Bitch

ダイバーシティ時代の超大型ポップ・アイコンとして世界的な大ブレイクを果たしたLIZZOの新章が今幕を開ける――!
2019年リリースの「Truth Hurts(トゥルース・ハーツ)」で"I'm 100% that bitch "というフレーズを世に放ち、ダイアモンドセールス認定を獲得した彼女最新にして最大の自己表現作『BITCH』堂々完成。

ダイバーシティ時代の超大型ポップ・アイコンとして世界的な大ブレイクを果たしたLIZZO。今や彼女は、グラミー賞 4 冠、エミー賞受賞を誇るシンガー・ソングライター/ラッパー/女優であり、ポップ・カルチャーに唯一無二の足跡を刻み続けるスーパースターだ。数々の賞を受賞し、Billboard Hot 100 で 2 曲の 1 位を獲得。ゴールド、プラチナ、マルチ・プラチナ認定を多数取得し、世界中のアリーナを満員にしてきた。2023 年には「About Damn Time」でグラミー賞最高賞 Record of the Year を受賞し、「1994 年以来初めて同賞を受賞した黒人女性アーティスト」として歴史に名を刻んでいる。

その彼女が約4年振りとなるスタジオ・アルバムをリリースする。タイトルはズバリ『BITCH』。2019年リリースの「Truth Hurts(トゥルース・ハーツ)」で"I'm 100% that bitch (私は100%あのビッチだ)"というフレーズを世に放ち、ダイアモンドセールス認定を獲得したリゾ。そのフレーズをそのままアルバム・タイトルに冠して帰ってきた今作は、彼女にとって最大の自己表現と言っていいだろう。立てた中指に自身を見立てたアルバム・アートワークも秀逸だ。

アルバムの詳細はまだ明らかにされていないが、全12曲収録、そして既に先行シングルとしてタイトル・トラックの「Bitch」と「Don't Make Me Love U」の2曲がリリースされている。タイトル曲「Bitch」でLIZZOは、Missy Elliott「She's A Bitch」とMeredith Brooks「Bitch」へのオマージュを示しながら、彼女本人の言葉を借りるならば"この歌は、自分の境界線を守り、自身のセクシュアリティを表現し、自己主張をし、懸命に働いて自分のビジネスを持っているというだけで、「ビッチ」と呼ばれる女性たちに捧げる"1曲だ。シングルのリリースと共に、.childが監督を務めた、LIZZOとその仲間たちがサーカスのパフォーマーに扮したモノクロームの映像が鮮烈なミュージック・ビデオも公開となっている。また「Don't Make Me Love U」で見せたBon Jovi「Livin On A Prayer」と「The Best」(Tina Turnerなど)を引用した80'sテイスト溢れたシングルもリスナーと批評家の双方から高い評価を集め、また過去の自分と向き合い、葛藤しながらも成長していく姿を描いたミュージック・ビデオは強烈な印象を残している。

LIZZOの新章『BITCH』。"I'm 100% that bitch"――その言葉の意味をリゾは今まさに証明し続けているのだ。

After 2022s chart-topping, Grammy-winning Special, Lizzo took a few years to calibrate her next step. She released some singles in her usual feel-good style and a mixtape, my face hurts from smiling, that doubled down on her rap bona fides with features from Lil Jon and Tierra Whack as well as a rawer, more combative attitude. Some of that confrontational edge makes its way onto BITCH with songs such as "Toast," which begins the album with a dramatic flourish of strings and a glass raised "to the ones who hurt me most." Lizzo hasnt forgotten that her audience wants empowering songs wrapped in retro sounds, though, and she delivers that with "Dont Make Me Love U," an amalgam of Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and Bonnie Tylers hits that uses all the instant-gratification tricks from the 80s pop canon expertly, and "BITCH," which combines the beat from Missy Elliotts "Shes a Bitch" and an interpolation of the chorus from Meredith Brooks 1997 smash. A massive sub bass pops in and out of "Sexy Ladies" like a car that goes boom, making it one of BITCHs most sonically interesting girl power anthems; "Whose Hair Is This" is a witty, 70s soul-steeped character sketch that couldve appeared on Cuz I Love You; and the smoky vocals on "Happy 2 Be" offer one of the albums best balances of past and present. ~ Heather Phares

After 2022s chart-topping, Grammy-winning Special, Lizzo took a few years to calibrate her next step. She released some singles in her usual feel-good style and a mixtape, my face hurts from smiling, that doubled down on her rap bona fides with features from Lil Jon and Tierra Whack as well as a rawer, more combative attitude. Some of that confrontational edge makes its way onto BITCH, but as she tries to reconcile this mood with the uplifting persona that made her career, the results are muddled. Theres a vengeful tone to songs such as "Toast," which begins the album with a dramatic flourish of strings and a glass raised "to the ones who hurt me most." On "Like a Crime" and "Too Nice" (key lyric: "Youd still be working at the mall/If it wasnt for me"), she sounds less interested in getting over her problems than getting back at whoever caused them. Lizzo hasnt forgotten that her listeners want empowering songs wrapped in retro sounds, though, and she delivers that with BITCHs lead singles. "Dont Make Me Love U," an amalgam of Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and Bonnie Tylers hits, uses all the instant-gratification tricks from the 80s pop canon expertly. "BITCH" itself is a more literal mash-up: combining the beat from Missy Elliotts "Shes a Bitch" and an interpolation of the chorus from Meredith Brooks 1997 smash, its not as fierce as either of its inspirations. Frequently, the good old days Lizzo borrows from include the years of her peak success. With its slinky synth bass, syncopated flow, and body-positive attitude, "That Grrrl" is in the tradition of Cuz I Love Yous "Tempo" -- but when Lizzo insists her haters "aint even make a dent" in her confidence, it sounds like the opposite. Likewise, her sunny cheer on the album closer "Goodmorning!" borders on forced. BITCH comes closer to recapturing the magic of Lizzos breakthrough on the songs that feel less influenced by the world around her. A massive sub bass pops in and out of "Sexy Ladies" like a car that goes boom, making it one of BITCHs most sonically interesting girl power anthems; "Whose Hair Is This" is a witty, 70s soul-steeped character sketch that couldve appeared on Cuz I Love You; and the smoky vocals on "Happy 2 Be" offer one of the albums best balances of past and present. That none of these songs ring quite as true as "Juice" or "Good as Hell" suggests that Lizzo has outgrown the style that made her famous. After all, her status as a breath of fresh air in the late 2010s and early 2020s was the culmination of years of hard work and songs that finally found their audience. On BITCH, shes trying to find her footing. ~ Heather Phares