Following the Dec. 9 release of her sophomore album “SOS,” R&B sensation SZA seized global charts and broken hearts with standout track “Kill Bill.” Laced with gorgeous, dream-like vocals and backed by a mid-tempo beat, the song alludes to Quentin Tarantino’s film, “Kill Bill Volume 1,” a movie following a character’s pursuit to murder her ex-lover. The lyrics, “I might kill my ex, not the best idea,” has listeners in a chokehold, racking up millions of videos on TikTok and topping the Billboard Global 200. With its deliciously vindictive lyrics, “Kill Bill” describes SZA’s desire for revenge when an ex moves on, and listeners relate to her passion as they savor her captivating vocals. Laid over a slow yet comforting beat, SZA creates a distinctive juxtaposition with her soft, melancholic tone, absent of the homicidal rage in her words. At the finale of “Kill Bill,” she carries out her murderous impulses with a candid confession — SZA might have killed her ex (and his girlfriend) but she would “rather be in hell than alone” — encapsulating a desperation easy to resonate with. The vulnerability of “Kill Bill” is a glimpse of SZA’s genuine artistry, a talent whose ability to capture the hearts of so many listeners has shaken the modern R&B landscape.
