Special
by SZA

Album: SOS (2022)
Charted: 37
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Songfacts®:

  • I wish I was special
    I gave all my special
    Away to a loser
    Now I'm just a loser


    "Special," delves into the conflicting emotions of wanting to be desirable yet wanting to be unique. SZA laments her decision to conform to societal beauty standards to please her partner, losing her sense of self in the process.

    The situation only worsens when her partner cheats on her, leading her to question if she was ever truly "special" in his eyes.
  • I wish I was that girl from that Gucci store
    She never wore any makeup and she owns couture
    I got pimples where my beauty marks should be
    I got dry skin on my elbows and knees


    SZA's brutally honest lyrics about her body image insecurities hearken back to her debut album CRTL. On "Drew Barrymore," for instance, she reflects on the self-esteem issues that arise from her toxic romance.

    I'm so ashamed of myself think I need therapy
    I'm sorry I'm not more attractive
    I'm sorry I'm not more ladylike
  • SZA recorded "Special" for her second album, SOS. The emotional pain caused by her cold, cheating partner on this song is one of the many raw and honest expressions of heartbreak that resonate throughout the record.
  • SZA enlisted the talents of four acclaimed producers for this track.

    Benny Blanco, known for producing chart-topping hits for artists such as Kesha ("TiK ToK"), Katy Perry ("California Gurls," "Teenage Dream"), Rihanna ("Diamonds"), Maroon 5 ("Moves Like Jagger"), Justin Bieber ("Love Yourself") and Shawn Mendes ("Señorita").

    Swedish hitmaker Shellback, who has worked with some of the biggest names in pop music, such as Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, and Pink.

    Israeli Omer Fedi and Californian Blake Slatkin. The two often work together, including on 24kgoldn's "Mood," The Kid Laroi's "Stay" and Sam Smith's "Unholy," all of which went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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