SZA's ‘Ctrl’: Navigating the Complexities of Love and Self-Acceptance

With a song for everyone going through heartbreak or dealing with change, Ctrl offers a shoulder for all women to cry on. 

Written by Mariana Martinez

Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone

Ctrl, R&B princess SZA’s debut album, encapsulates the energy and truth of figuring out both the reality of womanhood, as well as searching for love around and within us. The album’s subtle, delicate sound grows into a powerful force as it develops through each song. The 14-song tracklist takes listeners through a story of discovering self-love after a failed relationship, leaving them wondering why they were ever invested in such a doomed love in the first place. Through Ctrl, SZA gives women a supportive voice to help express their feelings at their highest and lowest points of womanhood. 

Ctrl’s raw and vulnerable lyrics allow women worldwide to find comfort in the album. Each song houses a compelling story, whether it’s one of utter heartbreak or emotional healing. Most songs on Ctrl have now reached platinum status, being a platinum album itself. Since its release in 2017, Ctrl drew in great attention, and not because of the multiple artist features, such as Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar. SZA’s powerful voice and Ctrl’s message differed from the messages of other albums at the time that portrayed women in a diminishing light. Addressing women as ‘bitches’ was a common practice at this time, with rappers and singers placing that title on women to degrade them. During a time when men championed the R&B industry, SZA brought something new and innovative to the table, redefining the genre’s boundaries.

Ctrl opens with an illuminating description of how women view themselves — not just how men view them. The album starts with SZA’s grandmother speaking over the phone at the beginning of “Supermodel.” Her voice is plastered throughout the album, acting as an overarching power, giving small hints of advice to both the listeners and SZA herself. The use of this god-like voice contributes to the overall idea that womanhood is a community built up throughout generations. The wisdom in her words connects to the messages being taught in the songs. For example, “Garden (Say It Like Dat),” explains the vulnerability of a relationship and how difficult it can be to navigate those feelings with another person. SZA repeats, “You’ll never love me” multiple times throughout the song, conveying her doubt about the relationship once she shows her true insecurities. Her grandmother ties it together with a message: “If you don't like me, you don't have to fool with me / You don't have to talk about me or treat me mean / I don't have to treat you mean / I just stay out of your way.” These words further elaborate the main message of how if someone doesn’t like them, it’s okay to keep their distance rather than engaging in negativity. It captures the idea of choosing peace over conflict. 

Throughout the album, SZA speaks from multiple perspectives about the toxic relationships she’s experienced, from being someone’s mistress who only sees him on the weekend to someone healing from the treatment, such as emotional neglect, that she has received. In “The Weekend,” the listener sees firsthand how the songstress is not her lover’s main priority. Rather than romance, the relationship is purely fueled by lust as she states, “Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday / I just keep him satisfied through the weekend,” referring to the sexual relationship that she has with someone else’s boyfriend. She searches for love beyond herself and finds it with another woman’s man. The dynamic shows the complex nature of how love can come in different forms and how lust often disguises itself as love to get what it wants. The track stands out among the others on Ctrl, showcasing SZA’s personal experience with the situation, displaying her vulnerable side. 

In contrast, “Love Galore (feat. Travis Scott)” sees SZA moving on and healing from past romantic mistakes. In multiple verses, both artists repeat, “Why you bother me?” suggesting that both parties in the relationship are struggling with the recent breakup. Both lovers continue to hold on to aspects of their love for one another. The track shows how they can’t leave completely, as they still call one another, reminding them of the love they once had. Both in SZA’s and Travis’s verses they repeat these questions: “Why you bother me when you know you don't want me? (Yeah) / Why you bother me when you know you got a woman? (Yeah).” This song ends once again with SZA’s grandmother advising her: “But see Solána, if you don't say something / Speak up for yourself / They think you stupid / You know what I'm saying?” reminding SZA to set boundaries within her relationships. “Love Galore” displays a different type of toxic relationship between the ex-lovers by highlighting their inability to let go of the past and each other. 

Another prominent theme in the album is the different forms of womanhood,. “Go Gina” is a prime example of this concept, even in the title itself. The track’s lyrics explain how simple it is to lift women up rather than push them down. She repeats, “It works for me,” keeping to herself and not spreading the negativity that she had experienced before. “Probably true what they say about me / Probably came from my inner circle, it / Usually come from your inner circle, or lack thereof / And I don't know (nobody) who I can trust,” she sings, telling her audience about the distrust she experienced within her own friend group. The song creates a tone of empowerment for women while fostering a sense of community through the intense sonic quality and sincere lyrics. SZA’s “Go Gina” encourages women to embrace their identities by being loyal to themselves without conforming to the expectations of others. The song exemplifies the idea that one must be loyal to oneself before practicing loyalty to others. 

Ctrl comes full circle from beginning to end through the contrast between the opening and closing tracks. “Supermodel” and “20 Something” complement each other while showing the complexities of womanhood in two starkly different ways. SZA uniquely presents different aspects of the feminine experience. In “Supermodel,” the singer discusses the complexities of finding one’s inner self-worth when bombarded with modern beauty standards. The ballad reveals her own sensitivity underneath her confident and powerful persona which is rarely shown in the rest of her discography. On the other hand, "20 Something" emphasizes the difficult parts of maturing, tumultuous relationships, and self-discovery through the lens of young womanhood. SZA describes going through her twenties and discovering that she is alone in the world. She explores what it means to be experiencing life for the first time, all while grieving the love that she lost on the way: “That's me, Ms. 20-something / Ain't got nothin', runnin' from love / Wish you were here, oh.” These two songs both emphasize one's self-discovery and the search for “true love” in a world full of high expectations.

Ctrl exemplifies a form of love and acceptance that combines raw emotion with thoughtful storytelling. SZA tells listeners to confront their flaws and grow from them. Through its tracklist, the album highlights the utter importance of self-worth, as well as that of personal growth by showing the difficult process of navigating relationships, both platonic and romantic. Overall, Ctrl strikes a deep chord within individuals, conveying that while the road to self-awareness is challenging, it is nothing short of rewarding. Alongside expressing her own experiences, SZA's art inspires people to embrace their stories with grit and honesty.