Ghost in the Machine (song)
{{Short description|2022 song by SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers}}
{{For|other songs of the same name|Ghost in the Machine (disambiguation)#Songs}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Ghost in the Machine
| cover =
| type = song
| artist = SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers
| album = SOS
| written = 2022
| released = {{start date|2022|12|9}}
| recorded = 2022
| studio =
| genre = * Indie pop
| length = 3:38
| label = * Top Dawg
| writer = * Solána Rowe
- Rob Bisel
- Carter Lang
- Matt Cohn
- Marshall Vore
- Phoebe Bridgers
| producer = * Rob Bisel
- Carter Lang
| misc = {{External music video|type=song|header=Lyric video|{{YouTube|M7Q4GlieQA8|"Ghost in the Machine"}}}}
}}
"Ghost in the Machine" is a song by the American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022), featuring the American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers. The song is a ballad that falls within the indie pop and R&B genres; music critics described it as a cross between Bridgers's and SZA's respective sounds. Written in a conversational style, the lyrics express disillusionment with inauthentic relationships, the inhumane behavior of other people, and artificial intelligence. They also portray SZA asking her lover to provide an escape from a world she sees as having been consumed by vanity.
The collaboration began with an online conversation between Bridgers and SZA; the two musicians rapidly completed the song a week before the album was scheduled for release. They co-wrote the song with Rob Bisel, Carter Lang, Matt Cohn, and Marshall Vore. Production and engineering duties were handled by Bisel, Lang, and Cohn.
"Ghost in the Machine" was Bridgers's first top-40 entry in the United States, peaking at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also appeared on the national charts in Australia, Canada, and Portugal. In reviews, critics primarily focused on Bridgers's appearance on the song; many praised the two performers as synergistic despite the differences between their musical styles, whereas a few were cynical toward Bridgers's inclusion. "Ghost in the Machine" won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2024 ceremony, giving Bridgers her first Grammy. SZA performed the song on multiple occasions during the SOS Tour, joined by Bridgers for two performances in March{{nbsp}}2023.
Background
{{Multiple image
| align = left
| direction = horizontal
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Phoebe Bridgers at Surly Brewing Festival Field in Minneapolis, MN.jpg
| alt1 = Phoebe Bridgers performing in Minneapolis (2021)
| image2 = SZA CTRL Tour Toronto 2017 8 (cropped).jpg
| alt2 = SZA performing in Ctrl the Tour (2017–2018)
| total_width = 353
| footer = Phoebe Bridgers (left in 2021) collaborated with SZA (right in 2017) for "Ghost in the Machine".
}}
SZA released her debut studio album, Ctrl, in 2017. Primarily an R&B album with lyrics that address facets of contemporary life and romance,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42427212 |title=The Top 10 Albums of 2017 |last=Savage |first=Mark |publisher=BBC |date=December 22, 2017 |access-date=August 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429073259/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42427212 |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-what-to-listen-to-20170613-story.html |title=What to Listen to Now: SZA, Bleachers, Secret Sisters and More |last=Kennedy |first=Gerrick D. |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 14, 2017 |access-date=August 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604085609/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-what-to-listen-to-20170613-story.html |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sza-ctrl/ |title=SZA: Ctrl Album Review |last=Lobenfeld |first=Claire |magazine=Pitchfork |date=June 13, 2017 |access-date=August 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327055950/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sza-ctrl/ |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |url-status=live }} it was commercially successful and received considerable acclaim. Critics credit it as innovative within the R&B genre and for establishing her as a major figure in contemporary pop and R&B music.{{efn|Cited to The Line of Best Fit,{{Cite magazine |first=Ims |last=Taylor |date=December 9, 2022 |title=SZA Hits the Heights on the Dense but Masterful SOS |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/sza-sos-hits-the-heights |access-date=January 2, 2023 |magazine=The Line of Best Fit |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219174402/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/sza-sos-hits-the-heights |url-status=live |language=en-US}} NME,{{Cite magazine |last=Williams |first=Sophie |date=February 23, 2023 |title=How SZA Inspired a Generation of R&B Storytellers: 'She's a Radical Light' |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/sza-sos-tour-setlist-flo-baby-rose-radar-3403286 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701010801/https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/sza-sos-tour-setlist-flo-baby-rose-radar-3403286 |archive-date=July 1, 2024 |access-date=August 1, 2024 |magazine=NME |language=en-GB}} The Daily Telegraph,{{Cite news |last1=McCormick |first1=Neil |author-link=Neil McCormick |last2=Haider |first2=Arwa |last3=Johnston |first3=Kathleen |date=December 9, 2022 |title=Sam Ryder Is No One-Hit Wonder, SZA Channels Princess Diana – The Week's Best Albums |language=en-GB |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/best-albums-week-sam-ryder-sza-nina-hagen/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=December 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217123137/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/best-albums-week-sam-ryder-sza-nina-hagen/ |archive-date=December 17, 2022}} The New Yorker,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/listening-booth/the-sideways-wisdom-of-szas-ctrl |title=The Sideways Wisdom of SZA's Ctrl |last=Pearce |first=Sheldon |magazine=The New Yorker |date=June 16, 2022 |access-date=August 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925062056/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/listening-booth/the-sideways-wisdom-of-szas-ctrl |archive-date=September 25, 2023 |url-status=live |url-access=limited }} and Consequence{{Cite magazine |last=Siregar |first=Cady |date=December 9, 2022 |title=On SOS, SZA Once Again Blows Expectations out of the Water |url=https://consequence.net/2022/12/sos-album-review-sza/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229034437/https://consequence.net/2022/12/sos-album-review-sza/2/ |archive-date=December 29, 2022 |access-date=January 2, 2023 |magazine=Consequence |language=en-US}}}} Even so, she grew discontented with being classified as an R&B musician; she later stated that she felt like her music was being reductively categorized because she was a Black woman.{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Cole |date=December 12, 2022 |title=SZA Says She's Tired of Being Labeled an R&B Artist |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/609914-sza-says-shes-tired-of-being-labeled-an-rb-artist |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326050912/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/609914-sza-says-shes-tired-of-being-labeled-an-rb-artist |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |access-date=March 26, 2023 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en-US}}
With her next studio album, SOS (2022), SZA imbued her established sound with elements from multiple genres.{{Cite web |last=Phan |first=Karena |date=December 9, 2022 |title=Review: SZA's Perfection Takes Time in Second Album SOS |url=https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-reviews-hip-hop-and-rap-623ad8d680b71cc142b06c9b00fd8bf1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228133656/https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-reviews-hip-hop-and-rap-623ad8d680b71cc142b06c9b00fd8bf1 |archive-date=December 28, 2022 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=Associated Press |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=McNeal |first=Bria |date=December 9, 2022 |title=SZA's SOS Is Unpolished—and Completely Thrilling |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a42201068/sza-sos-album-review-details/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211131456/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a42201068/sza-sos-album-review-details/ |archive-date=December 11, 2022 |access-date=February 10, 2023 |magazine=Esquire |language=en-us}}{{Cite magazine |last=Wang |first=Steffanee |date=December 10, 2022 |title=SZA's SOS in 5 Essential Songs |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/best-songs-sza-sos-album-phoebe-bridgers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215093619/https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/best-songs-sza-sos-album-phoebe-bridgers |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=February 6, 2023 |magazine=Nylon |language=en}} The album incorporates various disparate moods and musical styles: while some tracks had an aura that SZA described as "aggressive", others, such as "Ghost in the Machine", were balladic or soft.{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Cole |date=October 16, 2022 |title=SZA Confirms 'Shirt' Music Video Is on the Way: 'It's Turned In' |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/441251-sza-confirms-shirt-music-video-is-on-the-way-its-turned-in |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215144259/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/441251-sza-confirms-shirt-music-video-is-on-the-way-its-turned-in |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Mark |date=December 12, 2022 |title=SOS by SZA Review: An Expansive R&B Return |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sos-by-sza-review-r-b-return-second-album-ctrl-phoebe-bridgers-11670885021 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240109053039/https://www.wsj.com/articles/sos-by-sza-review-r-b-return-second-album-ctrl-phoebe-bridgers-11670885021 |archive-date=January 9, 2024 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}} Reviewing the album, Kitty Empire of The Observer cited "Ghost in the Machine" as an example of SOS{{'s}} versatility.{{Cite news |last=Empire |first=Kitty |author-link=Kitty Empire |date=December 11, 2022 |title=SZA: SOS Review – A Surfeit of Ideas, Guests and Producers from a Master of Her Craft |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/11/sza-sos-review-travis-scott-phoebe-bridgers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210044112/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/11/sza-sos-review-travis-scott-phoebe-bridgers |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |access-date=May 22, 2024 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB}}
During the making of the album, SZA created a list of possible collaborators, including Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar.{{cite web |last=Shutler |first=Ali |date=December 17, 2022 |title=SZA's SOS Could Have Featured Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and More |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/szas-sos-could-have-featured-harry-styles-billie-eilish-and-more-3368442 |access-date=February 6, 2023 |website=NME |language=en |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206041426/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/szas-sos-could-have-featured-harry-styles-billie-eilish-and-more-3368442 |url-status=live}} Of the artists she contacted, only three people responded: Don Toliver, Travis Scott, and Phoebe Bridgers.{{cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=December 7, 2022 |title=SZA Says New Album S.O.S. Almost Featured More Artist Collaborations — But They Ghosted Her |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-sos-collaborators-phoebe-bridgers-travis-scott-1234643104/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |access-date=February 8, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208144738/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-sos-collaborators-phoebe-bridgers-travis-scott-1234643104/}} The first two appear on the tracks "Used" and "Open Arms", respectively, while Bridgers contributed vocals for "Ghost in the Machine".{{cite web |last=Guy |first=Zoe |date=December 9, 2022 |title=SZA Blesses Us with SOS This Holiday Season |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/sza-new-album-sos.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108091659/https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/sza-new-album-sos.html |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |access-date=February 6, 2023 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Craig |date=December 12, 2022 |title=SZA Wants It All |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/sza-sos-album-review.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227004025/https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/sza-sos-album-review.html |archive-date=December 27, 2022 |access-date=February 6, 2023 |website=Vulture}}
{{clear}}
Music and production
File:RobBisel–NicKhang1 (2) (cropped) (cropped).jpg (pictured in 2023) conceived the song's melody while experimenting with a piano.|alt=Rob Bisel standing in front of greenery while looking blankly into a camera]]
"Ghost in the Machine" is a ballad composed in a moderate tempo and primarily built on peaceful electronic production that switches to a piano backing during Bridgers's verse.{{Cite news |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |last2=Zoladz |first2=Lindsay |date=December 9, 2022 |title=SZA and Phoebe Bridgers's Team-Up, and 8 More New Songs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/09/arts/music/playlist-sza-phoebe-bridgers-paramore.html |url-access=limited |access-date=May 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |archive-date=January 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117030830/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/09/arts/music/playlist-sza-phoebe-bridgers-paramore.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Galindo |first=Thomas |date=November 18, 2023 |title=The Meaning Behind SZA and Phoebe Bridgers' Grammy-Nominated 'Ghost in the Machine' |url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-meaning-behind-sza-and-phoebe-bridgers-grammy-nominated-ghost-in-the-machine/ |access-date=May 2, 2024 |magazine=American Songwriter |language=en-US |archive-date=December 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217103201/https://americansongwriter.com/the-meaning-behind-sza-and-phoebe-bridgers-grammy-nominated-ghost-in-the-machine/ |url-status=live }} In a review of SOS for Variety, A. D. Amorosi wrote that the production during SZA's verses evoked the plucking of banjos and bass guitars.{{Cite magazine |last=Amorosi |first=A. D. |date=December 9, 2022 |title=SZA Sends Out an SOS That Will Be an Emergency Addition to Everyone's 10-Best Lists |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/album-reviews/sza-sos-album-review-1235455868/ |access-date=May 18, 2024 |magazine=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=December 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217103409/https://variety.com/2022/music/album-reviews/sza-sos-album-review-1235455868/ |url-status=live }} Ken Tucker of NPR described SZA's vocals as "snak[ing] in and around the melody" and wrote that she "bends and breaks with hopelessness".{{Cite news |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |date=January 9, 2023 |title=SZA Sends Out a Powerful SOS, Mixing Pop, Hip-Hop and R&B |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/09/1147798934/sza-sends-out-a-powerful-sos-mixing-pop-hip-hop-and-r-b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418003255/https://www.npr.org/2023/01/09/1147798934/sza-sends-out-a-powerful-sos-mixing-pop-hip-hop-and-r-b |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |access-date=May 22, 2024 |work=NPR |format=Audio upload and transcript}} SZA and Bridgers harmonize their voices to match each other's vocal timbres,{{Cite magazine |last=Shepherd |first=Julianne Escobedo |date=December 9, 2022 |title=SOS: SZA |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sza-sos/ |access-date=May 18, 2024 |magazine=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=December 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229074553/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sza-sos/ |url-status=live }} and they deliver their verses breathily.{{Cite magazine |last=Yalcinkaya |first=Günseli |date=December 9, 2022 |title=New Music Friday: 4 Albums to Stream This Week |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/57746/1/new-music-friday-4-albums-to-stream-december-2022-sza-sos |access-date=May 18, 2024 |magazine=Dazed |language=en |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216065936/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/57746/1/new-music-friday-4-albums-to-stream-december-2022-sza-sos |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Jason P. |date=December 9, 2022 |title=SZA Lights Up and Spits Fire in 'Smoking on My Ex Pack' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/smokin-on-my-ex-pack-has-sza-showing-off-her-rap-skills.html |url-access=limited |access-date=May 18, 2024 |website=Vulture |language=en |archive-date=December 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224131112/https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/smokin-on-my-ex-pack-has-sza-showing-off-her-rap-skills.html |url-status=live }}
With regards to genre, SZA described "Ghost in the Machine" as "super alternative and strange", promising that it would defy listeners' preconceived notions about its sound.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=December 7, 2022 |title=SZA Talks 'Super Alternative and Strange' Phoebe Bridgers Collaboration |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sza-talks-super-alternative-and-strange-phoebe-bridgers-collaboration-3362471 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518025603/https://www.nme.com/news/music/sza-talks-super-alternative-and-strange-phoebe-bridgers-collaboration-3362471 |archive-date=May 18, 2024 |access-date=May 18, 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}{{cite interview |last=Rowe |first=Solána |subject-link=SZA |interviewer=Nessa |title=SZA on New Album SOS, Being Pissed & What Makes Her Not Want to Put Out Music Again |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9cCfTjx0Qo |access-date=May 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104025105/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9cCfTjx0Qo |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |url-status=live |work=WQHT |date=December 7, 2022}} Alex Hopper of American Songwriter and Andrew R. Chow of Time described the song as an intersection between SZA's R&B style and Bridgers's alternative, indie pop style;{{Cite magazine |last=Hopper |first=Alex |date=December 17, 2022 |title=Phoebe Bridgers Says She Recorded Her SZA Feature a Week Before It Came Out—'That Record Is Insane' |url=https://americansongwriter.com/phoebe-bridgers-says-she-recorded-her-sza-feature-a-week-before-it-came-out-that-record-is-insane/ |access-date=May 18, 2024 |magazine=American Songwriter |language=en-US |archive-date=May 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518025605/https://americansongwriter.com/phoebe-bridgers-says-she-recorded-her-sza-feature-a-week-before-it-came-out-that-record-is-insane/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last1=Chow |first1=Andrew R. |last2=Mendez II |first2=Moises |date=December 9, 2022 |title=Was SZA's SOS Worth the Wait? Breaking Down Its Best Songs and Big Themes |url=https://time.com/6239912/sza-sos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225142306/https://time.com/6239912/sza-sos/ |archive-date=December 25, 2022 |access-date=May 22, 2024 |magazine=Time |language=en}} Sidney Madden of NPR Music directly called the song "indie-pop angst".{{Cite web |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2023 |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/12/05/1211225533/best-albums-2023 |last=Madden |first=Sidney |website=NPR Music |date=December 5, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429091817/https://www.npr.org/2023/12/05/1211225533/best-albums-2023 |archive-date=April 29, 2024 |url-status=live |language=en}} John Amen of Beats Per Minute wrote that its construction was rooted in "sad-girl pop".{{cite magazine |url=https://beatsperminute.com/bpms-top-50-albums-of-2022/ |title=BPM's Top 50 Albums of 2022 |last=Amen |first=John |magazine=Beats Per Minute |date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228033818/https://beatsperminute.com/bpms-top-50-albums-of-2022/ |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |url-status=live}}
The making of "Ghost in the Machine" began in 2022 with a drum loop produced by Matt Cohn, followed by piano and keyboard notes from Rob Bisel.{{Cite podcast |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=January 29, 2023 |title=The Making of SZA's SOS |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sza-making-of-sos-podcast-1234670550/ |url-access=limited |access-date=May 2, 2024 |website=Rolling Stone Music Now |language=en-US |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129211852/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sza-making-of-sos-podcast-1234670550/ |url-status=live}} The latter two instruments were acquired by Bisel within a week of "Ghost in the Machine" being written, and he stated that his work on the song was partly inspired by his experimentation with "new toy[s]".{{cite magazine |last=Moayeri |first=Lily |date=January 18, 2024 |title=Capturing SZA's Vocals with Rob Bisel, Part 1 |url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/music-production/rob-bisel-on-songs-and-sza |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120161139/https://www.mixonline.com/recording/music-production/rob-bisel-on-songs-and-sza |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |magazine=Mix}} He conceived the song's main melody by taping together the strings inside the piano, diluting the impact of the hammers.{{cite interview|last=Bisel|first=Rob|subject-link=Rob Bisel|interviewer=Suzanne Marques|title=Meet Rob Bisel, the Grammy-Nominated Producer Behind SZA's 'SOS'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYgq1EZnAIs|medium=video|date=February 3, 2024|access-date=June 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615200938/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYgq1EZnAIs|archive-date=June 15, 2024|url-status=live|via=YouTube}} Working with Carter Lang, Bisel then overhauled the "Ghost in the Machine" demo before showing it to SZA. Bisel thought Bridgers would fit in an open instrumental section during the middle of the demo, so he suggested to SZA that she include Bridgers as a feature. SZA agreed, having sought to include a "highly conversational" guest musician such as Bridgers on the song.{{Cite magazine |last=Gore |first=Sydney |date=February 27, 2023 |title=SZA Has Always Been Alternative—You Just Weren't Listening |url=https://www.altpress.com/sza-sos-interview/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |website=Alternative Press |language=en-US |archive-date=December 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217103159/https://www.altpress.com/sza-sos-interview |url-status=live }}
While Bisel was trying to arrange the feature through his publisher, SZA personally messaged Bridgers online in their first interaction together.{{Cite magazine |last=Blanchet |first=Brenton |date=December 12, 2022 |title=SZA Says Phoebe Bridgers Collab Came After Connecting over DMs: 'She Was Cool as F---' |url=https://people.com/music/sza-says-phoebe-bridgers-collab-on-sos-came-after-they-connected-over-dms/ |access-date=May 18, 2024 |magazine=People |language=en |archive-date=May 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518025605/https://people.com/music/sza-says-phoebe-bridgers-collab-on-sos-came-after-they-connected-over-dms/ |url-status=live }} The turnaround time for completing "Ghost in the Machine" was short;{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=December 16, 2022 |title=Phoebe Bridgers Reveals How SZA Collaboration Came About: 'It All Happened So Fast' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/phoebe-bridgers-sza-collaboration-ghost-in-the-machine-1235188496/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207125423/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/phoebe-bridgers-sza-collaboration-ghost-in-the-machine-1235188496/ |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Bridgers came to the studio for sessions a week or two after being asked to feature, recording her vocals a week before the album's scheduled release.{{Cite web |last=Wilkes |first=Emma |date=December 16, 2022 |title=Phoebe Bridgers on SZA Collab: 'That Record Is Insane' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/phoebe-bridgers-on-sza-collab-that-record-is-insane-3368170 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=March 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304130042/https://www.nme.com/news/music/phoebe-bridgers-on-sza-collab-that-record-is-insane-3368170 |url-status=live }} She at first wanted to provide background harmonies only, but she received encouragement from Bisel and the others to record a full verse. They liked her first take and kept most of it for the final song, although some parts were excised prior to the album's release.
Lyrics
File:Sadhguru-Jaggi-Vasudev.jpg (pictured in 2013) that ties into the song's message.]]The making of SOS consisted of what SZA called "palate cleanser" moments, in which she would quickly write songs in between her more serious projects to refresh her mind;{{Cite interview |last=Rowe |first=Solána |subject-link=SZA |interviewer=Zane Lowe |title=Behind SZA's SOS Album & Tour |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc0vRDh1ECA&t=1311s |access-date=June 13, 2024 |publisher=Apple Music |via=YouTube |date=December 13, 2023}} [https://archive.org/details/behind-szas-sos-album-tour-apple-music-live Alt URL] SZA took 20 to 30 minutes to write her verses for "Ghost in the Machine". The lyrics are written in a conversational style and primarily explore feelings of disillusionment, which come in part from SZA experiencing excessive negativity on the Internet. She was motivated to write the song out of exhaustion caused by the constant fighting between people on Internet spaces such as Instagram over morality, which she believed was at the expense of meaningful connections: "I feel like there's so much debate about what's good, what's bad, what's this, what's that?" SZA complements this theme by including a skit from Indian guru Sadhguru, who says in the outro that "those who have forsaken their humanity [...] like to patch their life with morality."{{Cite web |last=Guy |first=Zoe |date=December 9, 2022 |title=Everything SZA References on SOS (Including Herself) |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/sza-sos-lyrics-samples-movie-references.html |url-access=limited |access-date=June 4, 2024 |website=Vulture |language=en |archive-date=December 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220165422/https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/sza-sos-lyrics-samples-movie-references.html |url-status=live }}
The song also discusses artificial intelligence; SZA blames it for her perceived lack of meaningful human connections in her life and, while "craving humanity", envies how robots have a future and do not feel tired, unlike her.{{Cite news |last=Zoladz |first=Lindsay |date=February 6, 2024 |title=7 Grammy Winners Worth Another Spin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/arts/music/amplifier-newsletter-grammy-winners.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319030808/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/arts/music/amplifier-newsletter-grammy-winners.html |archive-date=March 19, 2024 |access-date=June 4, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US}} American Songwriter{{'s}} Thomas Galindo interpreted the line as showing anxiety about the growing influence of artificial intelligence within the music industry, whereas Nylon{{'s}} Steffanee Wang wrote that SZA expressed a need to stop being treated like a machine by her job.
SZA turns to a lover for escapism and gratification, to assuage her disillusionment with modern relationships and distract her from an ambiguous disaster that Tucker thought could symbolize the end of either their romance or the world. Chow interpreted the relevant lyrics as showing SZA's desire to remain in a relationship despite feeling drained from it, and he wrote that this was a common theme in SOS. She sings in one line: "can you touch on me and not call me after? Can you hate on me and mask it with laughter?" SZA then invokes a reference to the Bible, one of many such instances on SOS, asking the lover to take her to Noah's Ark and give her the password.
Bridgers's verse begins with the lyric, "You said all of my friends are on my payroll{{nbsp}}/ You're not wrong, you're an asshole",{{cite magazine |last=DeSantis |first=Rachel |date=December 21, 2022 |title=Is Phoebe Bridgers' 'On My Own' Lyric in Her SZA Collab Hinting at Paul Mescal Breakup? |url=https://people.com/music/phoebe-bridgers-hints-at-paul-mescal-breakup-in-collab-with-sza/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518025321/https://people.com/music/phoebe-bridgers-hints-at-paul-mescal-breakup-in-collab-with-sza/ |archive-date=May 18, 2024 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |magazine=People}} which Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote was evocative of "tension clearly compounded by fame and success". She sings about the Ludlow Hotel in New York City, where she finds herself in arguments with a romantic partner, and about being alone in a non-descript airport bar. The lyrics were interpreted by publications as alluding to her breakup with Irish actor Paul Mescal.{{Cite magazine |date=December 23, 2022 |title=Phoebe Bridgers Fans Think She Broke Up with Paul Mescal |url=https://www.papermag.com/phoebe-bridgers-paul-mescal-split |access-date=June 4, 2024 |magazine=Paper |archive-date=December 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206021840/https://www.papermag.com/phoebe-bridgers-paul-mescal-split |url-status=live }}
Release
In November 2022, SZA revealed the album title to be SOS and said it would be released on an unspecified date the following month;{{Cite news |last=Serrano |first=Athena |date=November 16, 2022 |title=SZA Is 'Currently Stressed' About Releasing New Album S.O.S. |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/8znfna/sza-sos-album-announcement |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229005159/https://www.mtv.com/news/8znfna/sza-sos-album-announcement |archive-date=December 29, 2022 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |work=MTV News |language=en}} "Ghost in the Machine" appears on the album as the 12th track out of 23.{{Cite web |last=Curto |first=Justin |date=December 5, 2022 |title=SZA Puts Fans on Alert, Announces New Album S.O.S |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/sza-album-sos-release-date-details.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219211034/https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/sza-album-sos-release-date-details.html |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}{{Cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=December 5, 2022 |title=SZA Taps Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott for S.O.S Album |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-phoebe-bridgers-travis-scott-sos-tracklist-1234641720/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215144257/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-phoebe-bridgers-travis-scott-sos-tracklist-1234641720/ |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |url-access=limited}} After three years of delays,{{Cite web |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |date=December 8, 2022 |title=SZA: SOS Review – R&B Innovator's Long-Awaited Return Is an Eclectic Sprawl |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/08/sza-sos-review-top-dawg-entertainment-rca |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209004750/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/08/sza-sos-review-top-dawg-entertainment-rca |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |access-date=December 31, 2022 |website=The Guardian}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sza-reveals-she-burst-into-tears-during-a-rehearsal-of-20-something-2962003|title=SZA Reveals She 'Burst into Tears' During a Rehearsal of '20 Something'|last=Robinson|first=Ellie|magazine=NME|date=June 7, 2021|access-date=June 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208055842/https://www.nme.com/news/music/sza-reveals-she-burst-into-tears-during-a-rehearsal-of-20-something-2962003|archive-date=February 8, 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Kenneally |first=Cerys |date=April 4, 2022 |title=SZA Says New Album Is 'Finished' and Describes It as Her 'Most Unisex' Project Yet |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/sza-says-new-album-is-finished-describes-it-as-her-most-unisex-project-yet |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209000759/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/sza-says-new-album-is-finished-describes-it-as-her-most-unisex-project-yet |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |access-date=November 17, 2022 |website=The Line of Best Fit}} SOS was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records on December 9, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/sza-announces-release-date-new-album-sos|title=SZA Announces Release Date for New Album 'S.O.S.'|last=Long|first=Danielle|publisher=ABC Audio|date=December 5, 2022|access-date=June 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615153609/https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/sza-announces-release-date-new-album-sos|archive-date=June 15, 2024|url-status=live}}
"Ghost in the Machine" entered several record charts after the release of SOS. It debuted and peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Bridgers's first top-40 song in the United States.{{Cite magazine |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=December 20, 2022 |title=SZA Debuts 20 Songs from SOS on Hot 100, Rules Artist 100 for First Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sza-debuts-20-songs-from-sos-hot-100-rules-artist-100-1235189798/ |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221081326/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sza-debuts-20-songs-from-sos-hot-100-rules-artist-100-1235189798/ |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |access-date=December 24, 2022}} On the same publication's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the song debuted and peaked at number 17; Billboard ranked the song at number 65 on the chart's year-end tally for 2023.{{cite magazine |date= |title=Year-End Charts: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 2023 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122081906/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs/ |archive-date=November 22, 2023 |access-date=November 22, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}} "Ghost in the Machine" also appeared on the national charts in Canada, Australia, and Portugal.{{efn|Cited to the Australian Recording Industry Association, Billboard, and Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa; see the charts section for the exact peaks}} On the Billboard Global 200, it reached number 52.
Critical reception
Critics primarily focused on whether SZA and Bridgers were a congruent pairing; several praised the collaboration as successful despite the two artists' different musical styles.{{Cite web |last=Phan |first=Karena |date=December 9, 2022 |title=Review: SZA's Perfection Takes Time in Second Album SOS |url=https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-reviews-hip-hop-and-rap-623ad8d680b71cc142b06c9b00fd8bf1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228133656/https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-reviews-hip-hop-and-rap-623ad8d680b71cc142b06c9b00fd8bf1 |archive-date=December 28, 2022 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |publisher=Associated Press |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Ontong |first=Joel |date=December 21, 2022 |title=SZA's SOS Is a Confident and Triumphant Return |url=https://www.news24.com/channel/music/news/review-szas-sos-is-a-confident-and-triumphant-return-20221220 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20240423041938/https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/music/review-szas-sos-is-a-confident-and-triumphant-return-20221220 |archive-date=April 23, 2024 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |magazine=News24 |language=en-US}} Chow wrote that "Ghost in the Machine" was the best collaboration on SOS, reasoning that the feature was bound to work because the two musicians' discographies overlap significantly in terms of subject matter, which prevented an "awkward" genre crossover for Bridgers: "it has often felt like the two of them are anxious, horny Spider-Men pointing at each other from across the genre-verse." Shaad D'Souza of The Saturday Paper complimented the collaboration as a "smart match" between "Bridgers' ultraliteral indie-folk" and "SZA's wide-eyed earnestness".{{cite news |last=D'Souza |first=Shaad |date=December 23, 2023 |title=Best Music: Sending an SOS to Mainstream, Big-Budget Pop |url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/music/2023/12/21/sending-sos-mainstream-big-budget-pop#mtr |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224062120/https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/music/2023/12/21/sending-sos-mainstream-big-budget-pop |archive-date=December 24, 2023 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |work=The Saturday Paper}} Others commented that the sound, while unexpected in the context of the album, was nonetheless cohesive.{{efn|Cited to the Associated Press, NME,{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Rhian |date=December 9, 2022 |title=SZA – SOS Review: A Comeback Album Well Worth the Wait |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/reviews/album/sza-sos-album-review-3363708 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227143429/https://www.nme.com/en_au/reviews/album/sza-sos-album-review-3363708 |archive-date=December 27, 2022 |access-date=December 27, 2022 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} NPR,{{Cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Thompson (journalist) |last2=Harris |first2=Aisha |author-link2=Aisha Harris |last3=Madden |first3=Sidney |last4=Katzif |first4=Mike |last5=Wood |first5=Rommel |last6=Reedy |first6=Jessica |date=December 15, 2022 |title=On SOS, SZA Both Surprises and Delivers Exactly What We've Been Waiting For |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1142231566 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224032135/https://www.npr.org/2022/12/12/1142231566/on-sos-sza-both-surprises-and-delivers-exactly-what-weve-been-waiting-for |archive-date=December 24, 2022 |access-date=December 24, 2022 |website=NPR |format=Audio upload and transcript}} and Good Morning America{{cite web |last=Raible |first=Allan |date=December 28, 2022 |title=Review: 50 Best Albums of 2022 |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/review-50-best-albums-2022-95172844 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428152338/https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/review-50-best-albums-2022-95172844 |archive-date=April 28, 2024 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |website=Good Morning America}}}}
There were some critics less appreciative of the lyrical themes and Bridgers's presence. Rolling Stone{{'s}} Will Dukes considered the exploration of artificial intelligence a contrived effort, akin to a "Black Mirror trope about the AI Art Generator".{{Cite magazine |last=Dukes |first=Will |date=December 9, 2022 |title=SZA's Out for Blood and Big Moods on SOS |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-sza-sos-review-1234642441/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411001444/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-sza-sos-review-1234642441/ |archive-date=April 11, 2024 |access-date=June 4, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} CJ Thorpe-Tracey of The Quietus felt that Bridgers appeared only to give SZA a "magic indie countercultural 'good for business' aura", adding that his annoyance was compounded by how she had had too many guest appearances on others' albums within the same year.{{Cite magazine |last=Thorpe-Tracey |first=CJ |author-link=Chris T-T |date=December 15, 2022 |title=SZA: SOS |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/32478-sza-sos-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221230083317/https://thequietus.com/articles/32478-sza-sos-review |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |magazine=The Quietus}} Paul Attard for Slant Magazine also found the feature unnecessary, and felt that the indietronica backing was one of the album's missteps with regards to genre experimentation.{{Cite magazine |last=Attard |first=Paul |date=December 10, 2022 |title=SZA SOS Review: Finding Comfort Amid the Chaos |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/sza-sos-album-review/ |access-date=June 4, 2024 |magazine=Slant Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=December 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224113814/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/sza-sos-album-review/ |url-status=live }}
At the 2024 Grammy Awards, SZA received nine nominations for her work on SOS and its tracks, including one for "Ghost in the Machine". She was the most nominated artist for the year.{{Cite magazine |last=Lindert |first=Hattie |date=February 4, 2024 |title=SZA and Phoebe Bridgers Win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for 'Ghost in the Machine' at 2024 Grammys |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/sza-and-phoebe-bridgers-win-best-pop-duo-group-performance-for-ghost-in-the-machine-at-2024-grammys/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |magazine=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=May 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510175941/https://pitchfork.com/news/sza-and-phoebe-bridgers-win-best-pop-duo-group-performance-for-ghost-in-the-machine-at-2024-grammys/ |url-status=live }} The song won the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award, which gave Bridgers her first Grammy;{{Cite web |last=West |first=Bryan |date=February 4, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift Makes Grammys History with Fourth Album of the Year Win for Midnights |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/02/04/taylor-swift-wins-grammys-2024-midnights/72425158007/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=February 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205024530/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/02/04/taylor-swift-wins-grammys-2024-midnights/72425158007/ |url-status=live }} with three additional wins as a member of Boygenius,{{cite magazine |last=Lindert |first=Hattie |date=February 4, 2024 |title=Boygenius Win Best Rock Song for 'Not Strong Enough' at 2024 Grammys |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/boygenius-win-best-rock-song-for-not-strong-enough-at-2024-grammys/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222013011/https://pitchfork.com/news/boygenius-win-best-rock-song-for-not-strong-enough-at-2024-grammys/ |archive-date=February 22, 2024 |access-date=May 22, 2024 |magazine=Pitchfork}} she was the most awarded artist in the ceremony.
Live performances
File:Glaston2024 2806 300624 (164 of 173) (53836776152) (cropped).jpg set, where she performed "Ghost in the Machine"{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Surej |date=June 30, 2024 |title=Glastonbury 2024: Here's What SZA Played to Close Out the Show |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/glastonbury-2024-heres-what-sza-played-to-close-out-the-show-3770815 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806092118/https://www.nme.com/news/music/glastonbury-2024-heres-what-sza-played-to-close-out-the-show-3770815 |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |access-date=November 17, 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}]]
SZA performed "Ghost in the Machine" live for the first time on March 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York City as part of the international SOS Tour. Bridgers appeared as a surprise guest, joining SZA to perform her verse.{{Cite magazine |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=March 5, 2023 |title=Watch Phoebe Bridgers, Cardi B Join SZA for Madison Square Garden Performance |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-phoebe-bridgers-cardi-b-madison-square-garden-performance-watch-1234691046/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305041106/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-phoebe-bridgers-cardi-b-madison-square-garden-performance-watch-1234691046/ |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{cite magazine |last=Ruiz |first=Matthew Ismael |date=March 5, 2023 |title=Watch Phoebe Bridgers and Cardi B Join SZA at Madison Square Garden |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-phoebe-bridgers-and-cardi-b-join-sza-at-msg/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305112300/https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-phoebe-bridgers-and-cardi-b-join-sza-at-msg/ |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |magazine=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} The two duetted the song again during the last show of the tour's first leg, on March 23 at Inglewood's Kia Forum.{{Cite magazine |last=Garcia |first=Thania |date=March 24, 2023 |title=SZA Performs with Lizzo and Phoebe Bridgers at Final SOS Tour Stop, Jennifer Lopez and More Celebs Attend |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/sza-lizzo-phoebe-bridgers-jennifer-lopez-sos-1235563656/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324164333/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/sza-lizzo-phoebe-bridgers-jennifer-lopez-sos-1235563656/ |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=June 4, 2024 |magazine=Variety |language=en-US}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/sza-sos-tour-extended-dates-1234747967/|title=SZA Extends 'SOS' Tour in the U.S. and Europe|last=Abraham|first=Mya|magazine=Vibe|date=April 11, 2023|access-date=June 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629222309/https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/sza-sos-tour-extended-dates-1234747967/|archive-date=June 29, 2023|url-status=live}}
In between the two concerts with Bridgers, SZA played the song solo on March 16 at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena.{{cite magazine|url=https://spectrumculture.com/2023/03/19/concert-review-sza/|title=Concert Review: SZA|last=Strazzabosco|first=Domenic|magazine=Spectrum Culture|date=March 19, 2023|access-date=June 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403141841/https://spectrumculture.com/2023/03/19/concert-review-sza/|archive-date=April 3, 2023|url-status=live}} She continued to sporadically incorporate the song into her setlists during the tour, including at a June 13 concert at Manchester's AO Arena,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/14/sza-review-voyage-of-a-lifetime-with-genre-busting-rb-superstar|title=SZA Review – Voyage of a Lifetime with Genre-Busting R&B Superstar|last=Williams|first=Jenessa|magazine=The Guardian|date=June 14, 2023|access-date=June 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408072205/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/14/sza-review-voyage-of-a-lifetime-with-genre-busting-rb-superstar|archive-date=April 8, 2024|url-status=live}} a September 26 concert at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Arena,{{cite news|url=https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/music/sza-philadelphia-wells-fargo-sos-tour-setlist-review-20230926.html|title=Review: SZA's 'SOS Tour' Rides the High Seas, Finally Making It to South Philadelphia|last=DeLuca|first=Dan|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=September 26, 2023|access-date=June 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206092951/https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/music/sza-philadelphia-wells-fargo-sos-tour-setlist-review-20230926.html|archive-date=February 6, 2024|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} and a September 30 concert at Boston's TD Garden.{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/culture/concert-reviews/2023/10/01/sza-concert-review-td-garden-boston-september-30-2023/|title=Review and Setlist: SZA Dives in on the SOS Tour in Boston|last=McCourt|first=Clara|website=Boston.com|date=October 1, 2023|access-date=June 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023173717/https://www.boston.com/culture/concert-reviews/2023/10/01/sza-concert-review-td-garden-boston-september-30-2023/|archive-date=October 23, 2023|url-status=live}} SZA also included "Ghost in the Machine" on her headlining set for Glastonbury 2024, held on June 30.{{Cite web |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=July 1, 2024 |title=SZA's Striking Set Failed to Set Glastonbury Alight |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ck5g74jr59eo |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711140110/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ck5g74jr59eo |archive-date=2024-07-11 |url-status=live}}
Credits
Adapted from the liner notes of SOS{{cite AV media notes|title=SOS|publisher=Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records|year=2023|type=vinyl liner notes|author=SZA|id=19658-77921-1}}
Recording and management
- Engineered at Westlake Barn, and Studios A and D (Los Angeles, California)
- Bridgers's vocals engineered at Sound City Studios (Van Nuys, California)
- Mixed at Ponzu Studios (Los Angeles, California)
- Mastered at Becker Mastering (Pasadena, California)
- Published by Songs of Universal Inc./TDE Publishing LLC/Solána Rowe Publishing Designee (BMI), Sony Songs/Bisel Creative Sound (BMI), Carter Lang Publishing Designee/Zuma Tuna LLC/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) (all rights {{abbr|adm.|administered}} by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.), MSCSONGS/No Idle/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Pizza Money Publishing (ASCAP) ({{abbr|adm.|administered}} by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing), and Whatever Mom (ASCAP) ({{abbr|adm.|administered}} by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing)
Personnel
{{div col}}
- Solána Rowe (SZA){{spaced endash}} songwriting
- Rob Bisel{{spaced endash}} songwriting, production, keyboards, drums, piano, choir, engineering, mixing
- Carter Lang{{spaced endash}} songwriting, production, keyboards, drums, piano, choir
- Matt Cohn{{spaced endash}} songwriting, additional production, drums
- Marshall Vore{{spaced endash}} songwriting
- Phoebe Bridgers{{efn|Appears courtesy of Dead Oceans}}{{spaced endash}} songwriting
- Sadhguru{{spaced endash}} skit
- Hayden Duncan{{spaced endash}} assistant engineering
- Syd Tagle{{spaced endash}} assistant engineering
- Robert N. Johnson{{spaced endash}} assistant engineering
- Tony Berg{{spaced endash}} vocal production {{small|(for Bridgers)}}
- Ethan Gruska{{spaced endash}} vocal production {{small|(for Bridgers)}}
- Will Maclellan{{spaced endash}} vocal engineering {{small|(for Bridgers)}}
- Dale Becker{{spaced endash}} mastering
- Katie Harvey{{spaced endash}} assistant mastering
- Noah McCorkle{{spaced endash}} assistant mastering
{{div col end}}
Charts
= Weekly charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Ghost in the Machine" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 19 December 2022|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1711|page=4|date=December 19, 2022}}
| 72 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canada|46|artist=SZA|rowheader=true|access-date=June 2, 2024|refname=CanadaChart}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|52|artist=SZA|rowheader=true|access-date=June 2, 2024|refname=Global200}} |
| {{single chart|Portugal|121|artist=SZA feat. Phoebe Bridgers|song=Ghost in the Machine|rowheader=true|access-date=March 5, 2023|refname=PortugalChart}} |
| {{single chart|UKstreaming|96|date=20221216|rowheader=true|access-date=February 18, 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|40|artist=SZA|rowheader=true|access-date=February 6, 2023|refname=USAChart}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|17|artist=SZA|rowheader=true|access-date=June 2, 2024|refname=HotR&BHipHop}} |
= Year-end charts =
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Ghost in the Machine"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=SZA|title=Ghost in the Machine feat. Phoebe Bridgers|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=April 26, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=SZA|title=Ghost in the Machine|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=March 5, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=SZA|title=Ghost in the Machine feat. Phoebe Bridgers|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=February 20, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|30em=}}
{{SZA songs}}
{{Phoebe Bridgers}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance}}
Category:Contemporary R&B ballads
Category:Phoebe Bridgers songs
Category:Songs written by Phoebe Bridgers
Category:Songs written by Carter Lang