Lizzo’s addition to the Barbie soundtrack seamlessly complements the film’s opening sequence, delivering a light-hearted disco-pop vibe infused with playful lyrics that balance silliness with a message of self-empowerment. For those seeking a different tone, the Pink (Bad Day) remix transforms the song’s atmosphere entirely.
Although Lizzo’s recent singles have struggled to find their audience, it’s uncertain whether this is due to ongoing allegations regarding her behavior or simply a lack of quality. However, her upcoming 2025 mixtape, My Face Hurts from Smiling, demonstrates that she still possesses her musical flair, showcased in a strong rap track featuring a catchy hook sung by SZA.
The band’s breakthrough single, “Yellow,” is reimagined as a faster-paced track in the upbeat closer of her 2022 album, Special. The lyrics reference the band, portraying their music as a backdrop to the singer’s past struggles while focusing on the excitement of newfound love, accompanied by delightful 70s-inspired soul strings.
“Boys” presents an homage to the classic sound of the Neptunes, enhanced by a house beat, while the lyrics celebrate Lizzo’s inclusive approach to dating, making it clear that anyone—bearded or clean-shaven, rural or urban, straight or queer—has a chance with her. It’s an uplifting message.
One of the standout lines, “Only exes that I care about are in my fuckin’ chromosomes / I don’t really need you, I’m Macaulay Culkin, home alone,” is a remarkable couplet. “Like a Girl” quickly shifts from themes of past relationships to a spirited anthem of female empowerment, featuring nods to icons Serena Williams and Lauryn Hill, all wrapped in an infectious pop chorus.
Mark Ronson, whom Lizzo previously identified as her ideal collaborator, delivers a superb production here that draws from the classic soul sound, sampling Judy Clay and William Bell’s iconic 1968 hit “Private Number.” In a notable contrast to “Like a Girl,” the lyrics emphasize the advantages of maintaining amicable relations with ex-partners.
In its minimalist form, “Fitness” effectively utilizes simplicity, consisting of a basic drum beat and a xylophone-like hook, while the lyrics humorously celebrate Lizzo’s “bootyvicious” physique for over two minutes.
Journalists often characterize Lizzo’s music as excessively earnest, focusing on themes like empowerment, self-love, and body positivity. While “Water Me” encapsulates these ideas, it is also an irresistible burst of dancefloor energy, featuring a catchy chorus that is hard to resist.
This superior disco-infused club track, with its vibrant horns and an unexpected hair metal guitar solo, cleverly plays on both interpretations of the term “gay,” celebrating the dancefloor as a welcoming space for self-reinvention and authenticity.
Lizzo’s second album, Big Grrrl Small World, often flies under the radar but serves as an intriguing link between her hip-hop origins and her commercial success. The notable track “Ride” is more robust than her popular hits but still boasts a compelling hook that could have easily achieved mainstream success.
The standout track from her mixtape, My Face Hurts from Smiling, harkens back to her hip-hop roots with a skillful, chorus-free freestyle that tackles negative media coverage and online rumors, while also promoting her swimwear line and giving a nod to Kendrick Lamar.
Once hesitant to sing in the studio due to doubts about her vocal strength, Lizzo’s title track from Cuz I Love You showcases her powerful singing, starting with a gripping a cappella intro and culminating in an emotive finale that highlights her vocal prowess.
“Batches & Cookies” serves as an early indication that Lizzo was destined for greater success, featuring an explosive breakbeat, rapid-fire rapping, and an unforgettable hook that sticks in your mind.
Her collaboration with Missy Elliott pays tribute to the latter’s minimalist sound from the late 90s and early 2000s, yet it still incorporates elements of disco, hair metal guitar, and even a flute solo. The accompanying music video, featuring Lizzo dancing and Missy emerging from a car’s hood, is irresistibly fun.
In the creation of “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready),” it’s evident that everyone involved, including pop super-producer Max Martin, was enjoying the process of crafting a pitch-perfect homage to early 80s pop-R&B, reminiscent of the Pointer Sisters’ work. The sense of joy in the song is infectious.
From the very first listen, “Juice” felt destined to become a massive hit, combining a joyful retro synth-funk sound with a message encouraging listeners to shed their inhibitions, perfectly encapsulating Lizzo’s talent for blending meaningful themes with party vibes.
Taking two years to reach the top of the charts in the US, “Truth Hurts” slowly gained popularity through TikTok and its inclusion in the Netflix rom-com Someone Great. Featuring sharp, clever lyrics and a sparkling piano melody, the song’s success was inevitable.
At the peak of her career, “About Damn Time” captured the ecstatic disco-pop feel of a post-pandemic world, reflecting a sense of relief that now seems somewhat nostalgic. Trivia note: Malcolm McLaren receives co-writing credits due to a sample from the 1984 hit “Hey DJ” by the World’s Famous Supreme Team.
Among the upbeat tracks on Cuz I Love You, “Jerome” unexpectedly channels the essence of 50s and 60s R&B ballads, albeit with a contemporary electronic twist. Lizzo’s emotive delivery conveys sympathy for the song’s subject, even while she firmly asserts her boundaries.
