R&B singer Summer Walker released her sophomore album, Still Over It, on Nov. 5, a continuation of her 2019 album, Over It.
The album was a success and reached platinum back in May 2020. But who can blame her? Over It is an album about wanting to be loved the right way, but he just never gets it right.
Songs on this album like “Playing Games” embody Walker’s frustration about being with someone who is emotionally unavailable. “Did I ever ask you to take me to go shopping in Paris or go sailing overseas or just drape me in Gucci? No. All I ever asked was you to pick up the phone when you alone,” Walker pleads throughout the track.
Asking for the bare minimum in a relationship can be painful, and Walker turned that hurt into beautiful melodies. Her 2018 single, “Session 32,” consisting of raw vocals, guitar strings and a teary voice, has become one of her most personal songs. Still Over It offers “Session 33,” another heartbreaking and private track that follows the footsteps of its predecessor.
However, Walker’s sophomore album includes romantic songs as well. Take “Anna Mae,” a tantalizing song about being with a man who’s in a relationship while you are too. This song is alleged to be about the father of her daughter, music producer London Tyler Holmes, professionally known as London on da Track. Holmes worked on Over It with Walker and the two were in an on-and-off relationship for two years.
During their tumultuous relationship, Walker and Holmes have been very public about their issues on social media. London had children with three other women prior to his relationship with Walker, all of which have quarreled with Walker on Instagram. She addresses these women in the first song of the new album, titled “Bitter” (personally one of my favorites).
Walker and Holmes called it quits for good this year and well … it did not have a happy ending. Walker addresses Holmes directly in multiple songs like “Bitter” or “4th Baby Mama.” It’s a heartbreaking album, but she ends the album on a hopeful note with Ciara’s Prayer — praying for a better man.
Aside from Ciara, she included other R&B artists such as Ari Lennox on “Unloyal” and SZA on “No Love.” These artists gave the album the cherry on top with their unique vocals.
Prior to releasing the album, Walker provided us a timeline for the songs on her instagram.
This timeline takes us through her painful relationship with Holmes , allowing the listener to connect with the music. So, if you haven’t already, go stream Still Over It. And have some tissues next to you, just in case “Session 33” hits a little too close to home.
Featured Image by Tara Phipps