Juice (Lizzo song) explained

Juice
Cover:LizzoJuice.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Lizzo
Album:Cuz I Love You
Length:3:15
Label:Atlantic
Prev Title:Boys
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:Blame It on Your Love
Next Year:2019

"Juice" is a song recorded by American singer and rapper Lizzo. It was released on January 4, 2019, by Atlantic Records as the lead single from her third and debut major-label studio album, Cuz I Love You.[1] The single was written by Lizzo, Theron Thomas, Sam Sumser, Sean Small and Ricky Reed; the latter also handled the song's production. Musically, it is a retro-inspired funk and funk-pop song that is based on a throwback groove. Lyrically, the song discusses self-love, and has been described as a self-esteem anthem.

The song received widespread acclaim from critics, some of whom referred to the song as Lizzo's best. Commercially, the single entered component R&B charts in the United States, while also reaching the top twenty in Scotland. The track is certified Double Platinum in the US and Gold or Platinum in five additional countries. A music video was released alongside the single, which contains several 1980s pop culture references. To promote the single, Lizzo performed the song on several shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The song is one of the tracks on the American version of Now That's What I Call Music! 71, released on August 2, 2019. In September 2019, the song spawned an internet meme after Polygon writer Jeff Ramos cut a trailer for House House's Untitled Goose Game using the song as its anthem.[2] [3] [4] It was covered by Beth Ditto on the country music drama series Monarch.[5]

Composition

"Juice" is a "bouncy",[6] retro-inspired funk,[7] funk-pop,[8] and hip hop song with a heavy rap.[9] Lizzo's delivery of the song has been described as "witty" and "full of fire". The single contains "midnight production" and a burnished throwback groove. It also has reverb-heavy guitar and "smug" spoken word.[10] It contains "delightfully outrageous" lines such as "I be drippin' so much sauce / Got a bih lookin' like Ragu."[11] The song lyrically talks about self-love,[12] and has been described as a "self-esteem boosting anthem".[13]

It is composed in the key of D minor. It has a chord progression of Dm - Eb/F - F/C - Bb - C, with Lizzo's vocals ranging from C4 to D5.[14]

Critical reception

"Juice" received widespread acclaim from music critics upon release. Lollie King of Bustle wrote that the song "is sure to give you that much-needed confidence boost when you're feeling low." Christian Hoard, writing for Rolling Stone, praised the song as the singer's "finest" single to date, and called it "a near-perfect retro-funk nugget that would have felt just right on a mirror-balled dance floor in 1982." Joshua Bote, writing for NPR, stated that the song "continues [Lizzo's] winning streak of sing-songy, funk-heavy rap". Michael Roffman of Consequence of Sound wrote that the song "doubles as a jam and one of those dusty workout tapes you've got lying around your house." Pitchfork listed the song as the 53rd best of 2019.[15] Billboard magazine ranked "Juice" 46th on their Best Songs of 2019 list, calling it "irresistibly immediate and durably relistenable".[16]

Accolades

YearCeremonyCategoryResult
2019American Music AwardsFavorite Song — Soul/R&B[17]
Q AwardsBest Track[18]
Soul Train Music AwardsSong of the Year[19]
Video of the Year
The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter's Award
Best Dance Performance
2020Queerty AwardsAnthem[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Monroe . Jazz . 28 January 2019 . Lizzo Announces New Album and Tour . 2019-01-28 . Pitchfork.
  2. Web site: Kinsella. Carl. I Was A Good Person Until I Played The Untitled Goose Game. 2019-09-19. JOE. 2019-09-19.
  3. Web site: Kalland. Robby. The Untitled Goose Game Trailer Set To Lizzo's 'Juice' Is Incredible. 2019-09-25. Uproxx. 2019-09-25.
  4. Web site: Earp. Joseph. Honk Honk: Lizzo's 'Juice' Is Now The Unofficial Anthem For Untitled Goose Game. 2019-09-26. Junkee. 2019-09-26.
  5. Web site: Monarch Cast (Ft. Beth Ditto) – Juice .
  6. Web site: Roffman . Michael . 2019-01-04 . Lizzo shares bouncy new single 'Juice' with retro video: Watch . 2019-01-16 . Consequence of Sound.
  7. Song You Need to Know: Lizzo, 'Juice'. Hoard. Christian. 2019-01-11. Rolling Stone. 2019-01-16.
  8. Web site: Murray . Robin . 4 January 2019 . Lizzo's 'Juice' Is An Addictive Funk-Pop Blaster . 2019-01-16 . Clash.
  9. Web site: Lizzo Serves Up Some Fresh-Pressed, '80s-Inspired 'Juice'. NPR. 4 January 2019. NPR. 2019-01-16. Bote. Joshua.
  10. Web site: Great news everybody: Lizzo's already dropped the best song of the year. Levesley. David. GQ. 4 January 2019. 2019-01-16.
  11. Web site: Gaca . Anna . 2019-01-04 . Lizzo – "Juice" Video . 2019-01-16 . Spin.
  12. Web site: Missy Elliott Is So Here For Lizzo's Body Positive Lyrics & Badass Beats & TBH, Same. King. Lollie. Bustle. 15 January 2019 . 2019-01-16.
  13. Web site: Renshaw . David . January 4, 2019 . Lizzo's 'Juice' video might inspire you to actually start working out this year . 2019-01-16 . The Fader.
  14. Web site: Melissa . Jefferson . Burton . Frederic, Eric . Theron . Thomas . Spencer . Small, Sean . Michael . Sumser, Sam . Lizzo . 2019-06-18 . Juice . 2023-08-07 . Musicnotes.com . en.
  15. Web site: The 100 Best Songs of 2019. Pitchfork. December 10, 2019. December 10, 2019.
  16. The 100 Best Songs of 2019: Staff List. Lynch. J.. December 11, 2019. Billboard. December 30, 2019.
  17. News: American Music Awards: Taylor Swift Wins Artist of the Year, Sets New Record. Nordyke. Kimberly. October 9, 2018. The Hollywood Reporter. October 9, 2018.
  18. News: Stormzy, Dave and Little Simz among Londoners nominated for 2019 Q Awards. Embley. Jochan. September 12, 2019. Standard. September 30, 2019.
  19. Chris Brown, Drake, Beyoncé & Lizzo Top Nominees For 2019 Soul Train Awards: Exclusive. Mitchell. Gail. October 25, 2018. Billboard. October 26, 2019.
  20. Web site: The QUEERTIES 2020 / Anthem / Vote Now. Queerty. en-US. 2020-02-01. 2020-03-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20200305193813/https://www.queerty.com/Queerties2020/vote-2014. dead.