Lizzo lives up to the hype
It’s time to talk about Lizzo. She’s been waiting in the wings for a long minute. Inching. Creeping. Eyes on the prize. This week, her debut album Cuz I Love You shows beyond the shadow of a doubt that she is here to stay.
Big, bold and beautiful, her relentless positivity and endless energy have grown a loyal following. This year, the mainstream cottoned on. Ellen and Jonathan Ross are fawning over her. She’s been co-signed by her musical idol Missy Elliott.
She even has an online feud with fictional movie character Ron Burgundy.
The hype has been building for a long time.
Razor-sharp singles Truth Hurts and Boys opened doors for Lizzo in the last 12 months, showcasing brilliantly barbed lyrics and her finely tuned ear for pop.
It was hard to pin her down at first. On reflection, that’s because her musical arsenal runs deep. Sure she raps. Yup, she’s got hooks. Now, she’s twerking. Now, she’s playing the flute. She seems classically trained. What’s that? She worked with Prince? Oh. OK.
She’s a band leader in the James Brown kind of way and she’s got the pipes to pull it off.
She soars over the title track to open the album. It’s hard to sneer and be soulful at the same time, but Lizzo manages to go full Winehouse and retain her tongue firmly in her cheek.
Soulmate is literally a song about being one’s own soulmate. Self-love and Girl Power are strong themes, as she literally shouts out those that have gone before her. On Like A Girl, Spice Girls, Destiny’s Child, Lauryn Hill, TLC, Chaka Kahn and even Serena Williams all get a mention, or a cheeky musical reference.
By the time radio smash Juice drops, third song in, you know you’re in the presence of greatness. Then on Jerome, her sincerity and soul sweep you off your feet.
A great record. I cannot wait to see her live. Take my money.
Lizzo’s debut album dropping to coincide with Coachella 2019 is no accident. She’s peaking and Coachella is the place to peak. However, Coachella 2019 is about to be upstaged by Coachella 2018.
Last year, Beyonce created history in the desert with the greatest live music performance of the internet era and possibly of all time. Don’t believe me? I ain’t sorry. Don’t @ me. Find out for yourself.
Homecoming, a film by Beyonce, comes with an accompanying live album. One year on, Queen B gives us a glimpse behind the curtain of that breathtaking show. We will be lucky to see anything so intricately layered – or excellently executed – again in our lives.
Middle fingers up, put them hands high.