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Poster Girl (album)

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Poster Girl
Studio album by
Zara Larsson
Released5 March 2021 (2021-03-05)
Recorded2018–2020
Genre
Length37:41
Label
Producer
Zara Larsson chronology
So Good
(2017) 		Poster Girl
(2021)
Singles from Poster Girl
  1. "Love Me Land"
    Released: 10 July 2020
  2. "Wow"
    Released: 26 August 2020
  3. "Talk About Love"
    Released: 8 January 2021

Poster Girl is the third studio album by Swedish singer and songwriter Zara Larsson and her second released internationally. It was released on 5 March 2021 through TEN Music Group and Epic Records.[1][2]

Poster Girl was supported by three singles: "Love Me Land", "Wow" and "Talk About Love", the latter featuring guest vocals from Young Thug. It also includes the 2018 single "Ruin My Life" and the promotional track "Look What You've Done".

Composition

The album has been called a "fast-paced and symphonic", "dance record from start to finish", with no ballads and "'80s synths and R&B-influenced production". Its lyrical content "explore[s] the best and worst parts of pop music's bread and butter: love".[3] Also rooted in Scandipop[4] and pop,[5] it was additionally described as "both a break-up album and a loved-up celebration of a new romance",[6] as well as "weaving themes of unrequited devotion and sobering flits of romantic toxicity into near scientifically engineered pop songs".[7]

Songs

The album opens with "Love Me Land", a dance-pop song[8] built around a "pulsing, string-led" beat.[9] "Talk About Love" is an R&B-styled song with a "mellow" feel,[10][11] which, lyrically, is about the "phase before two people work out what they are to one another".[12] "Need Someone" is a "glistening", midtempo tune,[8] which has an "airy, easy-going vibe", but builds into a "much funkier, bigger anthem", and, musically, has a bassline reminiscent of Tame Impala's "The Less I Know the Better" and a "twinkly" piano line.[9] "Right Here" is about a wondering of why she tries to get the attention of someone who "keeps his eyes on the screen",[5] and references Swedish artist Robyn.[13] "Wow" is an electro[14] and EDM song produced by Marshmello,[8][10] which has a "bold" bassline and "addictive" vocals.[15] The album's title track is about Zara "feeling out of character as she develops a crush", backed by "glittery" disco production.[9] "I Need Love" is a tropical pop song,[16] that has been described as a "soulful bop", which includes the lyrics: "like an addict needs a drug".[17] "Look What You've Done" is a disco-tinged,[18] breakup track[17] which bares resemblance to the music of ABBA[5][19][20] and centers around the story of a woman who kills a man and is now being hunted by police.[21]

"Ruin My Life" is a "faintly masochistic",[8] pop song,[22] which, in Larsson's words, is about "that unhealthy relationship that everyone has at one point in their life".[23] Instrumentation-wise, it is accompanied by an electric guitar and keyboard, and its chorus is "swimming" with synths and a "danceable" drum track.[24] "Stick with You", co-written by Max Martin, has a guitar sound paired with a "driving", electronic beat[25] and sees Larsson's vocal with a "slight country twang".[16] "FFF" (shorthand for "Falling for a Friend")[8] is "playful", though "explicit";[16] its refrain is reminiscent of Italian classic "Tu Vuò Fà L'Americano".[4] Vocals with similarity to Dua Lipa, on the song, sing: "Is there a spark for us?/Or is it just purely platonic?/Is this our story arc?/'Cause if it are, it’d be iconic".[25] The album closes with "What Happens Here" has a story of self-assurance and is a "Carly Rae Jepsen-sized euphoric" song,[9] in which she sings: "I'ma do it 'cause it's what I want… To be honest, I don't give no fucks".[5]

Singles

Sabrina Carpenter (left) was featured on the remix for "Wow" while Young Thug (right) on the track "Talk About Love" respectively. Carpenter's remix was omitted from the final album's tracklist.

The album was preceded by several singles. The first, "Ruin My Life", was released on 18 October 2018[26] and charted in several countries, reaching the top ten in Israel, United Kingdom, Ireland and her native Sweden, peaking at number two. Several standalone singles and collaborations followed between 2018 and 2020, including "Don't Worry Bout Me"[27] and "All the Time".[28] Both songs were later included on the Japanese edition of the album.[29]

The proper lead single "Love Me Land" arrived on 10 July 2020,[30] peaking at number eight and later being certificated Gold in Sweden. The previously released promotional single "Wow", produced by Marshmello, made a resurgence in popularity after being featured on the 2020 Netflix original movie Work It. This led to Larsson releasing the track as a single.[31] A remix featuring the film's lead actress Sabrina Carpenter was unveiled on 25 September 2020[32] with its own music video premiering on 7 October.[33] Another single, "Talk About Love" featuring American rapper Young Thug came out on 8 January 2021[34] and a promotional single "Look What You've Done" followed on 22 February.[35]

Release and promotion

Larsson shared the cover art of the album in January 2021, and revealed the track listing on social media on 10 February 2021.[36] She has expressed a desire to release a deluxe edition of the album in the future, including a new song with Ariana Grande.[37]

To promote the record, Larsson held an online concert on 8 March 2021 for International Women's Day, in partnership with IKEA and presented by Live Nation.[38]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic75/100[39]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Arts Desk[5]
Clash8/10[16]
DIY[18]
Dork[40]
Evening Standard[19]
Financial Times[10]
The Independent[4]
NME[8]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised to reviews from professional publications, Poster Girl has an average score of 76, based on 5 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[39]

Writing for NME, Nick Levine described the album as a "catchy and characterful" one, that "feels like a job well done",[8] while DIY's Emma Swann called the album "pure pop escapism".[18] Robin Murray of Clash wrote that Poster Girl is "not all perfect", but an "entertaining" album.[16] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of the Financial Times described the songs as "nimble and breezy", though said that the album "leaves one impatient for more".[10]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Love Me Land"
Gill2:40
2."Talk About Love" (featuring Young Thug)
Sabath3:19
3."Need Someone"
2:57
4."Right Here"
  • Michaels
  • Tranter
  • M. Larsson
  • Fredriksson
Mattman & Robin3:46
5."Wow"
2:59
6."Poster Girl"
  • The Roommates
  • Gill
2:57
7."I Need Love"
3:02
8."Look What You've Done"
3:01
9."Ruin My Life"
3:10
10."Stick with You"
The Struts2:59
11."FFF"
Kirkpatrick3:32
12."What Happens Here"
  • Mr. Franks
  • Brown
  • Frid[a]
  • Göransson[b]
3:19
Total length:37:41
Target and North American deluxe CD bonus digital download bonus tracks[41]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Famous"
Evigan3:36
14."When I'm Not Around"
Gladius3:25
Total length:44:42
Japanese edition bonus tracks[29][42]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Don't Worry Bout Me"
The Struts3:30
16."All the Time"
Lotus IV3:48
Total length:52:10

Notes

  • ^[a] indicates a vocal producer
  • ^[b] indicates an additional producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[43]

Performers

Technical

  • Michelle Mancini – mastering engineer
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing engineer (1–4, 6, 7, 10)
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing engineer (5)
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing engineer (8)
  • Tony Maserati – mixing engineer (9)
  • John Hanes – engineer (1–4, 6, 7, 10)
  • Jonathan Winner – engineer (6)
  • Sam Homaee – engineer (6)
  • Chris Laws – engineer (8)
  • Dann Pursey – engineer (8)
  • Ian Kirkpatrick – engineer (11)
  • Bart Schoudel – vocal engineer (2, 3), recording engineer (4)
  • Mattman & Robin – vocal engineer (3, 4)
  • Hampus Lindvall – vocal engineer (7), recording engineer (9)
  • Billy Hicks – recording engineer (12)
  • DJ Riggins – assistant engineer (2)
  • Jacob Richards – assistant engineer (2)
  • Mike Seaberg – assistant engineer (2)
  • Robert N. Johnson – assistant engineer (5)

Release history

Release history and formats for Poster Girl
Region Date Version Format(s) Label Ref.
Various 5 March 2021 Standard
[2][44][45]
United Kingdom CD Black Butter [46]
United States Target edition Epic [41]
Japan 10 March 2021 Japanese edition
[29]
Germany 26 March 2021 Standard Vinyl [47]
Various 23 April 2021 Sony [48]

References

  1. ^ Mike Wass (15 January 2021). "Zara Larsson Reveals Cover & Partial Tracklist Of 'Poster Girl'". Idolator.
  2. ^ a b "Poster Girl by Zara Larsson". Apple Music.
  3. ^ Larisha Paul (24 February 2021). "How Zara Larsson Became Her Own Poster Girl". Paper. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Brodsky, Rachel; O'Connor, Roisin (4 March 2021). "Album reviews: Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth, and Zara Larsson – Poster Girl". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e Colombus, Katie (4 March 2021). "Album: Zara Larsson - Poster Girl". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 5 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Thomas Barrie (1 March 2021). "Zara Larsson is fighting for gender equality – with a little help from Ikea". GQ. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  7. ^ Steven J. Horowitz (3 March 2021). "Zara Larsson on growing up, the perfection of pop music, and new album Poster Girl". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Levine, Nick (3 March 2021). "Zara Larsson – 'Poster Girl' review: Swedish pop don riffs on love in all its messy glory". NME. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d Firth, Abigail (4 March 2021). "Zara Larsson: Pop idol". Dork. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (5 March 2021). "Zara Larsson: Poster Girl — nimble and breezy but too slight". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  11. ^ Villacañas, Javier. "Zara Larsson estrena "Talk About Love" acompañada del estadounidense Young Thug". Cadena 100 (in Spanish).
  12. ^ Richards, Will (10 January 2021). "Young Thug and Zara Larsson team up on new track 'Talk About Love'". NME. Retrieved 5 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Solomon, Kate (4 March 2021). "Zara Larsson's new album Poster Girl is a whirlwind of dance floor-ready tunes". i. Retrieved 5 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Wass, Mike (26 April 2019). "Zara Larsson Embraces Electro On Marshmello-Produced 'Wow'". Idolator. Retrieved 5 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Yopko, Nick (27 September 2020). "Zara Larsson Recruits Sabrina Carpenter for Remix of Marshmello-produced Single "WOW"". EDM.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d e Robin Murray (4 March 2021). "Zara Larsson – Poster Girl | Reviews". Clash. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  17. ^ a b Levine, Nick (12 February 2021). "On The Cover – Zara Larsson: "I think I'm obsessed with love"". NME. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  18. ^ a b c Emma Swann (4 March 2021). "Zara Larsson – Poster Girl". DIY. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  19. ^ a b Smyth, David (4 March 2021). "Zara Larsson – Poster Girl review: A bit more daring, and this would've been worth the wait". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  20. ^ Murray, Robin (24 February 2021). "Zara Larsson's 'Look What You've Done' Is A Potent Pop Moment". Clash. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  21. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (4 March 2021). "Zara Larsson | In A Time of Migratory Torpor, Dreams Still Need Their Wings". Flaunt. Retrieved 5 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ Corner, Lewis (22 July 2020). "Listen to Zara Larsson's new pop anthem Ruin My Life". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Zara Larsson has released a glam new video for her pop hit, 'Ruin My Life'". Dork. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Bajgrowicz, Brooke (23 October 2018). "Zara Larsson Drops Glossy 'Ruin My Life' Video: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  25. ^ a b "ALBUM REVIEW: Zara Larsson shines on 'Poster Girl'". RIFF Magazine. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  26. ^ Matt Moen (18 October 2018). "Zara Larsson Dives into the Meaning of 'Ruin My Life'". Paper. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  27. ^ Cerys Kenneally (8 March 2019). "Zara Larsson returns with sleek new single 'Don't Worry About Me'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  28. ^ Cat Williams (21 June 2019). "Zara Larsson Debuts Her New Summertime Tune 'All The Time' With A Carnival-Themed Music Video". ET Canada. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  29. ^ a b c "＜次世代ポップ・クイーン＞ザラ・ラーソン、最新アルバム『ポスター・ガール』国内盤CD発売決定！日本のファンに愛をこめて届けられた"バレンタイン・プレイリスト"も公開！" (in Japanese). Sony Music Japan. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  30. ^ Sophie Williams (10 July 2020). "Zara Larsson Unveils New Single Love Me Land". Stereoboard. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  31. ^ Mike Wass (28 August 2020). "Zara Larsson's "Wow" Is A Belated & Well-Deserved Hit". Idolator.
  32. ^ Mike Wass (25 September 2020). "Sabrina Carpenter Joins Zara Larsson For 'Wow' Remix". Idolator.
  33. ^ Andrea Dresdale (7 October 2020). "Zara Larsson enlists Sabrina Carpenter for 'WOW' remix". ABC News Radio.
  34. ^ Rania Aniftos (8 January 2021). "Zara Larsson Drops 'Talk About Love' Video With Young Thug, Announces 'Poster Girl' Album". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  35. ^ Robin Murray (24 February 2021). "Zara Larsson's 'Look What You've Done' Is A Potent Pop Moment". Clash.
  36. ^ Will Lavin (10 February 2021). "Zara Larsson shares tracklist for second album, 'Poster Girl'". NME. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  37. ^ Michael Cragg (20 February 2021). "Zara Larsson: 'The more hate I got, the louder I became'". The Guardian.
  38. ^ Rhian Daly (16 February 2021). "Zara Larsson to hold online concert for International Women's Day". NME.
  39. ^ a b "Poster Girl by Zara Larsson". Metacritic. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  40. ^ Stephen Ackroyd (3 March 2021). "Zara Larsson – Poster Girl". Dork. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  41. ^ a b "Zara Larsson – Poster Girl". Target Corporation. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  42. ^ "Poster Girl Zara Larsson CD Album". Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  43. ^ "Credits / Poster Girl / Zara Larsson". Tidal. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  44. ^ "Zara Larsson - Poster Girl - CD". Walmart. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  45. ^ "Poster Girl on Zara Larsson Official Online Store". Zara Larsson Official Store, Townsend Music Store. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  46. ^ "Zara Larsson - Poster Girl - CD – Rough Trade". Rough Trade. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  47. ^ "Zara Larsson - Poster Girl - Vinyl LP - 2021 - EU - Original". HHV. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  48. ^ "Zara Larsson - Poster Girl". Amazon. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
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