This song is part of our “THE SUMMER 97 (1998 x 2023)” playlist. Check out the full list.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly 20 years since R&B staple Ciara released her debut album “Goodies.” While the quality of her output has varied over time, in “Low Key,” this DJ Luke-sampling tune is a vast improvement from some of her more recent projects. Lyrically, the singer highlights how hard she works professionally and personally while still carving out enough of herself to indulge in the pleasures of love and marriage (Hey Russell!). The track lends itself perfectly to its accompanying EP “CiCi” and stands out amongst a solid, slightly too brief, but well-rounded project.
Watch the “Low Key” lyric video, stream it, or grab some music by Ciara.
In celebration of summer, the staff at THE 97 has compiled a playlist containing some of our favorite summer songs, from then and now. Each day we will reveal one song, rotating daily between past and present with pairings from 1998 and 2023, for a total of 97 days/songs. Since we love nostalgia, we’re celebrating summer songs from 1998 as they turn 25, alongside new songs that we feel deserve some shine. Pairings could be thematic, sonic, or based connections between the artists.