MPP is a recurring series that delves deeply into a specific artist, featuring a different artist each time. The series explores their most popular albums, delves into the rationale behind the album’s aesthetic, the album’s title, the album cover, the artist’s name origins, their musical influences, genre, impact within the industry, and notable achievements. Lastly, after conducting thorough research and listening to the entire album, I will provide my opinion on the best, most relatable song that you can enjoy on repeat. I will consider all aspects and recommend a song specifically for YOU!

The 34 year old American Songwriter Solána Imani Rowe, also known as SZA, is best known for her singles, “Good Days” (2020), “Kill Bill” (2022), “Broken Clocks” (2017), “Open Arms” (2022), “I Hate U” (2022), “All the Stars” (2018) and more. SZA is most known for her most popular album CTRL (control), although she has more albums such as Z and SOS. We will be talking about her album CTRL, as it is her most popular album but Z is an underrated album and is an honorable mention. Her music is in the genre NEO soul and alternative R&B. CTRL is an album that came out on June 9th, 2017, confirming its release in 2016 during her performance on Jimmy Kimmel. This album helped mark her as a permanent, influential, and groundbreaking part in the musical industry, helping her become a 4 time Grammy winner, and one Brit Award, six Billboard Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, among others for other songs and albums. She released CTRL through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records, consisting of 14 songs. Now let’s get into this album.

She begins the album with “Supermodel,” but contrary to the title, SZA talks about her insecurities, singing: ¨Why I can’t stay alone just by myself? Wish I was comfortable just with myself But I need you, but I need you, but I need you,¨ and, ¨I could be your supermodel if you believe, If you see it in me, see it in me, I don’t see myself.” This is SZA talking down on herself because of a previous boyfriend that did her wrong, and she’s now doing wrong as a way to heal. She reflects and realizes that it is because of deep rooted insecurities. SZA ends with words from her mother, talking about not having control and how it would affect her mother, obviously affecting SZA as her mother is someone she looks up to. Hearing her biggest fear, SZA felt that connection and decided to name her album after that, stating: “Ctrl is a concept. I’ve lacked control my whole life and I think I’ve craved it my whole life.”

“Love Galore ft. Travis Scott” is the second song which is all about wanting a past lover, craving that person but realizing that it won’t do anything good for yourself and how you should transition to putting yourself first. Next is “Doves in the Wind” featuring Kendrick Lamar, which tackles the topic of the objectification of women and the things people do to get into bed with a woman, treating her as if she is only for that. This song was released exactly three days before the debut of the album. ¨Drew Barrymore” is the third song relating SZA´s low self-esteem in an unbalanced relationship that damages her even more. She compares herself with another girl, which is a new side that we have not seen on this album: a somber, unassured, worrisome SZA. ¨I get so lonely, I forget what I’m worth We get so lonely, we pretend that this works I’m so ashamed of myself, think I need therapy-y-y-y I’m sorry I’m not more attractive I’m sorry I’m not more ladylike.” In these lyrics she talks down to herself, asking him if she’s good enough, apologizing to him for being the way she is, and that ¨karma is going to come and collect his soul¨ for making her feel this way.

The fifth song on the album, “Prom,” is where SZA reflects on more of her insecurities, citing how she isn’t maturing fast enough as the people around her and is too busy worrying about prom and the moment. She feels stuck instead of looking towards her future like others, which separates her from the rest. She sings: “Am I doin’ enough? (Enough) Feel like I’m wastin’ time,¨ proving that she feels stuck as shes getting older and how she hates the way it makes her feel late at night. The following song is named “The Weekend,” which is about multiple women getting played by the same man, but SZA, playing the role as one of them, chooses to not care. This song is about female empowerment and not having a man as your center of attention or conforming to what a man wants. She makes the man in this story look foolish due to his lies that were being fed to these women. Surprisingly the next song is named ¨Go Gina,¨ based on a character from the 1992 sitcom Martin. There are two sides of this song taking the show into consideration. When SZA sings “damn Gina,” it refers to the negative way from the show, as Martin would then add:¨here we go againnn.¨ Knowing that, you realize that SZA means that people have been talking about her, and this is her saying ¨here we go again” with you talking about her life with self-righteous untrue things. The second meaning, used in the second verse, is uplifting saying “damn Gina¨ as in “go girl,”giving praise instead.

“Broken Clocks,” the ninth song on the album, is about the imbalances of her life, pertaining to her work life and her love life, her love life interfering with her work life and her scheduling and struggling to get everything in order so it can work out. This song also uses foreshadowing to tell us that later on in her life she will be independent because of the interference with her work and that now she will be solely focused on her work. ¨Anything¨ is the rebuttal to “Broken Clocks,” where SZA is deciding that love is still love, and that she can’t change that. She instead asks for forgiveness: ¨Maybe I should kill my inhibition Maybe I’ll be perfect in a new dimension [Pre-Chorus] Maybe I should pray a little harder Or work a little smarter This time, baby, promise I have learned my lesson, ooh [Chorus] Down for the ride, down for the ride You could take me anywhere.¨ Here is where she apologizes for her past mistakes and asks for a second chance at love.

The seventh song is “Wavy,” the shortest song on the album. It speaks about a relationship that seems perfect to everyone else on the outside but behind the scenes is struggling as both people aren’t good for each other. Next is a song called ¨Normal Girl,” about how her partner in her relationship loves things she does for him, what she looks like, her actions and how this is ruining her love life, thus making it difficult for her. She realizes at the end that it’s him missing out on her. “Pretty Little Birds” is after and is metaphorically about women, calling them “pretty little birds.” She talks about how we all get hit, stopped by obstacles in life, and she uses the word “window” to convey her meaning, wanting to empower women so they can get up and fly again, and to not be afraid to open up and fly with someone else, giving love a chance: ¨You are but a phoenix among feathers …Pretty little bird You’ve hit the window a few times …You still ain’t scared of no heights¨ SZA is telling the listener that she is a phoenix, a bird that rises through the ashes, but someone has broken your wings and that the world will let you die, meaning that no one will help you heal. To try again is something beautiful and a thing you must do. That last song on her album, ¨20 something,¨ is where she expresses to the public that she doesn’t have her life together and that she’s trying to get out of her 20 year old habits, trying to find her way.

After looking at this album over these past two weeks, one that has really stuck to me was, “Pretty Little Birds,” the song I recommend. I find the melody to be captivating, as the song was stuck in my head for the entirety of the two weeks I was researching. Its harmony and message are impeccable, and I feel that everyone can resonate with the message she is trying to convey. The pronunciation of her words adds to the melody and makes it more catchy. It’s a whimsical feeling with yet such a strong message.