Episode 4: Song Review: 'Ain't My Fault' By: Zara Larsson

So we head close to the end of the year. So people start predicting what the famous year-end list will look like with either Drake or Justin Bieber getting the biggest song of the year. With 2016 being considered one of the worst years for music in history, It is a question how 2017 will turn out. It has some promise with The Weeknd about to release a new album soon, Bruno Mars is making his comeback and Lady Gaga making personal music that actually sounds good. And then we have artists that just had their breakout years and might stick around if we are lucky with acts like Twenty One Pilots, Alessia Cara, Tory Lanez, and of course, Zara Larsson.

We have Zara Larsson, a Swedish singer who got first known in the Swedish version of 'Got Talent' in 2008 and was known only in Sweden with her debut album '1'. That was until around the end of 2015 when she started getting attraction everywhere else with songs like 'Lush Life' and 'Never Forget You' (Both of them great btw). And they are said to be part of her upcoming album.

There was a time where it seemed like Zara Larsson could do no wrong. And then there came her newest single 'Ain't My Fault' that will also be part of the next idol. When the song and video came out, people seemed to not like it. It is so far near the bottom of the Hot 100 and people I know say that this is the least of the 3 songs I just mentioned. So, I thought I take a look at it as it is a song that isn't doing as well as 'Lush life' or 'Never Forget You' and it's from a singer that I do like. So with that said, is the song as bad as people say it is?

I listened to it several times on Spotify, and I'm conflicted on this one actually. While I can agree that it isn't as good as the other 2 singles, there are things to like about it. It doesn't make the song great but it is good to praise something about a song that has problems. Let's dive right into it.

The Production:

Yeah, it sounds nice. One of the producers of the song was MNEK who was a feature in 'Never Forget You', and with these 2 songs, the guy could have big success one day. One thing that stands out for me in the production is what sounds like a saxophone. Maybe it is a soft spot for me with saxophones in songs, it be works here. I can see myself dancing to it when the time is right. The beatdown and clap is ok at best. And the drop is quite spot on.


The Singer:

Zara Larsson is a good singer and her presence alone can make the song at least decent. One of the big criticism said in this song is that Zara sounds too much like Rhianna. While, yes there are times I can hear Rhianna in it, but I let it slide as she still has a lot of presence in it and there is actual effort. While I do like Rihanna and she made great songs in the past, her recent work has been really been more miss than hit. Especially when it comes to her vocals. I had to do a lot of research to understand what she was saying in 'Work' and she wasn't that great in 'This is what you came for' and don't get me started with 'B**ch better have my money' and 'Birthday Cake' with Chris Brown. Basically what I'm saying is that you known it is bad when Ariana Grande of all people start making fun of you for your performance. So while Zara Larsson does a Rihanna like performance, it is better than what Rihanna has done in recent years. So I still gave it a plus.

The Lyrics:

Here is where things get complicated. Instead of the 'I will steal your lover' song that is more popular then it really should, Zara goes for 'I want to be with you even if you have someone' which can work. Zara keeps saying that should not be at fault if they hook up as she is turned on by him. And in the chorus she keeps saying 'No, no, no, it's your fault not mine.' Maybe it is just me, but if you are willing to hook up with him despite knowing that he is in a relationship already, you are equally at fault as it is his. It is basically, to quote TheMysteriousMrEnter: 'What I'm doing is wrong. I know it's wrong, but I'm gonna do it anyway.' That's basically what the lyrics are like.


Final Conclusion

I can see why people aren't crazy about this song with the Rihanna impersonation, the lyrics can be tough to deal with, and even the production is a bit more dark and not as fun as the last 2 singles. While I don't enjoy it as the other 2 songs it probably won't make any best lists I make, it is a decent enough song. Like I said, I think the Rihanna impersonation is good, Zara Larsson herself is fun to hear, I do like the dark production and I could see it growing on me as time goes by.

For now, the ranking will be a 6/10. It would be higher if the lyrics were worked on a little more. With a voice as loud as Zara Larsson, it is hard to ignore lyrics. There is a part of me that hopes it gets bigger especially when the album gets released. But I wouldn't be surprised if the song ends up flopping.

Thank you guys for listening. I'll see you guys next week for the next episode.