【译】叉婊Pitchfork评Lizzo 2021年回归单曲《Rumors》（feat.Cardi B）

翻译：Nomanlandever

In the two years since Lizzo released her Grammy-winning debut, Cuz I Love You, she’s become an occasional target for irate social media mobs. The self-assured pop star often responds to heated criticisms in kind—regardless of whether the backlash seems uncalled-for (over a juice cleanse, for example) or warranted (such as for putting a Postmates courier on blast). apparently fed up, Lizzo delivers her latest clapback to the never-ending noise in the form of “Rumors,” a collaboration with Cardi B and her first single since Cuz I Love You, choosing to revel in gossip rather than shut it down. But the song’s cool nonchalance is underwhelming at best.

在格莱美获奖专辑《Cuz I Love You》发行后的两年间，Lizzo偶尔会成为网暴的攻击目标。这位自信的流行歌手常选择以牙还牙的方式来回应激烈的批评——不管这种强烈的回应是否是不必要的(比如果汁排毒)或是正当的(比如炮轰邮差的快递员)。显然，她受够了，Lizzo带着与Cardi B合作的歌曲，《Cuz I Love You》以来的首支单曲《Rumors》，对这无休止的喧嚣做出了最新的回应。她选择沉浸在八卦中，而不是将其屏蔽。但这首歌的酷炫冷淡充其量也只能说是平淡无奇。

At first, “Rumors” sounds like a re-up of “Truth Hurts,” with Lizzo talking her shit over a simple piano melody. It quickly warps into anonymous, stomping future funk, complete with rubbery synth, handclaps, and electric guitar. The production shapes an airless backdrop for Lizzo, who sing-talks lines that veer inexplicably from “I am body goals” to “Black people made rock’n’roll.” Despite some choice words from Cardi (“Last time I got freaky, the FCC sued me,” she boasts, though that definitely won’t be an issue here), Lizzo’s verses read as if they’ve been spat out of a self-empowerment phrase generator, leading to a weirdly resigned chorus: “Sick of rumors/But haters do what they do.” “Rumors” feels slapped together from different parts of Lizzo’s past hits: the bellowing horns, squealing guitar solos, and endless confidence are all here. This time, though, the formula feels strained.

刚开头，《Rumors》听起来像《Truth Hurts》的后续歌曲，Lizzo在一段简单的钢琴旋律下胡言疯言疯语，之后迅速扭转为一段毫无新意，跺脚的未来放克，完整的橡胶合成器，拍手和电吉他曲段。制作给Lizzo营造出轻盈感，她边说边唱的歌词主旨莫名其妙地从“I am body goals” 变味为“Black people made rock’n’roll.”尽管Cardi B所唱的词句(“Last time I got freaky, the FCC sued me,” 她吹嘘道，尽管在这里这肯定不是问题关键所在)，Lizzo的部分读起来就像是从一个“鸡汤”话语生成器中吐出来的，做出来一段奇怪地逆来顺受的副歌： “Sick of rumors/But haters do what they do.”，《Rumors》感觉像是从Lizzo过去的热门歌曲的不同部分拼凑起来的：吼叫的喇叭，刺耳的吉他独奏，以及无限的信心无一缺席。不过，这一次，“公式”做出的效果非常勉强。