WILLOW, b i g f e e l i n g s | Song Review 🎵

WILLOW showcases top-notch musicianship on “b i g f e e l i n g s,” the second single from her 2024 album, empathogen.

“I have such big feelings / Can’t shut ‘em down without a sound.” Honestly, it’s amazing how far WILLOW (Willow Smith) has evolved from her early “Whip My Hair” days.  She’d just turned 10 when that banger dropped, of course. On “b i g f e e l i n g s”, the second single from her 2024 album, empathogen (arrives May 3), embraces jazz – let that sink in.  What makes “b i g f e e l i n g s” such a triumph for WILLOW? EVERYTHING, honestly.  If you had to pinpoint one overall thing, however, it is the innovative spirit. Not that many 23-year-old mainstream/pop musicians dive into jazz.  Smith, well, she’s ‘built different,’ apparently. 

“b i g f e e l i n g s” is superbly written (Smith, Zach Tenorio, and Chris Greatti), the lyrics are honest (“I know I’m not fine / But yes, I say I’m fine”), and the vocal delivery is epic.  WILLOW sounds awesome singing alone, as well as when her vocals are harmonized.  Her performance is playful and, most impressively, highly skilled.  Jazz is not an easy genre to perform, yet she seems to do so with ease.  The chorus is superb as she expresses those ‘big feelings.’ Still, the bridge is the section to beat.  “I know I have, I know you have problems,” she sings, against badass, dissonant piano. The descending melodic line at the end of the bridge on the word problems is genius. “b i g f e e l i n g s” is a breath of fresh air – it goes against the grain and that is part of its charm. Furthermore, the musicianship is top-notch. WILLOW taps into something special.

WILLOW // empathogen // WILLOW / Three Six Zero / gamma. // 5.3.24

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; WILLOW / Three Six Zero / gamma.; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]