Hit R&B artist Summer Walker has finally released her third studio album, “Finally Over It,” to conclude her iconic “Over It” trilogy. The album spans 18 tracks and is divided into two parts, “For Better” and “For Worse.” Through her album, Walker tells a story of love, instability, heartbreak and eventually healing. Each song takes the listener to a different stage in Walker’s journey. The album is immersive and presents a cohesive narrative. It not only represents progress and development in Walker’s life, but also in her music. “Finally Over It” delivers raw emotion, peak composition and the tale of a recognizable story.
Walker starts off the album exceptionally with “Scars.” Her vocals are magical and immediately pull the listener in. In only four short lines, she is able to reveal deep emotions. The track is less than a minute, but gets the audience eager for more.
The album shifts to a slightly more upbeat and catchy track with “No.” Walker touches on finding her self-worth, standing her ground and finally gaining the courage to say “no.” The beat drop in the chorus is abrupt after each use of the word “no,” which settles her response as final.
“1-800 Heartbreak” featuring Anderson .Paak is a highlight on the album. In “No,” Walker uses a very confident approach in her delivery, but in “1-800 Heartbreak” there is a shift away from that, complementing the different emotions being portrayed. In the latter, she conveys pain and heartbreak through her voice. The song switches up toward the end as a phone rings, moving to .Paak’s verse, which is a depiction of Walker’s former partner pleading to her in apology.
“Heart Of A Woman” was released prior to the album’s drop, but is featured as the track that immediately follows “1-800 Heartbreak.” The song has already met great success because of its undeniably catchy beat and impeccable flow. In the context of the album, “Heart Of A Woman” seems like a direct response to the apology at the end of the previous song. Walker explains that she’ll give her partner another chance because she loves him, even though she is scared of being burned again. Thus, the line “Only thing that’s saving you / Is the heart of a woman” becomes the main chorus, defining this song and part of her relationship.
Turning back to her sad and mellow state, Walker contemplates instability and mixed emotions in her relationship through “Situationship.” She exudes raw feelings of pain and confusion. The constant shifts between the style of each song contribute to her story by mimicking the instability of her partnership.
Moving on to “For Worse,” the first track, “FMT,” immediately stands out. It depicts the start of Walker’s path to healing. She navigates the struggle of moving forward after a consuming relationship. As the song concludes, she affirms that she is going to leave behind her heartbreak and work toward happiness.
With its melodic quality and unforgettable chorus, “Don’t Make Me Do It/Tempted” is one of the best tracks on the album. In this song, Walker highlights her new, no-nonsense mentality in relationships and puts her foot down. Not only does this piece contribute to her journey, but is also a peak auditory experience on its own.
Walker closes out the album with two songs that convey feelings of hope, healing and closure. “Allegedly,” featuring Teddy Swims, is a unique piece that follows Walker as she starts to pursue love again and the way she moves forward from her past. It surprisingly does a great job blending R&B features with Swims’ country-style vocals. As the final track, “Finally Over It” closes out the album perfectly, Walker’s voice sounds almost angelic. Throughout the song, she shows how her scars from the beginning have now healed, bringing the listeners to the end of her journey.
The album has many notable guest features like 21 Savage, Brent Faiyaz and Bryson Tiller, each adding a special touch to their respective tracks. However, a few features seem too long or unnecessary entirely, and it would’ve been great to hear more of Walker. For one, .Paak’s appearance on “1-800 Heartbreak” is a nice touch, but drags on for some time. Similarly, “Baller” is a super fun, lively track featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Monaleo, but having all three features on one song overshadows Walker’s presence.
As a whole, “Finally Over It” is a beautiful and fitting end to the “Over It” trilogy. It highlights maturity and development in both Walker’s life and artistry. She masterfully integrates songs that are more fun and lighthearted with those that contain deeper messages, making for a well-rounded, enjoyable album. Walker plays with different styles and takes risks in this album, but nonetheless succeeds in producing a stellar conclusion to the “Over It” trilogy.
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Featured Image Courtesy of LVRN/Interscope Records
