Woman (Little Simz song)

"Woman"
Single by Little Simz featuring Cleo Sol
from the album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Released6 May 2021 (2021-05-06)
GenreHip hop
Length4:29
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Inflo
Little Simz singles chronology
"Introvert"
(2021) 		"Woman"
(2021) 		"Rollin Stone"
(2021)
Cleo Sol singles chronology
"Shine"
(2020) 		"Woman"
(2021)
Music video
"Woman" on YouTube

"Woman" is a song by British rapper Little Simz featuring fellow British singer Cleo Sol. It was released on 6 May 2021, as the second single from the former's fourth studio album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021).[1][2] The song was written by Simz, Sol, and record producer Inflo.

A retro hip-hop song, "Woman" discusses women's lives in different countries. Simz wrote the song to thank women who inspired her, stating, "It's empowering, it's inspiring; I wanted to say thank you and I wanted to celebrate them." The chorus is sung by Sol.

Release and composition

Simz and Sol first collaborated on the song "Selfish" from Simz's third studio album Grey Area (2019).[3] Aside from their collaboration in "Woman" for Simz's fourth studio album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021), Sol provided guest vocals on the album's lead single "Introvert".[4]

"Woman" was released on 6 May 2021, by Simz's label Age 101, as the second single from the album.[5] A lyric video was uploaded to Simz's YouTube channel on 10 June 2021.[6]

Consequence's Nina Corcoran described "Woman" as a "low-key retro hip-hop number that sees Simz rapping about the women around the world who inspire [Simz] to carry on."[3] The song contains an organ and snappy snares.[7] The rapper, who described the song as "empowering" and "inspiring", stated that she wrote the song "to say thank you and I wanted to celebrate" women.[1] Sol sings in the chorus: "I love how you go from zero to one hundred/And leave the dust behind, you've got this/All action, no talk".[1] Simz wanted to create a song dedicated to women, and explained with Vulture the inspiration behind the song:

"Woman" is literally a love note to the women of the world. I think it very much so happens in this industry where it gets competitive, which is okay, but I think not [if it gets] to a place where you're literally trying to drag and tear other women down because the narrative is, "There can only be one at a time," or whatever it is. "Woman" is for us to celebrate and commend each other and tell each other we look beautiful and we're proud of each other.[8]

Music video

The music video was released the same day as the single, and was directed by Simz. It featured guest appearances from Jourdan Dunn, Joy Crookes, and Denai Moore.[2] A trailer was uploaded on Simz's YouTube account on 3 May 2021.[9] As of December 2022, the video has received over 5 million views.[10]

Live performances

Simz first performed "Woman" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on 16 August 2021.[11] On 28 May 2021, she performed the song on Later... with Jools Holland.[12] The song was sung as a medley with "Introvert" at the 2022 Brit Awards.[13] "Woman" was also included on the rapper's set list at Glastonbury Festival 2022, in which Sol joined her onstage.[14]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.[4]

  • Little Simz – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Cleo Sol – featured vocals, songwriting
  • Inflo – backing vocals, songwriting, drums, bass, guitar, synthesizer, production
  • Caroline Adeyemi – additional vocals
  • Graham Godfrey – percussion
  • Miles James – rhythm guitar, bass
  • Kadeem Clarke – additional synthesizer, organ, piano, keyboards
  • Rosie Danvers – orchestral arrangements
  • Ben Baptie – mixing, engineering
  • Richard Woodcraft – mixing, engineering
  • Sophie Ellis – engineering assistance
  • Matt Colton – mastering

References

  1. ^ a b c Shaffer, Claire (6 May 2021). "Little Simz Releases Lush Music Video for New Song 'Woman'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b Skinner, Tom (6 May 2021). "Listen to Little Simz' soulful new single 'Woman' featuring Cleo Sol". NME. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b Corcoran, Nina (6 May 2021). "Little Simz Reunites with Cleo Sol for Uplifting New Song "Woman": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (Liner notes). Little Simz. United Kingdom: Age 101 Music. 2021. AGE101002LP.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Richards, Will (3 May 2021). "Little Simz announces new single 'Woman', out this week". NME. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Little Simz – Woman feat. Cleo Sol (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  7. ^ Hoffman, Tim (30 August 2021). "REVIEW: Little Simz pulls back the curtain on 'Sometimes I Might Be Introvert'". RIFF. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  8. ^ Curto, Justin (16 September 2021). "You've Never Heard Little Simz Like This". Vulture. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Little Simz – Woman feat. Cleo Sol (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Little Simz – Woman feat. Cleo Sol (Official Video)". YouTube. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  11. ^ Shaffer, Claire (17 August 2021). "Little Simz Gives Golden-Hued Performance of 'Woman' on 'Tonight Show'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  12. ^ Triscari, Caleb (31 May 2021). "Watch Little Simz perform 'Woman' live for 'Later... With Jools Holland'". NME. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  13. ^ Williams, Jenessa (25 June 2022). "Little Simz live at Glastonbury 2022: flawless determinism from rap's tour de force". NME. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  14. ^ Matthew Ismael Ruiz (8 February 2022). "Little Simz Performs "Introvert" and "Woman" at BRIT Awards 2022: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
Stub icon

This 2020s single-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.