, like she just does whatever she wants. And I just love being with her, just as a friend and hanging out. So whenever she comes to a studio, I just feel like, ‘Let’s drop into some bullsh*t.’”
The singer also discussed fusing Rock into SOS, explaining that it developed organically.
“I made a whole bunch of rock songs. They were all terrible in terms of, like, saying bad things about what I’ve done to people,” she said. “But it sounded cool, and I think that’s what all those songs are really about. Just being super honest and letting that out. But yeah, I love making those type of songs….For sure on this album. I made a whole bunch of versions of me.”
“I look at everything when it’s done and then, and I’m like, ‘OK, this is who I’ve been for the last five years. And I don’t know if it makes any sense or if it goes together, but this is what’s hot.’”
What do you think of SOS? Was it worth the wait?
[via]
SZA tops the chart for the first time in her career following the release of her highly-anticipated second studio album.
Hits Daily Double reports SZA’s latest studio album, S.O.S., soared to #1 on the Billboard 200 this week with 315K units. Not only does this mark her first #1 album of her career, but she’s also debuted with the largest R&B streaming week in history. Needless to say, SZA didn’t fall for the sophomore slump and delivered a body of work that might end up having the same staying power as Ctrl.
SZA’s joined by great company in the top 5 of the Billboard 200 this week. Taylor Swift continues to have a hold on the charts with Midnights, which holds the #2 spot with 137K. Right underneath at #3 is Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains, then Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss at #4. Rounding out the top 5 is Michael Bublé’s Christmas.
Following the success of S.O.S., SZA plans on hitting the road in support of the album. Last week, she announced her upcoming arena tour across North America with Omar Apollo as her supporting act. The tour kicks off on Feb. 21st in Columbus, OH. From there, SZA will stop off in Chicago, Atlanta, New York and other major cities, like Los Angeles, where she’ll close out the tour on March 22nd.
Unfortunately, it seems like S.O.S. could be SZA’s final outing for a while. Though it took five years for her follow-up to Ctrl to drop, she recently hinted that she might “disappear” soon.
“I’m gonna disappear, definitely, for as long as I can,” she explained of her plans following the album’s release. “I need to shoot as many videos as I can, so I can disappear for longer.”
We’ll keep you posted on any more updates regarding SZA’s upcoming plans. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on S.O.S. in the comments.
SZA officially has her first No. 1 album. The TDE songstress will debut on top of the Billboard 200 with her new album SOS.
HitsDailyDouble notes the album will debut with 315,000 album-equivalent units in its opening week, blowing past the 60,000 her last album, Ctrl, debuted with.
SOS debuts with the largest R&B streaming week ever, bringing in nearly 400 million streams. SOS’ first week is the fifth biggest of the year.
SZA’s album leads the top five with Taylor Swift’s Midnights at No. 2 with 137K units this week. Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains is at No.3, Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss is at 4, and Michael Bublé’s Christmas album comes in at No.5.
SZA has hit a monumental stage. The TDE songstress has announced her first arena tour, carrying the same name as her new album, S.O.S.
The S.O.S. North American Arena tour will be supported by Grammy-nominated best new artist Omar Apollo.
Tickets are on sale now at szasos.com.
The post SZA’s ‘SOS’ Set to Debut at No. 1 With Biggest R&B Streaming Week Ever appeared first on The Source.
While SZA’s new sophomore album, SOS, features collabs from Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, she recently revealed that she had way more in mind.
“Sometimes people turn in their verses and sometimes they don’t,” she said during an interview on Hot 97 via NME. “And a lot of people just like did not turn in their verses, but I’m grateful for who did.”
In a new youTube video titled “SOS Where The Hell Have You Been ?”, fans spotted a whiteboard in the behind-the-scenes footage of the album’s creation. And on it are the names of some major artists that could have been on the album.
Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Drake, Finneas, Frank Ocean, Halsey, Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves, Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo, Rosalía, Tyler, The Creator, and more are the big musicians that have been made out so far. And what a wild album that would’ve been… Or could be, in the future.
SZA reveals some of the collaborations she wanted to have on her new album, ‘SOS’:
Bad Bunny
Billie Eilish
Doja Cat
Drake
Finneas
Frank Ocean
Halsey
Harry Styles
Kacey Musgraves
Kendrick Lamar
Olivia Rodrigo
Rosalía
Tyler, The Creator
+ more pic.twitter.com/ZbpT5gjSLE— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 16, 2022
The whiteboard also has a section labeled Benchmarks where it lists RNB and Grunge (specifically, The Cardigans). You can also make out the words “murder them” which might be a reference to songs like “Kill Bill.” It also has the phrase “guard down.”
Watch SZA’s behind-the-scenes of SOS video above.
This week’s edition of single ladies is jam-packed with hot new music videos, money moves, celebrations, and bangerz from artists such as Beyoncè, SZA, Saweetie, and more. These ladies are taking over! Beyoncè’s Surprise “Renaissance” Event In LA Throughout her Renaissance rollout, Queen Bey has been keeping things under wraps, leaving fans wanting more. Now, […]
The post Beyoncè Surprises Fans With “Club Renaissance,” SZA Announces “SOS” Tour, Saweetie’s Icy Baby Foundation Launch, Harvard’s First Black President & More! appeared first on SOHH.com.
Now that the wait is over and SZA’s SOS was finally released last week, all the sad hotties out there can rejoice. Across the album’s 23 tracks, SZA featured guest appearances from Travis Scott, Don Toliver, and the ghost of Ol’ Dirty Bastard. But it’s her duet with Phoebe Bridgers on “Ghost In The Machine” that came out of left field in the most delightful way possible. Now Bridgers has opened up about how she came to appear on SOS to begin with and how it just happened in a flash.
In an interview with NME that was mainly about her joining Danny Elfman on stage for A Nightmare Before Christmas in concert, the savvy interviewer dropped in a question about working with SZA on “Ghost In The Machine.” “How did that come about?,” NME’s Ali Shutler asked. She replied:
“That record is insane. She just hit me up… she just sent me a DM and it all happened so fast. I wasn’t really really used to that, in the pop world. Because vinyl isn’t so much of a consideration until way later. It’s like, ‘Do you want to be on this record? OK, it’s out next week.’ So it was so recent where I wrote that. Which I really like, I like that turnaround time. Personally, I sit on stuff for so long, it takes me years to make albums, so I like being involved and seeing someone else’s world from [a different] angle.”
Bridgers then punctuated her answer with a lofty statement about her adulation for SZA. “She’s definitely my favorite rapper. She’s so effective and cool. A great hang.” She also called SZA her “favorite rapper.”
