You remember 2017? It was that weird, transitional year for pop where everything started getting a little moodier, a little more rhythmic. Right in the middle of that shift, we got Maroon 5 with SZA. It wasn't just a collaboration; it was a calculated risk that ended up defining a specific era of radio play. The track, "What Lovers Do," didn't just climb the charts. It basically lived there.
Honestly, at first glance, the pairing felt kind of chaotic. Adam Levine has that signature, high-tenor pop polish. SZA, at the time, was the darling of the "alt-R&B" world, fresh off the massive success of Ctrl. People wondered if their styles would clash. They didn't. Instead, they created this breezy, infectious bit of tropical synth-pop that sounds just as clean today as it did when it first dropped.
The Unexpected Alchemy of What Lovers Do
Most people think Maroon 5 just picks whatever artist is trending to stay relevant. There’s some truth to that, sure. But with Maroon 5 with SZA, the musical math actually makes sense. The song is built on a sample of "Sexual" by Neiked, which already had that "earworm" DNA.
SZA brings a texture that Adam Levine simply can't. While Adam handles the soaring, melodic hooks, SZA slides in with these raspy, conversational ad-libs. It’s the contrast. You have the perfection of a stadium pop band meeting the raw, slightly off-kilter energy of a Top Dawg Entertainment powerhouse.
It’s worth noting that Ben Billions and Jason Evigan—the heavy hitters behind the production—kept the arrangement sparse. They didn't bury SZA's vocals under a mountain of reverb. They let the "bet the house on you" lyric breathe. That’s probably why it stuck. It felt human. It felt like a real conversation between two people flirting at a party they’re both too cool for.
💡 You might also like: Not the Nine O'Clock News: Why the Satirical Giant Still Matters
Breaking Down the Chart Performance
When you look at the numbers, "What Lovers Do" was a beast. It hit the top ten in over twenty countries. On the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at number 9. But the real story isn't just the peak; it's the longevity.
The song stayed on the charts for months because it fit every possible playlist. It worked for morning commutes. It worked for gym sessions. It worked for retail stores. This is what the industry calls "high utility pop."
- Multi-Platinum Status: The song is certified 2x Platinum in the US.
- Streaming Giants: It has surpassed over a billion streams on Spotify.
- Radio Dominance: It was a staple on Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 for the better part of a year.
Why SZA Needed This (And Why Maroon 5 Needed Her)
In 2017, SZA was a critical favorite but not yet a household name for the "Top 40 only" crowd. Collaborating with a group as massive as Maroon 5 was a bridge. It introduced her unique vocal phrasing to millions of people who might have never clicked on an R&B playlist. It proved she could play in the big leagues without losing her soul.
For Maroon 5, the benefits were obvious. They needed to shed the "dad rock" or "wedding band" image that occasionally dogs them. Bringing in the coolest woman in music at the time gave them an immediate injection of street cred. It worked perfectly.
📖 Related: New Movies in Theatre: What Most People Get Wrong About This Month's Picks
The Music Video and the "Surrealist" Aesthetic
If you haven't watched the video lately, go back and look. It’s directed by Joseph Kahn, who is basically the king of high-budget, slightly insane music videos. It features Adam and SZA as children, then as adults running through fields, underwater, and in a casino with a giant dinosaur.
It’s weird. Really weird.
But that weirdness helped the song stand out in the pre-TikTok era. It gave people something to talk about. The visual of SZA as a literal mermaid or Adam being chased by a CGI deer added a layer of "what did I just watch?" that drove repeat views.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Collab
A common misconception is that this was SZA's first major pop feature. It wasn't, but it was the one that stuck. People also tend to think Maroon 5 "discovered" her. Let's be real—SZA was already a star in her own right. She had the number one R&B album of the year. If anything, Maroon 5 was lucky to catch her right as she was exploding.
👉 See also: A Simple Favor Blake Lively: Why Emily Nelson Is Still the Ultimate Screen Mystery
Another thing: the song is often dismissed as "simple." It’s actually quite complex in its rhythm. The way SZA plays with the beat—delaying her entry by just a fraction of a second—is a classic jazz and R&B technique. It creates a tension that standard pop songs usually lack.
The Impact on Future Pop Trends
After Maroon 5 with SZA took off, we saw a massive wave of "Pop-R&B" crossovers that tried to mimic this exact formula. Think about the way Calvin Harris started utilizing R&B vocalists for Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1. The industry realized that the "clean" pop sound was dying. People wanted grit. They wanted soul. They wanted SZA.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans and Creators
If you're looking to understand why certain songs "pop" while others fail, or if you're a creator trying to build a brand, there are lessons to be learned from this specific collaboration.
- Contrast is King: Don't partner with someone who sounds exactly like you. Find your opposite. The friction between Adam's polish and SZA's grit is the "secret sauce" of the track.
- Sample Wisely: Using the Neiked sample provided a familiar rhythmic foundation that allowed the artists to experiment more with their vocal delivery.
- Visual Identity Matters: Don't just make a "performance" video. Make something that forces the viewer to pay attention. The Joseph Kahn visuals were essential for the song's digital longevity.
- Timing is Everything: Maroon 5 tapped SZA at the exact moment she was transitioning from indie darling to global superstar. Catching an artist on the "up" is more effective than catching them at their absolute peak.
To truly appreciate the nuance of the track, listen to the instrumental version first. Notice how the bassline carries the melody, then layer the vocals back in. You’ll hear how SZA uses her voice almost like a percussion instrument, hitting the "k" and "t" sounds to emphasize the beat. It's a masterclass in modern vocal arrangement.
Next time you hear it on the radio, don't just dismiss it as another pop song. It’s a snapshot of a moment where two very different worlds collided and actually created something better than the sum of its parts. Check out the live performances from that era to see how they handled the vocal hand-offs; it’s a great example of professional chemistry in a high-pressure environment.