Rina Sawayama, LUCID | Track Review

Rina Sawayama continues to slay, dreaming about being with or being the dream girl on her fresh new single, “LUCID.”

If you were someone who slept on Rina Sawayama in 2020, well, you totally need to wake up! Her debut album, SAWAYAMA was easily one of the best albums of 2020, yet another omission by the ‘corrupt’ Grammys… Anyways, Sawayama has dropped a new bop that you totally need in your life, “LUCID,” which appears on the deluxe version of SAWAYAMA.

On “LUCID,” Rina Sawayama has decided she wants to dance – or at least, she wants her audience to dance! Always dabbling in various genres, here, she opts for a dash of dance/house music.  As with everything she’s done to this point in her career, she excels at it.  She gets some help from one of pop’s elite hitmakers, Bloodpop, who never fails to shine behind the boards.  So, with the artistry of Rina (voice and personality), and strong production work (Bloodpop), what about the songwriting – the theme and lyrics? 

Theme and lyrics are huge in the music of Rina Sawayama and “LUCID” is no different.  Unafraid to embrace queerness (she’s bi/pan), Sawayama sings about dreaming about being or being with a dream girl. “I’ve been lucid dreaming just to see you,” she sings on the first verse, adding on the pre-chorus, “‘Cause, hey girl, you are what I’ve been dreaming of.” Clearly, whoever this girl is, she’s the object of her affection.  Apparently, the fantasies run a bit deeper, particularly on the second verse (“I’ve been searching for a lonely pleasure”), which may be where the purported masturbatory aspect of “LUCID” Comes into play.

is #RinaLUCID about masturbating ????????? maybe !!!!!!!!!!

— RINA SAWAYAMA #DYNASTYEXPERIENCE (@rinasawayama) November 25, 2020

Final Thoughts  

Rina Sawayama = QUEEN.  “LUCID” is another bop by Rina, period. It checks off all of the boxes: artistry, production, songwriting, and another awesome addition to the queer catalog. What more could you possibly ask for? BOP!

Rina Sawayama • “LUCID” • Dirty Hit • 11.26.20

[: Dirty Hit]