PSA (song) explained

PSA
Type:song
Artist:SZA
Written:2022
Released: (download-only bonus track)
Recorded:2022
Producer:
  • Carter Lang
  • Will Miller
Length:1:38
Label:

"PSA" (also called "Potting Season") is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA reported to appear on the deluxe edition of her 2022 second studio album, SOS. It is an orchestral song with a simple, stringed production, consisting of pianos and harps alongside vocal harmonies. The lyrics are delivered in a rap cadence and with braggadocio; SZA demands that people call her nothing but number-one and serve her, says she takes pleasure in angering people, and mocks those she views as "bottom feeders". "PSA" was used for the official teaser for SOS, yet despite this, the song did not appear on the final track list for the standard edition.

The song was released on January 5, 2023, as one of two bonus songs on a digital version of SOS, available only on Top Dawg Entertainment's online shop. SZA planned "PSA" for inclusion on the standard track list of SOS but was stopped by her label Top Dawg's president, Punch, because it did not fit with his vision for the album. It is expected to appear on the deluxe edition of SOS, alongside some other outtakes and songs that leaked while she was making her third studio album, Lana. After the website-exclusive release of "PSA", SZA performed it several times during the SOS Tour as the concert opener, as well as at a surprise concert celebrating the release of SOS.

Background

SZA released her debut studio album, Ctrl, in 2017. Primarily an R&B album with lyrics that address facets of contemporary life and romance,[1] [2] [3] it was commercially successful and received considerable acclaim. Critics credit it for being innovative within the R&B genre and establishing her as a major figure in contemporary pop and R&B music. Even so, she grew discontented with being classified as an R&B musician; she later stated that she felt like her music was being reductively categorized because she was a Black woman.[4]

After the album's release, media began speculating on when her next one, SOS, would arrive.[5] [6] Within the following years, SZA began releasing the first singles from the album, fueling anticipation for SOS, starting with "Good Days" in 2020.[7] "I Hate U" followed in 2021, and "Shirt", which she had been teasing since 2020, was released in October 2022.[8]

Upon releasing "Shirt", she posted on Twitter to reveal that it was finally "album time",[9] and outlets surmised that it would have a December release upon noticing that a car had the date written on the license plate.[10] [11] Later on November 8, during SZA's 33rd birthday, she celebrated the occasion by uploading a video to her YouTube account, which uses a snippet of a song titled "PSA", reposting it on social media with the caption "clock starts now."[12]

Music and lyrics

SZA sought to prove her musical versatility with SOS by imbuing her established sound with elements from multiple genres;[13] [14] one of her visions for the album was to make songs that were orchestral and simple but at the same time aggressive.[15] Producer Carter Lang met with Will Miller alongside two other producers to create around 20 demos that incorporated this sound, inspired by what Lang described to Rolling Stone Music Now as "very minimal" and "beautifully haunting" pieces. Among the demos were "PSA", also called "Potting Season", alongside the standard edition track "Blind". After they arranged the layering on the demos, they sent the songs to SZA for her to write lyrics.

Being an orchestral track, "PSA" is a song that consists of soft piano[16] and harps.[17] SZA raps in a braggadocious manner as she harmonizes in the background;[18] in the lyrics, she demands that people call her nothing but "number-one" and serve her[19] so she can cope with her problems, because she doesn't "know how to take losses [...] even when they are lost causes."[20] She also says she takes pleasure in making people angry—"pissing [them] off just to get off"—then mocks "bottom feeders" who "suck dick by the liter", perceiving them as of less value than her. The closing lines are "you should go cry about it, not trying to fight about it."

Release

The "PSA" teaser for SOS was directed by Bradley J. Calder,[21] with pyrotechnic and luminescent visual effects by Rick Braukis.[22] Nearly two minutes long,[23] it features alternating shots of SZA in two scenes: in one, she wears a brown bikini and crouches in a ring of neon green fire, and in the other, she pours blue, fluorescent liquid over her naked self by a beach. As the teaser ends, she makes her way towards the sea, and the video cuts to black before playing Morse code for the SOS distress signal.

SOS was released on December 9, 2022, and despite being used for the teaser, "PSA" was not one of the 23 songs that made the final cut.[24] SZA said that Punch, president of her label Top Dawg Entertainment, encouraged to excludes unreleased tracks like "PSA" on the standard edition despite her and her fans' wishes because it did not fit with his vision for SOS.[25] [26] According to SZA, he told her that the song sounded "too much like 'Blind and "people [would] get bored of hearing" it, saying that only one of them should be on the track list. As a response, she suggested that "PSA" could be a bonus track on the album's deluxe edition.[27] The edition developed into an album reissue she called Lana, which would consist of at least seven songs that were either new music or SOS outtakes. However, after certain songs intended for Lana were leaked, SZA changed her plans and said in 2024 that the deluxe edition would become separate from Lana and include all the leaks and songs she previously teased.[28] [29]

SOS spent ten weeks at number one on the US Billboard 200,[30] and the tracking week ending January 6, 2023, marked its fourth week at the top. For the following week, there was a chance that Taylor Swift's Midnights (2022) might replace SOS at number one.[31] On January 5, when tracking was about to end, SZA and Swift tried to boost their respective albums by releasing digital versions that contained exclusive bonus material.[32] SZA's version was available to purchase only on Top Dawg's website, and it contained all 23 tracks from the standard edition alongside two previously unreleased songs. "PSA" was one of the two, and the solo version of "Open Arms" was the other.[33]

Live performances

The first live performance of "PSA" was during the SOS Tour, debuted at her concert at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, on February 21, 2023.[34] Her set lists for the European and North American legs started with "PSA", which she performed as she recreated the album cover art on stage, atop a diving board with a screen behind her that projected a video of the ocean.[35] [36] Once she was done with the song, the screen showed her dive into water below.[37]

SZA also played "PSA" during an invitation-only album celebration event in Brooklyn, New York, in September 2023 as the third out of seven songs on the set list, which included three other songs intended for the deluxe edition.[38] When she headlined Glastonbury on June 30, 2024, she included "PSA" as her set's opener.[39]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Savage . Mark . December 22, 2017 . The Top 10 Albums of 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230429073259/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42427212 . April 29, 2023 . October 15, 2024 . BBC.
  2. News: Kennedy . Gerrick D. . June 14, 2017 . What to Listen to Now: SZA, Bleachers, Secret Sisters and More . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230604085609/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-what-to-listen-to-20170613-story.html . June 4, 2023 . October 15, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
  3. Lobenfeld . Claire . June 13, 2017 . SZA: Ctrl Album Review . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327055950/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sza-ctrl/ . March 27, 2024 . October 15, 2024 . Pitchfork.
  4. Web site: Blake . Cole . December 12, 2022 . SZA Says She's Tired of Being Labeled an R&B Artist . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326050912/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/609914-sza-says-shes-tired-of-being-labeled-an-rb-artist . March 26, 2023 . March 26, 2023 . . en-US.
  5. Lee . Cydney . Lipshutz . Jason . Mamo . Heran . Robinson . Kristin . Unterberger . Andrew . January 4, 2023 . Five Burning Questions: SZA Holds at No. 1 for Third Week with SOS Album . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230105121108/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sza-sos-five-burning-questions-1235194018/ . January 5, 2023 . May 5, 2024 . . en-US.
  6. Web site: Shepherd . Julianne Escobedo . December 9, 2022 . SOS: SZA . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240502235706/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sza-sos/ . May 2, 2024 . May 5, 2024 . . en-US.
  7. Anderson . Trevor . December 9, 2023 . 1 Year of SOS: 8 Records & Achievements for SZA's Blockbuster Album . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216234505/https://www.billboard.com/lists/sza-sos-anniversary-kill-bill-records-achievements/ . December 16, 2023 . December 17, 2023 . . en-US.
  8. Web site: Thompson . Stephen . Stephen Thompson (journalist) . Harris . Aisha . Aisha Harris . Madden . Sidney . Katzif . Mike . Wood . Rommel . Reedy . Jessica . December 15, 2022 . On SOS, SZA Both Surprises and Delivers Exactly What We've Been Waiting For . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221224032135/https://www.npr.org/2022/12/12/1142231566/on-sos-sza-both-surprises-and-delivers-exactly-what-weve-been-waiting-for . December 24, 2022 . May 24, 2024 . . Audio upload and transcript.
  9. Web site: SZA finally releases new single "Shirt" and confirms it's "album time" . 2024-05-24 . The Line of Best Fit . en-US.
  10. Web site: Abraham . Mya . 2022-10-28 . Christmas Comes Early With New Music From Rihanna, SZA, dvsn, And More . 2024-05-24 . VIBE.com . en-US.
  11. Web site: Lane . Lexi . October 28, 2022 . What Song Is at the End of SZA's 'Shirt' Video? . 2024-05-24 . . en-US.
  12. Web site: Dionne . Zach . November 9, 2022 . SZA Drops Mysterious 'PSA (Official Teaser)' Video Featuring New Music, Tells Fans 'Clock Starts Now' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221127173524/https://www.complex.com/music/sza-psa-teaser-video-new-music . November 27, 2022 . January 8, 2023 . . en.
  13. Web site: Phan . Karena . December 9, 2022 . Review: SZA's Perfection Takes Time in Second Album SOS . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221228133656/https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-reviews-hip-hop-and-rap-623ad8d680b71cc142b06c9b00fd8bf1 . December 28, 2022 . February 5, 2023 . . en.
  14. McNeal . Bria . December 9, 2022 . SZA's SOS Is Unpolished—and Completely Thrilling . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221211131456/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a42201068/sza-sos-album-review-details/ . December 11, 2022 . February 10, 2023 . . en-us.
  15. Conteh . Mankaprr . Hiatt . Brian . December 18, 2022 . SZA Speaks! Inside Her New Album and Much More . limited . May 22, 2024 . . en-US . March 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326031235/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sza-interview-sos-2023-arena-tour-1234647840/ . live.
  16. Mier . Tomás . November 9, 2022 . SZA Teases Cryptic 'PSA' Project in New Video . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221124005150/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-teases-psa-video-1234627272/ . November 24, 2022 . January 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  17. Web site: Gonzalez . Alex . January 6, 2023 . SZA Just Dropped a Pair of SOS Outtakes, Including the Much Anticipated 'PSA' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230106223048/https://uproxx.com/music/sza-sos-outtakes-psa-open-arms/ . January 6, 2023 . January 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  18. Dailey . Hannah . November 9, 2022 . SZA Teases New Music in NSFW 'PSA' Trailer: Watch . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221126135357/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/sza-teases-new-music-nsfw-psa-trailer-1235168360/ . November 26, 2022 . January 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  19. Web site: Chelosky . Danielle . November 9, 2022 . SZA Shows Lots of Skin in Her Hypnotizing, NSFW Teaser Clip Called 'PSA' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230107011235/https://uproxx.com/music/sza-nsfw-teaser-clip-psa/ . January 7, 2023 . January 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  20. Web site: Krol . Charlotte . November 9, 2022 . SZA Shares Sultry 'PSA' Teaser as Speculation About Album Release Builds . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221208210521/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/sza-shares-sultry-psa-teaser-as-speculation-about-album-release-builds-2-3346307 . December 8, 2022 . January 8, 2023 . . en.
  21. Web site: Kenneally . Cerys . November 9, 2022 . SZA Shares New 'PSA' Teaser Featuring Potential Album Clue . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109105900/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/sza-shares-new-psa-teaser-featuring-potential-album-clue . November 9, 2022 . January 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  22. Web site: Dazed . 2023-01-18 . Rick Braukis is the firestarter behind SZA’s hypnotic visual effects . 2024-05-24 . Dazed . en.
  23. Web site: Abraham . Mya . November 11, 2022 . Yuna, Mahalia, Dram, and More Make Vulnerability Cool Again This New Music Friday . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221123143045/https://www.vibe.com/music/reviews/yuna-dram-mahalia-new-rnb-1234710711/ . November 23, 2022 . January 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  24. Web site: Guy . Zoe . December 9, 2022 . SZA Blesses Us with SOS This Holiday Season . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103171417/https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/sza-new-album-sos.html . January 3, 2023 . January 8, 2023 . . en-us.
  25. Web site: Cummings-Grady . Mackenzie . December 21, 2022 . SZA Claims Her Team Blocked Fan-Favorite Songs from SOS . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221228195453/https://hiphopdx.com/news/sza-sos-songs-blocked-tde-punch . December 28, 2022 . January 8, 2023 . . en.
  26. Web site: Wicker . Jewel . December 12, 2022 . SZA Is Trying to Save Herself . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230101033237/https://consequence.net/cover/sza-cover-story-sos/ . January 1, 2023 . January 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  27. Web site: Griffiths . George . December 21, 2022 . SZA Hints at New Tracks for SOS Deluxe Edition and Fears of Album 'Flopping' Before Release . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222073835/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/sza-hints-at-new-tracks-for-sos-deluxe-edition-and-fears-of-album-flopping-before-release__38160/ . December 22, 2022 . January 8, 2023 . . en.
  28. Web site: Aswad . Jem . 2024-03-27 . SZA to Release Leaked Songs as Deluxe Edition of ‘SOS,’ Will Remake Delayed ‘Lana’ LP ‘From Scratch’ . 2024-05-24 . Variety . en-US.
  29. Web site: Zemler . Emily . 2024-03-27 . SZA Will Release 'Leaks and Outtakes' from 'SOS' as Deluxe LP to Focus on Next Project . 2024-05-24 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  30. Caulfield . Keith . February 26, 2023 . SZA's 'SOS' Makes It 10 Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard 200 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226200120/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sza-sos-ten-weeks-number-one-billboard-200-albums-chart-1235261008/ . February 26, 2023 . October 15, 2024 . . en-US.
  31. Web site: Wilkes . Emma . January 7, 2023 . SZA Denies Rumours of Taylor Swift Feud: 'I Don't Have Beef [with] Anyone.' ]. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230107221517/https://www.nme.com/news/music/sza-denies-rumours-of-taylor-swift-feud-i-dont-have-beef-with-anyone-3376338 . January 7, 2023 . January 8, 2023 . . en-GB.
  32. Mier . Tomás . January 6, 2023 . No, SZA Doesn't 'Have Beef' with Taylor Swift . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230106222729/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-doesnt-have-beef-taylor-swift-1234657122/ . January 6, 2023 . January 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  33. Web site: Cowen . Trace William . January 6, 2023 . SZA Shuts Down Talk of Beef with Taylor Swift, Says She 'Genuinely Loved' Singer's Midnights Album . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230106173324/https://www.complex.com/music/sza-shuts-down-talk-of-beef-taylor-swift . January 6, 2023 . January 8, 2023 . . en.
  34. Web site: Richards . Will . February 23, 2023 . SZA Covers Erykah Badu and Debuts SOS Songs at Arena Tour Opener . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230225075934/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/sza-covers-erykah-badu-and-debuts-sos-songs-at-arena-tour-opener-photos-footage-setlist-tickers-3403251 . February 25, 2023 . February 25, 2023 . . en.
  35. Turner-Williams . Jaelani . February 22, 2023 . SZA Lives Up to All the Anticipation as She Launches Her SOS Tour . live . . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223065154/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/sza-sos-tour-launch-1234684064/ . February 23, 2023 . February 25, 2023 . limited.
  36. News: Williams . Jenessa . 2023-06-14 . SZA Review – Voyage of a Lifetime with Genre-Busting R&B Superstar . 2024-05-24 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  37. Web site: Gendron . Bob . February 24, 2023 . Review: SZA Packs the United Center for Her SOS Tour, an Arena Headliner on the Rise . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223162735/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-sza-chicago-united-center-review-20230223-ke3jigengzhhlm2gcunljhbecm-story.html . February 23, 2023 . February 25, 2023 . Chicago Tribune.
  38. Web site: 2023-09-09 . SZA Says 'SOS' Deluxe Is Actually "A Whole Nother Album" Called 'Lana' . 2023-09-10 . Stereogum . en.
  39. Web site: Savage . Mark . July 1, 2024 . SZA's Striking Set Failed to Set Glastonbury Alight . 2024-07-05 . . en-GB.

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