Bazzi rose to fame just a few years ago with his self-penned hit “Mine.” The song, which is nearing 900 million streams on Spotify, is just over two minutes long and featured one of the first recognizable “viral trend moments” in modern pop music with its now iconic opening line, “You so… f***ing… precious… when you… smile.” The entire song itself could likely be considered a viral trend. Other tracks like “Beautiful,” featuring a fresh-out-of-Fifth-Harmony Camila Cabello, as well as “Paradise” and “I.F.L.Y.” have done huge numbers as well. 

His 2021 release “I Like That,” which was, up to this point, my favorite song of his, followed a similar structure to that of previous hits, but for some reason failed to make as big of a splash. Regardless, it is an instantly catchy pop tune with, dare I say, extremely impressive vocals from the still very young Canton, MI native.  

Fast forward less than a year later to “Will It Ever Feel The Same,” and Bazzi has outdone himself. While, yes, the elephant in the room is that it sounds just a little too close to Post Malone, especially in the vocal performance (backing vocals and all), it is nowhere near a departure from his past work. In terms of emotional material and bravado, Bazzi comes across as less of, say, the cuddly teddy bear-type that Lauv or Jeremy Zucker would, but more so the college frat boy who is “one of the guys” but cries to his girl, saying “My friends don’t get me like you do, babe.” And he plays the part well. 

He has continued to evolve as an artist and as a result, has given us a, mostly, very adult-sounding track about trying to move on from a past relationship. The lyric, “Does the feeling of touching you, f***ing you ever go away?” took me out of the adultness for a moment, as I wish he’d used slightly less graphic language, but his heightened state of emotion and desperation caused by missing someone he has shared such intimate moments with is most certainly the catalyst for that choice. 

Following in the footsteps of “I Like That,” Bazzi’s vocal ability continues to improve dramatically. He repeatedly lands notes in his high mix register with ease in the chorus, and maintains the slight rasp that has, from day one, given his voice the emotional gruffness that someone like Shawn Mendes wasn’t able to legitimately acquire until his third album. The frustration he’s feeling is evident, as he is, physically, moving on with other people, but he may not be emotionally ready for it; “She’s always touching my skin. I’ll touch back, then she’ll leave. And I’m alone again oh-oh, oh, oh-oh. Will it ever feel the same?” 

You can stream “Will It Ever Feel The Same” here, and follow Bazzi on social media via the links below.

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