The Fatality of Control
On June 9th, 2017, one of the most influential and definitive albums was released. SZA’s debut album Ctrl still remains just as relevant and revolutionary today as it was 6 years ago. SZA is a singer and songwriter from St. Louis, Missouri. Her musical career began when her brother, who aspired to be a rapper, decided to use her vocals for an album he was working on. After experimenting with her voice, she began taking music more seriously and eventually signed onto Top Dawg Entertainment. Today, SZA continuously tops the charts with her newest album SOS, released December 9, 2022, at number 4 on the Billboard 200. SZA has collabs with huge artist such as Rihanna, Beyonce and Nicki Minaj.
SZA’s Ctrl, has also re-entered the top 20 on the Billboard 200 Album charts, marking its 301st week on the charts since its release. The title, Ctrl, is reminiscent of the keys on a computer much like the cover of her album. Ctrl, short for control, is seen as a concept by SZA, but also something she grapples with. Having control, not having control, control is the underlying theme throughout the album. The album opens with Supermodel, which begins with a voice recording of SZA’s mother confessing her fear of losing control. This recording introduces the element of control and it’s importance throughout the album, stating that without it she would be “fatal”; as if the idea of not having control would be the cause of her downfall. In Supermodel, SZA sets the tone of Ctrl and strips herself bare to the listener as she confesses her fears and jealousies; and becomes honest with herself about her relationships. The ups and downs of this song begin with anger and pettiness towards her partner, which then turns into questioning herself and wishing she could feel comfortable in her own skin. The honest and raw take she has about herself and her relationship is all too relatable in a day and age where dating is hard to define, and the beauty standard is constantly raised. Not to mention, the production of the song is executed perfectly with a beautiful juxtaposition of the softly strummed guitar and her hard-hitting lyrics.
Her most controversial song, The Weekend, demonstrates the idea of loss of control perfectly. In this song she surrenders herself to control in her love life. She desires an exclusive relationship with the man she’s dating but settles for a non-exclusive relationship as her only option with him. Instead of wallowing over her relationship, she owns the fact that he is seeing other women and lets go of wanting control over the situation. As controversial as the idea of this is, SZA’s relatability is unmatched. In a society where the dating pool is full of murky and complicated waters, it’s refreshing to hear someone admit to being okay with not being exclusive. The production of The Weekend is also worth noting; the neo-soul sound uses synthesizers, snappy beats and high-pitched background vocals similar to that of a choir. The sounds blend perfectly with each other, making the subject matter seem less provocative, which creates an interesting contrast with the lyrics.
Following the theme of navigating relationships, Garden (Say It Like Dat), opens with a poetic verse of how her lover keeps her grounded and is then juxtaposed in the next verse with “Call me on my bull****...". This song reads like a diary entry, questioning her self-worth and addressing her need for emotional vulnerability from her lover. Garden not only showcases her incredible songwriting abilities, but how she can’t control aspects such as her characteristics and physical traits though she desperately wants to. The snappy beats throughout the song compliment her direct lyrics while once again utilizing contrast with the dreamy far-away sound of her voice as she paints a picture for her listeners.
Aside from the relatability of romantic relationships, the relatability of being in your 20’s and the things that come with it are also woven throughout the album; most notably in the song 20 Something. In this song, she speaks about falling behind in her career and love life, and how she prays that “the 20 somethings don’t kill [her]”. SZA is able to encapsulate the way it feels to be out of control and the uncertainty that comes with navigating your 20’s without coming across as cliché. 20 Something ends the album perfectly, wrapping up the trials and tribulations of surviving adulthood and the complexities that come with it.
Once again, in 20 Something, the slow strum of a guitar is heard throughout its duration with no additional instruments besides the layering of her vocals. The sole use of a guitar and her vocals gives the listener a more intimate feel, as if this song demands to be heard without distraction. Ctrl offers a sense of comfort and validation regardless of what stage of life you’re at; old or young, male or female, this album offers much more than I could ever put into words. SZA earned her flowers and then some, winning the Woman of the Year award from Billboard in 2023, rightly so. Ctrl is an album that I personally find myself coming back to again and again throughout the years because of it’s unrestrained honesty and comforting vulnerability. I highly recommend this album to anyone that has never listened to SZA before or simply wishes to appreciate one of the most profound albums in R&B.