Crybaby (SZA song)

Last updated

"Crybaby"
Song by SZA
from the album Lana
ReleasedDecember 20, 2024
Length4:02
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Carter Lang
  • ThankGod4Cody
  • Declan Miers
  • Daniel Abraham Jr.
  • Hands
  • Michael Uzowuru
Audio
"Crybaby" on YouTube

"Crybaby" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). The lyrics center on SZA's mental health, insecurities, and self-destructive behavior. She sings about her public image as an emotionally sensitive celebrity, later embracing the reputation while listing several ways she can evolve into a better individual. Musically, "Crybaby" combines twinkly synthesizers with a groovy bass.

Contents

Critics wrote positively about the song. Many praised the lyrics' emotional impact and SZA's vocal performance; a few considered "Crybaby" an album highlight. Before the release of Lana, the song was previewed in the music video for a separate track, as well as at two concerts in 2024.

Background

SZA teased a deluxe edition of her second studio album, SOS (2022), immediately upon its release. [1] She shared more details about the deluxe edition in 2023. In a September concert, she revealed that it became a reissue titled Lana , [2] and she first teased its visuals via Instagram on May 31, 2024. [3] In a post on the platform, SZA shared a costume of herself as an insect. [4]

When SZA performed at BST Hyde Park concert in June, several insect props were present onstage. [5] During the set, she played a video that featured her in another bug costume. [3] Set to a song publications named "Storytime", the clip was shared again on social media after the show. [6] The same song was previewed at her Lollapalooza set on August 3, during which she announced its official name was "Crybaby". [7]

Music and lyrics

"Crybaby" is backed by twinkly synthesizers and groovy bass, [8] [9] with a soundscape that DeAsia Page of Elle described as rosy. [10] SZA's various mistakes and insecurities are the focus of the lyrics; it has an additional theme of self-love. [10] In the first verse, she explores how the pressure from being a public figure has contributed to on her reputation as emotionally sensitive. [11] Other lines address her self-destructive tendencies, such as her habit of smoking. [8] Some feature her reflecting on how to become a more mature person. For instance, she tells herself to stop blaming others for her own mistakes and move her emotional instability "to the backseat". [11] Later in the song, SZA embraces her flaws, [11] singing: "I know you told stories about me. Most of them awful. All of them true." [12] [13]

Release

"Crybaby" is the 10th track of Lana, released on December 20, 2024. [14] Shortly before its release, SZA premiered a music video for the track "Drive", where a snippet of "Crybaby" plays at the end. In the outro, the camera pans to SZA, wearing bug-eye prosthetics, as she moves around some grass by the roadside. [15]

The song has received praise from critics. Variety 's Jem Aswad called "Crybaby" an album highlight, [16] whereas Mackenzie Cummings-Grady of Billboard ranked it as Lana's best track. [8] For Aswad, what made the song stand out was vocals in the chorus and final verse. [16] Focusing on the introspective lyrics' emotional impact, Cummings-Grady wrote: "Another raw and gut-wrenching look in the mirror [...] this song will turn anyone into a crybaby." [8] The vocals and lyrics were also points of praise for Zachary Horvath of HotNewHipHop. Gabriel Bras Nevares, for the same publication, said that the song showcased SZA's "best and most dynamic vocal performances and emotional narratives". [17]

Credits

Charts

Chart performance for "Crybaby"
Chart (2024–2025)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [18] 93
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [19] 196
US Billboard Hot 100 [20] 70
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [21] 13

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References

  1. ↑ Calfee, Joel (December 11, 2023). "SZA Teases New Music with Mysterious Farm Photos on Instagram". Harper's Bazaar . Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  2. ↑ Aswad, Jem (March 27, 2024). "SZA to Release Leaked Songs as Deluxe Edition of 'SOS,' Will Remake Delayed 'Lana' LP 'From Scratch'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Delgado, Sara (July 1, 2024). "SZA Previewed a New Song & Teased a New Album at BST Hyde Park". Teen Vogue. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  4. ↑ "SZA Covers Eminem's "Lose Yourself": Stream". May 31, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  5. ↑ Aswad, Jem (December 21, 2024). "The Long Road to 'Lana': Why SZA Took Two Years to Drop the 'SOS' Deluxe Album". Variety. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  6. ↑ Wonderland Staff (July 1, 2024). "SZA Teases New Album, Lana". Wonderland. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  7. ↑ Legaspi, Althea; Corcoran, Nina; Richardson, Kalia (August 3, 2024). "Stray Kids 'ATE,' SZA and Zedd Drop New Songs at Lollapalooza Day Two" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (December 20, 2024). "SZA's SOS Deluxe Lana: All 15 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  9. ↑ "SZA Teases An Earthy New Era With "Storytime"". Nylon. July 1, 2024. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  10. 1 2 Paige, DeAsia (December 23, 2024). "On Lana, SZA Unlocks a New Superpower: Self-Reliance". Elle . Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 Horvath, Zachary (December 21, 2024). "SZA Embraces & Acknowledges Her Flaws On "Cry Baby"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  12. ↑ Peters, Daniel (June 30, 2024). "SZA teases new album at BST Hyde Park headline set with song snippet". NME. Archived from the original on June 30, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  13. ↑ Wonderland Staff (July 1, 2024). "SZA Teases New Album, Lana". Wonderland. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  14. ↑ Kaufman, Anna. "SZA drops 'Lana' after hourslong delay: 'We been up for days'". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ Millman, Ethan (December 20, 2024). "Watch Ben Stiller Wistfully Lip-Synch to SZA's 'Drive'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Aswad, Jem (December 22, 2024). "SZA's 'SOS Deluxe: Lana' Is a Low-Key But Satisfying Collection to Tide Fans Over Until Her Next Chapter: Album Review". Variety. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ Nevares, Gabriel Bras (December 24, 2024). "SZA SOS Deluxe: Lana Review". HotNewHipHop . Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  18. ↑ "SZA Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  19. ↑ "SZA Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  20. ↑ "SZA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  21. ↑ "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
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