Pop darlings Maroon 5, assisted by SZA, returns with a catchy, sexy new single, “What Lovers Do.” It’s catchy, not groundbreaking.

I miss the old Maroon 5.  Sigh.  Things just haven’t been the same since, well, Songs About Jane if we’re being technical.  Honestly, beginning with “Moves Like Jagger” (Hands All Over Me), Adam Levine and company began to full embrace modern pop, trading their soulful, guitar-driven sound for synths and amplifying the dirty words.  On “What Lovers Do,” Adam opts against being potty-mouthed, but still keeps the modern pop going.  He’s assisted by one of R&B’s hottest commodities, SZA.  The results are okay.

To reiterate, the production and sound of “What Lovers Do” is in step with the modern pop idiom. It confirms the conformist, assimilating nature of Maroon 5.  As much as revisiting “This Love” would be, the band has assumed a new identity.  “The old Maroon 5 is dead.” Given the sound, this is a well-produced record, but not game-changing or transcendent.

Lyrically, “What Lovers Do” lacks of depth, most notably on the verses, where the meat of a song usually lies. The M.O. is simple – love and sex – mostly sex. The sentiment listening to this is ‘been there, done that.’ Nonetheless, this joint is catchy, beginning with the pre-chorus.

“Tell me, tell me if you love me or not, love me or not, love me or not? / I’ll be the house on you, am I luck or not, lucky or not, lucky or not? / You gotta tell me if you love me or not, love me or not, love me or not? / Been wishin’ for you am I lucky or not, lucky or not, lucky or not?”

Likewise, the chorus/hook is catchy as well.

“Ooooh, ooh / Been wishing for you / Ooooh, oooh, Tryna do what lovers do.”

Final Thoughts

So, how does “What Lovers Do” stack up? It’s good/okay, but not great.  The biggest pro of this record is its catchiness, which is undeniable.  However, this song doesn’t have any tricks up its sleeves – it’s straight-to-the-point pop.

Maroon 5 • What Lovers Do (Ft. SZA) – Single • Interscope • Release: 9.1.17

Photo Credit: Interscope