After giving “Surprise” some breathing room, Chlöe has enlisted Latto for her fourth solo song, “For the Night.” Chloe has finally delivered a single that showcases her viability as a pop star without sacrificing what makes her so arresting as a vocalist and performer, written alongside pop music giants like Omer Fedi (“Call Me By Your Name,” “Mood”) and Nija Charles (“Positions,” “Rain On Me”) and produced by London on da Track. Chloe invites her partner to let their guard down for a little period in this song, which is built around a beautiful blend of strings, guitar, and an 808-laden trap rhythm.
It’s a 2000s R&B-influenced soundtrack that sees her hovering between flirty and despondent. “And they don’t know me like you / All the things that we’ve gone through,” she sings, attempting to build an intimate wall around herself and her boyfriend — who, in this case, seems to be none other than Gunna.
Earlier songs gave the impression that Chlöe had yet to strike the appropriate balance between her bendable range and her tendency for sing-rapping. “For the Night” helps her to finally reach that equilibrium because it is written as a whole song. With two full verses, a rap bridge by Latto, and four chorus repeats, “For the Night” is Chloe’s first song that allows itself to grow into something bigger than its hook. Chloe delivers the second verse with a rap-sung cadence that complements her sumptuous and delicate tone in each chorus. Latto is an excellent addition to the song; her verse doesn’t necessarily contribute much to the tune, but, more significantly, she adds a nice touch.
In an era where sampling-as-nostalgia-bait reigns supreme, “For the Night” is a delightful treat since it draws on 2000s R&B and pop production patterns (check out those cascading strings in the background) without seeming like an exact copy of a better song from that decade. Hopefully, this becomes an even larger smash than “Have Mercy.” With this song, Chlöe appears to have found her feet.