Kingdom feat. SZA What is Love (2017)
Much is said, written and sung on the subject of love. It is an intrinsic part of human experience, with a range of competing definitions and descriptions. From the innocence and sincerity of first love to the dread of unrequited love. A recurring sentiment in the creative works of human beings is the hope and desire to love and be loved.
Unrequited love is a common theme documented by our poets, writers, singers and playwrights, perhaps because our society defines value by scarcity, so the lack of a lover or the scarcity of love piques our collective curiosity. Maybe it's the thrill of risking it all without any certainty that keeps unrequited love alive. Maybe it’s just low self-esteem. Whatever the cause, it is curious that society doesn’t seem to be interested in the experience of the object of these unwanted affections. The human heart remains such a mystery.
Whether it be unrequited or reciprocated, generations of poets have dazzled the public with their musings on romance. From Shakespeare, to Yeats, Keats and now SZA, love is never far from the minds of creatives. In this case SZA is thinking out loud, asking whether her lover will be the one to rescue her. This longing is laced over a banging production from Los Angeles-based Night Slugs-affiliate Kingdom, keeping the sentiment super cool and collected. A stellar collaboration.
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