"Shirt" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by SZA | ||||
from the album SOS | ||||
Released | October 28, 2022 | |||
Recorded | March 2020–2022 | |||
Studio | Rodney Jerkins' home studio | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 3:02 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
SZA singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Shirt" on YouTube |
"Shirt" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the third single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). Produced by Darkchild and Freaky Rob, it is an R&B song, with elements of trap music, backed by synthesizers and 808 beats. The lyrics are about a toxic relationship that consumes SZA and entices her to return, despite leaving her directionless and mentally exhausted. They include themes present throughout SOS: deep introspection, the pursuit of perfection, and the conflict between love and hatred. A snippet of "Shirt", prior to its official release, spawned a viral dance challenge on TikTok, where over a million videos used the sound. After being first previewed online two years beforehand, the song was released on October 28, 2022.
Critics praised "Shirt" for its songwriting. Some said that the introspective lyrics indicated maturity, and others wrote that it portrayed the self-destructive nature of romance well. Many included "Shirt" on their lists of the best songs of 2022. "Shirt" was a top-20 song in multiple countries; it debuted and peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 upon its release, the only single from SOS to not reach the top 10. The same day as the song's release, the "Shirt" music video, directed by Dave Meyers, premiered on YouTube. Inspired by Quentin Tarantino's crime films, it features SZA and LaKeith Stanfield commit several murders across town and eventually betray each other. The video features several visual metaphors, which represent SZA's various emotional burdens that she figuratively kills.
Background
[edit]SZA released her debut studio album, Ctrl, in 2017. Primarily an R&B album that deals with themes like heartbreak, it received widespread acclaim for her vocal performance, the songwriting, and the musical style. The album brought her mainstream fame, and critics credit it with establishing her as a major figure in contemporary pop and R&B music.[note 1] After Ctrl, SZA began appearing in soundtracks and musical collaborations, which began media anticipation around her next studio album's release.[8][9] In January 2020, SZA confirmed plans that she was working on the album,[10] SOS,[11] posting on Twitter in March that she was recording music with producer Darkchild at his home.[12]
Speculation about the album's release increased with SZA's release of "Hit Different" featuring Ty Dolla Sign, her first solo single in five years, in September 2020.[13][14] In October, SZA posted a short snippet of an unreleased song to her Instagram stories,[15] and by December, it spawned a viral dance challenge on the video-sharing application TikTok, where over 1.3 million videos used the sound.[16] Another single, "Good Days", was released the same month, previously teased at the end of the music video for "Hit Different".[17]
The song SZA teased in October did not have a title, so fans started calling it by two names, "Bloodstain" and "Shirt".[18][19] She told fans in a January 2021 Twitter post that she was fine with having "Shirt" be the song's title, eventually picking it as the official name.[20] In March, she premiered the music video for "Good Days", and an extended snippet of "Shirt" appeared at the final scene,[21] in which she pole dances in a gas station.[22] SZA would continue to tease upcoming music at the end of her future videos.[23]
Music and production
[edit]"Shirt" is an R&B song[24] with influences of trap music.[25] It is three minutes long,[26] has a midtempo pace,[27] and is built around 808 beats;[25] the song features synthesizers,[28] drum breaks, glitchy hi-hat drums, and a heavy sub bass.[29] It was produced by Darkchild and Freaky Rob.[29] According to Billboard's Andrew Unterberger, Darkchild gave "Shirt" a sound reminiscent of 1990s R&B music:[30] many commercially successful R&B singles from the 1990s had Darkchild as a producer, such as "Say My Name" (1999) by Destiny's Child and "The Boy Is Mine" (1998) by Brandy and Monica.[31] As Gyasi Williams-Kirtley for The Fader wrote: "'Shirt' feels nostalgic but new".[32] SZA sings with low and mixed notes for much of the song, occasionally using falsettos and performing breathily.[28]
"Shirt" was one of the first songs, out of seven, that SZA and Darkchild created during the first day of their album recording sessions, when COVID-19 was announced as a pandemic in March 2020.[33] Its released version significantly differs from the initial demo, which had a futuristic sound and the working title "Narnia Dirt Bike".[34] Darkchild reworked the demo with Freaky Rob six months later, transferring the vocals on a more stripped-down track, and this version was the one SZA first posted on TikTok.[33] The two had around seven or eight versions of the song throughout the years,[33] and they played the final version to a Complex journalist for the magazine's cover story in October 2022.[34]
Lyrics
[edit]Aisha Harris of NPR Music wrote that "Shirt" contains lyrics that best represent the themes of SOS: deep introspection and the realization of one's self-worth and perfection.[35] The song also discusses a conflict between love and hatred, another of the album's lyrical motifs, with SZA enticed to restart a past romance she acknowledges as toxic and codependent.[13] She sings of how she has been overpowered by obsessive lust, desperate for the former partner's sexual advances. Simultaneously, she admits it has made her lose her dignity and motivated her to reclaim it.[29][36]
The lyrics explore SZA's anxiety on what to do after the relationship's end,[37] alongside her subsequent struggles with her imperfections.[38] Religious and mythological concepts are invoked;[28] she compares her confusion to an enveloping darkness and her lapses to sin, adding that nonetheless, she finds thrill in the turmoil.[27][39] Beverly Bryan, writing for Spin, highlighted the lyric "comfort in my sins and all about me" and wrote about it: "if you hurt, at least you feel something, and if your life is a mess, at least it's yours."[40]
A dark and furious tone also manifests in the song, to contrast the vulnerability critics wrote was characteristic of SZA's music.[41][42][43] Emotions like disappointment, and vengefulness, are had about the failed romance. SZA sings in the pre-chorus: "feel the taste of resentment simmer on my skin".[41][43] In the chorus, she invokes the image of blood on her shirt, as well as a "new bitch on [her] nerve" and an "old nigga [who] got curved" (or rejected), suggesting confidence that Raphael Helfand of The Fader described as being "fully in [one's] bag".[44] Angry at herself for being tempted to return to the former partner, she follows with the line "damn bitch, you so thirsty".[45] The pre-release "Shirt" had the lyric "damn bitch, you like 30" instead of the current one.[46][47]
Release
[edit]Darkchild wanted "Shirt" to be released in 2020, but SZA insisted she wanted more time to finish it.[33] The song was still being finished by January 2021, and doing so became one of SZA's only priorities at the time.[48] She continued to tease "Shirt" throughout 2021, sharing another preview on July 2 during a livestreamed online concert[49] and saying on August 22, after uploading three songs on an anonymous SoundCloud account, that the song was her next single.[50] In December, SZA released "I Hate U", the second single from SOS after "Good Days".[51]
"Shirt" was set to be a collaboration with American rapper and singer Doja Cat,[52] with the release date scheduled for October 14, 2022. As SZA revealed at Austin City Limits two days later, the release was postponed because she was dissatisfied with "one small thing" about the upcoming music video.[53] The collaboration with Doja Cat was impeded when she had to undergo an emergency tonsil surgery around the time "Shirt" was being finished; the plan was for her to appear on the song's remix instead.[54]
On October 21, "Shirt" was reportedly released on Spotify by mistake and removed from the platform as soon as possible.[55][56] The official release happened a week later,[29] without Doja Cat's vocals on the song.[57] The release was accompanied by official merchandise by SZA and her art director Jas Bell: a white T-shirt on which was printed a bloodstain and the song's title. Also designed by Bell was the song's cover art—a picture of SZA's white, bloodstained shirt—which he created with simplicity in mind.[58]
In a November Billboard cover story, SZA revealed the album's title as well as its release date, which was scheduled for next month.[11] On December 5, she shared the track list on Twitter, and SOS was released four days later. Out of 23 songs, "Shirt" appears as the 19th track.[59][60] The song was originally not going to be on the album, but fans' positive response towards it prompted her and label executives to change their mind. About the choice, she said: "Sometimes what I like doesn't line up with other people and that is tricky, always tricky. You never know what people want to see."[61]
Critical reception
[edit]Songwriting was a recurring point of praise towards "Shirt". Some deemed the lyrics vivid; it was one of the compliments Julienne Pal Loreto from The Line of Best Fit gave the song, which they wrote made it SOS's standout track and worth the two-year wait.[28] Bria McNeal of Esquire highlighted how SZA could create a "thick" story from mundane items like a shirt.[26] Others pointed to its introspective nature. Pitchfork's Julianne Escobedo Shepherd and Cydney Lee of Billboard wrote that the song's reflections on outside validation were written in a relatable and mature way;[9][38] Shepherd called the lyric "damn bitch you so thirsty" quotable.[9] Meanwhile, Williams-Kirtley of The Fader and Will Dukes of Rolling Stone praised some of the lyrics for their, in their view, frenzied and animalistic tone.[32][41]
Ashley Pointer for NPR Music and Isabelia Herrera for Pitchfork also wrote about the song's emotional intensity. The two believed that with "Shirt", SZA showcased one of her best abilities, which was to write about how the power of romance can overpower someone sexually and destroy them mentally.[29][36] Pointer said, "One thing SZA knows well is the destructive depths of love and how to convey its all-consuming intensity in her music",[29] and Herrera wrote: "[SZA] knows what it's like to be caught in an obsessive, disastrous relationship, one that robs us of our own dignity, and here she unravels her insecurities with brisk, yearning urgency."[36] For Bryan of Spin, the mastery was at how SZA could find beauty in tumultuous mental burdens.[40]
Other praises included SZA's vocals and the song's production. According to Dukes, as shown with the song's chorus, SZA turned sarcasm and spite into something that sounds "damn near angelic".[41] Loreto liked the diverse range of notes she hits and thought "hard-hitting drums and mystical synths [...] wisely [let her] trademark lush vocals be the centrepiece".[28] For NPR Music, Sidney Madden thought that the song's bass further highlighted the lyrics' emotional weight and the vocals conveyed the directionless nature of SZA's feelings.[39] Precious Fondren of HipHopDX said that the song had replay value.[62]
"Shirt" has received several accolades, including placements on publications' rankings of the best songs of 2022.[26][28] Williams-Kirtley and Vanessa Hsieh of Dazed included the song at numbers 10 and 7, respectively.[32][45] Ranking "Shirt" in their top 15, meanwhile, were Lee (13) and Madden (15).[38][39] Furthermore, in January 2023, American Songwriter named "Shirt" the sixth best song in SZA's discography.[18] The music video was nominated for Best R&B and Best Art Direction at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards,[63] and it won Best R&B Video. However, SZA was not at the ceremony to receive the award because her manager, Punch, was unhappy she was not nominated for Artist of the Year.[64]
Commercial performance
[edit]Out of the six singles from SOS, "Shirt" was the only song to not reach the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100.[65] It debuted at number 11 with first-week figures of 20.3 million streams, 3000 downloads, and 990,000 in airplay audience, and it became her sixth top-10 entry on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, where it debuted and peaked at number 4.[31] On charts for radio, "Shirt" peaked at number two on US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and US Rhythmic;[66][67] in February 2023, it topped Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, her first song to do so, for two weeks.[68] "Shirt" ended 2023 as the 51st biggest song in the US[69] and 16th on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs,[70] and it is certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[71]
On the Billboard Global 200, "Shirt" was the 181st biggest song of 2023,[72] and it peaked on the chart at its debut position of number 18.[73] SZA earned her fifth top-20 entry in the United Kingdom with the song, which debuted on the UK Singles Chart at its peak of number 17.[74] It also reached the top 20 in South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and Australia.[note 2]
Music video
[edit]Hours before the song's release, SZA revealed that the music video would premiere at the same time, teasing a clip of the video on Instagram that showed her about to shoot someone in a diner.[80] The video, directed by Dave Meyers, takes cues from several crime films by Quentin Tarantino,[53][81] such as Pulp Fiction (1994) and Jackie Brown (1997).[82] It follows SZA and co-star LaKeith Stanfield as they go on a murder spree and other criminal escapades; multiple publications compared their dynamic to that of the real-life criminal couple Bonnie and Clyde.[83][84][85]
The video is set in what Meyers called an "off-beat underworld" inspired by Tarantino's works, filled with symbolism around SZA's various mental burdens and a spiritual tone that juxtaposes the violent scenes.[82] It begins with a conversation between her and Stanfield in a diner,[42] discussing how everything is rooted in energy such as the salt shakers and the table in front of them. Stanfield asks SZA if energy intertwines both of them, but he is interrupted by a man beside him, whom Stanfield promptly slaps.[86] SZA then kills the man for his intrusion.[42]
The next scenes show SZA and Stanfield go into a shooting rampage across town in various disguises, such as nuns, medical staff, and pizza delivery workers. With each person SZA kills, she tattoos a colored dot on her wrist, all of which eventually form the word "SOS".[87] Meyers said that the tattoos were symbols for all the burdens that SZA is eliminating.[82] Throughout their escapades, the two encounter a room of pregnant women dressed as nuns,[81] killing a man among them who bleeds purple blood; elsewhere, they murder a judge with green blood and a clown with pink blood.[82] According to Meyers, the colors represented the burdens of, respectively, arrogance, judgment, and innocence.[82]
After a while, Stanfield betrays SZA and fatally shoots her in the chest, then escapes.[82] As her soul ascends towards the sky, Stanfield's face replaces hers;[87] he then sees a vision of SZA on his rear-view mirror while driving at nighttime, causing him to crash. The events, per Meyers, indicate that Stanfield and SZA's characters are the same individual—Stanfield personifies SZA's ego that she eventually must leave for dead as well.[82] Tied up in a basement, Stanfield wakes up to find several butchers about to kill him with their kitchen knives.[87][88]
Now resurrected and by herself, SZA pulls a gun and swiftly turns her back to a wall, shooting her shadow until it dies. According to CJ Thorpe-Tracey in The Quietus, the act visually conveyed what SOS was about overall: "SZA represents herself shockingly often as a kind of shadow of herself in moments of death and of liberation, both at once [...] Like the shot-dead shadow, SZA liberates and destroys herself easily as blinking."[88] Once her shadow dies, she pushes Stanfield's car off a pier and flees on a sailboat, symbolizing her feeling "lost at sea" but "free of burdens".[82] After the song ends, the video begins playing a snippet of the song "Blind".[29]
Live performances
[edit]SZA first performed "Shirt" for "In Bloom" on July 2, 2021, a concert in promotion of Grey Goose Essences's recent line of vodka.[89][90] She again performed the song during the seventh episode of Saturday Night Live's forty-eighth season, days before the release of SOS.[91] After the album's release, SZA embarked on the SOS Tour from 2023 to 2024, regularly having "Shirt" on the tour's set lists,[92][93] and she also included it on her headlining set during Glastonbury 2024.[94]
Credits
[edit]Recording and management
- Recorded at Conway Studio C, Westlake Studios A and D (Los Angeles, California), and Rodney Jerkins' home studio
- Mixed at Ponzu Studios (Los Angeles)
- Mastered at Becker Mastering (Pasadena, California)
Personnel
- Solána Rowe (SZA) – vocals, songwriting
- Rodney Jerkins (Darkchild) – songwriting, production (for Sonix. Inc.)
- Robert Gueringer (Freaky Rob) – songwriting, production
- Hector Castro – engineering
- Rob Bisel – engineering, mixing
- Derek Keota – engineering
- Micah Pettit – engineering
- Ben Sedano – assistant engineering
- Robert N. Johnson – assistant engineering
- Dale Becker – mastering
- Katie Harvey – assistant mastering
- Noah McCorkle – assistant mastering
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[109] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[110] | 2× Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[111] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[112] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[71] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | October 28, 2022 | [113] | ||
United States | November 8, 2022 | Urban contemporary radio | RCA | [114] |
Rhythmic contemporary radio | [115] | |||
Italy | December 2, 2022 | Radio airplay | Sony Music Italy | [116] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Cited to Vulture,[1] The Recording Academy,[2] The Line of Best Fit,[3] NME,[4] The Daily Telegraph,[5] The New Yorker,[6] and Consequence.[7]
- ^ Respectively, number 9,[75] number 15,[76] number 19,[77] number 20,[78] and number 20[79]
References
[edit]- ^ Curto, Justin (December 9, 2022). "SZA Finally Unleashed Her Inner Rock Star". Vulture. Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ Mitchell, Ashlee (December 13, 2022). "5 Takeaways from SZA's New Album SOS". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ Taylor, Ims (December 9, 2022). "SZA Hits the Heights on the Dense but Masterful SOS". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Daly, Rhian (December 9, 2022). "SZA – SOS Review: A Comeback Album Well Worth the Wait". NME. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ McCormick, Neil; Haider, Arwa; Johnston, Kathleen (December 9, 2022). "Sam Ryder Is No One-Hit Wonder, SZA Channels Princess Diana – The Week's Best Albums". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ Pearce, Sheldon (June 17, 2022). "SZA: Ctrl (Deluxe)". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Siregar, Cady (December 9, 2022). "On SOS, SZA Once Again Blows Expectations Out of the Water". Consequence. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ 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". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (December 9, 2022). "SOS: SZA". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Renshaw, David (January 3, 2020). "SZA Confirms Plans for 2020 Album Release". The Fader. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- ^ a b Serrano, Athena (November 16, 2022). "SZA Is 'Currently Stressed' About Releasing New Album S.O.S.". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ Lala (March 14, 2020). "Tweets Is Watching: Meek Mill Reveals His Favorite Rappers". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Chow, Andrew R.; Mendez II, Moises (December 9, 2022). "Was SZA's SOS Worth the Wait? Breaking Down Its Best Songs and Big Themes". Time. Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Trevor (December 9, 2023). "1 Year of SOS: 8 Records & Achievements for SZA's Blockbuster Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ Mamo, Heran (November 16, 2022). "SZA Is Finally Ready to Release That Album (Yes, Really!)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Haylock, Zoe (February 11, 2021). "SZA Fans, Desperate for New Music, Made an Unreleased Track Go Viral". Vulture. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ Waite, Thom (December 27, 2020). "Listen to SZA's New Song, 'Good Days'". Dazed. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Hopper, Alex (January 24, 2023). "Top 10 SZA Songs". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- ^ Abraham, Mya (July 11, 2022). "SZA Confirms New Collaboration with Doja Cat at Wireless Fest". Vibe. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ Patton, Alli (October 28, 2022). "SZA Drops Long-Awaited Single, Shares Music Video". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (March 6, 2021). "Watch SZA's Psychedelic New Video for 'Good Days'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ Mamo, Heran (March 6, 2021). "SZA Takes a Mushroom-Fueled Trip to Wonderland in 'Good Days' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Wilkes, Emma (August 25, 2023). "Watch Justin Bieber Appear in SZA's Music Video for 'Snooze'". NME. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Bowenbank, Starr (December 22, 2022). "Rihanna, SZA & More: What's Your Favorite R&B Song of 2022? Vote!". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Griffin, Marc (December 5, 2022). "SZA Performs 'Shirt' and 'Blind' on Saturday Night Live". Vibe. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c McNeal, Bria; Hassan, Ammal; Miller, Matt (December 2, 2022). "The 45 Best Songs of 2022". Esquire. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Pareles, Jon; Zoladz, Lindsay (October 28, 2022). "Rihanna Inches Back to Music, and 8 More New Songs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Best Songs of 2022 Ranked". The Line of Best Fit. December 19, 2022. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Pointer, Ashley (October 28, 2022). "SZA, 'Shirt'". NPR Music. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ Unterberger, Andrew (October 28, 2022). "First Stream: New Music from Rihanna, SZA, Jin & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Anderson, Trevor (November 9, 2022). "SZA's 'Shirt' Starts in Top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c Ross, Alex Robert; Darville, Jordan; Williams-Kirtley, Gyasi; Renshaw, David; Raw, Son; Madden, Emma; Paul, Larisha; Elder, Sajae; Helfand, Raphael; Maicki, Salvatore; Oloworekende, Wale; Joyce, Colin; D'Souza, Shaad; Joshi, Tara; Callender, Brandon (December 15, 2022). "The 100 Best Songs of 2022". The Fader. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Hiatt, Brian (January 29, 2023). "The Making of SZA's SOS". Rolling Stone Music Now (Podcast). Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Hughes, Aria (October 3, 2022). "SZA: Her Next Act". Complex. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ Thompson, Stephen; Harris, Aisha; 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" (Audio upload and transcript). NPR Music. Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c Herrera, Isabelia (October 28, 2022). "Tracks: 'Shirt'". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "NME Radio Roundup 7 November 2022: SZA, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Holly Humberstone and More". NME. November 7, 2022. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c "The 100 Best Songs of 2022: Staff List". Billboard. December 7, 2022. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c "The 100 Best Songs Of 2022". NPR Music. December 15, 2022. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "The 50 Best Songs of the Year". Spin. December 16, 2022. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Dukes, Will (December 9, 2022). "SZA's Out for Blood and Big Moods on SOS". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c Newstead, Al (October 28, 2022). "SZA Finally Releases New Single 'Shirt'". Triple J. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ a b Tucker, Ken (January 9, 2023). "SZA Sends Out a Powerful SOS, Mixing Pop, Hip-Hop and R&B" (Audio upload and transcript). NPR Music. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Helfand, Raphael (October 28, 2022). "SZA Shares 'Shirt'". The Fader. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "The 20 Best Tracks of 2022". Dazed. December 15, 2022. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ Kiefer, Halle (March 5, 2021). "Spring Has Sprung in SZA's 'Good Days' Music Video". Vulture. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (July 11, 2022). "SZA Reveals Doja Cat Is Featured on Long-Awaited Song 'Shirt'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (January 28, 2021). "SZA Says Finishing TikTok Song That Fans Named 'Shirt' Is One of Her Main Priorities". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ D'Souza, Shaad (July 4, 2021). "Watch SZA Play New Song 'Shirt'". The Fader. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (August 23, 2021). "SZA Releases Three Surprise Tracks on SoundCloud". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ Phillips, Demi (November 23, 2023). "What Is SZA's Best-Selling Album?". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Rowley, Glenn (July 11, 2022). "SZA Reveals She's Collaborating With Doja Cat Again". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Jones, Abby; Fu, Eddie (October 28, 2022). "SZA and Lakeith Stanfield Go on a Crime Spree in New Video for 'Shirt'". Consequence. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (April 14, 2023). "Doja Cat & SZA Unveil New Collaboration on 'Kill Bill'". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Rossignol, Derrick (October 21, 2022). "SZA's Long-Awaited New Song 'Shirt' Finally Hit Spotify Only to Be Removed Shortly After". Uproxx. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (October 21, 2022). "Spotify Reportedly Released SZA's 'Shirt' Track by Mistake". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Rowley, Glenn (December 7, 2022). "SZA Explains Why Doja Cat's Guest Feature on 'Shirt' Didn't Happen". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Meara, Paul (December 8, 2022). "Meet Leonardo Chop: SZA's Art Director Behind Her Most Iconic Single Covers and Coveted Merch". BET. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Curto, Justin (December 5, 2022). "SZA Puts Fans on Alert, Announces New Album S.O.S". Vulture. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ Paul, Larisha (December 5, 2022). "SZA Taps Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott for S.O.S Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (June 24, 2021). "SZA Says She 'Could Either Decide to Be a Farmer or Keep Making Music' After Her Forthcoming Album". People. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Fondren, Precious (December 16, 2022). "SZA SOS Reveals Everything We've Wanted to Know for 5 Years". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- ^ Stenzel, Wesley (September 13, 2023). "Taylor Swift Wins Big at 2023 MTV VMAs: See the Full List of Winners". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Denis, Kyle (September 15, 2023). "SZA's Manager Pulled Her 2023 VMAs Performance over 'Disrespectful' Artist of the Year Snub". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Harrington, Jim (October 18, 2023). "One of the Year's Very Best Concert Tours Is Coming to San Francisco". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Trevor (June 28, 2023). "SZA's 'Snooze' Cruises to No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ a b "Year-End Charts – Hot 100 Songs 2023". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Trevor (November 21, 2023). "SZA's SOS Sinks the Competition While 'Kill Bill' Is Top Song on Year-End R&B/Hip-Hop Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ a b "American single certifications – SZA – Shirt". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Year-End Charts – Billboard Global 200 2023". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Carl (November 4, 2022). "Rihanna? Taylor Swift? This Week's Official Singles Chart Number 1 Revealed". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 45-2022". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ a b "SZA – Shirt". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ a b "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ a b "SZA – Shirt". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ Geraghty, Hollie (October 27, 2022). "SZA Confirms New Single 'Shirt' Is Coming This Week". NME. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Arcand, Rob (October 28, 2022). "SZA Shares Long-Teased New Song 'Shirt'". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h SZA – The Making of 'Shirt' (Vevo Footnotes). February 2, 2023. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Rihanna and SZA Both Drop New Music!". Dazed. October 28, 2022. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Panaligan, E. J.; Garcia, Thania (October 28, 2022). "SZA and LaKeith Stanfield Play Crime Couple in Ultra-Violent Music Video for 'Shirt'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ "Feature Video: SZA – 'Shirt'". ABC Rage. November 3, 2022. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Armstrong, Megan (October 27, 2022). "Have SZA and Lakieth Stanfield Worked Together Before?". Uproxx. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c Zhan, Jennifer (October 28, 2022). "SZA and LaKeith Stanfield Shoot Up the 'Shirt' Music Video". Vulture. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Thorpe-Tracey, CJ (December 15, 2022). "SZA: SOS". The Quietus. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ Richards, Will (July 2, 2021). "Watch SZA Debut New Song 'Shirt' on Livestream Event". NME. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Sage (June 22, 2021). "SZA Talks New Grey Goose Collab, 'In Bloom' Virtual Performance, and Filming with Drones". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ Arcand, Rob (December 4, 2022). "Watch SZA Perform 'Shirt', Debut New Song 'Blind' on SNL". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ Turner-Williams, Jaelani (February 22, 2023). "SZA Lives Up to All the Anticipation as She Launches Her SOS Tour". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Lamond, Ana (June 19, 2023). "Live Report: SZA – The O2 Arena, London". Clash. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Savage, Mark (July 1, 2024). "SZA's Striking Set Failed to Set Glastonbury Alight". BBC News. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ "2022 44-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. November 4, 2022. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ "SZA – Shirt" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "SZA – Shirt". VG-lista. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "SZA Chart History (Philippines Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ "SZA – Shirt". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- ^ "SZA – Shirt". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ "SZA – Shirt". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ "SZA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ^ "Year-End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 2023". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "Year-End Charts – Rhythmic Songs 2023". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "Year-End Charts – R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Songs 2023". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – SZA – Shirt" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – SZA – Shirt". Music Canada. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – SZA – Shirt". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Shirt – Single by SZA". December 3, 2021. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024 – via Apple Music.
- ^ "Urban/R&B Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "Urban/R&B Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ Sisti, Sara (November 24, 2022). "SZA – Shirt (Radio Date: 02-12-2022)". EarOne. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.