#LISTEN TO FUNERAL BY ZARA LARSSON

[drewsbraziliangf]

there'll be happiness after you | Drew Starkey x black!reader

summary: what can you do when you're back in the same place where you had your heart broken for the last time? Is there any way to move past all the hurt and longing?

a/n: ok so I'm sorry for the long wait for this... This will be the last part of this story :'( I want to thank you guys for the love shown in this because this is my first time writing for anything other than House of the Dragon in a loooong time. I hugely suggest listening to "No Goodbyes" by Dua Lipa, "Funeral" by Zara Larsson or "happiness" by Taylor Swift during this read. I hope y'all enjoy it!

dividers: @/saradika

warnings: some cuss words, angst.

The morning after a was never my favorite. Always waking up with a pounding headache and lips as dry as a desert is not the best way to start a day. But there was something about today that made it all worse, for some reason, my brain decided to remember most of the events of the previous night─ touches, kisses, promises, apologies─ everything.

A part of me prayed that I'd forget about it and be able to sneak out without him noticing, but seemed like he was expecting that already and gotten up before I was even awake. The only thing that made it clear that he was indeed at home, was the soft sounds coming from the kitchen.

Okay... I know this apartment like the back of my mind, so since the kitchen door wasn't a direct line for the main door, maybe if I'm quiet enough I'd be able to leave without him noticing, right?

Dwelling on it would only make it worse, so I got up, picked up my clothes from the day before, and quickly got dressed again, this time feeling much more exposed than I did last night. I looked around for my phone, but it wasn't anywhere to be seen. Cursing myself, I remembered that I left it in the living room. Great, a detour.

Thankfully I didn't have to worry too much about how my hair looked as the braids did half the work in keeping it presentable. With a sigh, I walked out of the room with my heels in hand and kept quietly praying to the gods above to grant me this one wish. I just needed my phone and then I'm able to leave.

As I reached the main hall, I could see the bathroom door closed and the lights on. Great, this would be even easier. I quickly walked towards the living room looking for my phone, thankfully it was exactly where I remembered leaving it. It took me no time to grab the device and turn toward the door, only to have one of the biggest jump scares of my life.

"HOLY SHIT!" My left hand instinctively went to my chest as my heart rate increased.

Yeah, there goes my prayers. Drew was leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. He was wearing a black tank top and a pair of grey sweatpants. His hair was messy and there was still a small air of sleepiness around him. He cleared his throat as he stared at me.

"Yeah, I knew you'd try to do that," he said with a shrug.

"Well, this is exactly what I was trying to avoid," I snap back after I'm calmer.

I could feel my hands getting sweaty and the weight of his gaze upon me was making me feel so uncomfortable. Like there was this white elephant in the room getting bigger by the second.

"Uhm, I kinda have to go-"

"Come on, let's talk over breakfast."

Without giving me a chance to answer he walked back towards the kitchen and I had no choice but to follow him. With a bit of reluctance, I dragged my bare feet after him. The cold tiles on the floor were not even bothering me as they were five minutes ago.

The worst kind of deja vu bathed me as I stood by the counter. The last time I was here was the worst day of my life, so I wasn't feeling great watching him move so effortlessly.

He filled two glasses with black coffee and the toaster with white bread before picking up some jam and cottage cream cheese.

I sat on one of the benches and quietly accepted the plate he handed me once it was all done, he then proceeded to sit by my side and we began to eat in silence, more like me watching him eat as I sipped my coffee.

"So you were just going to sneak out?" He asked casually after a few minutes as he coated his toast with jam.

"What did you expect me to do? I shouldn't even come here in the first place," I bite back and he places his mug down.

"Well, I thought you would at least grant me the chance to talk. We have a lot to talk about."

"No, we don't. We fucked and that's it. It shouldn't have happened and it won't happen again. It can't happen again." I confess, with the instinct of avoiding to meet his eyes.

"What do you mean? We have to talk this through and fix what happened. I know that I fucked up but you just left. As if it all meant nothing to you. We were getting married, for fucks sake." He says, throwing his hands in the air in annoyance.

At that, I stand up and begin walking back toward the living room. I had to leave. This could escalate and both of us leave even more hurt than before.

"I'm not doing this again. I didn't just leave. You pushed me away. You didn't give me a reason to stay. That's what happened."

"I love you! How can you say that?"

"Yeah, you might. But do you like me?" The words leave my mouth before a second to think them over.

He watches me for a second before running a hand over his face. All the traces of sleep were gone from his features now.

"Because I did. And I was so in love with you too," I continue, as my eyes begin to sting. "I was so ready to have the rest of my life by your side. So, how could you do that to me? When did I stop being enough?"

The questions kept flowing out and I couldn't filter my feelings or my words. I just wanted this to end once and for all. My brain couldn't stop reminiscing on last night's events. His touches, his kisses, him.

But being sober now and knowing it all was killing me. How could I be such a fool? After I tried so hard to erase him from my mind...

"No, baby, please listen to me, okay? Just let me talk," he pleaded taking a step closer.

"No, Drew. There is nothing to talk about. I shouldn't have come here and this shouldn't even be happening."

My voice is slightly pitchier than I'd like but I couldn't help it.

"Do you have any idea of how hard it was for me?" I ask looking at his glossy eyes. "I don't get to travel all around the world and the country so I can simply put what happened aside. I had to deal with pitying looks for weeks. I had to walk around the city remembering a life we planned together but wouldn't have anymore. I have to keep on living knowing that that the man I loved didn't choose me when I really fucking needed him to."

At this point, I wasn't trying to keep track of my tears or my words. I just needed that out of my chest so I could be free. I was so tired of carrying these in my heart that even if it hurt, it was freeing.

"So it would be so fucking unfair to me if I just walked back into this," I say as I wipe my face with the back of my hand. "I can't do this to myself again. No matter how much a big part of me still cares about you. I deserve better. I have to choose myself because you clearly didn't."

He didn't say anything at that because there wasn't anything that could be said. Both of us knew that I was right.

Seeing him cry was like picking at an open wound, it made me feel even worse. But, what else could I do? I could feel this eating me up inside and I couldn't look past all the suffering I went through just because he showed up again.

"Loving someone isn't enough to keep a relationship going. You have a lot to do and you didn't, you really didn't. So I'm sorry if I can't just pretend to be okay with everything after a few hours spent together after a few months."

"You think you're the only one suffering in this? I lost you and I had to wake up in our bed every day. I had to be in this apartment knowing that the person who made it a home wasn't going to return. And that no matter what I did or who came by, it was never going to be the same."

His confession made my heart clench but he brought this upon himself. It wasn't me who gave up on it.

"And who's to blame for that?" I say looking into his eyes.

"I know. Don't you think I've blamed myself enough for that?  Because I did, for all the days that you have not been here. This is the first time in seven months when I have felt a sense of normalcy and that's because you're here. Don't you see that?"

Now that the bandaid was ripped once again, the both of us were in tears standing in the middle of the living room. The walls felt like they were getting closer and closer each second that passed.

"Did you know that Frankie came by on the third month? She gave me the TED talk of my life."

That caught your attention, Frankie has never mentioned that. At all.

"She told me that she knew that I wasn't good enough for you from the start, but that she had never expected me to be a shitty partner too. That she had never seen someone disrespect their girlfriend as much as I did without even knowing and that now that I was single the reason for my breakup pushed me aside for someone more interesting. So that not only was I trash for  how I treated you but I was also dumb for not seeing it."

His words come as a shock to you. With shaking hands and deep breaths, you look around the room trying to focus on something that isn't his red face.

"And she's not wrong, you know? And I was also a coward for never coming to you and watching your life on the sidelines."

At this point, I was feeling the huge urge to sob. My hands were sweaty, my tears were not even drying in my face as new ones came down.

"So I'm sorry, okay? I'm so fucking sorry for it. But please, don't say that I didn't care enough about you. Because I did."

His words keep ringing in my ear for a while as I try to place my thoughts correctly. Seven months ago I thought that it would be the last time I would see him and then I'd be able to heal and move on, but now seeing him and hearing everything was bringing a new wave of unaddressed feelings that I have not dealt with yet.

"I can't." A whisper comes out of my lips after a while. "And you have to understand why I can't do this again. I can't ignore everything."

He looks at me with his lips trembling as his tears keep on falling down his face. In the walls of this apartment now the only sound that rang was defeat. This was a lost cause and no matter what happened, both of us would be losing today. 

"I'm sorry, Drew. I really am, but there's nothing that can be done anymore. " I declare as I finally feel like he might let me go. "I hope you find someone who's ready and brave enough to love you through it all, you deserve to be loved and the times that I felt genuinely loved by you were the greatest. That person just won't be me."

Like the first time, months ago, I turned towards the front door and walked out.  Knowing that he would not follow me and that whatever had remained seven months and thirteen days ago, was completely over this time. Even if a huge part of me kept screaming at me to forgive him, I knew I couldn't. Not only it wouldn't be fair to me but I knew what would happen. Of course she wasn't as present in his life anymore, she completely isolated him from any potential significant other he could have. And if we got back together, the cycle would repeat itself and I would never put myself in a situation where I had to fight for someone's attention just to be tossed aside as if I was nothing. 

In this story, there was ever only one winner and it wasn't either Drew or I. 

💖taglist💖: @emmaafinchh @rafecamerons-national-anthem @bvleeeeeee @a-j-stuffs @maybankslover @lovelylove268 @cooper8224 @esquivelbianca @dreamybabbyy @lulubabii @idiotussupremus @drewsphswife @ietss @noneofyabuisnezs @chenslucy @yvbe99 @sabrina-carpenter-stan-account @theeternaloptimistt @roselibrary @daddydraco0 @iheartcats444 @allopathi

[julesblackthorns]

music tag meme / list 10 songs you’ve listened to the most recently / i was tagged by @francesjanvier!!!  tsm babe 💖

Zara Larsson / Funeral

Hozier / Foreigner's God

James Blunt / Always Hate Me

Billie Eilish / bad guy

Zella Day / Hypnotic

The Sweeplings / Can't Get You Out of My Head

MARINA / To Be Human

Bryce Fox / Horns

BANKS / Poltergeist 

Selena Gomez / Fetish (feat. Gucci Mane)

imma tag @lightwoodalexander, @lesbianparrish and @mostawesomepineapple if ur interested!

[elysefz]

Never Be Satisfied | A Nuray/Tobias Next Generation Playlist @vstridb

( Listen )

Undrunk - Fletcher; Back to You - Selena Gomez; Half As Good As You - Tom Odell & Alice Merton; Tough - Lewis Capaldi; Champagne Problem - Taylor Swift; Funeral - Zara Larsson; Grace - Lewis Capaldi; Missing You - Ingrid Michaelson; We Won’t - Jaymes Young & Phoebe Ryan; ‘Tis The Damn Season - Taylor Swift; The Good Side - Troye Sivan; Satisfied - Hamilton Cast; What a Time - Julia Michaels & Niall Horan; Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift; Favourite Ex - Maisie Peters; Ruin My Life (Piano Version) - Zara Larsson; Stay Awake - Dean Lewis; I Almost Do - Taylor Swift; May I Have This Dance - Meadowlark; Power Over Me - Dermot Kennedy; August - Taylor Swift; Darling - Rothwell; Consequences - Camila Cabello; Can’t Fall in Love Without You - Zara Larsson; Ivy - Taylor Swift

[useraew]

Hey!

Opening Credits: cinnamon girl // lana del rey Waking Up: ruin my life // zara larsson First Day At School: your type // carly rae jepsen Falling In Love: listen before i go // billie eilish Fight Song: fuck feelings // olivia o’brien Breaking Up: don’t worry bout me // zara larssonLife’s OK: floor 13 // machine gun kelly Getting Back Together: soon you’ll get better // taylor swift Wedding:  gts // machine gun kellyBirth of Child: dancing with a stranger // sam smith Final Battle: losing grip // avril lavigneDeath Scene: glass house // machine gun kellyFuneral Song: candy // machine gun kelly End Credits: run and hide // sabrina carpenter

Leave a “HEY” in my ask box

[ravkaes]

some song recs for that thing (or for whatever): - come to the table, sidewalk prophets - funeral, zara larsson - light on, maggie rogers - ME!, taylor swift and brendon urie - lost in japan, shawn mendes - the breakup song, francesca battistelli - shake it out, florence and the machine - hang on me, st vincent

thank u so much for all of these recs!!

come to the table / sidewalk prophets ; couldn’t listen all the way through | not my thing | it’s okay | kinda catchy | ok i really like this | downloading immediately | already in my library

funeral / zara larsson ;  couldn’t listen all the way through | not my thing | it’s okay | kinda catchy | ok i really like this | downloading immediately | already in my library

light on / maggie rogers ; couldn’t listen all the way through | not my thing | it’s okay | kinda catchy | ok i really like this | downloading immediately | already in my library

ME! / taylor swift and brendon urie ; couldn’t listen all the way through | not my thing | it’s okay | kinda catchy | ok i really like this | downloading immediately | already in my library

lost in japan / shawn mendes ; couldn’t listen all the way through | not my thing | it’s okay | kinda catchy | ok i really like this | downloading immediately | already in my library

the breakup song / francesca battistelli ; couldn’t listen all the way through | not my thing | it’s okay | kinda catchy | ok i really like this | downloading immediately | already in my library  

shake it out / florence and the machine ; couldn’t listen all the way through | not my thing | it’s okay | kinda catchy | ok i really like this | downloading immediately | already in my library  

hang on me / st vincent ; couldn’t listen all the way through | not my thing | it’s okay | kinda catchy | ok i really like this | downloading immediately | already in my library

[highfivecalum]

Okay so like maybe someone has said this but like Zara Larsson has some great songs like Lush Life and Funeral are some of my favorite

i like some of her songs so i’ll listen to those! thank you!

[bluechans]

🎶✨when you get this you have to put 5 songs u actually listen to, publicly. then, send this ask to 10 of your favorite followers (non-negotiable, positivity is cool) 🎶✨

🦋

i don’t think I have 10 followers since I barely post but enjoy my top 5 songs atm </3

(Also I’m honoured to be one of your 10 favourite followers 💗🦋)

[ronandreams]

tagged by @allisonslexa, thanks love!!

list 10 songs i’m currently obsessed with and tag 10 people 

under the blue / take me in - hayley kiyoko

let it be - hayley kiyoko

don’t leave me - bts

let go - bts

baby don’t stop - nct u

look - got7

1950 - king princess 

in my blood - shawn mendes

tetris - madilyn bailey 

funeral - zara larsson 

(everyone should go listen to these songs pls)

i’m tagging: @majesticjiminie, @detectivepineapplesperalta, @misswift, @eightiesharrington, @amyskhaleesi, @connorscobalt, @martinlydia, @fallingforjoon, @frodo-sam, @nathansmiller. 

[passingdreamss]

I GOT TAGGED BY: @donnslxmxn

🌙 LAST

Drink: Tea

Phone call: My dad Song you listened to: Funeral by Zara Larsson Time you cried: Couple weeks ago

🌙 HAVE YOU EVER

Dated someone twice: No Kissed someone and regretted it: No Been depressed: Not really Been drunk and thrown up: Yes

🌙 IN THE PAST YEAR HAVE YOU

Made a new friend: Yes! Fallen out of love: Yes Met someone who changed you: yesss Found out who your true friends are: Yep Found out someone was talking about you: Nope

🌙 GENERAL

How many people on tumblr do you know in real life?: 8 I guess. Do you have any pets?: 2 cats and 1 rabbit. Do you want to change your name?: No thanks. What time did you wake up this morning: 6:30 am. What were you doing last night: Babysitting!

Something you cannot wait for: the little roadtrip with my girlfriend. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom? Nope haha What’s getting on your nerves right now: Nothing! Peacefully having lunch. Blood type: B-negative Nickname: Room, Romt, Boter, Dromy.

Relationship status: In a relationship ❤️ Zodiac sign: Aquarius Pronouns: She/her Favourite show: The 100, Orphan Black. College: Nimeto Utrecht Hair colour: Brown

Do you have a crush on someone: It’s kinda more than just a crush, but yes. What do you like about yourself: My creativity.

🌙 FIRSTS

First surgery: When I was 3 First piercing: I got my ears pierced when I was 4 years old. First sport you joined: Swimming. First vacation: Spain. First pair of sneakers: Nike

🌙 RIGHT NOW

Eating: a banana

About to: drink tea Listening to: The radik Want kids: Yes, later in my life. Get married: I would want to marry but noT in a traditional way I think

Career: Stylist

🌙 WHICH IS BETTER

Lips or eyes: Both

Hugs or kisses: Hugs first, then kisses. Shorter or taller: taller

Troublemaker or hesitant: Troublemaker

Older or younger: Depends

Romantic or spontaneous: Also both

Sensitive or loud: Both!! Hookup or relationship: Relationship

🌙 HAVE YOU EVER

Kissed a stranger: No

Drank hard liquor: Yes

Lost contacts/glasses: Yes Sex on first date: No Broken someone’s heart: Yes

Been arrested: No Turned someone down: Yes

🌙 DO YOU BELIEVE

In yourself: Yes I do. Miracles: Yes

[lifewasawillow]

HEY. I wanna know my life soundtrack.

hey Rosa! this is your life story:

Opening Credits: A Little Too Much - Shawn MendesWaking Up: The End - Little MixFirst Day At School: Say Something - A Great Big World ft. Christina AguileraFalling In Love: Red - Taylor SwiftFight Song: Hair (Remix) - Little Mix ft. Sean PaulBreaking Up: Lush Life -  Zara LarssonLife’s OK: Love Yourself - Justin BieberGetting Back Together: Ready To Run - One DirectionWedding:  Cold Water - Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber & MØBirth of Child: I Know What You Did Last Summer - Shawn Mendes ft Camila CabelloFinal Battle: Shout Out To My Ex - Little MixDeath Scene: Sorry - Justin BieberFuneral Song: Rock Bottom - Hailee SteinfeldEnd Credits: Night Changes - One Direction

ahh I’m sorry it took a lot longer than expected. I was listening to the songs while filling this. I hope you have a lovely day!

Leave a “HEY” in my ask box for your life soundtrack

[aish-rai]

Hiiiii

Yay, another one! (I enjoy these way too much, I go back and listen to them and try to come up with a story that fits them lol)

LIFE STORYOpening Credits: Feel - Bombay Bicycle ClubWaking Up: Lush Life - Zara LarssonFirst Day At School: Gooey - Glass AnimalsFalling In Love: Hypnotic - Zella DayFight Song: Team - LordeBreaking Up: My Love Goes Free - Jon ForemanLife’s OK: Shake It Out - Florence + the MachineGetting Back Together: Crimson and Clover - Joan JettWedding: A Little Party Never Killed Nobody - FergieBirth of Child: Daydream Believer - The MonkeesFinal Battle: Mustang Kids - Zella DayDeath Scene: Come Away to the Water - Maroon 5Funeral Song: Winter Song - Sara Bareilles and Ingrid MichaelsonEnd Credits: Jezebel - Two Hours Traffic

[hardfeelingsmp3]

no offense but listening to funeral by zara larsson is a religious experience

[julesblackthorns]

rules: list 10 songs that you’ve been listening to and tag 10 people  i was tagged by @novmbercakes, thanks so much lovely!!!

1. your song from moulin rouge

2. a groovy kind of love by phil collins

3. green light by lorde

4. wasabi by little mix

5. i want you back by taylor swift (cover)

6. back to december/apologize/you’re not sorry by taylor swift

7. rivers and roads by the head and the heart

8. funeral by zara larsson 

9. good things fall apart (acoustic version) by illenium and jon bellion

10. el tango del roxanne from moulin rouge

i’m going to tag @francesjanvier @lesbianparrish @yohoooareinlove @herondalejaces @octavianblackthorn @penguin-wannabe @nhczerny @inejgayfa @mostawesomepineapple @jakeyjohnson if any of you are interested in this

[musicthatwelike]

Top Songs of the Week (25th March)

Well it seems like every week is gonna be ‘one of those weeks’. Lot’s of major releases over the last 7 days, including new music from Betty Who, Ahohni, Gorillaz, James Blunt, Kendrick Lamar, Iggy Azalea, and plenty more! As usual though, we’ve picked out our top five tracks of the week here for U 2 ENJOI. Here they are. 🔥

Zara Larsson - TG4M

Alright Zara, you've got your Soundcloud GO thing going on, but whatever support musicians, equal rights, and all that jazz. I'm recommending it to you (the read/listerner), and you can go check it out on whatever music platform you prefer. It's maybe my favourite from her new album (you, know the one released this week). I also recommend Funeral, but I could've filled up this list with just tracks from her, but I'm trying not too so I just picked this one. 👌 But seriously, go have a listen. It's bangin'.

Passionfruit - Drake

Okay, so I'm not here to fuck with everyone. I listened to the whole Drake album (which was kinda a big effort for me) for you all just to see if there was anything worth while in there. While my predictions were pretty accurate, ie. all his songs sound pretty much the same, there was one track that did its own thing and managed to stand out above the rest as 'good'. Welcome, 'Passionfruit' 🍈. The production on this one really did it's thing here, reminscent (to me) of Kisses, the sun kissed tropical beats makes a refreshing change from Drakes usual bass heavy emo drawl.

Mura Masa / Charli XCX - 1 Night

Charli XCX is back on the list this week for her super summer collab with tropi-pop producer Mura Masa. My second favourite thing about this whole Mura Masa/Charli XCX experience is actually the album artwork though. Very 'Life of Pablo'.

Ps. There are so many haters 💕 for this track cause mura masa 'changed his style'. LOL. Good luck guys.

Leo Kaylan - Feels Right

Leo Kaylan is gonna be releasing a new track every week for the next 12 months, so in the vein of 'Oh Wonder' we're gonna get one of the best albums ever at the end of it 🎁. We expect. 'Feels Right', is a perfect introduction into the spaces he is exploring and the sound we'll hear in the coming months. "I don't know where I am, but it feels right".

Iiris - Hope

The four songs above are all newish, but we're doing a bit of a time warp for this one. Back to 2016. It's new music for me, and probably for you as well anyway, so we gonna go for it! Iiris, the Estonian singer dropped off my radar after her 2013 EP, Chinaberry Girl, however she released an EP last year called 'Hope' which I just found out about (sometimes I miss things and it looks like she left her label and released it herself?). The title track is a lot more experimental and true to her original music, shying away from the poppier sound of her 2013 EP, but we're loving it. 💯 🌹

That's it from us for this week. Enjoy the music and remember to share this post with your friends, follow us on Facebook and Twitter and give us lots of love. <3

[lunasoasis-blog]

I plan on posting a list each month with some songs I can’t stop listening to and discover along the way. I hope you enjoy!

__________

May 2017

__________

1. Wait A Minute - Willow 2. Scared to be Lonely - Martin Garrix & Dua Lipa 3. Quit - Cashmere Cat ft. Ariana Grande 4. The Other Side - Alessia Cara 5. Sleepover - Hayley Kiyoko 6. I Can’t Breathe - Bea Miller 7. Funeral - Zara Larsson 8. Atlantis - Bridgit Mendler 9. Better Than That - Marina & The Diamonds 10. DNA - Lia Marie Johnson 11. Genesis - Dua Lipa 12. I Want What You Have - Willamette Stone 13. Start A Riot - Banners 14. Tired of Talking - Léon 15. We Had Everything - Broods

[thisaintascenereviews]

Album Review by Bradley Christensen Zara Larsson – So Good Record Label: Epic / Sony Release Date: March 17 2017

One thing that people love about streaming music, especially on Spotify, Pandora, and all that stuff, is that you can “sample” music before you buy it, let alone if you want to buy it, because you never know what you’re getting. You can have a chance to listen to it first, and if you like it, you can buy a copy for yourself, but if you don’t, you don’t have to worry about it. You wouldn’t feel like you’re wasting your money. Some people think that downloading leaks and/or illegal copies of albums constitutes as “sampling,” but that’s not how it works. You wouldn’t walk into a store, shoplift an album in front of everyone, and then come back later to actually buy the album, because you ended up enjoying it (or returning it, because it’s not all that great), right? That’s illegal, but people think they can do that online. I mean, I’ve seen people justify downloading things illegally by saying they pre-ordered it, or they bought it, anyway. Sure, it gives the band / artist a bit more cash in their pockets, but you also took a sale away from them that they would have originally had. Anyway, using streaming services is a better alternative to just outright pirating music, and it’s a good idea to do that sometimes. I’m doing that with the new Northlane record, Mesmer, because I didn’t know if I’d like it (spoiler alert: I don’t, so I dodged a bullet with this, thankfully). That’s when I don’t know how I’ll feel about something, whether it’s because I was never a huge fan, or I don’t know much about them. Normally I could tell by a single track if I’ll like something, but some albums don’t give me that premonition. Personally, I don’t do this a lot, because I like being surprised. I have a good idea when it comes to random pickups, but every now and again, I’ll buy an album that I don’t 100% know how I’m going to feel about. An album in that vein that I got quite recently was Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson’s sophomore LP, So Good. Although this is her sophomore LP, So Good is her first internationally released album, so if you haven’t heard of Larsson, you’re not alone.

Part of why I picked this up was because I vaguely knew who she was. She’s done a few tracks with EDM producers / DJs, so I was pretty sure I knew something from her, but whatever it was, I remember liking it. I didn’t even know this LP was coming out until I happened to come across it on iTunes, Spotify, or something like that, but I didn’t know it was an album. After looking it up on Wikipedia, I realized that Larsson released a new album. I didn’t think too much of it at first, but I went to my local FYE store the next day, because my dad needed to go to the mall for something. I figured I’d look at the new releases, and the only two that really caught my eye were the new Shins album, Heartworms, and Zara Larsson’s So Good. I already reviewed the former album, and I liked it a lot, but what do I think about So Good? Does the album title have a fitting name, or is this album not as good as it claims it is? Before I even pressed play on this LP, I didn’t know what I’d be getting myself into. I knew that Larsson was a pop singer, but I didn’t know much about her music aside from that. So Good was an album that I didn’t quite know how I’d feel about before I got it, but something told me to check it out. That ended up being a great decision, because I was very, very surprised by it in all the best ways. I don’t want to oversell this LP, because it’s not amazing, but if you’re looking for a great, diverse, and interesting pop record, you might have found it. I didn’t expect to love this album as much as I did, but it’s been a long time since I’ve found a genuinely great pop album. There are a lot of things to really enjoy on this LP, but the best thing is Larsson herself. She has an amazing set of pipes, frankly. She can sing extremely well, and because of that, the hooks on this record are impeccable. There are some killer hooks throughout this album, and a lot of songs end up being catchy, energetic, and memorable. I talked about how important a catchy hook can be in my review of Heartworms, and this LP delivers on what that album didn’t.

Larsson is a great singer, and the hooks are very, very nice, but what about everything else? The lyrics on this LP are surprisingly good, too, but they’re nothing amazing, well-written, or insightful. When it comes to the lyrics on this record, the basic ideas are ones that you’ve heard before, whether it’s about love (“Lush Life,” “So Good,” & “I Can’t Fall In Love Without You”), heartbreak (“One Mississippi” & “Don’t Let Me Be Yours”), empowerment songs (“Make That Money Girl,” “What They Say,” & “Funeral”), or just simple sexually-charged tracks (“Sundown,” “So Good,” & “Only You”), it’s all done well. The lyrics won’t blow your mind, and if you’re not into these types of lyrics, you won’t be all that into them. For what they are, though, they’re totally fine. The focus of this LP is on the vocals and hooks, anyway, and the album knocks those two aspects completely out of the park. The instrumentation, however, is where things get a bit trickier. I love its diversity, because the album never gets boring, especially for being 50 minutes. You have some EDM tracks, pop tracks, ballads, R&B songs, and a few other styles of music, which means there’s something for almost everyone. The diversity makes this album very uneven, unfocused, and kind of exhausting after awhile. It’s not weird, inaccessible, or experimental, but there’s a lot happening here. It’s almost like Larson has no idea as to what her identity is, and while that’s not a bad thing at all, there’s just way too much happening at once. Does that make the album any worse? No, not really, but it can bring it down for people that enjoy a certain sound from Larsson. This was worth the listen, either way, and it really surprised me. I’ve been coming back to it a lot, because it’s got some very catchy, energetic, and enjoyable hooks throughout it, as well as some great vocal performances. If you’re looking for pop album that’s a cut above the rest, you’re in luck with So Good. It’s got a very fitting title, and because the album has a diverse sound, there’s a chance that you might find something to enjoy.