SOS Tour explained

Concert Tour Name:SOS Tour
Border:yes
Artist:SZA
Album:SOS
Number Of Shows:63
Gross:$95.5million
Last Tour:Ctrl the Tour
(2017–2018)
This Tour:SOS Tour
(2023–2024)
Next Tour:...

The SOS Tour was the second concert tour and first arena tour by American singer-songwriter SZA, in support of her second studio album, SOS (2022). It was announced on December 13 alongside merchandise for the album, four days after the album's release. The international tour took place in North America for the first and third legs, Europe for the second, and Oceania for the fourth, totalling to 63 shows.

Lasting for about 90 minutes, every show had a set list of over 30 songs, most of which were from SOS. Some were taken from Ctrl (2017), her debut studio album. Select shows had surprise guests who performed with SZA songs on which they had collaborated. Omar Apollo, Raye, and D4vd were the opening acts for each leg, respectively.

A nautical visual motif persisted throughout the concerts, and theatrical and cinematic influences were apparent. This was intentional; with the tour, SZA aimed for catharsis: to "pop ass and cry and give theater". There was a loose plot where a fishing trawler sailed to sea and sunk, some moments referenced the films Titanic (1997) and Kill Bill (2003–2004), and the production was inspired by Broadway and Disney films like Cinderella (1950). Stage settings included a pier, the trawler, a lighthouse, and a seabed. Every show began and ended with SZA on a diving board, recreating the SOS cover art. To start the show, she appeared to jump off the board and into the waters below her, done through pre-filmed visual effects.

Background

SZA's debut studio album, Ctrl, was released in 2017. Her next, SOS, was highly awaited. This was in large part due to Ctrl critical acclaim, as well as the five-year-long wait and the several delays that occurred surrounding SOS release.[1] [2] [3] In November 2022, SZA told Billboard that the album would come out the following month. She posted the track list via Twitter on December 5, and SOS was released four days later[4] [5] to critical and commercial success.[6]

In promotion of SOS, SZA announced merchandise for the album on December 13. At the same time, she revealed she would go on tour in early 2023 in support of the album.[7] She wrote on Instagram, "Time to take this shit on the road!"[8] Tickets went on sale via SZA's website on December 16, at 12 pm local time,[9] with pre-sales hosted by Ticketmaster one day beforehand.[10] Several publications called the tour one of 2023's most anticipated; some cited the critical acclaim of SOS and the years-long wait for SZA's album.

The SOS Tour is SZA's second concert tour—following Ctrl the Tour which ended in 2018[11] —and also her first arena tour.[12] She was set to perform only in North America, with dates in 17 cities across Canada and the United States.[13] Omar Apollo, who never toured in arenas before, was announced as the concerts' opening act.[14] [15] The first concert was on February 21, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio, and the last was on March 23, 2023, in Inglewood, California. One date in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, scheduled for March 2, was postponed.[16]

Three weeks after the second Inglewood show, SZA announced 30 more shows for the SOS Tour due to high demand. It included a new leg in Western Europe,[17] with 10 dates in six countries. Pre-sales happened on April 12, 2023, starting 10 am local time, and an on-sale is planned for April 14 if there are leftover tickets.[18] British singer Raye performed as the opening act in nine of the dates.[19] After touring Europe, SZA returns to North America[20] for 21 concerts in the United States and another concert in Canada. The set of 21 US shows includes the postponed Philadelphia date. Pre-sales are on April 13 at 10 am local time, and tickets go on sale on April 14 at 12 pm local time.[21] In a November 2023 Variety interview with SZA for the magazine's Hitmaker of the Year award, author Jem Aswad revealed that a fourth leg set in Latin America and Oceania will take place in 2024.[22]

Concert synopsis

The SOS Tour's concerts were around 90 minutes long.[23] Every show featured prominent nautical visual elements,[24] and critics divided one show into four or five acts based on the stage scenery.[25] [26] The setup included footage of waters, projected onto video screens, alongside several large props like a boat or anchor, reinforcing the tour's visual theme. Accompanying SZA was a three-person band that flanked the stage throughout the concerts.[27] Four backup dancers were present[28] to perform interpretative dances;[29] at times they were dressed as sailors.

Set lists had over 30 songs.[30] [31] Apart from the standard SOS tracks, SZA performed various songs from Ctrl, such as "Love Galore", "Broken Clocks", and "Garden (Say It like Dat)".[32] She also included covers of "Bag Lady" (2000) by Erykah Badu and her collaborations with other artists, which include "All the Stars" (2018) with Kendrick Lamar and "Kiss Me More" (2021) with Doja Cat.[33] Other song choices were "PSA"[34] and in some shows "DTM",[35] both of which are unreleased songs set to appear on the reissue of SOS, Lana.[36] Select shows featured surprise guests; most were artists with whom she had worked on songs in the past.[37] [38]

A concert began with SZA's recreation of the album's cover art—which shows her atop a diving board in the middle of the ocean—backed by "PSA". The screen projected a pre-filmed scene in which, through visual effects, her silhouette throws her microphone at the ocean and dives into the water headfirst.[39] [40] Emerging for "Seek & Destroy", SZA and her backup dancers appeared behind the first stage setting, a pier into which a fishing trawler is docked.[41] [42]

When SZA performed "Shirt", visuals of puddled, gushing water followed her and her dancers across the stage.[43] After a brief costume change backed by "Smoking on My Ex Pack", SZA appeared on top of a life-sized sailboat beside a pier. Following a performance of her rock song "F2F", in which she and her guitarist headbanged to channel a mosh pit, the screen and stage floor projected a scene of a turbulent sea, leading her to retreat to a floating life raft. It took SZA to the opposite end of the arena, on which stood a lighthouse 20feet tall.[44]

SZA performed a medley of "Supermodel" (Ctrl), "Special", "Nobody Gets Me", and "Gone Girl", as the raft transported her across the venue.[45] The storm-themed backdrop ended once she reached the other side. There, she did another costume change. She wore red biker pants and a motor suit with a spiked ball and chain in hand, recreating her outfit in the music video for "Kill Bill". Her prop was a callback to a scene in (2003) where Gogo Yubari fought the protagonist, the Bride, at the House of Blue Leaves using a meteor hammer.

A bookending performance of "Good Days" marked the concert's encore. SZA concluded the show back on the diving board, as the screen projected a scene of the sun either rising or setting. In some shows, "20 Something" (Ctrl) was the final song. Home videos of her deceased grandmother, who died in 2019, played during the performance.[46] [47] After the concert, the screen projected an image of stars arranged to form the phrase "The End". Credits rolled, beginning with the acknowledgment of SZA as the creative director. Also included were the truck drivers, technical crew, dancers, choreographers, and backing musicians. After the credits appeared a teaser for a music video for the SOS track "Low", which depicts SZA as she uses a flamethrower.[38]

Aesthetic

Theater and film influences

SZA's approach with the tour was to "pop ass and cry and give theater", aiming for catharsis through cinematics and theatrics. She told Billboard: "I want it to be smart and exhilarating and exhausting and exciting like a party, but also like a therapy session."[48] Broadway performances were her primary basis for the tour's production. She fused these inspirations with the visual styles of circus shows from Cirque du Soleil. Another aesthetic influence SZA cited was the film Suspiria (1977), which is dominated by vibrant, saturated colors.[49]

The tour's cinematic and theatrical proclivities are apparent in several ways. Included are the use of credits alongside elaborate set designs and props. Bolstering the film influences are homages to Titanic (1997)—showed through the sunken-ship setting and SZA's open-arms pose at the trawler's bow—and the Kill Bill duology, showed through SZA's meteor hammer and Crazy 88 reference.

Disney films also influenced the SOS Tour's production. SZA described it as a "Cinderella moment where there's weird, ethereal, mystical, soft things" combined with a "hardcore edge", reflected through the sets and costumes.[50] While performing the medley, SZA wore a yellow tulle gown for the shows' third outfit, reminiscent of the character Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991). Apart from this and Cinderella (1950), the stage design and outfits took inspiration from other Disney films such as Aladdin (1992), Treasure Planet (2002) and The Little Mermaid (1989).

Outfits

There were six wardrobe changes throughout the concerts. When SZA began with "PSA", she wore a variant of the St. Louis Blues hockey jersey, with its number substituted for an "S" to recall the SOS cover art.[38] Printed on the back was "Yemaya", the name of a water spiritess of the Yoruba peoples in West Africa.[51]

Alejandra Hernandez styled SZA's garments, having collaborated since 2016 for the "Drew Barrymore" music video. Many designers contacted SZA before the tour and pitched ideas for her outfits, but she turned everyone down. Trusting Hernandez, she believed they had to "make [their] own thing". Comfort was the point behind curating SZA's looks, in two senses of the word. SZA wanted the outfits to feel comfortable, and she wanted to feel comfortable being herself.[52]

Part of SZA's fashion sense was an affinity for oversized varsity jackets, reflected on the first costume, so Hernandez knew to always have several in their wardrobe. SZA also favored baggy men's jeans, and vintage menswear from the 1990s and early 2000s. Her clothes for many live appearances preceding the tour were frequently varsity jackets and conventional men's apparel.

It was Hernandez's first time being a stylist for arena tours. She constructed many of the garments by hand, and she ensured the designs were practical for the swift wardrobe changes. During the first dress rehearsal, however, the crew realized it was not the case. Now aware their collection was too extravagant, she and her tailor overhauled the entire wardrobe by upcycling the elaborate pieces into something simpler. They cut up many bottom wear to turn them into upper wear. She told Vogue about the third outfit: "The raft jacket she wears when she floats over the audience? That's a jacket I had to hand sew. That piece didn't exist in the wardrobe, it was gonna be worn under a skirt."

Analysis

Critics analyzed the nautical motif as metaphors for themes frequent to SZA's music.[53] Many of those critics wrote the tour's voyage premise, through props like the submarine and lighthouse, symbolized navigation of one's self to heal from a turbulent past.[54] One interpretation of SZA's diving into the ocean was it was a metaphorical diving, or contemplation, into the complex variety of emotions she channeled throughout the set list. Another compared it to her willingness to take risks with romances filled with uncertainties. The ocean, according to the interpretation, represented the highs and lows of love: "SZA's voyage mirrors the turbulence and good times that can be had in any relationship. Throughout the storms and moments of confusion, love always finds its way home."

Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times wrote an analysis of the "Special" performance, done by the lighthouse. To contextualize, he wrote the song discusses regrets about a man who failed to appreciate the best, special version of someone. In Wood's view, the lighthouse searchlight helps the concert attendee feel seen, reflecting the vulnerable, confessional qualities of "Special" and SZA's works as a whole. He said: "She puts all the detailed complexities of a messy personal life, with its betrayals and disappointments and compromises, into a highly focused beam that somehow makes her listeners feel uniquely [acknowledged]."

Commercial performance

According to Billboard, the SOS Tour finished 2023 as the year's 38th best-selling tour, grossing $57million and attracting at least 420,000 attendees within the boxscore tracking period. In total, the tour grossed $95.5 million and sold 674,000 tickets in 2023. Billboard wrote the "slow-burning success" of Ctrl on the US albums chart was a major contributor to the tour's commercial performance. To promote the album, SZA performed in places that could accommodate around 1,000 people, a relatively low capacity, such as Brooklyn Steel in New York City. Ctrl five-year run on the chart was a sign of anticipation for new music and thus, according to them, bolstered high demand for a tour that involved larger venues. This was the cause of the exponential rise in boxscore compared to the Ctrl Tour.

The SOS Tour's first leg sold 238,000tickets and grossed $34.5million, based on figures reported by Billboard. On average, each show earned $1.9million and drew 12,812attendees.[55] Dispersion of tickets sold per night was low, ranging from 11,069 in Atlanta and 14,383 in Toronto. San Diego attendance was an outlier. Due to the arena's relatively small capacity, it attracted only 8,700 people.[56] The nights that had the most attendees and biggest revenue were the back-to-back dates. The New York City and Inglewood concerts, respectively, sold 27,000 and 25,000tickets. Grossing $4.7 million were the New York City concerts, and grossing $3.9 million were the Inglewood concerts.[57]

At Emo's in Austin, SZA performed to an audience of 1,550, grossing $31,000. When she revisited the city and performed in the Moody Center, the show's attendance multiplied sevenfold, and she earned 55 times the 2017 show's revenue. Her back-to-back New York City shows saw 1,376% more concertgoers and at least 10,000% more gross compared to when she earned $45,000 from 1,800 attendees at the Brooklyn Steel concert.

Set list

2023This set list is from the Columbus show. It is not intended to represent all dates throughout the tour.
  1. "PSA"
  2. "Seek & Destroy"
  3. "Notice Me"
  4. "Conceited"
  5. "Love Galore"
  6. "Broken Clocks"
  7. "Forgiveless"
  8. "Used"
  9. "Bag Lady" (Erykah Badu cover)
  10. "Blind"
  11. "Shirt"
  12. "Too Late"
  13. "Smoking on My Ex Pack"
  14. "All the Stars"
  15. "Prom"
  16. "Garden (Say It like Dat)"
  17. "F2F"
  18. "Drew Barrymore"
  19. "Doves in the Wind"
  20. "Low"
  21. "Open Arms"
  22. "Supermodel"
  23. "Special"
  24. "Nobody Gets Me"
  25. "Gone Girl"
  26. "SOS"
  27. "Kiss Me More"
  28. "Love Language"
  29. "Snooze"
  30. "Kill Bill"
  31. "I Hate U"
  32. "The Weekend"
Encore
  1. "Good Days"
2024This set list is from the first Melbourne show. It is not intended to represent all dates throughout the tour.[58]
  1. "Seek & Destroy"
  2. "Love Galore"
  3. "Broken Clocks"
  4. "Forgiveless"
  5. "Ghost in the Machine"
  6. "Blind"
  7. "Shirt"
  8. "Awkward"
  9. "All the Stars"
  10. "Low"
  11. "Prom"
  12. "Garden (Say It like Dat)"
  13. "Open Arms"
  14. "F2F"
  15. "Drew Barrymore"
  16. "Supermodel" / "Special"
  17. "Nobody Gets Me"
  18. "Normal Girl"
  19. "Kiss Me More"
  20. "Love Language"
  21. "Snooze"
  22. "I Hate U"
  23. "Kill Bill"
  24. "The Weekend"
  25. "Good Days"
  26. "Go Gina"
Encore
  1. "20 Something"

Surprise guests

The following is a list of surprise special guests that accompanied SZA during the SOS Tour. A dagger indicates a collaboration between SZA and the guest.

  1. Phoebe Bridgers for "Ghost in the Machine" (2022)
    • March 4, 2023 – New York City[59]
    • March 23, 2023 – Inglewood[60]
  2. Cardi B for "I Do" (2017) and "Tomorrow 2" (2022)
    • March 4, 2023 – New York City[59]
  3. Summer Walker for "No Love" (2022)
    • March 7, 2023 – Atlanta[38]
  4. Lil Baby for "Forever" (2022)
    • March 7, 2023 – Atlanta[38]
  5. Lizzo for the "Special" remix (2023)
    • March 23, 2023 – Inglewood[60]
  6. Travis Scott for "Love Galore" (2017) and "Low" (2022)
    • June 1, 2023 – Amsterdam[61]
    • June 13, 2023 – Manchester[62]
    • June 17, 2023 – London[62]
  7. Sexyy Red for "Rich Baby Daddy" (2023)
    • October 11, 2023 – St. Louis[63]
  8. Aliyah's Interlude for "It Girl" (2023)
    • April 26, 2024 – Sydney

Tour dates

Date! scope="col" style="width:10em;"
CityCountryVenueOpening actAttendance<--DO NOT ADD UNCITED ATTENDANCE/REVENUE FIGURES. ONLY THE TORONTO, NYC, ATLANTA, AND INGLEWOOD SHOWS ARE VERIFIED.-->Gross
February 21, 2023ColumbusUnited StatesSchottestein CenterOmar Apollorowspan="6"
February 22, 2023ChicagoUnited Center
February 24, 2023DetroitLittle Caesars Arena
February 25, 2023TorontoCanadaScotiabank Arena14,383 / 14,383
February 27, 2023Washington, D.C.United StatesCapital One Arenarowspan="2"
February 28, 2023BostonTD Garden
March 4, 2023New York CityMadison Square Garden26,574 / 26,574[64] $4,738,096
March 5, 2023
March 7, 2023AtlantaState Farm Arena11,069 / 11,069rowspan="8"
March 9, 2023AustinMoody Centerrowspan="7"
March 10, 2023DallasAmerican Airlines Center
March 13, 2023San DiegoViejas Arena
March 14, 2023OaklandOakland Arena
March 16, 2023Seattle
March 18, 2023PortlandModa Center
March 19, 2023VancouverCanadaRogers Arena
March 22, 2023InglewoodUnited StatesKia Forum25,026 / 25,026$3,862,099
March 23, 2023
June 1, 2023AmsterdamNetherlandsZiggo DomeRayerowspan="45"
June 3, 2023
June 5, 2023ParisFranceAccor Arena
June 7, 2023ZürichSwitzerlandHallenstadion
June 9, 2023BerlinGermanyMercedes-Benz Arena
June 11, 2023CologneLanxess Arena
June 13, 2023ManchesterUnited KingdomAO Arena
June 15, 2023GlasgowOVO Hydro
June 17, 2023LondonThe O2 ArenaRaye
June 18, 2023
June 21, 2023DublinIreland3Arena
June 22, 2023
June 25, 2023LondonUnited KingdomThe O2 Arena
June 26, 2023
September 20, 2023MiamiUnited StatesKaseya CenterD4vd
September 22, 2023TampaAmalie Arena
September 24NashvilleBridgestone Arena
September 26, 2023PhiladelphiaWells Fargo Center
September 28, 2023BaltimoreCFG Bank Arena
September 30, 2023BostonTD Garden
October 1, 2023NewarkPrudential Center
October 6, 2023BrooklynBarclays Center
October 7, 2023
October 10, 2023ChicagoUnited Center
October 11, 2023St. LouisEnterprise Center
October 14, 2023HoustonToyota Center
October 15, 2023San AntonioFrost Bank Center
October 18, 2023DenverBall Arena
October 19, 2023Salt Lake CityDelta Center
October 22, 2023Los AngelesCrypto.com Arena
October 23, 2023
October 26, 2023San FranciscoChase Center
October 28, 2023Las VegasT-Mobile Arena
October 29, 2023PhoenixFootprint Center
April 13, 2024AucklandNew ZealandSpark ArenaSir[65]
April 15, 2024
April 16, 2024
April 19, 2024BrisbaneAustraliaBrisbane Entertainment Centre
April 20, 2024
April 23, 2024SydneyQudos Bank Arena
April 24, 2024
April 26, 2024
April 29, 2024MelbourneRod Laver Arena
April 30, 2024
May 2, 2024
Total>674,000>$95,500,000[66]

Canceled shows

Date ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"
CityCountryVenueReason
October 4, 2023TorontoCanadaScotiabank ArenaIllness

Accolades

OrganizationYearAwardRecipient(s)Result
Pollstar AwardsHip-Hop Tour of the YearThe SOS North American Tour
R&B Tour of the Year

Notes and References

  1. Lee . Cydney . Lipshutz . Jason . Mamo . Heran . Robinson . Kristin . Unterberger . Andrew . January 4, 2023 . Five Burning Questions: SZA Holds at No. 1 for Third Week with SOS Album . live . . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20230105121108/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sza-sos-five-burning-questions-1235194018/ . January 5, 2023 . February 21, 2023.
  2. Web site: Kornhaber . Spencer . December 14, 2022 . What Gives SZA Her Edge . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221226021827/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/12/sza-sos-2022-album-review/672462/ . December 26, 2022 . February 21, 2023 . . en.
  3. Chow . Andrew R. . Mendez II . Moises . December 9, 2022 . Was SZA's SOS Worth the Wait? Breaking Down Its Best Songs and Big Themes . live . . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20221225142306/https://time.com/6239912/sza-sos/ . December 25, 2022 . February 21, 2023.
  4. Web site: Curto . Justin . December 5, 2022 . SZA Puts Fans on Alert, Announces New Album S.O.S . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221219211034/https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/sza-album-sos-release-date-details.html . December 19, 2022 . February 21, 2023 . . en-us.
  5. Paul . Larisha . December 5, 2022 . SZA Taps Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott for S.O.S Album . live . . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20221215144257/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-phoebe-bridgers-travis-scott-sos-tracklist-1234641720/ . December 15, 2022 . February 21, 2023 . limited.
  6. Web site: Houghton . Cillea . December 21, 2022 . SZA Reflects on Success of SOS: 'God Is Excellent' . February 21, 2023 . . en-US . December 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222122207/https://americansongwriter.com/sza-reflects-on-success-of-sos/ . live .
  7. Web site: Cowen . Trace William . December 14, 2022 . SZA Announces Details for First Arena Tour: 'Time to Take This Sh*t on the Road' . February 21, 2023 . . en . February 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210110110/https://www.complex.com/music/sza-arena-tour . live .
  8. Web site: Abraham . Mya . February 7, 2023 . SZA's Reign at No. 1 Thwarted by K-Pop Group, Tomorrow X Together . February 21, 2023 . . February 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209152940/https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/sza-sos-tomorrow-x-together-no-1-billboard-1234733435/ . live .
  9. Web site: Shanfeld . Ethan . December 13, 2022 . SZA Announces SOS Arena Tour with Omar Apollo . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213154805/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/sza-sos-tour-tickets-omar-apollo-1235459258/ . December 13, 2022 . February 21, 2023 . Variety.
  10. Web site: Graves . Wren . December 13, 2022 . SZA Announces 2023 'The SOS North American Tour' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230113011241/https://consequence.net/2022/12/sza-2023-s-o-s-north-american-tour/ . January 13, 2023 . February 21, 2023 . . en-US.
  11. Web site: Wang . Steffanee . December 14, 2022 . SZA Announced Her First-Ever Arena Tour Set for Spring 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221227110708/https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/sza-sos-2023-tour-dates-openers-how-to-buy-tickets . December 27, 2022 . February 21, 2023 . . en.
  12. Web site: Hussey . Allison . December 13, 2022 . SZA Announces 2023 North American Arena Tour . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109064017/https://pitchfork.com/news/sza-announces-2023-north-american-arena-tour/ . January 9, 2023 . February 21, 2023 . . en-US.
  13. Web site: Hudson . Alex . December 13, 2022 . SZA Announces 2023 North American Tour . February 21, 2023 . . en . January 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230114181035/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/sza_announces_2023_north_american_tour . live .
  14. Web site: Wilkes . Emma . December 13, 2022 . SZA Announces North American Arena Tour for 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221229002301/https://www.nme.com/news/music/sza-announces-north-american-arena-tour-2023-3366137 . December 29, 2022 . February 21, 2023 . . en-GB.
  15. Turner-Williams . Jaelani . February 22, 2023 . SZA Lives Up to All the Anticipation as She Launches Her SOS Tour . live . . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223065154/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/sza-sos-tour-launch-1234684064/ . February 23, 2023 . February 23, 2023 . limited.
  16. Web site: DeLuca . Dan . March 2, 2023 . SZA's Philly Concert at the Wells Fargo Center Is Postponed . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230302171012/https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/music/sza-concert-postponed-philadelphia-wells-fargo-center-sos-tour-20230302.html . March 2, 2023 . March 5, 2023 . . en.
  17. Web site: Dunworth . Liberty . April 11, 2023 . SZA announces new UK, Europe and US 2023 'SOS' tour dates . April 12, 2023 . NME . en-GB.
  18. Web site: Aswad . Jem . April 11, 2023 . SZA Unveils More 'S.O.S.' Tour Dates in North America and Europe . April 12, 2023 . Variety . en-US.
  19. Web site: April 11, 2023 . SZA Adds 2023 North American Tour Dates . April 12, 2023 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  20. Web site: Cohen . Jonathan . April 11, 2023 . SZA Expands S.O.S. World Tour . April 12, 2023 . Spin.
  21. Bowenbank . Starr . April 11, 2023 . SZA Extends S.O.S. Tour in North America & Europe: See the Dates . April 12, 2023 . Billboard . en-US.
  22. Web site: Aswad . Jem . November 29, 2023 . SZA, Variety's Hitmaker of the Year, Unpacks SOS, Her 9 Grammy Noms, and Says 'F— You' to Song Leakers . December 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  23. Web site: Rietmulder . Michael . March 17, 2023 . SZA's Therapeutic Party Slays Sold-Out Climate Pledge Arena . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325080915/https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/review-szas-therapy-session-party-elates-climate-pledge-arena-crowd/ . March 25, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . . en-US.
  24. Web site: Wood . Mikael . March 23, 2023 . At the Forum, the Enthralling Confessions of SZA . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404023315/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-03-23/sza-sos-kia-forum-concert-review . April 4, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . . en-US.
  25. Web site: Olivier . Bobby . March 5, 2023 . SZA, N.J.'s Hottest Superstar, Dominates at Milestone Madison Square Garden Concert . April 4, 2023 . . en . March 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308123200/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2023/03/sza-njs-hottest-superstar-dominates-at-milestone-madison-square-garden-concert-review.html . live .
  26. Web site: Stith . Deborah Sengupta . March 10, 2023 . SZA Takes an Austin Audience on an Epic Aquatic Adventure at the SOS Tour . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311192130/https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/10/sza-austin-sos-tour-moody-center-aquatic-adventure/69993845007/ . March 11, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . . en-US.
  27. Graff . Gary . Gary Graff . February 25, 2023 . SZA Takes Fans Through Emotional Seaside Journey During SOS Tour Stop in Detroit . live . . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20230330185600/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sza-sos-tour-detroit-concert-review-1235260884/ . March 30, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  28. Web site: Alvarado . Holly . March 23, 2023 . SZA's SOS Tour Takes Fans on an Emotional Voyage in Inglewood . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230330115102/https://www.dailybreeze.com/2023/03/23/szas-sos-tour-takes-fans-on-an-emotional-voyage-in-inglewood/ . March 30, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . . en-US.
  29. Havens . Lyndsey . March 23, 2023 . SZA Celebrates the Final Stop of Her SOS Tour: 'I Never Thought I Would Be Here' . live . . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20230330000126/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/sza-sos-tour-los-angeles-final-stop-recap-1235291551/ . March 30, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  30. Web site: Pointer . Flisadam . February 22, 2023 . What Songs Should You Expect SZA to Play on Her 'SOS Tour?' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223082244/https://uproxx.com/music/sza-setlist-sos-tour/ . February 23, 2023 . February 23, 2023 . . en-US.
  31. Web site: Johnston . Maura . Maura Johnston . March 1, 2023 . SZA Makes a Strong Connection at the TD Garden . subscription . live . https://archive.today/20230302155007/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/01/arts/sza-makes-strong-connection-td-garden/ . March 2, 2023 . March 2, 2023 . . en-US.
  32. Web site: Kress . Bryan . February 22, 2023 . SZA Smoothly Sails Through 'SOS Tour' Opener in Columbus, Ohio: Setlist + Video . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223075327/https://consequence.net/2023/02/sza-sos-tour-setlist-video-watch/ . February 23, 2023 . February 23, 2023 . . en-US.
  33. Web site: Graff . Gary . Gary Graff . February 25, 2023 . SZA Sizzles at Little Caesars Arena Concert . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230304184607/https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2023/02/25/sza-sizzles-at-little-caesars-arena-concert/ . March 4, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . . en-US.
  34. Web site: March 24, 2023 . Discovering The Easter Eggs In SZA's Dreamy 'S.O.S Tour' . December 26, 2023 . UPROXX . en-US.
  35. Web site: Roa . Ray . September 23, 2023 . Review: At Sold-Out Tampa Show, SZA Brings Healing, and Happiness, to Amalie Arena . December 26, 2023 . . en.
  36. Web site: Kelly . Tyler Damara . September 11, 2023 . SZA Reveals Forthcoming Deluxe Edition of Her Album, SOS, Is Called Lana . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211131309/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/sza-reveals-forthcoming-deluxe-edition-of-her-album-sos-is-called-lana . December 11, 2023 . December 11, 2023 . . en-US.
  37. Web site: Ruiz . Matthew Ismael . March 5, 2023 . Watch Phoebe Bridgers and Cardi B Join SZA at MSG . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305112300/https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-phoebe-bridgers-and-cardi-b-join-sza-at-msg/ . March 5, 2023 . March 5, 2023 . . en-US.
  38. News: Paige . DeAsia . March 8, 2023 . SZA Triumphs Over Glitches on Dazzling Emotional Voyage . English . . live . March 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230309015250/https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/concert-review-sza-triumphs-over-glitches-on-dazzling-emotional-voyage/HSFY2IPX6NBFVHWFVU2EVKS4SM/ . March 9, 2023.
  39. Web site: Harrington . Jim . March 15, 2023 . Here's How SZA Delivered the Show to Beat in 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323002615/https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/03/15/review-fantastic-sza-sos-tour-is-now-the-show-to-beat-in-2023/ . March 23, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . . en-US.
  40. Web site: Campbell . Erica . March 6, 2023 . SZA Live in New York City: a Star-Studded Spectacle at the Garden . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230401113308/https://www.nme.com/reviews/live/sza-live-in-new-york-city-a-star-studded-spectacle-at-the-garden-3408567 . April 1, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . . en-GB.
  41. Web site: Hanskamp . Emilie . February 26, 2023 . SZA Brought Theatrics to Toronto — but All She Really Needed Was the Mic . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403092322/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/sza_concert_review . April 3, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . Exclaim!.
  42. Web site: Karp . Katie . March 10, 2023 . Bringing Comeback SOS to Austin, SZA Remains a Relatable Queen . April 10, 2023 . www.austinchronicle.com . en-US.
  43. Web site: March 20, 2023 . The SOS Tour: SZA Onstage Is Sensational . April 9, 2023 . . en-US.
  44. Web site: Amorosi . A. D. . Aswad . Jem . March 5, 2023 . SZA Brings Out Cardi B and Phoebe Bridgers at Dazzling, Hit-Filled Madison Square Garden Show . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307151742/https://variety.com/2023/music/concert-reviews/sza-cardi-b-phoebe-bridgers-madison-square-garden-concert-review-1235543402/ . March 7, 2023 . March 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  45. Web site: Braboy . Mark . February 23, 2023 . SZA Brings Her Fans on an Emotional Voyage on SOS Tour . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20230224062532/https://www.mtv.com/news/z3yan8/sza-sos-tour-recap-chicago . February 24, 2023 . February 24, 2023 . . en.
  46. Web site: Johnson . Kevin C. . October 12, 2023 . SZA Sizzles, Shines in Sold-Out St. Louis Homecoming Show at Enterprise Center . December 25, 2023 . . en.
  47. Web site: Masley . Ed . October 30, 2023 . SZA's Pirate-Themed Phoenix Concert Was a Swashbuckling Spectacle . December 25, 2023 . . en-US.
  48. Web site: Wang . Steffanee . February 23, 2023 . Ten New SZA Songs Are On the Way . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230331052611/https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/sza-sos-deluxe-album-10-new-songs-tracklist . March 31, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . . en.
  49. Web site: Abraham . Mya . February 27, 2023 . SZA's SOS Tops Billboard 200 for 10th Nonconsecutive Week . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230319180855/https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/sza-sos-billboard-200-10-weeks-1234738425/ . March 19, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . . en-US.
  50. Web site: Exposito . Suzy . Suzy Exposito . February 23, 2023 . Your Favorite Artist's Favorite Artist: How SZA Went from Cult Star to Pop Superstar . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223161432/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-02-23/sza-sos-glows-up-in-public . February 23, 2023 . February 24, 2023 . . en-US.
  51. News: Caramanica . Jon . Jon Caramanica . March 5, 2023 . On Her Biggest Tour Yet, SZA Makes Small Feelings Huge . en-US . . live . limited . April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230331004924/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/05/arts/music/sza-sos-tour-review.html . March 31, 2023.
  52. Web site: Wheeler . André-Naquian . March 17, 2023 . Thrifted Jerseys and Men's Jeans: How SZA's Stylist Dresses the Star . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403203611/https://www.vogue.com/article/thrifted-jerseys-and-mens-jeans-how-szas-stylist-dresses-the-star . April 3, 2023 . April 5, 2023 . . en-US.
  53. Web site: Gendron . Bob . February 24, 2023 . SZA Packs the United Center for Her SOS Tour, an Arena Headliner on the Rise . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223162735/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-sza-chicago-united-center-review-20230223-ke3jigengzhhlm2gcunljhbecm-story.html . February 23, 2023 . February 24, 2023 . Chicago Tribune.
  54. News: Kelly . Chris . February 28, 2023 . SZA Takes a Deep Dive into Unknown Waters at Capital One Arena . en-US . . live . limited . April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307163241/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/02/28/sza-concert-review/ . March 7, 2023.
  55. Web site: Martinez . Jose . April 6, 2023 . SZA's SOS Tour Reportedly Earned Nearly $35 Million . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407032924/https://www.complex.com/music/sza-sos-tour-earned-almost-35-million-dollars . April 7, 2023 . April 7, 2023 . . en.
  56. Frankenberg . Eric . April 6, 2023 . SZA's Explosive Touring Growth, from Ctrl to SOS, by the Numbers . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406163558/https://www.billboard.com/pro/sza-tour-growth-ctrl-sos-by-the-numbers/ . April 6, 2023 . April 7, 2023 . . en-US.
  57. Web site: A. . Aron . April 6, 2023 . SZA Grossed over $30 Million on S.O.S Tour . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407032923/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/655995-sza-grossed-over-30-million-on-s-o-s-tour-report . April 7, 2023 . April 7, 2023 . . en-US.
  58. Web site: Stubbs . Winnie . April 23, 2024 . SZA in Melbourne: S.O.S Tour Tickets, Times, Set List and Everything You Need to Know . July 5, 2024 . Time Out.
  59. Web site: Shutler . Ali . March 5, 2023 . Watch SZA Perform with Phoebe Bridgers and Cardi B at Madison Square Garden . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306070433/https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-sza-perform-with-phoebe-bridgers-and-cardi-b-at-madison-square-garden-3408444 . March 6, 2023 . March 8, 2023 . . en-GB.
  60. Web site: Garcia . Thania . March 24, 2023 . SZA Performs with Lizzo and Phoebe Bridgers at Final SOS Tour Stop, Jennifer Lopez and More Celebs Attend . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230324164333/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/sza-lizzo-phoebe-bridgers-jennifer-lopez-sos-1235563656/ . March 24, 2023 . March 25, 2023 . . en-US.
  61. Web site: Hynes . Hayley . June 2, 2023 . SZA Taps Travis Scott to Perform 'Love Galore' & 'Low' in Amsterdam . June 2, 2023 . . en.
  62. Web site: Galindo . Thomas . June 14, 2023 . SZA Brings Out Travis Scott on SOS Tour . June 16, 2023 . American Songwriter . en-US.
  63. Web site: Watch SZA and Sexyy Red's Live Debut of "Rich Baby Daddy," Their Collab Off Drake's 'For All the Dogs' . . October 12, 2023 .
  64. Frankenberg . Eric . April 20, 2023 . March Billboard Boxscore . limited . May 1, 2023 . Billboard.
  65. Web site: Newbury . Emma . April 12, 2024 . Opener for SZA's Australian & New Zealand Tour Revealed . April 14, 2024 . . en.
  66. Frankenberg . Eric . December 7, 2023 . Top 10 Highest Grossing R&B Tours of the Year . December 9, 2023 . . en-US.