Saturn (SZA song) explained

Saturn
Border:yes
Alt:Cover art for "Saturn": acrostics of the song title, with accompanying drawings for each word (Saturn/sick/safe, absent/acorn/atom, trust/take my time/time wasted, unwell, rare/rotten, nothing)
Type:single
Artist:SZA
Album:Lana
Recorded:2023
Genre:
  • R&B
  • pop
  • alternative R&B
Length:3:06
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Rich Baby Daddy
Prev Year:2023

"Saturn" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and reportedly the lead single of her upcoming third studio album, Lana (2024). It is a song about nihilism and escapism, discussing one's lamentations about why bad things happen to good people and wishes to leave Earth for another planet, Saturn, where they could possibly live a better life. "Saturn" features a twinkly instrumental, a result of a combination of arpeggios and beaming synthesizers. The song was surprise-released on February 22, 2024, after its official debut at the year's Grammy Awards ceremony over two weeks prior.

Background

American singer-songwriter SZA's second studio album, SOS (2022), was met with critical and commercial success upon its release.[1] [2] The album opened with a score of 94 on the review aggregate website Metacritic,[3] debuted atop the Billboard 200, broke a string of chart records, and spawned several career milestones.[4] SZA teased the imminent release of the deluxe version on Instagram upon SOS release in early December 2022,[5] and she teased it again on a December 21 post, where she expressed gratitude for the album's number-one debut: "Imma take another swing at it for the deluxe then shut up for a while."[6]

On September 8, 2023, SZA held an exclusive surprise concert at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in celebration of SOS, where she revealed that the previously announced deluxe edition grew into its own studio album called Lana (2024).[7] On the set list were a few unreleased songs, namely "PSA", which was used in the official teaser for SOS;[8] "DTM",[9] which was teased during the music video for the SOS single "Snooze" (2023);[10] "Boy from South Detroit"; and "Saturn". At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 4, 2024, SZA officially debuted "Saturn" in full as part of a Mastercard commercial break.[11] [12]

Music and lyrics

"Saturn" was written by SZA and its producers Carter Lang, Rob Bisel, Solomonophonic (Jared Solomon), and Monsune (Scott Zhang).[13] A fusion of R&B, pop, alternative,[14] and psychedelic styles, the production combines a slow,[15] smooth-flowing boom bap rhythm with arpeggiation, beaming synthesizers,[16] stacked harmonies, and vocal runs.[17] The result is a twinkly instrumental that critics described as dreamy and glittery. Billboard critics deemed "Saturn" a continuation of SOS in terms of not only its atmospheric soundscape but also its various lyrical narratives, such as self-deprecation and reconciliation with difficult emotional struggles.

As some critics noted, the tranquil and mellifluous sound of the instruments and SZA's voice is a stark contrast to the song's themes of hopelessness.[18] Others connected the song's title to a person's Saturn return, which happens 29.5 years after their birth and signals the beginning of new adult challenges and eye-opening epiphanies;[19] SZA was 34 years old at the time of release.[20] Publications noted "Saturn" was released just two weeks between two other songs about Saturn returns, "Deeper Well" by Kacey Musgraves and "Saturn Returns Interlude" by Ariana Grande, and thus analyzed the songs with assistance from astrologists. Scottish astrologist Garland, interviewed by BBC News, said that SZA and the two other musicians, all of whom were in their early- to mid-30s, were in a "perfect age for self-reflection".[21]

In the lyrics, a nihilistic SZA sings of an existential crisis and expresses disillusionment with living on Earth, questioning if the world will get more just[22] and wishing there was something more to life than suffering. She laments why the concept of nirvana, or freedom from suffering, was "not as advertised" to her,[23] and she wonders why karma seems to always be unfair to good people, who all tend to "die young and poor": "If there's a point to being good/ Then where's my reward?" The pre-chorus features the lines "Stuck in this paradigm/ Don't believe in paradise/ This must be what hell is like."[24]

SZA, in the chorus, entertains the idea of leaving Earth for a potentially better life on Saturn, a place where she could possibly break free from toxic habits and the pain of heartbreak;[25] [26] she signals for help from another universe earlier in the first verse.[27] Later, the song takes a turn for the hopeful. In line with what SZA told People magazine after the Grammy Awards, "Saturn" says that while people long for escapism from the world's turmoil, they will eventually "find something worth saving" on Earth.[28] With the line, SZA resists the pain of solitude and constant heartbreak, and with the next lyric "It's all for the taking, I always say," she reinforces she is in control of her life and has the power to make the world a better place.

Release

"Saturn" was surprise-released to streaming services on February 22, 2024, reportedly as the lead single from Lana, the reissue of SOS. The release came with a five-track bundle, which consists of the original version, a live version, a sped up version, an instrumental version, and an a cappella version.[29] The versions were updated sometime later with their mixing changed.[30]

"Saturn" debuted at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 with 25 million US streams, 2,000 digital sales, and 960,000 radio audience, her 10th top 10 song in the country.[31] It replaced her own single "Snooze" (2023) at number one on Hot R&B Songs; in doing so, she completed a one-year consecutive run atop the chart.[32] "Saturn" scored more top 15 debuts in the UK, where it was her 13th top 40 appearance,[33] and in Australia, where it debuted at number 8.[34] "Saturn" returned to the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 on the chart dated April 27, 2024.[35]

Live performances

SZA's Mastercard performance began with her hanging from a vine as it descended down the stage,[36] which featured a forest-themed backdrop in line with the commercial's message.[37] She wore a top made of real tree seeds, a costume that Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone compared to that of a "forest nymph". Backup dancers accompanied SZA as she explored the forest, where she found and swung on a swing, and during the outro, she recited the ad read: "We're a force of nature when we come together." The performance was part of an advertisement for Mastercard's Priceless Planet Coalition initiative, a campaign that seeks to plant 100 million trees across the world to fight climate change by restoring forests worldwide.

Starting on mid-March 2024, SZA included "Saturn" in some set lists of her SOS Tour, beginning with her Latin American Lollapalooza headlining concerts such as in Chile.[38]

Track listing

  1. "Saturn" – 3:06
  2. "Saturn" (live) – 3:01
  3. "Saturn" (sped up) – 2:39
  4. "Saturn" (acapella) – 3:06
  5. "Saturn" (instrumental) – 3:06

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[39] 8
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[40] 1
Greece International (IFPI)[41] 60
Indonesia (Billboard)[42] 6
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[43] 12
Malaysia (Billboard)[44] 6
Malaysia International (RIM)[45] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[46] 5
Philippines (Billboard)[47] 8
Singapore (RIAS)[48] 5
South Africa (TOSAC)[49] 20
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[50] 49
UAE (IFPI)[51] 18

Release history

Region ! scope="col"
DateFormat Label
VariousFebruary 22, 2024[52]
United StatesMarch 8, 2024Contemporary hit radio[53]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Williams . Sophie . February 23, 2023 . How SZA Inspired a Generation of R&B Storytellers: 'She's a Radical Light' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231217110325/https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/sza-sos-tour-setlist-flo-baby-rose-radar-3403286 . December 17, 2023 . December 17, 2023 . . en-GB.
  2. Mitchell . Gail . Unterberger . Andrew . October 5, 2023 . Why SZA's SOS Could Bring R&B Back to the Grammys Big Four . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013200159/https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/sza-sos-rb-grammys-big-four-categories-analysis-2-1235433229/ . October 13, 2023 . December 17, 2023 . . en-US.
  3. Web site: Espinoza . Joshua . December 11, 2022 . Here Are the First-Week Sales Projections for SZA's SOS . February 23, 2024 . . en-us . February 23, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223041438/https://www.complex.com/music/a/joshua-espinoza/sza-sos-first-week-sales-projections . live .
  4. 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.
  5. Calfee . Joel . December 11, 2023 . SZA Teases New Music with Mysterious Farm Photos on Instagram . February 9, 2024 . . en-US . February 23, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223041443/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a46094980/sza-teases-lana-album-farm-photos/ . live .
  6. Peters . Mitchell . December 21, 2022 . SZA's Blown Away by the Success of SOS on Billboard Charts: 'Not What I Expected' . February 5, 2024 . . en-US . February 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205133143/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sza-surprised-sos-success-billboard-charts-see-her-reaction-1235190335/ . live .
  7. Web site: Kelly . Tyler Damara . September 11, 2023 . SZA Reveals Forthcoming Deluxe Edition of Her Album, SOS, Is Called Lana . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211131309/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/sza-reveals-forthcoming-deluxe-edition-of-her-album-sos-is-called-lana . December 11, 2023 . December 11, 2023 . . en-US.
  8. Web site: Arcand . Rob . November 9, 2022 . SZA Shares New 'PSA' Teaser: Watch . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207000632/https://pitchfork.com/news/sza-shares-new-psa-teaser-watch/ . December 7, 2022 . January 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  9. Web site: Aswad . Jem . December 11, 2023 . SZA's New Album Lana: Everything We Know So Far . December 24, 2023 . . en-US . December 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231221234447/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/sza-lana-album-sos-deluxe-edition-1235834145/ . live .
  10. Web site: Rigotti . Alex . February 3, 2024 . Watch SZA Perform Unreleased Song 'DTM' for Apple Live . February 3, 2024 . . en-GB . February 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203140715/https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-sza-perform-unreleased-song-dtm-for-apple-live-3581854 . live .
  11. Web site: Corcoran . Nina . February 22, 2024 . SZA Shares New Song 'Saturn' . February 23, 2024 . . en-US . February 23, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223020635/https://pitchfork.com/news/sza-shares-new-song-saturn-listen/ . live .
  12. Web site: Thomas . Carly . February 5, 2024 . SZA Sings 'Snooze' and 'Kill Bill' During Fierce Grammys Performance . February 5, 2024 . . en-US . February 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205020641/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/sza-2024-grammys-performance-1235813329/ . live .
  13. Mamo . Heran . February 22, 2024 . SZA Unleashes Enchanting New Single 'Saturn' . February 23, 2024 . . en-US . February 23, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223013458/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/sza-saturn-stream-1235612981/ . live .
  14. Denis . Kyle . February 26, 2024 . R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: SZA, Hunxho and Summer Walker, Ray Vaughn, Usher & More . February 27, 2024 . . en-US.
  15. Lipshutz . Jason . February 23, 2024 . Friday Music Guide: New Music from SZA, Selena Gomez, Justin Timberlake and More . February 26, 2024 . . en-US.
  16. Web site: Nevares . Gabriel Bras . February 25, 2024 . SZA, SiR & Justin Timberlake Complete Our 'R&B Season' Playlist Update . February 26, 2024 . . en . February 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226125243/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/767639-sza-sir-justin-timberlake-new-music-rnb-season-playlist-stream-hip-hop-news . live .
  17. Web site: Hudson . Alex . February 23, 2024 . SZA Blasts Off to 'Saturn' . March 21, 2024 . . en.
  18. Web site: Horowitz . Steven J. . February 23, 2024 . SZA Finds Beauty in Despair on Lush Song 'Saturn': Single Review . February 23, 2024 . . en-US . February 23, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223002740/https://variety.com/2024/music/reviews/sza-saturn-single-review-1235919996/ . live .
  19. Web site: Ivie . Devon . March 14, 2024 . Saturn Really Is That Girl . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314223913/https://www.vulture.com/article/why-ariana-grande-sza-and-kacey-musgraves-love-saturn-return.html . March 14, 2024 . March 14, 2024 . . en.
  20. Web site: Abad-Santos . Alex . March 13, 2024 . What's a Saturn Return — and Why Are Our Favorite Pop Stars Singing About It? . March 15, 2024 . . en.
  21. News: Pandey . Manish . March 22, 2024 . Eternal Sunshine: How Ariana Grande and Saturn Collided on Her Album . March 25, 2024 . . en-GB.
  22. Web site: Gonzalez . Alex . February 23, 2024 . SZA Shared 'Saturn', Her Down-to-Earth New Single from Her Upcoming Lana Album . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223002739/https://uproxx.com/music/sza-saturn-lana-album/ . February 23, 2024 . February 23, 2024 . . en-US.
  23. Web site: Henderson . Taylor . February 23, 2024 . New Music Friday: SZA, Steelo Brim & Saweetie Drop New Tunes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223160753/https://www.bet.com/article/rq24xc/new-music-friday-sza-steelo-brim-saweetie-drop-new-tunes . February 23, 2024 . March 1, 2024 . . en.
  24. Web site: Abraham . Mya . February 5, 2024 . SZA Debuts New Song 'Saturn' from Upcoming Album Lana During 2024 Grammys . February 22, 2024 . . February 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222095052/https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/sza-song-saturn-upcoming-album-lana-1234848699/ . live .
  25. News: Hunt . Elle . March 19, 2024 . Why Do Pop Stars Align Themselves with Astrology? Heaven Knows . March 25, 2024 . . en-GB.
  26. Web site: Spencer . Tallie . February 22, 2024 . SZA Surprise Drops Dreamy New Single 'Saturn' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223041438/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/766780-sza-surprise-drops-dreamy-new-single-saturn . February 23, 2024 . February 23, 2024 . . en.
  27. Madarang . Charisma . February 23, 2024 . SZA Is Packing Her Bags and Moving to 'Saturn' . limited . February 23, 2024 . . en-US . February 23, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223015715/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-saturn-surprise-release-1234974323/ . live .
  28. Web site: Avila . Daniela . February 7, 2024 . SZA Says Her Emotional Acceptance Speech at the Grammys Was a 'Culmination of Everything' . February 22, 2024 . . February 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222095052/https://people.com/sza-says-her-emotional-acceptance-speech-at-the-grammys-was-a-culmination-of-everything-i-was-very-shocked-exclusive-8563793 . live .
  29. Web site: Espinoza . Joshua . February 23, 2024 . SZA Surprises Fans with Official 'Saturn' Release, Complete with Live Rendition . February 23, 2024 . . en-us . February 23, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223005343/https://www.complex.com/music/a/joshua-espinoza/sza-saturn-live-release . live .
  30. Dailey . Hannah . Denis . Kyle . Lipshutz . Jason . Unterberger . Andrew . Werthman . Christine . March 5, 2024 . What Does SZA's Top 10 Debut for 'Saturn' Tell Us About What to Expect from Her Lana Reissue? . March 6, 2024 . . en-US.
  31. Trust . Gary . March 4, 2024 . 'Texas Hold 'Em' Deals Beyoncé Winning Hand atop Hot 100 for Second Week . March 14, 2024 . . en-US.
  32. Anderson . Trevor . March 6, 2024 . SZA Replaces Herself at No. 1 on Hot R&B Songs Chart with 'Saturn' . March 14, 2024 . . en-US.
  33. Brandle . Lars . 2024-03-04 . Beyoncé Retains U.K. Chart Crown With 'Texas Hold 'Em' . 2024-03-14 . Billboard . en-US.
  34. Brandle . Lars . 2024-03-01 . Taylor Swift Dominates, Doubles-up on Australia's Charts . 2024-03-14 . Billboard . en-US.
  35. Fuentes . Emily . April 22, 2024 . Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown For April 27th . April 24, 2024 . . en-US.
  36. Latifah . Muhammad . February 5, 2024 . SZA Debuts New Track 'Saturn' in Mastercard Ad During 2024 Grammys . February 22, 2024 . . February 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222095052/https://www.billboard.com/culture/product-recommendations/sza-saturn-mastercard-commercial-grammys-1235599454/ . live .
  37. Spanos . Brittany . February 5, 2024 . SZA Debuts Lush New Song 'Saturn' During Grammys Commercial . limited . February 5, 2024 . . en-US . February 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205040828/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-saturn-mastercard-commercial-1234961014/ . live .
  38. Web site: Araya . Catalina . March 18, 2024 . El Despampanante Debut de SZA en Chile: Una Noche Llena de Magia y Hits Virales . SZA's Stunning Debut in Chile: A Night Full of Magic and Viral Hits . March 22, 2024 . . es.
  39. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. March 4, 2024. March 1, 2024.
  40. Web site: ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 26, 2024. April 26, 2024.
  41. Web site: IFPI Charts . 2024-03-06 . www.ifpi.gr.
  42. SZA Chart History (Indonesia Songs). Billboard. May 21, 2024.
  43. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of March 13, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. March 13, 2024.
  44. SZA Chart History (Malaysia Songs). Billboard. March 5, 2024.
  45. Web site: TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 9 (23/02/2024-29/02/2024). Facebook. RIM. March 9, 2024. March 9, 2024.
  46. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. March 4, 2024. March 1, 2024.
  47. SZA Chart History (Philippines Songs). Billboard. March 5, 2024.
  48. Web site: RIAS Top Charts Week 9 (23 - 29 Feb 2024). RIAS. March 5, 2024. March 5, 2024. https://archive.today/20240305075731/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/.
  49. Web site: Amapiano anthem Tshwala Bam takes charts by storm and Sza returns with Saturn (Ed 125). March 7, 2024 . The Official South African Charts. May 28, 2024.
  50. Web site: Veckolista Singlar, vecka 9. Sverigetopplistan. March 2, 2024.
  51. Web site: UAE: 2024 - W9 - 02/23 to 03/29. The Official MENA Chart. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. June 8, 2024.
  52. News: Chelosky . Danielle . SZA Shares New Song "Saturn": Listen . February 26, 2024 . . February 23, 2024.
  53. Web site: March 8, 2024 . Hot New Releases . 2024-05-06 . . en.

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