"Tempo" is a song by American singer and rapper Lizzo featuring American recording artistMissy Elliott for her third studio album and major-label debut Cuz I Love You. The song was originally released as a promotional single on March 20, 2019, before being released as the album's second single on July 26, 2019. The single was written by the two artists with contributions from Antonio Cuna, Tobias Wincorn, Theron Thomas, Dan Farber, and Eric Frederic. The recording uses a sample from an electronic recording/composition entitled "Nescafé" by Raymond Scott, who is credited as a co-writer. Lizzo and Reed co-produced the track with Farber, Wincorn, Sweater Beats, and Nate Mercereau. Musically, "Tempo" is an R&B and trapcomposed of a bass-heavy, woodwind-inspired beat. It contains lyrics about body positivity, and has been described by one music critic as an "ode to curvaceous women". "Tempo" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the artists' performances and deemed it a club track. Commercially, it entered several component charts in Belgium and the United States. The song was promoted by an accompanying music video, directed by Andy Hines. It was released on July 26, 2019, the same day as the single's official release.
Composition
"Tempo" is a "nostalgia-filled" R&B, trap, and funk-pop song with a length of two minutes and fifty five seconds. The song begins with a powerful guitar riff, before breaking into the song's chorus: "Slow songs, they for skinny hoes. Can't move all of this here to one of those". It contains a "bass-heavy" and woodwind-inspired beat, before closing with a flute solo. Elliott's verse was added to the track after Lizzo had heard the song's completed instrumental. Described as "fiery twerk-team anthem" by NPR, "Tempo" is an "ode to curvaceous women" containing "self-assured" and "feel good" lyrics, followed by Elliott's "curve-celebrating" verse in the bridge.
Critical reception
"Tempo" received positive reviews from music critics. Will Lavin, writing for NME, called the track "fierce" and "up-tempo". Brendan Wetmore of Paper praised the song as "the kind of track that you don't even have to try to dance to". He also labelled it "a song for the club". Joshua Bote, writing for NPR, reacted positively to the song, calling it "a track that flows freely with their combined confidence and mic skills". Mike Wass of Idolator called the song "an unrepentant banger". Ben Kaye, writing for Consequence of Sound, praised Elliott's verse, writing "the slapping '90s beat is perfect for Missy ".
Accolades
Music video
Lizzo announced the song's music video on July 25, 2019. The video, directed by Andy Hines, was released on July 26, 2019. It features Lizzo, dressed in a blue coat and red cowboy hat, partying in a dinerparking lot with several dancers and cars in the background. Missy Elliott jumps out of a car in a tracksuit to perform her verse. David Renshaw of The Fader called the video "joy-filled".
