Reading Time: 2 min read

4 out of 5 stars

Lizzo, “Special (Remix)” (Ft. SZA) [📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Nice Life / Atlantic; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]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-65th 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?

Lizzo, "Special (Remix)" (Ft. SZA) [📷: Nice Life / Atlantic]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 💭

todays your dayThe 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!

 4 out of 5 stars


🎙 Lizzo • 🎵 “Special (Remix)” (Ft. SZA) • 🏷 Nice Life / Atlantic • 🗓 2.9.23
[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Nice Life / Atlantic; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]

 


the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.