Lizzo, Special (Remix) | Track Review

Grammy-winning pop sensation Lizzo taps Grammy-winning R&B standout SZA for a fabulous remix of her uplifting anthem, “Special.”

“In case nobody told you today / You’re special!” Say that, Lizzo! The uplifting “Special” marks one of the brightest spots from Lizzo’s sophomore album, also titled, Special.  Yes, the Grammy-winning  “About Damn Time” is the song to beat from Special, but “Special” is a close second.  Notably, post-65^th Annual Grammys, Lizzo unveiled the “Special (Remix)” which features fellow Grammy-winner, SZA. Also, it’s worth noting that SZA has her own song called “Special” on her 2022 sophomore LP, SOS.  Dang, that’s a lot of specialness! Can you keep up?

Anyways, following the Lizzo intro from the original, SZA performs the first verse.  The verse is brand-new obviously, given the original verse is tailored to Lizzo specifically.  Still, the issue of judgment plays a role. SZA asserts, “I’m just actin’ up, I’m crass as fuck, and never sayin’ so / Found out in the end that I can only do it for me.”  She goes on to add, “All I know is only God can judge me / I don’t hide my heart, I wear it on me.” Amen!  From there, the pre-chorus and chorus are mostly Lizzo, with ad-libs from SZA which add some spice.  The second verse is retained from the original, which is a surefire win (“How could you throw fuckin’ stones if you ain’t been through her pain?”) From there, most of the changes on this remix include ad-libs and some collaborative portions.

Final Thoughts

The original, Lizzo exclusive “Special” is sufficient – an awesome song.  Likewise, “Special (Remix)”, featuring SZA, is a vibe too.  Two black women collaborating on a record that centers around positivity? That’s awesome!

Lizzo • “Special (Remix)” (Ft. SZA) • Nice Life / Atlantic • 2.9.23

[: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Nice Life / Atlantic; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]