2023 single by Lizzo
"Special " is a song by American singer and rapperLizzo , and the title track of her fourth studio album,Special (2022). It was released to Italiancontemporary hit radio on January 13, 2023, as the third single from the album. A remix featuring American singerSZA was released on February 9, 2023. The song peaked at number 52 on theBillboard Hot 100 and became Lizzo's first and SZA's second song to top theAdult R&B Airplay chart.[ 2] It also reached number 2 inSuriname and number 6 inSan Marino .
Lizzo debuted the song on theforty-seventh season ofSaturday Night Live on April 16, 2022, three months before its release.[ 1] She performed the song onToday on July 15, 2022, the same day as the release of its parent album.[ 3] Lizzo also performed the song during a December 2022 appearance onThe Howard Stern Show .[ 4] Lizzo further performed the song at the65th Annual Grammy Awards , accompanied by agospel choir.[ 5] A few days later, she performed a medley of "Special" with "2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) " and "About Damn Time " at theBrit Awards 2023 .[ 6] The same month she played the song onBBC Radio 1 'sLive Lounge , alongside a cover of "Unholy " bySam Smith andKim Petras .[ 7] She was brought out by SZA to perform "Special" together during the concert at theGrand National Tour inInglewood ,California , on May 21, 2025.[ 8]
Lizzo released the music video for "Special" on February 1, 2023. In the video, she portrays a "beleaguered and put-upon waitress" who is secretly asuperhero at night.[ 9]
Year-end chart performance for "Special" Chart (2023) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard )[ 32] 69 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard )[ 33] 49 US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard )[ 34] 46
Release dates and formats for "Special" Region Date Format(s) Version Label Ref. Italy January 13, 2023 Contemporary hit radio Original [ 35] Various February 9, 2023 SZA remix[ 36] United States February 14, 2023 [ 37] [ 38] Various February 24, 2023 Digital download streaming Sped Up SZA Remix [ 39]
^a b Kaplan, Ilana (April 17, 2022)."Watch Lizzo Debut Vulnerable New Single 'Special' on 'SNL' " .Rolling Stone . RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023 . ^ Folk, Antawne (June 26, 2023)."Lizzo and SZA's 'Special' Hits No. 1 at R&B Radio" .Rated R&B . RetrievedJuly 2, 2023 . ^ Hines, Ree (July 15, 2022)."Watch Lizzo Turn Up the Music on the TODAY Plaza" .NBC Chicago . RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023 . ^ "LIZZO TALKS PRINCE, PSYCHICS, AND WHAT INSPIRED 'TRUTH HURTS' IN HER STERN SHOW DEBUT" .howardstern.com . December 12, 2022. RetrievedJuly 2, 2023 .^ Phillips, Lior (February 5, 2023)."Watch Lizzo Deliver Electrifying Performances of "About Damn Time" and "Special" " .Grammys.com . RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023 . ^ Corcoran, Nina (February 11, 2023)."Lizzo Performs Special Medley at BRIT Awards 2023: Watch" .Pitchfork . RetrievedJuly 2, 2023 . ^ Kreps, daniel (February 17, 2023)."Lizzo Flutes Up Sam Smith and Kim Petras' 'Unholy' for BBC's Live Lounge" .Rolling Stone . RetrievedJuly 2, 2023 . ^ Mamo, Heran (May 22, 2025)."Kendrick Lamar & SZA Preach Love Over Hate During 1st LA Stop of Grand National Tour: 5 Best Moments" .Billboard . RetrievedMay 22, 2025 . ^ Rowley, Glenn (February 1, 2023)."Lizzo Is the Superhero We All Need in 'Special' Music Video" .Billboard . RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023 . ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Canadian Hot 100) ".Billboard . Retrieved April 11, 2023. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Canada AC) ".Billboard . Retrieved April 8, 2023.[dead link ] ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Canada Hot AC) ".Billboard . Retrieved May 17, 2023.[dead link ] ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40) ".Billboard . Retrieved April 8, 2023.[dead link ] ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Global 200) ".Billboard . Retrieved February 22, 2023. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts" .Irish Recorded Music Association . RetrievedFebruary 18, 2023 .^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of February 22, 2023" .Billboard Japan (in Japanese). RetrievedFebruary 22, 2023 .^ "Latvijas radio stacijās spēlētākās dziesmas TOP 14. nedēļa" (in Latvian).LAIPA . April 12, 2023. RetrievedMay 29, 2023 .^ "Dutch Single Tip 18/02/2023" .dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). RetrievedFebruary 18, 2023 .^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart" .Recorded Music NZ . February 27, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 25, 2023 .^ "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 03/03/2023" (in Italian).San Marino RTV . March 3, 2023. Archived fromthe original on March 3, 2023. RetrievedJuly 25, 2024 .^ "Download Chart – Week 6 of 2023" .Circle Chart (in Korean). RetrievedFebruary 16, 2023 .^ "Top 5 | 15 September 2022" [Top 5 | September 15, 2022] (in Dutch).Nationale Top 40 Suriname . September 21, 2022. RetrievedJuly 7, 2023 .^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 7" .Sverigetopplistan . RetrievedFebruary 17, 2023 .^ "Official Singles Chart on 17/2/2023 – Top 100 ".Official Charts Company . Retrieved February 17, 2023. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Hot 100) ".Billboard . Retrieved February 22, 2023. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Adult Contemporary) ".Billboard . Retrieved March 11, 2023. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Adult Pop Songs) ".Billboard . Retrieved March 18, 2023. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) ".Billboard . Retrieved March 7, 2023. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay) ".Billboard . Retrieved June 21, 2023. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Pop Songs) ".Billboard . Retrieved April 8, 2023. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay) ".Billboard . Retrieved April 8, 2023. ^ "Year-End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 2023" .Billboard . RetrievedNovember 22, 2023 .^ "Year-End Charts – Pop Airplay Songs 2023" .Billboard . RetrievedNovember 21, 2023 .^ "Year-End Charts – R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Songs 2023" .Billboard . RetrievedNovember 21, 2023 .^ "LIZZO "Special" | (Radio Date: 13/01/2023)" .^ Bowenbank, Starr (February 9, 2023)."Lizzo & SZA's 'Special' Remix Has a Release Date" .Billboard . RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023 . ^ "Top 40/Mainstream Future Releases" .All Access . Archived fromthe original on February 9, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023 .^ "Top 40/Rhythmic Future Releases" .All Access . Archived fromthe original on February 9, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023 .^ "Special (feat. Lizzo) [Sped Up Version] - Single by Lizzo" .Apple Music . RetrievedApril 11, 2023 .
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