Upon the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album, “Still Over It”, Summer Walker closed out the 2021 year with a bang. The 20-song collection skyrocketed to No.1 on Apple Music within just hours as Summer served listeners with all the vibes. As her mellow voice caresses each beat with unapologetic candor and raw honesty, she shares the journey through her toxic relationship with producer London on the Track, the heartbreak it caused, and how she ultimately overcame both. In honor of Valentine’s Day, love should be celebrated all month.
However, it does not always mean emotion towards a significant other. Sometimes, celebrating love means valuing yourself enough to realize that you are truly OVER IT and deserve better. By listening to some of the album’s hottest tracks from a deeper perspective, women who are also experiencing the whirlwind of an unhealthy relationship can gain hope and learn the importance of happiness over history.
Summer kicks off “Still Over It” with a beautiful yet frightening background chorus on the track “Bitter” stating “Better quit playing with me.” The track addresses rumors started by London’s previous girlfriend, which made headlines in early September. Summer dismisses the comments confidently throughout the track, assertively defending her companion. She uses lines such as “Just cause y’all got a past, that don’t mean you got a future/This mine for life/No switching sides.” She becomes so entangled in her love cycle that she cannot see the wrongdoings of her lover which lie right in front of her. Insinuating a friend that realizes she is being blinded by love, a voice message from rapper Cardi B appears at the end of the track, encouraging Summer to take charge of her own story.
The track is followed by “Ex for a Reason,” an anthem for all women who refuse to tolerate disloyalty. Although she stands for commitment throughout the song, she also deprives herself of it as she mainly targets the “other woman” instead of confronting London and his infidelities. Instead of holding him accountable, she boasts him as a trophy and indirectly condones his behavior. While she feels like the winner for being in a relationship with him, she is ultimately losing her inner peace and sense of self-worth.
In “No Love” she expresses her desire to be free of her partner’s toxic traits while simultaneously enjoying the intimate aspects of their relationship. “Tell me what’s changed, is it my status?” she pleads near the end of the song, revealing her hurt and the reasons for her emotional detachment. It is at this point in the album that a pattern emerges as the tracks that follow contain several standouts but fail to differentiate themselves in terms of the subject matter, which she details in “Circus” and the emotional rollercoaster thereof.
She also discusses her partner’s disinterest and inability to “Reciprocate” as examples of the relationship’s disintegration. Although each song is enjoyable to listen to, her stories lose their spark as they begin to blend into one another and become nothing more than just a “vibe”, similar to the relationship.
Thankfully, with “Session 33” and “4th Baby Mama,” she reaches a pinnacle of emotional honesty and insight. The acoustic outtake “Session 33” continues the theme of the previously released “Session 32,” reflecting on her lover’s failed potential and the pain that comes with realizing that he was never going to be the one. Meanwhile, on “4th Baby Mama,” she provides her final thoughts on her relationship with London and the record as a whole, as she nears the closure she deserves.
The album ends with a past prayer from singer Ciara following her relationship with rapper Future in which she highlights her faith and patience in God that He will send her the right man. Looking upon her current marriage with NFL football player Russell Wilson, it undoubtedly gives hope and emphasizes that every failed relationship does not equate to a loss. From beginning to end, Summer Walker’s courage shines through her voice on the album. She has every reason to be proud of her emotional honesty and reinstallation of self-love, as do you. For those who have overcome a toxic relationship, I overly applaud you. For those who are currently experiencing one, you are beautiful and you deserve better. Let go, love yourself, and let love find you!