"Good Days"
Single by SZA
from the album SOS
WrittenDecember 11, 2019 (2019-12-11)–2020
ReleasedDecember 25, 2020 (2020-12-25)
RecordedApril 2020
StudioSZA's house (Malibu, California)
Genre
Length4:39
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
SZA singles chronology
"Hit Different"
(2020)		 "Good Days"
(2020)		 "Kiss Me More"
(2021)
Music video
"Good Days" on YouTube

"Good Days" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA on December 25, 2020, as the lead single from her second studio album, SOS (2022).[1][2] SZA wrote the song alongside Jacob Collier, who provides background vocals, and with producers Carter Lang, Los Hendrix, and Nascent.[3]

"Good Days" peaked at number nine on the Billboard Global 200; it was SZA's first song to chart in the top 10 of the Global 200. The song was also a top-10 hit in Australia, Ireland, Lithuania, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States. "Good Days" was met with critical acclaim and was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background and release

SZA first teased the song on July 15, 2020, via her Instagram stories.[4] "Good Days" was originally featured at the tail end of the music video for "Hit Different", released in September 2020, leading to speculation among listeners that it would serve as a B-side to that single.[5] On October 21, 2020, SZA explained that the song was "in clearance" for release.[6] A week before release, she confirmed the track to come out before 2021.[7] The song was eventually released as a surprise drop on Christmas Day 2020.[8] Upon release, the singer revealed that she started writing the song during a session on Carter Lang's birthday and "finished it randomly recently".[9]

Composition

"Good Days" is an alternative R&B and alternative pop song.[10] Dubbed a "nostalgic track",[11] "Good Days" sees SZA singing about "former love, soul searching, and rejoicing carefreely" over "guitar-tinged riff plays",[12][13] while she makes use of her "dreamy vocals".[14] Compared to its predecessor, the song "manages to hit much more of a melodic, narrative-driven tone that puts it more in line with her Ctrl output".[15]

The accending tone inserted at the end of the song is an easter egg of Jacob Collier's song "In Too Deep".[16]

Commercial performance

After its release in late–December 2020, "Good Days" peaked[17] within the top 10 of the Billboard Global 200 in January. It was SZA's first song to chart in the top 10 on the chart, and it did so in January 2021, with 32.3 million international streams and 4000 digital copies.[18]

In the United States, "Good Days" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 38 dated on January 9, 2021.[19] The song later reached a new peak at number nine on the Hot 100; it became SZA's first top-10 entry in a lead credit and her third overall, following "What Lovers Do"[note 1] and "All the Stars".[note 2][20] On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, "Good Days" marked SZA's second top-five entry, after "All the Stars".[21] On Billboard airplay charts, it entered on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Rhythmic, and the pop-driven Mainstream Top 40, with peaks of 23,[22] 16,[23] and 33,[24] respectively. In April 2023, after selling over five million units, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the song quintuple platinum.[25]

"Good Days" debuted on multiple singles charts worldwide. It peaked at number three in New Zealand,[26] and number eight in Ireland[27] and Singapore.[28] The song reached the top 10 in Lithuania[29] and was the eighth most streamed international song in Malaysia for a week.[30] It became SZA's third top-10 entry in Australia[31] and was certified triple platinum for selling over 210,000 units.[32]

Accolades

Critical rankings for "Good Days"
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Pitchfork The 100 Best Songs of 2021 20 [33]
Awards and nominations for "Good Days"
Year Organization Award Result Ref(s)
2021 MTV Video Music Awards Best R&B Nominated [34]
2022 Grammy Awards Best R&B Song Nominated [35]

Music videos

Two music videos were released for "Good Days". Both videos were directed by SZA.

Official fan video

On January 13, 2021, SZA tweeted a request for fans to submit videos of their "happiest, saddest, [and] YOUR UGLIEST moments" to an email address, with a deadline of Saturday at midnight.[36] The fan video was released on February 10, 2021, and featured a compilation of videos submitted by fans lip-syncing to the song as well as featuring the aforementioned moments intercut with behind-the-scenes footage of the official video.

Music video

On March 5, 2021, the official music video was released. The video takes place with SZA experiencing a mushroom-induced psychedelic experience. It features scenes of SZA dancing while buried waist up in an oversized Alice in Wonderland-inspired garden and pole-dancing in a library. Jacob Collier cameos in the video as the man within the green television.[37] In a similar fashion to the video for "Hit Different", the video ends with a teaser of "Shirt" and features SZA pole-dancing at an empty gas station while bathed in pink lighting.[38][39][40][41]

Credits

Adapted from the liner notes of SOS[42] and the Los Angeles Times[43]

Recording and management

  • Recorded at SZA's house (Malibu, California)
  • Mastered at Becker Mastering (Pasadena, California)

Personnel

  • Solána Rowe (SZA) – vocals, songwriting
  • Carter Lang – songwriting, production
  • Christopher Ruelas (Nascent) – songwriting, production
  • Carlos Munoz (Loshendrix) – songwriting, production
  • Jacob Collier[lower-alpha 1] – songwriting
  • Rob Bisel – vocal production, recording
  • Shawn Everett – mixing
  • Joe Visciano – vocal mixing
  • Dale Becker – mastering
  • Katie Harvey – assistant mastering
  • Noah McCorkle – assistant mastering

Note

  1. ↑ Contributed uncredited vocals

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Good Days"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[72] 3× Platinum 120,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[73] 5× Platinum 400,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[74] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[75] Gold 100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[76] Platinum 30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[77] Gold 25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[78] Platinum 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[79] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[25] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡
Streaming
Sweden (GLF)[80] Gold 4,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates for "Good Days"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various December 25, 2020 RCA [1]
United States January 12, 2021 Urban adult contemporary [81]
Italy January 29, 2021 Radio airplay Sony [82]

Notes

  1. ↑ 2017 collaboration with Maroon 5
  2. ↑ 2018 collaboration with Kendrick Lamar

References

  1. 1 2 Daly, Rhian (December 25, 2020). "Listen to SZA's dreamy new song 'Good Days'". NME. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  2. ↑ Young, Alex (December 25, 2020). "SZA Shares New Single "Good Days": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  3. ↑ Rettig, James (December 25, 2020). "SZA – "Good Days"". Stereogum. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  4. ↑ Cho, Regina (December 25, 2020). "SZA shares new single "Good Days"". Revolt. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  5. ↑ Bloom, Madison (December 25, 2020). "SZA Shares New Song "Good Days": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  6. ↑ Langford, Jackson (October 22, 2020). "SZA says unreleased song at end of 'Hit Different' video is "in clearance" for release". NME. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  7. ↑ Higgins, Keenan (December 18, 2020). "SZA Hints That "Good Days" Single Will Arrive Before 2021". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  8. ↑ Kiefer, Halle (December 25, 2020). "SZA Drops Her New Single 'Good Days' to Enjoy on Your Christmas Days". Vulture. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  9. ↑ @sza (December 26, 2020). "I started it on @carterplaysbass birthday 12/11. all my music friends have sessions for their bdays always fun . finished it randomly recently" (Tweet). Retrieved December 27, 2020 – via Twitter.
  10. ↑ "TRACK REVIEW: SZA - Good Days". Music Musings & Such. December 27, 2020.
  11. ↑ Waite, Thom (December 25, 2020). "Listen to SZA's new song, 'Good Days'". Dazed Digital. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  12. ↑ Duong, Paul "Big Homie" (December 25, 2020). "New Music: SZA "Good Days"". Rap Radar. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  13. ↑ Caraan, Sophie (December 26, 2020). "SZA Still Believes in "Good Days" With New Single". Hypebeast. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  14. ↑ Navjosh (December 25, 2020). "SZA Unveils New Song 'Good Days': Listen". HipHopNMore. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  15. ↑ White, Caitlin (December 25, 2020). "SZA Just Dropped 'Good Days,' Her Second New Song Of 2020". Uproxx. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Good Days by SZA". Genius. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  17. 1 2 "Billboard Global 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  18. ↑ Trust, Gary (January 19, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drivers License' Launches Atop Both Billboard Global Charts". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Good Days by SZA | Billboard The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  20. ↑ Trust, Gary (January 19, 2021). "Morgan Wallen, SZA Hit Hot 100's Top 10, Chris Brown & Young Thug Rule Radio Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  21. ↑ Anderson, Trevor (November 9, 2022). "SZA's 'Shirt' Starts in Top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  22. 1 2 "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  23. 1 2 "SZA Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  24. 1 2 "SZA Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  25. 1 2 "American single certifications – SZA – Good Days". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  26. 1 2 "SZA – Good Days". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  27. 1 2 "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  28. 1 2 "RIAS Top Charts - Week 4 (22 - 28 Jan 2021)". Recording Industry Association Singapore. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  29. 1 2 "2021 4-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 29, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  30. 1 2 "#RIMChart Top 20 Most Streamed International + Domestic song Week 4 (22/01/21- 28/01/21)". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  31. 1 2 "SZA – Good Days". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  32. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  33. ↑ Blum, Dani (December 6, 2021). "The 100 Best Songs of 2021". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  34. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (August 11, 2021). "2021 MTV VMAs: Justin Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Olivia Rodrigo Lead Nominations". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  35. ↑ Horton, Adrian (April 3, 2022). "Grammy awards 2022: list of winners". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  36. ↑ "SZA Asked Fans To Submit Clips For Her 'Good Days' Video". UPROXX. January 14, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  37. ↑ @jacobcollier (March 7, 2021). "The unreal @sza just dropped the official video for 'Good Days'!! SZA sent me the demo for this song last year, to my definitive flabbergastedness, asking if I wanted to record any harmonies. I recorded these tracks and sent them back. The fact that this song now has 300,000,000 streams across all platforms blows my actual mind. I'm so proud of what it has become, and of SZA's incandescent vision. If you peer closely at the video she dropped yesterday, you'll find me within the green television 😊". Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021 – via Instagram.
  38. ↑ "SZA Shares Fantasy Dreamland Visuals for "Good Days" Video". Complex. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  39. ↑ "SZA Takes a Mushroom-Fueled Trip to Wonderland in 'Good Days' Video". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  40. ↑ Kiefer, Halle (March 5, 2021). "Spring Has Sprung in SZA's 'Good Days' Music Video". Vulture. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  41. ↑ Kinnett, Tristan (March 8, 2021). "SZA Trips Out in New Video for "Good Days"". mxdwn.com. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  42. ↑ SZA (2023). SOS (vinyl liner notes). Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. 19658-77921-1.
  43. ↑ Exposito, Suzy (February 23, 2023). "Your Favorite Artist's Favorite Artist: How SZA Went from Cult Star to Pop Superstar". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  44. ↑ "SZA – Good Days" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  45. ↑ "SZA – Good Days" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  46. ↑ "SZA – Good Days" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  47. ↑ "SZA Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  48. ↑ "SZA – Good Days". Tracklisten. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  49. 1 2 Pennanen, Timo (2021). "SZA". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 252. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  50. ↑ "SZA – Good Days" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  51. ↑ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  52. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 8, 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  53. ↑ "SZA – Good Days" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
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  55. ↑ "SZA – Good Days". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  56. ↑ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 20215 into search. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  57. ↑ "SZA – Good Days". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  58. ↑ "SZA – Good Days". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  59. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  60. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
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  62. ↑ "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  63. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  64. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  65. ↑ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  66. ↑ "Tónlistinn – Lög – 2021" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  67. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 2021". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  68. ↑ "Top 1000 Singles + EPs Digitais: Semanas 01 a 52 de 2021" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  69. ↑ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
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  72. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Sza – Good Days" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  73. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – SZA – Good Days". Music Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  74. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Sza – Good Days". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  75. ↑ "French single certifications – Sza – Good Days" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  76. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Sza – Good Days". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  77. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 27, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Good Days in the search box.
  78. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Sza – Good Days" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  79. ↑ "British single certifications – SZA – Good Days". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  80. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – SZA" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  81. ↑ "Urban/UAC Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  82. ↑ Pagura, Chiara. "SZA "Good Days" | (Radio Date: 29/01/2021)". Radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved February 20, 2022.
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