Joni (song)

Last updated

"Joni"
Song by SZA
from the album Lana (extended)
WrittenJanuary 2020
ReleasedAugust 22, 2021 (SoundCloud)
RecordedJanuary 2020
Genre
Length1:43 (original)
Label
Producer(s) ThankGod4Cody

"Joni" is an upcoming song by American singer-songwriter SZA. It is expected to appear on the extended version of Lana (2025), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). 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 samples "Angeles" (1997) by Elliott Smith.

Contents

"Joni" was originally uploaded to SoundCloud on August 22, 2021, and is a leaked outtake from SOS's standard edition. The released version of the song features a yet-to-be-announced artist.

Background

I just don’t know what represents me at this time [...] I don't know if I want to do aggressive me, or trap me, or Joni Mitchell me, or falsetto me, or acoustic me [...] but it's all there. It's just a matter of what picture I want to paint. What world do I want to build?

SZA,2020 Wonderland interview

After the 2017 release of her debut studio album Ctrl, American singer-songwriter SZA began appearing in soundtracks and collaborations with several artists. As she did, media speculation on her next album's release date arose, and it heightened in 2020 upon the release of "Hit Different" and "Good Days", her first work as a sole lead artist in five years. [1] [2]

SZA told Wonderland magazine for their July cover story that working on new music had left her anxious, confused about the different facets of herself she could express with every song. For the album, she said, she experimented with trap beats, acoustic sounds, and falsetto vocals, even taking inspiration from the music of folk singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. [3] Earlier in February, she told Rolling Stone that a "trap song from the perspective of Joni Mitchell" had been created a month prior. [4] [5]

In May, SZA posted on Twitter to ask fans whether she should do a "music dump", which she said would consist of unreleased songs from the past six years. [6] Three months later, on August 22, an anonymous SoundCloud account with only a single period as its username uploaded three songs to the platform, one of them named "Joni". [7] SZA later posted on Twitter to say that she owned the account and described the songs as "random thoughts", adding that her astrologist encouraged her to surprise-release them. [8]

Music and lyrics

Two versions of "Joni" exist, and the one meant to appear on SZA's next studio album will have a featured artist. [5] Apart from the trap version, [9] there is a folk one that samples the song "Angeles" by Elliott Smith, [10] which is backed by a fingerpicked guitar. [11] Both versions were created in January 2020 during quarantine in Kauai, Hawaii, with producer Rob Bisel during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. [12]

"Joni" began with a freestyle, over a demo by SZA's long-time collaborator ThankGod4Cody, during which SZA prompted Bisel to suggest musicians whose music she could channel while freestyling. "Angeles" began playing after the demo, and SZA continued to freestyle. Curious on how the two would sound together, Lang put her vocals on top of the song's guitars and noticed the similarities in tempo and keys, believing that this second version of "Joni" also sounded good. SZA agreed and decided to release that version to SoundCloud. [12]

The lyrics are characterized by soulfulness, precision, [8] brevity, and spontaneity. [9] "Joni" conjures several descriptive scenes in quick succession, employing imagery of sex and money ("If the money right, is the pussy good?"), the golden hour ("The golden hour awaits for me"), [9] the moon ("Moon corrals us to the water"), and the end of summer. [13] Influences from Mitchell and Smith, according to Pitchfork 's Jill Mapes, manifest in the song's blend of "stinging realism" with a "California dreamer" perspective. [9] SZA sings in a soft and croon-like manner, [14] often harmonizing her vocals. [15]

Achieving perfection and practicing patience while dealing with life's challenges, shown through the line "I been wiped out like 3 times / Beat dat shit call me nine lives / I got perfect timing", are additional themes. [9] [15] The song employs a lyric change from "I got perfect timing" at the song's start to "We got perfect timing" at the end; the last lyric is interrupted by a whistle note. [9] "Joni" also pays homage to SZA's family, with lines about how she misses her mother during the day's low tides [16] and is willing to recite "a host of loving words" to her father. [13] Upon hearing the song, her mother Aubrey Rowe said that it was simultaneously "soothing and distrupting", with "rich variations in texture, tone, and tempos". [17]

Release

Previewed as a 98-second snippet, [9] "Joni" was the first of the three songs to be uploaded to SoundCloud; the others, "I Hate You" and "Nightbird", followed two hours later. [18] The song was also called "Perfect Timing". [19] SZA accompanied the release of "Joni" with an Instagram video of a dance by Nana Yaa, [20] directed by SZA and shot by Blair Caldwell. [21] It was intended for but excluded from the standard edition of SOS , her next studio album. Sometime later, "Joni" was removed from SZA's throwaway SoundCloud account. [5]

The decision to scrap "Joni" was attributed to Punch, president of her label Top Dawg Entertainment, whom she described as very particular with track curation. [10] His view was that the song had been available online for too long, adding that fans would find its inclusion on SOS unnecessary and rather hear new music. [22] SZA thought of repurposing it as a track on SOS's deluxe edition, [19] which she called Lana . [23]

While recording for Lana took place, the full version of "Joni" leaked online, prompting a response from SZA in a 2023 interview for Variety . In it, she asserted that fans "ruined" the song and because of this, she said she thought of never releasing it, though she had second thoughts. [24] [25] "Joni" is expected to appear on an extended version of Lana, which was delayed in part because the "Angeles" sample had yet to be cleared. [26]

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 and actress. 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">SZA discography</span>

The discography of American singer-songwriter SZA consists of 2 studio albums, 1 reissue album, 3 extended plays (EPs), 1 live album, and 48 singles.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Hate U (SZA song)</span> 2021 single by SZA

"I Hate U" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the second single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It was released on digital streaming platforms on December 3, 2021, after being uploaded on SoundCloud on August 22. "I Hate U" is an electro-R&B song with a "crunching", light instrumental, containing a relaxed, "ethereal" chorus, and hip hop-influenced verses. A break-up song, it finds SZA detailing what went wrong in a past relationship, expressing resentment towards an ex-partner but acknowledging that she still misses them.

"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. It was intended to appear on her second studio album SOS (2022), as well as its reissue Lana (2024).

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

SOS is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released on December 9, 2022, by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and RCA Records. 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 debut 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 (SZA song)</span> 2023 single by SZA

"Snooze" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the sixth single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It is an R&B song with a midtempo rhythm, featuring an instrumental that consists of bass, guitars, drums, and synthesizers. The main vocals are complemented by several layers of harmonies beneath, and a riff appears at the song's beginning. The lyrics are about SZA's obsessive devotion to a love interest who does not reciprocate her intense feelings of yearning, despite her willingness to prove her love with violence. "Snooze" was sent to radio on April 25, 2023, and a four-track single was released on digital streaming platforms on August 25. An acoustic version featuring Justin Bieber followed on September 15.

"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.

"Diamond Boy (DTM)" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022).

<i>Lana</i> (album) 2024 studio album (reissue) by SZA

Lana is the reissue of SOS (2022), the second studio album by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released on December 20, 2024, through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. It features a single guest appearance from Kendrick Lamar. The album was supported by the singles "Saturn", "BMF", and "30 for 30".

"BMF" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). It is a bossa nova song that interpolates "The Girl from Ipanema", a 1960s single composed by Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim. The lyrics contain an allusion to "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, both referencing the fictional location of South Detroit. "BMF" was originally going to feature American singer and rapper Lizzo.

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

"Saturn" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA. It is the lead single from Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). 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. "Saturn" is nominated at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance. The cover is a reference to the cover of her song "Love Galore" (2017).

"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.

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

"Drive" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). It was released on December 20, 2024, by Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records as the reissue's promotional single. A music video for the song, starring Ben Stiller, premiered on the same day.

"Take You Down" is an upcoming song by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was intended to be a track on Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). The song was scheduled to be released on January 6, 2025.

"Scorsese Baby Daddy" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). The title references film director Martin Scorsese. In the lyrics, SZA expresses her desire to find a boyfriend who reminds her of the characters from Scorsese's filmography, who tend to be violent criminals. SZA has teased a music video for "Scorsese Baby Daddy".

References

  1. ↑ 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 January 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ Anderson, Trevor (December 9, 2023). "1 Year of SOS: 8 Records & Achievements for SZA's Blockbuster Album". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  3. ↑ "SZA Talks New Music, Her Fears and Not Being Confined to One Genere". Wonderland . July 10, 2020. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  4. ↑ Carmichael, Emma (February 26, 2020). "The Rebirth of SZA" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Mendez, Marisa (January 23, 2024). "Drake Urges 'G.O.A.T.' SZA to Drop Unreleased Song". HipHopDX . Archived from the original on March 13, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  6. ↑ Lamarre, Carl (May 26, 2020). "SZA Hints at Dropping a Collection of Unreleased Songs in a 'Music Dump'". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  7. ↑ Kaye, Ben (August 23, 2021). "SZA Shares Three New Songs, 'Joni', 'I Hate You', and 'Nightbird'". Consequence . Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Uitti, Jacob (August 23, 2021). "SZA Drops Three New Tracks Which Leaves Us Hoping for a New Album". American Songwriter . Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mapes, Jill (August 31, 2021). "Tracks: 'Joni'". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Wicker, Jewel (December 12, 2022). "SZA Is Trying to Save Herself". Consequence . Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  11. ↑ Daly, Rhian (August 22, 2021). "SZA Surprise Releases Three New Songs, 'Nightbird', 'I Hate You' and 'Joni'". NME . Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  12. 1 2 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 April 11, 2024.
  13. 1 2 Powell, Jon (August 23, 2021). "SZA Reveals Three New Tracks". Revolt . Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  14. ↑ Brimstin, Chelsea (August 23, 2021). "SZA Surprise Drops Three New Songs 'Nightbird', 'Joni', and 'I Hate You'". Indie88 . Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  15. 1 2 A., Aron (August 22, 2021). "SZA Shares New Song 'Joni'". HotNewHipHop . Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  16. ↑ Smith, Danyel (February 8, 2023). "SZA's Ruination Brought Her Everything" . The New York Times Magazine . Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  17. ↑ Skinner, Tom (July 14, 2020). "SZA Shares Her Mother's Touching Review of 'Unreleased Music': 'Soothing and Disrupting at the Same Time'". NME . Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  18. ↑ Alter, Rebecca (August 22, 2021). "The Moon Compelled SZA to Release New Music Today" . Vulture . Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  19. 1 2 Kenneally, Cerys (February 28, 2023). "Deluxe Version of SZA's SOS Album Will Feature 'Joni (Perfect Timing)'". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  20. ↑ Newstead, Al (August 23, 2021). "SZA Shares Three New Songs in Surprise Soundcloud Drop". Triple J . Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  21. ↑ Waite, Thome (August 22, 2021). "SZA Drops Three New Songs in a Surprise Soundcloud Dump". Dazed . Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  22. ↑ Aswad, Jem (February 22, 2023). "SZA to Release Deluxe Edition of SOS with 10 Bonus Tracks". Variety . Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  23. ↑ Lane, Lexi (December 13, 2023). "SZA's Lana Deluxe Album: Everything to Know Including the Release Date, Tracklist & More". Uproxx . Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  24. ↑ Aswad, Jem (December 11, 2023). "SZA's New Album Lana: Everything We Know So Far". Variety . Archived from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  25. ↑ Martinez, Jose (March 28, 2024). "SZA Says Leakers Have Forced Her to Restart Lana Project 'From Scratch', Will Compile Leaks for SOS Deluxe". Complex . Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  26. ↑ Reichard, Ryan (January 17, 2025). "SZA Tells 'Lunatic' Fans to 'Go to Hell' After They Pressure Her About 'SOS' Deluxe Songs". Music Times. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
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.