Lizzo is Bringing in a New Era of Positivity in Her Own “Special” Way
Lizzo is Bringing in a New Era of Positivity in Her Own “Special” Way
Lizzo’s long awaited, highly anticipated album is finally out! It is heavily influenced by female empowerment, and inclusivity, and has left her fans even more excited for her “Special Tour”.
Lizzo is an IT girl. This year, she has graced the covers of Elle, and Variety. She launched a reality dance competition with Amazon, called Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, AND released her own size-inclusive shapeware line called Yitty, in collaboration with Fabletics.
It seems that her positive attitude, message of self-love, and radical music is finally been rewarded, after years of hard work.
Living in Houston, 10-year-old Lizzo absorbed all the music she could from the radio: Houston rappers, NSYNC, and indie rock bands! Her parents encouraged her to be as creative as possible, and she grew up singing gospel in church. And wherever she went, Sasha (her flute aptly named after Beyonce) came with her. She joined the school marching band, and eventually went to college to study classical flute performance. However, balancing her classes, with late-night rap sessions, and the constant parties proved too much for her to handle, and she dropped out to pursue her music career.
The decision left Lizzo homeless and struggling to break into the industry. More tragically still, her father passed away, and she was miserable. In a candid interview with Teen Vogue, she confessed “I was addicted to the gym, I didn’t eat, and I was sleeping in a dusty car, all for music. I thought my life was over”.
Knowing this, it’s clear to see where her inspiration comes from. “That’s just the society we’re all unfortunately born in — the one where you have to hit your worst and hate yourself in order to love yourself.” She admitted to Teen Vogue. Her body positivity, though from a place of tragedy, has transformed the music industry, and Lizzo is often viewed as a trailblazer of the movement.
Eventually, Lizzo was signed to Atlantic Records, and released her third album “Cuz I Love you” which catapulted her to mainstream success.
Lizzo’s album “Special” comes after the release of its catchy lead single “About Damn Time”, which has had huge critical and commercial praise, and will live on as an iconic pop single.
Watch her latest music video here:
Opinion
The 12 tracks that make up “Special” could not have come from any other artist other than Lizzo. They include her staple messages of body positivity, her upbeat mix of rap, and song, and her naked and raw truth. The highlights of the album include “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)” which touches on Lizzo’s journey to self-love, and her collab with Mark Ronson: “Break Up Twice”, which samples Lauren Hill. Lizzo is an artist on a mission to change the world, and with music like this, she might just achieve it.
