So Good

by Zara Larsson

Overview

Living up to its title, So Good -- the sophomore set from Swedish singer Zara Larsson -- arrived after a two-year promotional rollout that followed the release of her debut, 2014's 1. Her slow climb toward the upper pop strata occupied by Rihanna, Sia, and Tove Lo -- the artists whose vocals Larsson most closely echoes -- began in 2015 with the quadruple-platinum number one single "Lush Life," an effective dose of tropical pop that rides the surf with a playful whistle and undeniable bounce. Quickly following with the skittering staccato of MNEK duet "Never Forget You," Larsson scored another hit. Two subsequent album highlights -- the bass-blasted "Ain't My Fault" and "I Would Like" -- provided additional examples of her strong voice and confident attitude. By the time fifth single -- the Ty Dolla $ign-featuring, Charlie Puth-penned title track -- arrived in 2017, a third of So Good had been unveiled. Despite the significant time gap, So Good remains a tight vision full of romantic drama, youthful abandon, and a strong sense of female empowerment. "TG4M" ("too good for me") basks in the sun with a pina colada in hand, part of a Girl's Only weekend with Daya and Hailee Steinfeld, while the WizKid-featuring, Stargate-produced "Sundown" invites Sia to the moonlight island party. When the party ends, the uplifting "What They Say" provides a comforting shoulder to lean on. Amongst the feel-good party jams, heartfelt surprises provide more emotional sustenance. "Make That Money Girl" is a slow-builder that turns the bad gal toughness of Rihanna into a girl power anthem with a message that demands self-reliance and vision, going so far as reminding listeners that "you can be the next female president." When Larsson delves even deeper, the results are refreshing. Album closer "I Can't Fall in Love Without You" is a beautiful sendoff. Set to Jesper Nordenstroem's piano accompaniment, the track is a sweeping and heartfelt expression, the most vulnerable and pure on So Good. Fun and engaging, Larsson made one of the better pop albums of 2017. Like contemporaries Daya, Steinfeld, Bebe Rexha, and Dua Lipa, Larsson delivers polished R&B-influenced pop gems that shine bright like diamonds while maintaining a too-cool-for-school factor that helps to distinguish her from the bubblegum. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	03/17/2017
Label:	Epic / Record Company Ten
UPC:	0889853289424
Rank:	97454

Tracks

1. What They Say
2. Lush Life
3. I Would Like
4. So Good
5. TG4M
6. Only You
7. Never Forget You
8. Sundown
9. Don't Let Me Be Yours
10. Make That Money Girl
11. Ain't My Fault
12. One Mississippi
13. Funeral
14. I Can't Fall in Love Without You
15. Symphony [Clean Bandit]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Zara Larsson   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
MNEK   Primary Artist,Drums,Keyboards
Clean Bandit   Primary Artist
Maria Hazell   Vocals (Background)
Linnea Sodahl   Vocals (Background)
Jerker Hansson   Vocals (Background)
Mack   Bass,Piano,Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
James Abrahart   Vocals (Background)
Wizkid   Featured Artist
Jack Patterson   Piano,Synthesizer
Grace Chatto   Cello
Luke Patterson   Percussion
Tross   Bass,Piano,Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Hampus Lindvall   Vocals (Background)
Joakim Berg   Guitar
James Boyd   Viola
Kirsten Joy   Vocals (Background)
Ajay Bhattacharya   Vocals
Beatrice Philips   Violin
Ed Sheeran   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Ty Dolla $ign   Vocals,Featured Artist
Marcus Lomax   Vocals (Background)
John Hill   Vocals,Vocals
Stephanie Benedetti   Violin
Jesper Nordenstroem   Piano (Grand)
Chris Laws   Drums
Steve Mac   Piano,Keyboards
M-Phazes   Piano,Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Garrett Hilliker   Art Direction,Design
Stint   Producer
Astma & Rockwell   Engineer,Producer
Iman Conta Hulten   Composer
Linnea Sodahl   Composer
Brian "Peoples" Garcia   Producer
Ana Diaz   Composer
Jerker Hansson   Composer
Oliver Peterhof   Composer
Kate Loesch   A&R
German   Producer
Kid Joki   Producer
Mack   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Vocal Engineer,Vocal Producer,Additional Production
Alexander Izquierdo   Composer
MNEK   Engineer,Producer
James Abrahart   Composer
Michel Flygare   Composer
Christian Waltz   Composer
Phil Shaouy   Composer
Dalia Glickman   A&R
Tom Fuller   Engineer,Assistant
Tom A.D. Fuller   Engineer,Assistant
Marco Borrero   Composer
Jack Patterson   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Grace Chatto   Producer
DannyBoyStyles   Producer
Mark Landon   Composer
Bill Zimmerman   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
The Monsters & Strangerz   Engineer,Producer
Astronomyy   Producer
Arron Davey   Composer
Tross   Engineer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Engineer,Vocal Producer
Gamal Lewis   Composer
Hampus Lindvall   Composer
Charlie Puth   Composer,Producer
Jermaine Pegues   A&R
Victor Mensah   Composer
Rocwell   Engineer,Producer
Erik Hassle   Composer
Rob Cohen   Engineer
Joakim Berg   Composer
Matt Colton   Mastering
Ola Hakansson   Executive Producer
Fred Ball   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Instrumentation
Freedo   Mixing,Producer
Jordan Johnson   Composer
Tor Erik Hermansen   Composer
Maria P. Marulanda   Art Direction
Bjorn Engelmann   Mastering
Atena Banisaid   A&R
Marc Regas   Photography
Olivia Hessel   A&R
Jason Gill   Programming,Instrumentation,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Julia Michaels   Composer
Tobias Jimson   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Ajay Bhattacharya   Composer,Drum Programming,Keyboard Programming
Danny Schofield   Composer
Daniel Ledinsky   Composer
Stefan Johnson   Composer,Engineer
Ed Sheeran   Composer
Drew Smith   Engineer,Assistant
Jason Gillis   Producer,Programming,Instrumentation
Fridolin Walcher   Composer
Karen Chin   Composer
Ammar Malik   Composer
Marcus Lomax   Composer
Christoph Bauss   Composer
Joakim Harestad Haukaas   Composer
Uzoechi Emenike   Composer
Brian Garcia   Composer
John Hill   Composer,Producer,Keyboard Programming,Composer,Producer,Drum Programming,Keyboard Programming
Liam Nolan   String Engineer
Ina Wroldsen   Composer
Serban Ghenea   Mixing
Andy Barnes   Vocal Engineer
Stargate   Producer
Chris Athens   Mastering
John Hanes   Mixing Engineer
Mike Spencer   Mixing,Programming,Additional Production
Zara Larsson   Composer
Ayodeji Balogun   Composer
Emanuel Abrahamsson   Composer
Mark Ralph   Mixing,Producer
Mikkel Storleer Eriksen   Composer
Chris Laws   Engineer
Rob Kinelski   Mixing
Anthony Kelly   Composer
Petra Marklund   Composer
Steve Mac   Composer,Producer
Email   Engineer,Vocal Producer
Phil Tan   Mixing
Erik Madrid   Mixing
Daniel Pursey   Engineer
Jacob Kasher   Composer
Tyrone Griffin   Composer
Olivia Waithe   Composer
Johnny McDaid   Composer
Bart Schoudel   Engineer,Vocal Engineer,Vocal Producer
Anita Marisa Boriboon   Creative Director
Chris Anokute   A&R
Dave Huffman   Mastering
Phil Paul   Producer
Shuko   Mixing,Producer
Michelle Mancini   Mastering