Ghost in the Machine (song)

Last updated

"Ghost in the Machine"
Song by SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers
from the album SOS
Written2022
ReleasedDecember 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
Recorded2022
Genre
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Rob Bisel
  • Carter Lang
Lyric video
"Ghost in the Machine" on YouTube

"Ghost in the Machine" is a song by the American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022), featuring the American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers. The song is a ballad that falls within the indie pop and R&B genres; music critics described it as a cross between Bridgers's and SZA's respective sounds. Written in a conversational style, the lyrics express disillusionment with inauthentic relationships, the inhumane behavior of other people, and artificial intelligence. They also portray SZA asking her lover to provide an escape from a world she sees as having been consumed by vanity.

Contents

The collaboration began with an online conversation between Bridgers and SZA; the two musicians rapidly completed the song a week before the album was scheduled for release. They co-wrote the song with Rob Bisel, Carter Lang, Matt Cohn, and Marshall Vore. Production and engineering duties were handled by Bisel, Lang, and Cohn.

"Ghost in the Machine" was Bridgers's first top-40 entry in the United States, peaking at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also appeared on the national charts in Australia, Canada, and Portugal. In reviews, critics primarily focused on Bridgers's appearance on the song; many praised the two performers as synergistic despite the differences between their musical styles, whereas a few were cynical toward Bridgers's inclusion. "Ghost in the Machine" won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2024 ceremony, giving Bridgers her first Grammy. SZA performed the song on multiple occasions during the SOS Tour, joined by Bridgers for two performances in March 2023.

Background

Phoebe Bridgers at Surly Brewing Festival Field in Minneapolis, MN.jpg
SZA CTRL Tour Toronto 2017 8 (cropped).jpg
Phoebe Bridgers (left in 2021) collaborated with SZA (right in 2017) for "Ghost in the Machine".

SZA released her debut studio album, Ctrl , in 2017. Primarily an R&B album with lyrics that address facets of contemporary life and romance, [1] [2] [3] it was commercially successful and received considerable acclaim. Critics credit it as innovative within the R&B genre and for establishing her as a major figure in contemporary pop and R&B music. [lower-alpha 1] Even so, she grew discontented with being classified as an R&B musician; she later stated that she felt like her music was being reductively categorized because she was a Black woman. [9]

With her next studio album, SOS (2022), SZA imbued her established sound with elements from multiple genres. [10] [11] [12] The album incorporates various disparate moods and musical styles: while some tracks had an aura that SZA described as "aggressive", others, such as "Ghost in the Machine", were balladic or soft. [13] [14] Reviewing the album, Kitty Empire of The Observer cited "Ghost in the Machine" as an example of SOS's versatility. [15]

During the making of the album, SZA created a list of possible collaborators, including Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar. [16] Of the artists she contacted, only three people responded: Don Toliver, Travis Scott, and Phoebe Bridgers. [17] The first two appear on the tracks "Used" and "Open Arms", respectively, while Bridgers contributed vocals for "Ghost in the Machine". [18] [19]

Music and production

Producer Rob Bisel (pictured in 2023) conceived the song's melody while experimenting with a piano. RobBisel-NicKhang1 (2) (cropped) (cropped).jpg
Producer Rob Bisel (pictured in 2023) conceived the song's melody while experimenting with a piano.

"Ghost in the Machine" is a ballad composed in a moderate tempo and primarily built on peaceful electronic production that switches to a piano backing during Bridgers's verse. [14] [20] [21] In a review of SOS for Variety , A. D. Amorosi wrote that the production during SZA's verses evoked the plucking of banjos and bass guitars. [22] Ken Tucker of NPR described SZA's vocals as "snak[ing] in and around the melody" and wrote that she "bends and breaks with hopelessness". [23] SZA and Bridgers harmonize their voices to match each other's vocal timbres, [22] [24] and they deliver their verses breathily. [25] [26]

With regards to genre, SZA described "Ghost in the Machine" as "super alternative and strange", promising that it would defy listeners' preconceived notions about its sound. [27] [28] Alex Hopper of American Songwriter and Andrew R. Chow of Time described the song as an intersection between SZA's R&B style and Bridgers's alternative, indie pop style; [29] [30] Sidney Madden of NPR Music directly called the song "indie-pop angst". [31] John Amen of Beats Per Minute wrote that its construction was rooted in "sad-girl pop". [32]

The making of "Ghost in the Machine" began in 2022 with a drum loop produced by Matt Cohn, followed by piano and keyboard notes from Rob Bisel. [33] The latter two instruments were acquired by Bisel within a week of "Ghost in the Machine" being written, and he stated that his work on the song was partly inspired by his experimentation with "new toy[s]". [34] He conceived the song's main melody by taping together the strings inside the piano, diluting the impact of the hammers. [35] Working with Carter Lang, Bisel then overhauled the "Ghost in the Machine" demo before showing it to SZA. Bisel thought Bridgers would fit in an open instrumental section during the middle of the demo, so he suggested to SZA that she include Bridgers as a feature. SZA agreed, having sought to include a "highly conversational" guest musician such as Bridgers on the song. [33] [36]

While Bisel was trying to arrange the feature through his publisher, [33] SZA personally messaged Bridgers online in their first interaction together. [37] The turnaround time for completing "Ghost in the Machine" was short; [38] Bridgers came to the studio for sessions a week or two after being asked to feature, [33] recording her vocals a week before the album's scheduled release. [39] She at first wanted to provide background harmonies only, but she received encouragement from Bisel and the others to record a full verse. They liked her first take and kept most of it for the final song, although some parts were excised prior to the album's release. [33]

Lyrics

The outro samples a speech from Sadhguru (pictured in 2013) that ties into the song's message. Sadhguru-Jaggi-Vasudev.jpg
The outro samples a speech from Sadhguru (pictured in 2013) that ties into the song's message.

The making of SOS consisted of what SZA called "palate cleanser" moments, in which she would quickly write songs in between her more serious projects to refresh her mind; [40] SZA took 20 to 30 minutes to write her verses for "Ghost in the Machine". [33] The lyrics are written in a conversational style [36] and primarily explore feelings of disillusionment, which come in part from SZA experiencing excessive negativity on the Internet. [19] She was motivated to write the song out of exhaustion caused by the constant fighting between people on Internet spaces such as Instagram over morality, which she believed was at the expense of meaningful connections: "I feel like there's so much debate about what's good, what's bad, what's this, what's that?" [36] SZA complements this theme by including a skit from Indian guru Sadhguru, who says in the outro that "those who have forsaken their humanity [...] like to patch their life with morality." [41]

The song also discusses artificial intelligence; SZA blames it for her perceived lack of meaningful human connections in her life [14] and, while "craving humanity", envies how robots have a future and do not feel tired, unlike her. [21] [42] American Songwriter's Thomas Galindo interpreted the line as showing anxiety about the growing influence of artificial intelligence within the music industry, [21] whereas Nylon 's Steffanee Wang wrote that SZA expressed a need to stop being treated like a machine by her job. [12]

SZA turns to a lover for escapism and gratification, to assuage her disillusionment with modern relationships and distract her from an ambiguous disaster that Tucker thought could symbolize the end of either their romance or the world. [23] Chow interpreted the relevant lyrics as showing SZA's desire to remain in a relationship despite feeling drained from it, and he wrote that this was a common theme in SOS. [30] She sings in one line: "can you touch on me and not call me after? Can you hate on me and mask it with laughter?" [21] SZA then invokes a reference to the Bible, one of many such instances on SOS, asking the lover to take her to Noah's Ark and give her the password. [41]

Bridgers's verse begins with the lyric, "You said all of my friends are on my payroll / You're not wrong, you're an asshole", [21] [43] which Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote was evocative of "tension clearly compounded by fame and success". [44] She sings about the Ludlow Hotel in New York City, where she finds herself in arguments with a romantic partner, and about being alone in a non-descript airport bar. [20] [21] The lyrics were interpreted by publications as alluding to her breakup with Irish actor Paul Mescal. [43] [45]

Release

In November 2022, SZA revealed the album title to be SOS and said it would be released on an unspecified date the following month; [46] "Ghost in the Machine" appears on the album as the 12th track out of 23. [47] [48] After three years of delays, [44] [49] [50] SOS was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records on December 9, 2022. [44] [51]

"Ghost in the Machine" entered several record charts after the release of SOS. It debuted and peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Bridgers's first top-40 song in the United States. [52] [53] On the same publication's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the song debuted and peaked at number 17; Billboard ranked the song at number 65 on the chart's year-end tally for 2023. [54] [55] "Ghost in the Machine" also appeared on the national charts in Canada, Australia, and Portugal. [lower-alpha 2] On the Billboard Global 200, it reached number 52. [59]

Critical reception

Critics primarily focused on whether SZA and Bridgers were a congruent pairing; several praised the collaboration as successful despite the two artists' different musical styles. [60] [61] Chow wrote that "Ghost in the Machine" was the best collaboration on SOS, reasoning that the feature was bound to work because the two musicians' discographies overlap significantly in terms of subject matter, which prevented an "awkward" genre crossover for Bridgers: "it has often felt like the two of them are anxious, horny Spider-Men pointing at each other from across the genre-verse." [30] Shaad D'Souza of The Saturday Paper complimented the collaboration as a "smart match" between "Bridgers' ultraliteral indie-folk" and "SZA's wide-eyed earnestness". [62] Others commented that the sound, while unexpected in the context of the album, was nonetheless cohesive. [lower-alpha 3]

There were some critics less appreciative of the lyrical themes and Bridgers's presence. Rolling Stone 's Will Dukes considered the exploration of artificial intelligence a contrived effort, akin to a " Black Mirror trope about the AI Art Generator". [66] CJ Thorpe-Tracey of The Quietus felt that Bridgers appeared only to give SZA a "magic indie countercultural 'good for business' aura", adding that his annoyance was compounded by how she had had too many guest appearances on others' albums within the same year. [67] Paul Attard for Slant Magazine also found the feature unnecessary, and felt that the indietronica backing was one of the album's missteps with regards to genre experimentation. [68]

At the 2024 Grammy Awards, SZA received nine nominations for her work on SOS and its tracks, including one for "Ghost in the Machine". She was the most nominated artist for the year. [69] The song won the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award, which gave Bridgers her first Grammy; [70] with three additional wins as a member of Boygenius, [71] she was the most awarded artist in the ceremony. [42]

Live performances

SZA performed "Ghost in the Machine" live for the first time on March 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York City as part of the international SOS Tour. Bridgers appeared as a surprise guest, joining SZA to perform her verse. [72] [73] The two duetted the song again during the last show of the tour's first leg, on March 23 at Inglewood's Kia Forum. [74] [75]

In between the two concerts with Bridgers, SZA played the song solo on March 16 at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena. [76] She continued to sporadically incorporate the song into her setlists during the tour, including at a June 13 concert at Manchester's AO Arena, [77] a September 26 concert at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Arena, [78] and a September 30 concert at Boston's TD Garden. [79] SZA also included "Ghost in the Machine" on her headlining set for Glastonbury 2024, held on June 30. [80]

Credits

Adapted from the liner notes of SOS [81]

Recording and management

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Ghost in the Machine"
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [56] 72
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [57] 46
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [59] 52
Portugal (AFP) [58] 121
UK Audio Streaming (OCC) [82] 96
US Billboard Hot 100 [53] 40
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [54] 17

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Ghost in the Machine"
Chart (2023)Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) [55] 65

Certifications

Certifications for "Ghost in the Machine"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [83] Gold20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [84] Platinum80,000‡
United States (RIAA) [85] Platinum1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SZA</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1989)

Solána Imani Rowe, known professionally as SZA, is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained recognition through her self-released EPs See.SZA.Run (2012) and S (2013), which helped her become the first female artist to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment. Her third EP, Z (2014), was her first project to be released to digital retailers and reached the top-ten on the U.S. Independent Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebe Bridgers</span> American musician (born 1994)

Phoebe Lucille Bridgers is an American singer-songwriter. Her indie folk music typically centers around acoustic guitar and electronic production, with melancholic lyrical themes. She has received four Grammy Awards from eleven nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SZA discography</span>

American singer-songwriter SZA has released two studio albums, three extended plays (EPs), one live album, and 44 singles. SZA debuted with her self-released EP See.SZA.Run in 2012, followed by the 2013 EP S, gaining the attention of the independent record label Top Dawg Entertainment. She signed to Top Dawg as the label's first woman artist in 2013 and released her third EP, Z, a year later. After Z, she began work on her debut studio album, Ctrl (2017), which debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, peaked at number two on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and has charted for more than five subsequent years. The album, alongside its Billboard Hot 100 top-40 singles "Love Galore" and "The Weekend", earned her three of her first five Grammy nominations, in 2018. All singles from Ctrl have been certified platinum or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Days</span> 2020 single by SZA

"Good Days" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA on December 25, 2020, as the lead single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). SZA wrote the song alongside Jacob Collier, who provides background vocals, and with producers Carter Lang, Los Hendrix, and Nascent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirt (song)</span> 2022 single by SZA

"Shirt" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the third single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). Produced by Darkchild and Freaky Rob, it is an R&B song, with elements of trap music, backed by synthesizers and 808 beats. The lyrics are about a toxic relationship that consumes SZA and entices her to return, despite leaving her directionless and mentally exhausted. They include themes present throughout SOS: deep introspection, the pursuit of perfection, and the conflict between love and hatred. A snippet of "Shirt", prior to its official release, spawned a viral dance challenge on TikTok, where over a million videos used the sound. After being first previewed online two years beforehand, the song was released on October 28, 2022.

"Blind" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It is a beatless R&B and folk-pop song, featuring an orchestral production that consists of acoustic guitars, violas, and trumpets. SZA's vocal performance combines a rap cadence and slow falsetto vocals, with added vocal runs. In the song, SZA explores the duality of love and muses on a former relationship, as she expresses her disappointment to a toxic past partner while also expressing her continued attraction to him. For the chorus, SZA admits her insecurities in spite of seeking validation through sex, feeling empty and unable to find self-love within herself as a result of a failed romance. "Blind" also incorporates several pop culture references to figures such as Bob Saget and Jesus.

"PSA" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA reported to appear on the deluxe edition of her 2022 second studio album, SOS. It is an orchestral song with a simple, stringed production, consisting of pianos and harps alongside vocal harmonies. The lyrics are delivered in a rap cadence and with braggadocio; SZA demands that people call her nothing but number-one and serve her, says she takes pleasure in angering people, and mocks those she views as "bottom feeders". "PSA" was used for the official teaser for SOS, yet despite this, the song did not appear on the final track list for the standard edition.

<i>SOS</i> (SZA album) 2022 studio album by SZA

SOS is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records on December 9, 2022. The album features guest appearances from Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. SZA worked with a variety of record producers and songwriters such as Babyface, Jeff Bhasker, Rob Bisel, Benny Blanco, Darkchild, DJ Dahi, Ant Clemons, and Lizzo. It serves as the follow-up to SZA's previous album Ctrl (2017).

"Nobody Gets Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the fourth single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It was sent to Italian radio on January 6, 2023, and US contemporary hit radio four days later. The song peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the Canadian Hot 100, and the Official New Zealand Music Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kill Bill (SZA song)</span> 2023 single by SZA

"Kill Bill" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the fifth single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It is a pop and R&B murder ballad, built around a midtempo, groovy rhythm and a detuned melody. Guitars, a bassline, and a flute that was sampled from a Prophet-6 synthesizer constitute the song's production, which is influenced by the boom bap subgenre of hip hop. Mirroring the plot of the Kill Bill film duology (2003–2004) after which the song is named, the lyrics discuss a fantasy to kill an ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend out of jealousy, and they employ humorous irony alongside violent imagery that contrasts with SZA's soft vocals. "Kill Bill" was sent to US radio on January 10, 2023, after achieving success on streaming services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snooze (song)</span> 2023 single by SZA

"Snooze" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It was sent to rhythmic contemporary and urban contemporary radio as the sixth and final single from the album on April 25, 2023. SZA wrote the song with producers Babyface, the Rascals, and BLK. The acoustic version features Canadian singer Justin Bieber, who stars in the official music video of the song's original version, and was released on September 15, 2023.

"Special" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022).

"Low" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second album, SOS (2022). The song features adlibs from American rapper Travis Scott. It charted in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, with a number 24 peak on the Billboard Global 200. The song received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 66th ceremony.

"F2F" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022). "F2F" is a rock song that draws influence from genres such as country, pop rock, and grunge. SZA wrote the song with Lizzo, who provides background vocals, and producers Rob Bisel and Carter Lang. The song was one of around five rock-inspired songs SZA created for SOS, out of a desire to experiment with various genres outside of her usual R&B music. The song begins with acoustic guitar strums before transitioning into a chorus backed by drums and power chords from electric guitars. The lyrics talk about having sex with someone to cope with breaking up with a former partner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SOS Tour</span> 2023–2024 concert tour by SZA

The SOS Tour was the second concert tour and first arena tour by American singer-songwriter SZA, in support of her second studio album, SOS (2022). It was announced on December 13 alongside merchandise for the album, four days after the album's release. The international tour took place in North America for the first and third legs, Europe for the second, and Oceania for the fourth, totalling to 63 shows.

"Open Arms" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022), featuring American rapper Travis Scott. It is a ballad backed by an acoustic guitar, conceived as part of an effort to explore soundscapes outside of SZA's usual R&B-leaning music. The lyrics are addressed to a former lover, whom the narrator leaves for the sake of her self-esteem despite her persistent feelings of attachment to him. A tribute to SZA's deceased grandmother, Norma Rowe, begins the song, done in the form of a skit; Rowe's vocals featured prominently on SZA's debut album, Ctrl (2017)

"Joni" is an unreleased song by American singer-songwriter SZA intended for the deluxe version of her second studio album, SOS (2022), featuring a yet-to-be-announced artist. A trap song inspired by the music of singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, "Joni" combines realist and idealist writing styles, discussing SZA's love for her family and desire to overcome challenges in pursuit of perfection. The song was originally uploaded to Soundcloud on August 22, 2021, and is a leaked outtake from SOS's standard edition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Bisel</span> American producer, engineer, songwriter and musician

Rob Bisel is an American music producer, engineer, mixer and songwriter. A Grammy award winner and 13-time nominee, he has worked with artists including SZA, Doja Cat, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Harry Styles and Don Toliver.

<i>Lana</i> (album) Upcoming studio album by SZA

Lana is the upcoming third studio album by American singer-songwriter SZA. It is scheduled to be released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. Originally planned as the deluxe edition of SZA's previous studio album, SOS (2022), Lana evolved into its own album that would consist solely of new music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturn (SZA song)</span> 2024 single by SZA

"Saturn" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and reportedly the lead single of her upcoming third studio album, Lana (2024). It is a song about nihilism and escapism, discussing one's lamentations about why bad things happen to good people and wishes to leave Earth for another planet, Saturn, where they could possibly live a better life. "Saturn" features a twinkly instrumental, a result of a combination of arpeggios and beaming synthesizers. The song was surprise-released on February 22, 2024, after its official debut at the year's Grammy Awards ceremony over two weeks prior.

References

  1. ↑ Savage, Mark (December 22, 2017). "The Top 10 Albums of 2017". BBC. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  2. ↑ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (June 14, 2017). "What to Listen to Now: SZA, Bleachers, Secret Sisters and More". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  3. ↑ Lobenfeld, Claire (June 13, 2017). "SZA: Ctrl Album Review". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  4. ↑ Taylor, Ims (December 9, 2022). "SZA Hits the Heights on the Dense but Masterful SOS". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ Williams, Sophie (February 23, 2023). "How SZA Inspired a Generation of R&B Storytellers: 'She's a Radical Light'". NME . Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  6. ↑ McCormick, Neil; Haider, Arwa; Johnston, Kathleen (December 9, 2022). "Sam Ryder Is No One-Hit Wonder, SZA Channels Princess Diana – The Week's Best Albums" . The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  7. ↑ Pearce, Sheldon (June 16, 2022). "The Sideways Wisdom of SZA's Ctrl" . The New Yorker . Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  8. ↑ Siregar, Cady (December 9, 2022). "On SOS, SZA Once Again Blows Expectations out of the Water". Consequence . Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ Blake, Cole (December 12, 2022). "SZA Says She's Tired of Being Labeled an R&B Artist". HotNewHipHop . Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ Phan, Karena (December 9, 2022). "Review: SZA's Perfection Takes Time in Second Album SOS". Associated Press . Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  11. ↑ McNeal, Bria (December 9, 2022). "SZA's SOS Is Unpolished—and Completely Thrilling". Esquire . Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Wang, Steffanee (December 10, 2022). "SZA's SOS in 5 Essential Songs". Nylon . Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  13. ↑ Blake, Cole (October 16, 2022). "SZA Confirms 'Shirt' Music Video Is on the Way: 'It's Turned In'". HotNewHipHop . Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 Richardson, Mark (December 12, 2022). "SOS by SZA Review: An Expansive R&B Return" . The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  15. ↑ Empire, Kitty (December 11, 2022). "SZA: SOS Review – A Surfeit of Ideas, Guests and Producers from a Master of Her Craft". The Observer . Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  16. ↑ Shutler, Ali (December 17, 2022). "SZA's SOS Could Have Featured Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and More". NME . Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  17. ↑ Paul, Larisha (December 7, 2022). "SZA Says New Album S.O.S. Almost Featured More Artist Collaborations — But They Ghosted Her" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  18. ↑ Guy, Zoe (December 9, 2022). "SZA Blesses Us with SOS This Holiday Season" . Vulture . Archived from the original on January 8, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Jenkins, Craig (December 12, 2022). "SZA Wants It All" . Vulture . Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  20. 1 2 Pareles, Jon; Zoladz, Lindsay (December 9, 2022). "SZA and Phoebe Bridgers's Team-Up, and 8 More New Songs" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Galindo, Thomas (November 18, 2023). "The Meaning Behind SZA and Phoebe Bridgers' Grammy-Nominated 'Ghost in the Machine'". American Songwriter . Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  22. 1 2 Amorosi, A. D. (December 9, 2022). "SZA Sends Out an SOS That Will Be an Emergency Addition to Everyone's 10-Best Lists". Variety . Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  23. 1 2 Tucker, Ken (January 9, 2023). "SZA Sends Out a Powerful SOS, Mixing Pop, Hip-Hop and R&B" (Audio upload and transcript). NPR . Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  24. ↑ Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (December 9, 2022). "SOS: SZA". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  25. ↑ Yalcinkaya, Günseli (December 9, 2022). "New Music Friday: 4 Albums to Stream This Week". Dazed . Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  26. ↑ Frank, Jason P. (December 9, 2022). "SZA Lights Up and Spits Fire in 'Smoking on My Ex Pack'" . Vulture . Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  27. ↑ Jones, Damian (December 7, 2022). "SZA Talks 'Super Alternative and Strange' Phoebe Bridgers Collaboration". NME . Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  28. ↑ Rowe, Solána (December 7, 2022). "SZA on New Album SOS, Being Pissed & What Makes Her Not Want to Put Out Music Again". WQHT (Interview). Interviewed by Nessa. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  29. ↑ Hopper, Alex (December 17, 2022). "Phoebe Bridgers Says She Recorded Her SZA Feature a Week Before It Came Out—'That Record Is Insane'". American Songwriter . Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  30. 1 2 3 Chow, Andrew R.; Mendez II, Moises (December 9, 2022). "Was SZA's SOS Worth the Wait? Breaking Down Its Best Songs and Big Themes". Time . Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  31. ↑ Madden, Sidney (December 5, 2023). "The 50 Best Albums of 2023". NPR Music . Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  32. ↑ Amen, John (December 15, 2022). "BPM's Top 50 Albums of 2022". Beats Per Minute . Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hiatt, Brian (January 29, 2023). "The Making of SZA's SOS" . Rolling Stone Music Now (Podcast). Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  34. ↑ Moayeri, Lily (January 18, 2024). "Capturing SZA's Vocals with Rob Bisel, Part 1". Mix . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  35. ↑ Bisel, Rob (February 3, 2024). "Meet Rob Bisel, the Grammy-Nominated Producer Behind SZA's 'SOS'" (video). Interviewed by Suzanne Marques. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024– via YouTube.
  36. 1 2 3 Gore, Sydney (February 27, 2023). "SZA Has Always Been Alternative—You Just Weren't Listening". Alternative Press . Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  37. ↑ Blanchet, Brenton (December 12, 2022). "SZA Says Phoebe Bridgers Collab Came After Connecting over DMs: 'She Was Cool as F---'". People . Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  38. ↑ Aniftos, Rania (December 16, 2022). "Phoebe Bridgers Reveals How SZA Collaboration Came About: 'It All Happened So Fast'". Billboard . Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  39. ↑ Wilkes, Emma (December 16, 2022). "Phoebe Bridgers on SZA Collab: 'That Record Is Insane'". NME . Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  40. ↑ Rowe, Solána (December 13, 2023). "Behind SZA's SOS Album & Tour" (Interview). Interviewed by Zane Lowe. Apple Music . Retrieved June 13, 2024– via YouTube. Alt URL
  41. 1 2 Guy, Zoe (December 9, 2022). "Everything SZA References on SOS (Including Herself)" . Vulture . Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  42. 1 2 Zoladz, Lindsay (February 6, 2024). "7 Grammy Winners Worth Another Spin" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  43. 1 2 DeSantis, Rachel (December 21, 2022). "Is Phoebe Bridgers' 'On My Own' Lyric in Her SZA Collab Hinting at Paul Mescal Breakup?". People . Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  44. 1 2 3 Petridis, Alexis (December 8, 2022). "SZA: SOS Review – R&B Innovator's Long-Awaited Return Is an Eclectic Sprawl". The Guardian . Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  45. ↑ "Phoebe Bridgers Fans Think She Broke Up with Paul Mescal". Paper . December 23, 2022. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  46. ↑ Serrano, Athena (November 16, 2022). "SZA Is 'Currently Stressed' About Releasing New Album S.O.S.". MTV News . Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  47. ↑ Curto, Justin (December 5, 2022). "SZA Puts Fans on Alert, Announces New Album S.O.S" . Vulture . Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  48. ↑ Paul, Larisha (December 5, 2022). "SZA Taps Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott for S.O.S Album" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  49. ↑ Robinson, Ellie (June 7, 2021). "SZA Reveals She 'Burst into Tears' During a Rehearsal of '20 Something'". NME . Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  50. ↑ Kenneally, Cerys (April 4, 2022). "SZA Says New Album Is 'Finished' and Describes It as Her 'Most Unisex' Project Yet". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  51. ↑ Long, Danielle (December 5, 2022). "SZA Announces Release Date for New Album 'S.O.S.'". ABC Audio. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  52. ↑ Zellner, Xander (December 20, 2022). "SZA Debuts 20 Songs from SOS on Hot 100, Rules Artist 100 for First Time". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  53. 1 2 "SZA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  54. 1 2 "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  55. 1 2 "Year-End Charts: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 2023". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  56. 1 2 "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 19 December 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1711. Australian Recording Industry Association. December 19, 2022. p. 4.
  57. 1 2 "SZA Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  58. 1 2 "SZA feat. Phoebe Bridgers – Ghost in the Machine". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  59. 1 2 "SZA Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  60. 1 2 Phan, Karena (December 9, 2022). "Review: SZA's Perfection Takes Time in Second Album SOS". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  61. ↑ Ontong, Joel (December 21, 2022). "SZA's SOS Is a Confident and Triumphant Return". News24 . Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  62. ↑ D'Souza, Shaad (December 23, 2023). "Best Music: Sending an SOS to Mainstream, Big-Budget Pop" . The Saturday Paper . Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  63. ↑ Daly, Rhian (December 9, 2022). "SZA – SOS Review: A Comeback Album Well Worth the Wait". NME . Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  64. ↑ Thompson, Stephen; Harris, Aisha; Madden, Sidney; Katzif, Mike; Wood, Rommel; Reedy, Jessica (December 15, 2022). "On SOS, SZA Both Surprises and Delivers Exactly What We've Been Waiting For" (Audio upload and transcript). NPR . Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  65. ↑ Raible, Allan (December 28, 2022). "Review: 50 Best Albums of 2022". Good Morning America . Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  66. ↑ Dukes, Will (December 9, 2022). "SZA's Out for Blood and Big Moods on SOS" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  67. ↑ Thorpe-Tracey, CJ (December 15, 2022). "SZA: SOS". The Quietus . Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  68. ↑ Attard, Paul (December 10, 2022). "SZA SOS Review: Finding Comfort Amid the Chaos". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  69. ↑ Lindert, Hattie (February 4, 2024). "SZA and Phoebe Bridgers Win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for 'Ghost in the Machine' at 2024 Grammys". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  70. ↑ West, Bryan (February 4, 2024). "Taylor Swift Makes Grammys History with Fourth Album of the Year Win for Midnights". USA Today . Archived from the original on February 5, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  71. ↑ Lindert, Hattie (February 4, 2024). "Boygenius Win Best Rock Song for 'Not Strong Enough' at 2024 Grammys". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  72. ↑ Legaspi, Althea (March 5, 2023). "Watch Phoebe Bridgers, Cardi B Join SZA for Madison Square Garden Performance" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  73. ↑ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (March 5, 2023). "Watch Phoebe Bridgers and Cardi B Join SZA at Madison Square Garden". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  74. ↑ Garcia, Thania (March 24, 2023). "SZA Performs with Lizzo and Phoebe Bridgers at Final SOS Tour Stop, Jennifer Lopez and More Celebs Attend". Variety . Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  75. ↑ Abraham, Mya (April 11, 2023). "SZA Extends 'SOS' Tour in the U.S. and Europe". Vibe . Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  76. ↑ Strazzabosco, Domenic (March 19, 2023). "Concert Review: SZA". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  77. ↑ Williams, Jenessa (June 14, 2023). "SZA Review – Voyage of a Lifetime with Genre-Busting R&B Superstar". The Guardian . Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  78. ↑ DeLuca, Dan (September 26, 2023). "Review: SZA's 'SOS Tour' Rides the High Seas, Finally Making It to South Philadelphia" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  79. ↑ McCourt, Clara (October 1, 2023). "Review and Setlist: SZA Dives in on the SOS Tour in Boston". Boston.com . Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  80. ↑ Savage, Mark (July 1, 2024). "SZA's Striking Set Failed to Set Glastonbury Alight". BBC News . Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  81. ↑ SZA (2023). SOS (vinyl liner notes). Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. 19658-77921-1.
  82. ↑ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  83. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – SZA – Ghost in the Machine feat. Phoebe Bridgers" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  84. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – SZA – Ghost in the Machine". Music Canada . Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  85. ↑ "American single certifications – SZA – Ghost in the Machine feat. Phoebe Bridgers". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.