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Drive (SZA song)

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"Drive"
Cover art for "Drive": SZA in black body paint and prosthetics to look like an insect
Single by SZA
from the album Lana
ReleasedDecember 20, 2024
GenreR&B
Length3:05
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
SZA singles chronology
"Luther"
(2024) 		"Drive"
(2024)
Music video
"Drive" on YouTube

"Drive" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). It was released on December 20, 2024, by Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records as the second single from Lana. A music video for the song, starring Ben Stiller, premiered on the same day.

Background

[edit]

SZA first announced a deluxe edition of her second studio album, SOS (2022), on social media upon the album's release.[1] She continued to reveal more details in 2023; in August, she told Variety that its tracklist would consist of scrapped songs alongside post-album tracks.[2]

During promotion for SOS's sixth single "Snooze", SZA posted two behind-the-scenes clips of its music video on Instagram. Each snippet was set to unreleased music.[3] One song had a yet-unknown name. Rolling Stone and Vibe reported on the lyrics; some lines read: "I keep pretending, everyone's as good as me… All my exes still love me / Call me up, he wanna freak."[3][4] The lyrics are from the song "Drive", a track from SOS's deluxe reissue Lana (2024).[5]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

"Drive" is an R&B song,[6] with a few verses delivered in a rap cadence.[7] It is backed by a softly played acoustic guitar, the song's only instrument.[7] Critics have described the sound as "chill",[8] soulful,[9] and restrained.[10] The song was produced by ThankGod4Cody and Billy Lemos.[11]

The lyrics of "Drive", a sentimental ballad,[12] explore feelings of loneliness, anguish, and sometimes aggression.[13][14] Its themes include coping with fame,[12] finding escapism,[13] and facing existential crises.[7] In the song, SZA sings about going on a late-night drive, to take her mind off her problems.[15] She mentions her celebrity status as one of her issues, saying that despite her success, she remains in solitude.[12] SZA sings in the pre-chorus: "I been up 'til sunrise, headed to nowhere / Hopin' that someone's missin' me somewhere."[16]

Other lines in "Drive" demonstrate self-assuredness.[7] After singing about worrying she may be past her prime, she brags that her ex-boyfriends still want her back.[15] She tells herself that to become more hopeful and loving, hatred must not distract her:[17] "I can't succumb like these cum-guzzlers at all."[14]

Release

[edit]

After a long series of delays, SZA revealed the release date of Lana to be December 20, 2024.[18] The announcement came with a teaser for "Drive", the music video for which was to premiere on the same day.[19] The song was released at midnight EST, a few hours before Lana,[20] as a Spotify-exclusive single.[21]

Music video

[edit]

The music video was directed and edited by Bradley J. Calder.[22] It features filmmaker Ben Stiller, co-director of the science fiction TV series Severance.[23]

Throughout the video, the character drives an SUV on an empty road at night, lip syncing the lyrics and trying to stay awake.[24][25] In a frantic state, he wildly shakes his head,[26] performs a doughnut stunt, and sticks himself out of the window.[27] As the song ends, the character exits the car to "ghost ride the whip", or dance beside and around the vehicle.[28] He returns to the car and drives away.[13]

The camera then pans to a nearby SZA, who frolicks and crawls in a marsh by the roadside.[15][29] She is dressed as a bug, achieved through black body paint and a prosthetic mask. During the clip, a snippet of the Lana track "Crybaby" plays.[30][9]

Credits

[edit]
  • Solána Rowe (SZA) – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Cody Fayne (ThankGod4Cody) – songwriting, production
  • William Lemos (Billy Lemos) – songwriting, production
  • Hector Castro – mixing
  • Dale Becker – mastering
  • Adam Burt – assistant mastering
  • Noah McCorkle – assistant mastering
  • Kegn Venegas – assistant mastering

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Drive"
Chart (2024–2025) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[31] 76
Global 200 (Billboard)[32] 122
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[33] 6
Philippines (Philippines Hot 100)[34] 93
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[35] 26
US Billboard Hot 100[36] 51
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[37] 8

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Calfee, Joel (December 11, 2023). "SZA Teases New Music with Mysterious Farm Photos on Instagram". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Richards, Will (February 25, 2023). "SZA to release 10 unheard songs on deluxe version of 'SOS'". NME. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Legaspi, Althea (August 13, 2023). "SZA Teases 'Snooze' Video While Previewing New Song". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Abraham, Mya (August 14, 2023). "SZA Previews 'Snooze' Music Video And A New Single". VIBE.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  5. ^ America, Good Morning. "Ben Stiller lip-syncs behind the wheel in SZA's 'Drive' music video". Good Morning America. Archived from the original on December 29, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  6. ^ Inman, DeMicia (December 20, 2024). "SZA Teams Up With Ben Stiller For New "Drive" Music Video". VIBE.com. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (December 20, 2024). "SZA's 'SOS' Deluxe 'Lana': All 15 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  8. ^ Aswad, Jem (December 22, 2024). "SZA's 'SOS Deluxe: Lana' Is a Low-Key But Satisfying Collection to Tide Fans Over Until Her Next Chapter: Album Review". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Ben Stiller takes a 'Drive' in 'Severance' superfan SZA's new music video". EW.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  10. ^ "SZA unveils new album LANA (SOS Deluxe)". Consequence. December 20, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  11. ^ ThankGod4Cody (December 19, 2024). "DRIVE prod by me & @billylemoss 🏎️💨 ! LANA out Friday 🪵🌳🏕️". Instagram. Retrieved December 19, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ a b c Horvath, Zachary (December 20, 2024). "SZA Pours Out Her Emotions & Thoughts On Vibey "Drive" Ahead Of "Lana"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c "On 'LANA', SZA Unlocks a New Superpower: Self-Reliance". ELLE. December 23, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (December 21, 2024). "SZA Is at Her Most Streamlined and Direct on 'Lana'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 22, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c Kaufman, Gil (December 20, 2024). "Ben Stiller Ghost Rides All Night in Moody Video for SZA's 'Drive'". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 30, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  16. ^ Singh, Surej (December 17, 2024). "SZA confirms 'SOS' deluxe 'Lana' will release this week". NME. Archived from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  17. ^ Horvath, Zachary (December 20, 2024). "SZA Finally Blesses Starving Fans With "SOS Deluxe: Lana"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  18. ^ Garcia, Jem Aswad,Thania (December 17, 2024). "SZA Drops 'Lana' Teaser Video Starring Ben Stiller, Long-Delayed Album Will Be Released on Friday". Variety. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Ben Stiller helps SZA announce release date for SOS deluxe, Lana". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  20. ^ Curto, Justin (December 20, 2024). "SZA's Lana Is Finally Here". Vulture. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  21. ^ "Single: Drive". Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. December 20, 2024. Archived from the original on January 4, 2025. Retrieved January 5, 2025 – via Spotify.
  22. ^ "SZA Expands Grammy-Winning 'SOS' Album With 'Lana'". Complex. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  23. ^ "Severance stan SZA secures Ben Stiller for "Drive" video". AV Club. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Williams, Aaron (December 20, 2024). "In SZA's Cheeky 'Drive' Video, Ben Stiller Sings Along While Ghostriding the Whip". Uproxx. Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  25. ^ Monroe, Jazz (December 20, 2024). "Listen to SZA's New Album SOS Deluxe: Lana". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  26. ^ Kaufman, Anna. "SZA drops 'Lana' after hourslong delay: 'We been up for days'". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  27. ^ Bustard, Andy (December 20, 2024). "SZA Finally Releases SOS Deluxe Album Lana". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  28. ^ Saint-Vil, Sweenie (December 20, 2024). "SZA Delays Lana Album, Releases Music Video for 'Drive' Starring Ben Stiller". ABC Audio (digital syndication). Archived from the original on December 23, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  29. ^ Millman, Ethan (December 20, 2024). "Watch Ben Stiller Wistfully Lip-Synch to SZA's 'Drive'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  30. ^ Gularte, Alejandra (December 20, 2024). "Turns Out Ben Stiller Also Yearns to SZA While Driving". Vulture. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  31. ^ "SZA Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  32. ^ "SZA Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  33. ^ "NZ Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. December 27, 2024. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  34. ^ "Philippines Hot 100: Week of January 04, 2025". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  35. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  36. ^ "SZA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  37. ^ "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
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