Magic!: Expectations
The hitmakers behind "Rude" and Kiss Me" have high expectations for their upcoming album. This title track is a more mellow affair than those songs, but it features some sage advice while showcasing their considerable songcraft.
By Kerry Doole
Magic! - "Expectations" (RCA Records): This reggae-pop quartet exploded onto the scene back in 2014 when the single "Rude” became a massive international smash, hitting the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and in 40 other countries. It has close to 500M Spotify streams and 1.3B Vevo views for the video.
Magic! dispelled fears of one-hit wonder status earlier this summer when "Kiss Me" broke through. The group's third album, Expectations, arrives on Sept. 7, with the title track released as a new single last week.
"Expectations" was written by the band and Adam Messinger and co-produced by singer Nasri and Messinger. The latter two are a potent songwriting and production team dubbed "The Messengers," with credits including Justin Bieber, Shakira, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Halsey, and Iggy Azalea. They won a Grammy in 2012 for their work on Chris Brown's album F.A.M.E.
Their well-honed skills are in evidence on "Expectations." The song is considerably more sombre and mellow than Magic!'s earlier hits, so may not duplicate their success. Over sparse beats, Nasri serves up a sage warning about "expectations that make you believe that what you desire is what you need." Justin Bieber has already called the song "magical," and it confirms Magic! as a group with the ability to go the distance.
The group plays five shows in Western Canada, Sept. 1-7, followed by an Oct. 10 concert in Richmond Hill, ON.
Links
Publicity: Sean Cordner, Sony Music sean.cordner@sonymusic.com
The Weeknd at Rogers Centre in Toronto on August 8, 2025.Hyghly Alleyne, Courtesy XO Records