{"id":521343,"date":"2026-03-07T23:02:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T23:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/521343\/"},"modified":"2026-03-07T23:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T23:02:09","slug":"sza-says-her-label-warned-her-sos-wouldnt-beat-taylor-swift-in-the-charts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/521343\/","title":{"rendered":"SZA says her label warned her ‘SOS’ “wouldn\u2019t beat Taylor Swift” in the charts"},"content":{"rendered":"

SZA<\/a> has looked back on the release of \u2018SOS\u2019<\/a>, recalling her label\u2019s warning that the album was unlikely to beat Taylor Swift<\/a> in the charts \u2013 which it ultimately went on to do.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0SZA \u2013 \u2018SOS\u2019 review: a comeback album well worth the wait<\/a><\/p>\n

The two singers both released commercially and critically successful albums towards the end of 2022, the former with \u2018SOS\u2019\u00a0and the latter with\u00a0\u2018Midnights\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both records battled for the top spot on the Billboard 200, with \u2018SOS\u2019 debuting at number one on the album\u2019s chart and remaining there for ten weeks, while \u2018Midnights\u2019 \u2014 released two months earlier \u2014 sat close behind at number two.<\/p>\n

In an interview with i-D<\/a> published Friday (March 6), SZA reflected on the achievement that catapulted her to newfound popularity. \u201cMy label told me that it was likely that I wouldn\u2019t beat Taylor Swift, and I should prepare for that,\u201d she told the publication.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was laughing by week three,\u201d she continued. \u201cIt was just like, \u2018What is this? I never even imagined I could be on the radio.’\u201d<\/p>\n

SZA recalled that her label once told her it was unlikely she\u2019d beat Taylor Swift during their 2023 chart battle.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy label told me that it was likely that I wouldn\u2019t beat Taylor Swift, and I should prepare for that. I was laughing by week three. It was just like, \u2018What is this?\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/237b0MLvzW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SZA Stats (@szaonstats) March 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

At the time, SZA denied rumours was feuding with Swift after their respective fandoms speculated that the two artists could be clashing behind the scenes, but SZA was quick to clarify that wasn\u2019t the case<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cUhh I feel silly that I even have to say this but i see supporters arguing and I hate that,\u201d SZA tweeted. \u201cI don\u2019t have beef w ANYONE especially not Taylor lmao I genuinely loved her album and the writing! Everyone\u2019s jus tryna do their BEST as we all should.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swift later returned the love on social media<\/a>. She shared a post celebrating \u2018Midnights\u2019 cut \u2018Anti-Hero\u2019 hitting its eighth week at the top spot on the Billboard\u00a0Hot 100 chart, making it her longest-leading single, surpassing the seven weeks \u20181989\u2019 single \u2018Blank Space\u2019 spent on the top of the chart.<\/p>\n

Taking to Instagram to mark the milestone, Swift shared a screenshot of Billboard\u2018s tweet about the achievement on her Stories. She concluded by writing: \u201cBeen listening to [SZA\u2019s] album nonstop. Absolutely adore her music. So much love and respect for her!!\u201d<\/p>\n

SZA \u2013 whose \u2018SOS\u2019 track \u2018Kill Bill\u2019 was at that time Number Two on the Hot 100 \u2013 reposted the story adding: \u201cCongratulations to Tay Tay! And thank you so much your album and writing is phenomenal\u2026 as always.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taylor Swift shows love to SZA and her album, \u2018SOS\u2019: <\/p>\n

\u201cBeen listening to SZA\u2019s album nonstop. Absolutely adore her music. So much love and respect for her!!\ud83d\udc97\u201d pic.twitter.com\/BWeESIBTz0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) January 17, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n

SZA\u2019s continual praise for Swift\u2019s songwriting saw her hint at a potential collaboration last year<\/a>. During\u00a0an appearance on\u00a0The Jennifer Hudson Show, she touched on a time the two had talked at the Grammy Awards, and said she\u2019d love to write alongside her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so interesting to me,\u201d she explained. \u201cEvery time she walks up to me or approaches me, I\u2019m just like, \u2018All right, this is happening, because that\u2019s fully Taylor Swift\u2019. I think what I mentioned was that I would love to write with her and love to build some things together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love her storytelling. She was open to it,\u201d the \u2018Kill Bill\u2019 artist added. \u201cI think she\u2019s awesome. She\u2019s so bossed up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reviewing\u00a0\u2018SOS\u2019<\/a>,\u00a0NME\u00a0awarded the album five stars and described it as \u201ca comeback album well worth the wait\u201d. It added: \u201cThe US star\u2019s first album in five years \u2013 and her last ever, she says \u2013 is sprawling, superb and rarely puts a foot wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

More recently, SZA shared an uplifting new track called \u2018Save The Day\u2019, which is set to feature in Disney and Pixar\u2019s Hoppers<\/a>, while Swift announced a\u00a0Chris Lake<\/a>\u00a0EDM remix of \u2018Opalite\u2019, inspired by her fianc\u00e9, Travis Kelce<\/a>.<\/p>\n