As my favorite song of all time, lUcOzAdE is the best way to end off this blog and year of RCL.

As an adamant ZAYN ‘stan’, I have followed the singer’s career from his X Factor days to his solo career by religiously streaming his music and consistently having him as my #1 artist on my Spotify Wrapped year after year. Because of my passionate dedication to him, my passion blog will be a review of some of my favorite songs from ZAYN’s debut album, Mind of Mine. In my seventh and final (*tears*) blog, I will be reviewing lUcoZadE, which is inarguably, the greatest song that has ever been listened to by my ears.

Lucozade is a U.K. brand that makes sports drinks, like Gatorade. The song is cleverly titled as the drink because ZAYN sings about being hungover, drunk and faded as he pieces together his emotions about a girl. ZAYN mentioned in commentary that the song is very unedited and sloppy, which seems purposeful with the theme of the song reflecting the state of being hungover. Because of the “sloppiness” of the song, ZAYN not only delves into a storyline about his confusing relationship with a girl, but he also reflects on his time with One Direction, as he has already done in other songs on the album.

“Ain’t about who’s winnin’ or losin’

It’s ’bout the path you’re choosin'”

Here, ZAYN is responding to the backlash he received after leaving One Direction, with many people being in disagreement whether him leaving would help or harm his career. ZAYN says that it isn’t about him failing or succeeding, he just wishes to choose his own path.

“No lies in my eyes, nothing but truth will leave my mouth

I’m tryna fuckin’ scream but the words won’t come out”

ZAYN then references how within the band, he felt that he could not be himself. However, once he became his own artist, he acknowledges that he can now speak his truth with his music, no longer controlled by his previous management. It is highly possible that ZAYN is referencing his song tRuTh, where he further expresses his new freedom.

The musical aspect of this song is also incredible. ZAYN is consistent with the techno-R&B theme, incorporating it into this song with the background themes. His vocals are angelic in the background, especially with the introduction, which immediately hooks the listener to the song. Unique from other songs on this album, though, ZAYN does not choose to sing with his usual vocal range in this song. Instead of hitting impressive notes and harmonizing perfectly, ZAYN chooses to have a deeper, melancholy tone. The song is not exactly a rap, but it follows the same beats as a rap song. Even with this different style, ZAYN still manages to show the span of his talent, incorporating emotion into every line and keeping control of his voice. This song is truly incredible and I implore you to listen to what I consider, ZAYN’s greatest song of all time.

A song that perfectly encapsules the relaxedness of summer, dRuNk provides a soothing tune that delights all audiences.

As an adamant ZAYN ‘stan’, I have followed the singer’s career from his X Factor days to his solo career by religiously streaming his music and consistently having him as my #1 artist on my Spotify Wrapped year after year. Because of my passionate dedication to him, my passion blog will be a review of some of my favorite songs from ZAYN’s debut album, Mind of Mine. In my sixth blog, I will be reviewing dRuNk.

In dRuNk, ZAYN remembers his intoxicated nights with his summer fling.

“We’re so late nights
Red eyes, amnesia, on ice
Late nights, red eyes
Amnesia, I need ya”

The song relates intoxication from drugs and alcohol to being similar to the feeling of love. ZAYN explains this by saying that he’s drunk in love:

“Right now, I can’t see straight

Intoxicated, it’s true, when I’m with you

I’m buzzing and I feel laced

I’m coming from a different phase when I’m with you”

 

“Wasted every night

Gone for every song

Faded every night

Dancing all night long”

ZAYN’s love for his partner makes him feel the symptoms of being drunk— he simply cannot think straight and his emotions are numbed, just like the effects of drugs and alcohol. The way he strains some of the lyrics, such as in the entry of Verse 2, shows the deep passion of his emotions, which reflect how in love ZAYN is. The background repeat of “drunk” towards the end of the song is slurred together, further expressing the motif of intoxication. The comparison between love and intoxication is somewhat cliched (ex. “Drunk in Love” by Beyonce), but I still enjoy the way that ZAYN chose to describe the overall emotion and mood of being intoxicated.

The beat in the background accompanies the lyrics quite successfully. The background vocals are seductive, whispers that remind the listener of the wooziness of being drunk. The piano adds a classic touch, giving remnants of 90’s R&B hits. The beat and overall sound is very modern despite the nostalgia, which truly reflects the maturity of ZAYN’s new music compared to his pop hits during his time in One Direction. I mentioned in previous blogs that the techno-beat was a large theme that exists in the Mind of Mine album. This song successfully follows this common theme— the instrumentals manage to be both classic and modern, having piano and techno compliment one another to create a nostalgic yet futuristic tune.

The name itself gives this song a quite powerful meaning.

As an adamant ZAYN ‘stan’, I have followed the singer’s career from his X Factor days to his solo career by religiously streaming his music and consistently having him as my #1 artist on my Spotify Wrapped year after year. Because of my passionate dedication to him, my passion blog will be a review of some of my favorite songs from ZAYN’s debut album, Mind of Mine. In my fifth blog, I will be reviewing tRuTh.

In tRuTh, ZAYN speaks his truth (pun intended) about his transition from being a boy-band member of One Direction to becoming his own solo artist. The lyrics are very cut and clear:

“This ain’t my scene, this ain’t my dream.”

In many interviews, ZAYN has said that he never wanted to join a boy band. The backstory is that each member of One Direction was eliminated in the solo competition of the X Factor, and because the judges liked them all so much, they were put together in one group. However, that was never ZAYN’s intent— he always wanted to be his own solo artist. In an interview, he spoke on One Direction’s style of music: “I wasn’t 100 percent behind the music. It wasn’t me.”

In the prechorus and chorus, ZAYN confidently claims that his listeners will find out the truth soon enough:

“I won’t point any fingers, I won’t say it was you
I’ll let life take its time, and in time, you’ll see the truth”

“See the truth, see the truth”

ZAYN has very few interviews of him speaking on his past with One Direction, which proves that he does not want to directly blame anyone, but there is someone he has in mind. Many speculate that he is talking about Simon Cowell, who was the one to sign One Direction after they were eliminated in the X Factor.

In the bridge, ZAYN slips in one more message:

“I tried, hide it all”

ZAYN has expressed that while he was in the band, he was not allowed to sing a certain way, or change his appearance dramatically. When ZAYN sent in samples of R&B songs, they were rejected immediately because they were not pop. His managers had also told him that he could not dye his hair or grow out his beard in order to maintain a “boy band look”. Overall, ZAYN expresses with his lyrics just how oppressive the boy band industry is, and he hopes that people can finally see the truth.

Although the melody of this song is much more sad and slow than other songs that have been reviewed so far, there is still an R&B beat in the background. The song is also very mature sounding— although it may not be purposeful, it demonstrates just how much ZAYN has grown since his time with One Direction. He won’t point any fingers because he’s more mature as himself, as a solo artist.

Barely a minute long and only consisting of a few lines, fLoWer manages to be one of ZAYN’s most intricate pieces in his debut album.

As an adamant ZAYN ‘stan’, I have followed the singer’s career from his X Factor days to his solo career by religiously streaming his music and consistently having him as my #1 artist on my Spotify Wrapped year after year. Because of my passionate dedication to him, my passion blog will be a review of some of my favorite songs from ZAYN’s debut album, Mind of Mine. In my fourth blog, I will be reviewing INTERMISSION: fLoWer.

fLoWer is a simple song included as the intermission piece in Mind of Mine. The song is entirely sung in Urdu and consists of three lines:

English translation:

“Until the flower of this love has blossomed
This heart won’t be at peace
Give me your heart, Give me your heart, Give me your heart”

Simply, ZAYN compares his relationship to a flower, expressing that he will not be at peace until his love for the person has not peaked. The lyrics themselves are very simple, but the intricacy and context of the song is what gives it a deeper meaning.

During his time in One Direction, ZAYN was never entirely open with his heritage. Although he acknowledged his Pakistani and Islamic background, he seemed to avoid those questions in interviews. On social media, ZAYN was met with overwhelming racism and Islamophobia, furthering his silence. Many speculate that one of the major reasons for ZAYN leaving the band is due to the lack of support he was receiving from his bandmates regarding this issue. However, in fLoWer, ZAYN reaches back to his roots, giving his fans a song that incorporates Pakistani and Islamic culture.

ZAYN begins the song with angelic vocals, which is a pattern that occurs in Pakistani folk music. This music is referred to as a “ghazal”, which is a poetic expression of pain of loss or the beauty of love. Here, ZAYN expresses both pain and love, combining both strong emotions to create a compelling piece with only a few words. The song being in Urdu is also quite symbolic, as the language is his father’s native tongue. The song is thus a tribute to his family and culture, while also indirectly addressing the struggle that he has gone through with his identity while being in One Direction. ZAYN embraces himself in this song, making such a simple song overwhelmingly meaningful.

Yes, you read that right. BeFoUr. The odd spelling and strange capitalizations of the song truly do have a deeper meaning, making the third single on this album incredibly unique and creative.

As an adamant ZAYN ‘stan’, I have followed the singer’s career from his X Factor days to his solo career by religiously streaming his music and consistently having him as my #1 artist on my Spotify Wrapped year after year. Because of my passionate dedication to him, my passion blog will be a review of some of my favorite songs from ZAYN’s debut album, Mind of Mine. In my third blog, I will be reviewing BeFoUr.

BeFoUr was written immediately after ZAYN left One Direction, which can be inferenced from the lyrics and confirmed by ZAYN himself. The song begins with the post-chorus:

“I’ve done this before

Not like this.”

Here, ZAYN introduces himself by saying he’s already done all of this– the fame, the tours, etc. But now, everything is different, since he is a solo act. In the pre-chorus, ZAYN further discusses his emotions on this:

“Numb on a roof, set it on fire

Just to give me proof, I’m living on a wire.”

ZAYN shares with the listener how he felt while being with One Direction– numb and paralyzed, stuck. Now on his own, ZAYN has to lead his own path like a tightrope. He is unsure whether his solo act will be as successful and comfortable as was his position in the number one boy band in the world, but he is willing to take the risk.

In this song, ZAYN also addresses the haters which had accumulated after his departure from the band, along with his past management.

“So say what you want to say, what you want

Shame is you won’t say that to my face.”

“No strings for you to pull on”

“Can’t tune my chords into your songs, no.”

ZAYN does not care for those who have a say with him leaving the band, since these people will never say it to his face. It is possible that ZAYN may also be throwing shade to his past band members, who may have incited drama that led to ZAYN leaving the band. Furthermore, ZAYN implies that he is now free from people controlling him. Perhaps he is implying that his actions were always controlled when he was in the band, like a puppet. Now that he is his own act, he no longer has someone controlling him, allowing him to pursue his own dreams. He can make his own music, and as this album shows, his style is not the pop-music that One Direction was creating. Instead, ZAYN prefers an R&B genre, which has shown to be successful for him.

The music of this song is slightly different than that of PILLOWTALK and LIKE I WOULD. Instead of a dance beat, this song has more of a melodramatic mood, which is furthered through the lyrics and the message that the song is conveying. Even with this, the melody is still catchy and can easily be stuck in one’s head.

The title of the song is also very important to note. ZAYN’s last album during his time in One Direction was titled “Four”, and he had four other bandmates. Whether done on purpose or not, the pun is quite interesting to note and truly encapsulates the meaning of the song.

As ZAYN’s second biggest hit from the album, LIKE I WOULD met high expectations as another R&B song in ZAYN’s journey of finding his own genre.

As an adamant ZAYN ‘stan’, I have followed the singer’s career from his X Factor days to his solo career by religiously streaming his music and consistently having him as my #1 artist on my Spotify Wrapped year after year. Because of my passionate dedication to him, my passion blog will be a review of some of my favorite songs from ZAYN’s debut album, Mind of Mine. In my second blog, I will be reviewing LIKE I WOULD.

LIKE I WOULD was released as a second single from Mind of Mine, and immediately, fans took notice to a few of the lyrics and the similarity to an old One Direction song. To begin, the introductory lyrics quickly catch the listener’s attention:

“Hey what’s up? It’s been a while
Talking ’bout it’s not my style
Thought I’d see what’s up, while I’m lighting up
It’s cold-hearted, cold-hearted”

Because the song is about an ex-lover, it is likely that the song is simply addressing the ex. However, a double-meaning can be read from the lyrics. Zayn is introducing himself in this song, saying that it has been a while since he has spoken since leaving One Direction. ZAYN has also been fairly quiet about leaving the band or discussing past drama, which is why he explains that he does not like to talk about it.

This song is also rooted into One Direction’s track, I Would, which is featured on the sophomore album, Take Me Home. The similarities are left up to the interpreter, but it is quite noticeable.

Lyrics from I Would:

“Would he say he’s in L-O-V-E?
Well if it was me then I would, I would
Would he hold you when you’re feeling low?
Baby, you should know that I would, I would”

Lyrics from LIKE I WOULD:

“He, won’t touch you like I do
He, won’t love you like I would
He don’t know your body
He don’t do you right
He won’t love you like I would
Love you like I would, like I would”

The vocals in this song also surpass the standards. The strain in ZAYN’s voice throughout certain parts of the song truly emphasize his passion as he sings. He sounds truly angelic in the bridge, pleading to the listener (or his lover) that the other man cannot love him like he would. The background vocals further this notion, giving an echo-effect to highlight ZAYN’s unique voice in the R&B genre.

As mentioned in the last blog, Mind of Mine follows a techno/futuristic theme, as to symbolize ZAYN’s progression out of his old boy-band. This theme is portrayed in this song through the sharp dance-beat. Although it is not directly a part of the album, the music video also carries this concept, with the visuals being made up of fluorescent strobe lasers.

Overall, LIKE I WOULD is another amazing song by ZAYN in his debut album. The sound is catchy yet entirely unique, and ZAYN does not hold back with his voice.

Historically in America, only wealthy white men were able to afford an education. The progression of society leads to the inclusion of other races, women, and those from lower-income to have access to public schools, but some values have not changed in the past 200 years. In this blog, the focus will be on the STEM gap, where women are tracked away from certain subjects throughout their time in the public education system and thus are minorities in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

In 2019, it was found that while women make up 48% of the U.S. workforce, they make up only 27% of all STEM workers. These statistics are supported by the lack of support that is in place for girls who want to pursue careers in STEM fields. There are three major reasons why this pattern exists (https://www.wgu.edu/blog/why-are-there-so-few-women-in-stem1907.html#close). One, there is a lack of role models in these fields. When students learn about math and science in school, there is barely any representation for women frontiers. Because girls do not see women entering STEM fields, they themselves do not pursue these careers. Second, sexism is deeply rooted in the education of these subjects. A heavy stereotype exists that women are incapable of learning these subjects, that they are inherently “dumber” than boys. However, studies show that girls typically do better in the classroom than boys do. Third, sexism exists heavily in the workplace of STEM fields. Nearly 50% of women have expressed that they have experienced gender-related discrimination in the workforce, which shows how extensive this issue truly is.

As a woman in STEM myself, I have noticed how a lack of support and encouragement towards mathematics and science courses has impacted my journey through the public school system. During my years of elementary school and middle school, it was predominantly boys who were known to be good at math. In high school, I had a sexist physics teacher who created a research project to “prove” that boys were simply better at physics than girls. My roommate, who is majoring in computer science, also shared her experiences of being a minority in her field. She mentioned how the boys in her computer science lecture would joke about girls who presented “femininely” with make-up and nicer clothes, claiming that these girls were “too dumb” for the subject. This is entirely unfair, as it makes it seem that women cannot be both “feminine” and be intelligent. Appearance should not be a factor in determining a person’s skills. Yet, in both her and my STEM courses, it is clear that men dominate the classroom, while women are the minority.

It is important that there is better representation in these fields. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences discovered that diverse teams are more likely to outperform a homogeneous team. People that come from differing backgrounds have different perspectives, allowing them to provide new ideas to a group. Furthermore, technology and engineering careers are those of the future and are quickly increasing in demand. STEM careers also typically have larger pay, and including more women in these fields will not only end the gender gap in STEM, but will also end the gender gap in pay, as it has been found that the gender gap is smaller in STEM jobs than in non-STEM jobs. 

Women should be encouraged to enter STEM fields instead of being pushed away from them. To do this, the education system needs to be reformed to better accommodate girls. In recent years, there has been a rise in organizations made specifically for women in STEM, such as Girls Who Code, Society of Women Engineers, and the National Girls Collaborative Project. These organizations have been made for women to encourage each other as they pursue their interests in male-dominated fields. My friend, Saadya Rao, shared her experiences of being the Chair of Diversity and Inclusion in one of these organizations, the Society of Women Engineers. “It’s really great that they have this organization at Penn State,” she told me. “Back in high school, I was one of the only girls pursuing computer science, and it sucked because I felt a bit isolated in my classes. Even though I sometimes feel that way in my courses now, I appreciate being in an organization where I can be with girls who’ve had the same experiences as me. We all help each other out and it truly is great.” These societies and clubs are truly effective, so establishing these in the public education system could be beneficial in increasing the interest of STEM to girls. 

Furthermore, having a more welcoming environment in STEM can encourage more women to enter the field. Far too often do men isolate or target women who work alongside them. By having greater consequences of discrimination, greater flexibility for pregnant women or those with families, and instilling anti-bias and inclusion training, women would be more encouraged to enter these fields without worrying about the difficulty of staying in these careers. 83% of women reportedly leave their STEM careers or majors due to not having the proper support at their work or university, so it is vital that their environment help them, not hinder them.

Overall, the gender gap in STEM is a major issue that continues to be overlooked. Women deserve to be included in these fields, and they should be encouraged to do so. By having a better system in place where girls can pursue their interests without any backlash from a sexist society, there will be an increase in diversity, which will bring forth new ideas and innovations. In recent years, the gender gap has been closing, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Only with better inclusion, with the help of both men and women, can the gap fully close.

Ever since hundreds of colleges and universities went test-optional for the 2020-2021 applicant pool, standardized testing has been brought into question of whether they truly are a good indicator of an individual’s intelligence. The most infamous standardized exam, the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or the SAT, was created in 1926 and is still a recognized measurement of an applicant, almost a hundred years later. However, the gain of research throughout the years has indicated that standardized testing cannot measure a person’s intelligence, is the SAT an outdated test?

The SAT consists of two major sections, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Mathematics. The essay portion of the SAT is considered to be separate from the overall test and score and is no longer a part of the exam since 2021. With these two sections, it is already demonstrated that the SAT tests a very small portion of a person’s overall knowledge. Both sections have also been under scrutiny for the unfairness of questions asked. The reading section favors native-English speakers, with many questions asking about the definition of certain terms or stylistic elements of a piece. This can be incredibly difficult for the undereducated, or those who do not speak English well. The reading section also typically contains one historical passage, which is usually that of American history. The varying levels of background knowledge of American history can greatly impact a student’s score, which is unfair since College Board does not direct students to know prior historical knowledge before the exam. The mathematics section is also designed poorly. This section covers algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus, which many students do not even have a chance to fully complete in their high-school curriculum before they can take the SAT. Students are forced to teach themselves these concepts, which is, again, incredibly unfair. The SAT math questions also happen to be formatted in word problems, which is unlike math problems that students typically learn in their high-school math course. Because of this, being a good math student does not always equate with receiving a high math score.

Doing well on standardized exams is not only based on the amount of prior knowledge a test-taker comes in with, but also on the amount of studying they have done beforehand, which tends to correlate with wealth. Wealthier students have access to prep courses and materials that give them the ability to learn how to master the exam. While there are free ways to study for the exam, such as through Khan Academy, these prep courses have access to more material from the College Board, giving students a better preparation for standardized tests. Furthermore, it has been shown that an SAT score cannot be attributed entirely to one’s work ethic or intelligence. According to a study from MIT, more prosperous people were not more intelligent– they simply had more resources and better circumstances. 

As someone who was privileged enough to be put into a prep school for the SAT, I recognize that I was only able to do well on the exam due to the access to resources my family had. I received an immense amount of material that allowed me to succeed, but this material is not available to the general public for free. 

Having the SAT in place has its benefits, though. Each school district across America is unique in the difficulty of classes and the measure of GPA. This means that it is practically impossible to compare a student with a 3.7 GPA at a particularly challenging high school to a student with a 5.2 GPA at a school that offers a weighted GPA and easier courses. The SAT solves this problem by providing a standardized level of comparison through the use of scores. Although the scoring is still an issue, as mentioned by the unfairness of the questions and whether the test is truly a measurement of intelligence, having a “standard” exam is beneficial in the college application process. 

Just recently, College Board has announced a new format for the exam. The SAT will be shortened from 3 hours to 2, and it will be taken entirely online. The test will also incorporate “section-adaptiveness”, which means that students will have entirely different questions from one another to cater towards each individual. According to the Compass Education Group, “the algorithm chooses the appropriate difficulty for the second section” based on the students’ performance in the first”. Although this seems like an interesting approach, many questions are being raised on how exactly a student will be graded, since one student may receive a harder exam than another student. 

Personally, I do not know whether this online exam is a better version of the current SAT. Having the exam online may cause further problems and issues, especially with students who live in poorer areas. Will testing centers in poor communities have access to tablets and laptops for students to be able to take the exam? If the test is “section-adaptive”, then what is the most successful way for students to study for it? Unfortunately, since this new version of the exam is not being released until 2023, there is very little information about whether it better reflects a student’s intelligence.

Overall, I believe that standardized testing is not beneficial for students. It does not measure a student’s knowledge because of the limited amount of content that is covered on the exam, and the questions are unfair. However, I do not think the exam should be entirely abolished. A junior from Potomac High School, Kirsten Amemastro, says it best: “[The test] definitely doesn’t offer the full profile of who a student is, it’s not like the missing piece. But it can make your application better. It just kind of speaks to what you can accomplish in your testing ability.” The SAT becoming test-optional at many schools is perhaps the best outcome, for students themselves can choose whether or not the exam is worth it. Choose to take it or not– it is entirely up to you.

“Critical Race Theory”. It’s a phrase that has been buzzing around the news and has been in the mouths of government officials, but what exactly is it? According to Stephen Sawchuk, associate editor of Education Week, the theory is an idea that encapsulates race as a social construct, and racism is still embedded into everyday society. It is an acknowledgment of the privilege that comes with being white and the lack of that comes with being a person of color in America. Unlike Liberal Race Theory, which states that sole individuals carry prejudice, CRT provides a more expansive perspective by claiming that racism is deeply systematic in laws and policies. CRT promotes conversations that will change these policies through impact analysis and lifting minority voices.

Within the past year, tension has stirred between political parties, where many Republicans are running to ban CRT. Nine states have established anti-CRT state legislation, where teachers in K-12 schools are prohibited from mentioning race or racism, and even sex or sexism. Books are continuously being banned from schools, including To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas– novels that are known for covering themes of racism.

There seems to be a heavy misconception that CRT is a threat to the education system, with many opponents of the theory claiming that CRT is a radical ideology that targets white Americans. Former President Trump also showed his skepticism of the theory, calling CRT “divisive, un-American propaganda”. It is “state-sanctioned racism”, as Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida called it. Right-wing parents fear that the theory will raise children to hate each other, which will only further promote racism.

However, I strongly believe that CRT is an essential concept that needs to be taught at such an educational level.

First, CRT is not meant for children to “hate” America. The theory is meant to provide an honest background of the history of this country without whitewashing or sugarcoating the past, and to show how the systematic racism through slavery from the 1800s still has lingering effects in today’s society. Although conservatives believe that CRT destroys friendships among peers, I highly believe that the theory would actually further build these relationships. The theory dismantles the “color-blind” ideology, where people believe that it is better to completely ignore color rather than accept it. But the real world does not work like this. A person’s race and ethnicity define who they are as a person and how they experience the society that they live in. CRT is open to these unique experiences, which is essential for building connections.

Furthermore, CRT is a technique to better analyze our society in order to allow for its progression. According to Mari Matsuda, a law professor at the University of Hawaii, “critical race theory is a method that takes the lived experience of racism seriously, using history and social reality to explain how racism operates in American law and culture, toward the end of eliminating the harmful effects of racism and bringing about a just and healthy world for all.” The theory should be taught in schools so that the racial hierarchy in America can be dismantled. By having racial issues being brought to light, students can recognize the harm that is caused by certain policies and try to change the current system.

The greatest issue that comes with banning CRT from schools is the consequent suppression of history. If the teaching of racism is to be banned from schools, then how are students to learn about slavery, segregation, and police brutality? With this suppression, the actions of white colonizers are made to be praised, while the killing of indigenous people is meant to be ignored. This is an incredibly horrid idea. It is unfair to learn about American history in ignorance and from a one-sided perspective. It is critical to learn about the negatives of our country too, by deeply understanding how horrible our country was to people of color. Millions of Africans were brought to the Americas for the sole purpose of their exploitation. Under Jim Crow, white Americans lynched African Americans in order to terrorize their communities. Even today, black men are being targeted by the police. Racial inequalities and injustices have been a significant part of American history, and it still appears in modern society. Therefore, it is entirely essential that students learn about these issues in school in order to dismantle racism.

It is understandable for some people to still be wary about a new concept being taught to their children. However, having CRT provides a well-rounded education to students by providing them with an open perspective on American history. This concept of teaching can be somewhat comparable to that of Germany and the Holocaust. In Germany and many other European nations, it is mandatory for the history of the Holocaust to be included in the educational curriculum, and it is common for students to have field trips to concentration camps in order to truly reflect upon the history of their country. In these countries, there is not an issue of students hating on Germany or there being a division between Jewish students and non-Jewish students. Thus, this sort of teaching method may be effective.

The discussion of racism should be honest and open, starting from a young age. This would immediately allow for students to think more critically when it comes to recognizing biases. Understanding racism is essential to realizing just how prominent the issue still is, and what can be done to create a more equal and equitable world. Even though many people may disagree, children need to learn about America’s past and present, because they are the ones who will be changing the course of society based on the quality education system. It is our job to prepare them, and the best way to do so is by implementing CRT and stopping from banning it.

Exactly one year after leaving One Direction, Zayn Malik (now artistically known as ZAYN) had the world (and 12-year-old me) in a chokehold with the release of his sexually explicit song and top hit, PILLOWTALK.

As an adamant ZAYN ‘stan’, I have followed the singer’s career from his X Factor days to his solo career by religiously streaming his music and consistently having him as my #1 artist on my Spotify Wrapped year after year. Because of my passionate dedication to him, my passion blog will be a review of some of my favorite songs from ZAYN’s debut album, Mind of Mine. In my first blog, I will be reviewing the lead single of the album, PILLOWTALK.

PILLOWTALK was a direct response to ZAYN’s departure from One Direction. ZAYN had mentioned that he left the band due to him being restricted in his creativity, and PILLOWTALK truly showed his “creative” roots.

The song, as could be inferred by the name, is about sex– specifically about the spirituality and physical elements of the act. ZAYN uses numerous juxtapositions throughout his piece to display just how complex sex is:

“We’ll go slow and high tempo. Light and dark.”

“My enemy, my ally. Prisoners, then we’re free, it’s a thin line.”

“I’m seeing the pain, seeing the pleasure.”

“A place that is so pure, so dirty and raw.”

“It’s our paradise and it’s our war zone.”

The lyrics of the song continuously follow this pattern of contrast, which is a very unique way to capture such passion. The direct comparison of varying words gives us insight into ZAYN’s mind as he weaves through the emotions he feels during intimacy. He further explains why sex is so intimate to him:

“In a place that feels the tears, a place you lose your fears.”

Overall, Zayn shows his talent for songwriting by cleverly writing a song about sex. Even though writing songs about sex is quite overdone and clichéd, especially in the current music industry, ZAYN proves with PILLOWTALK that songs about sex can still be done well.

The background music is also to highlight. Instead of the generic “boy-band” beat, the instrumentals sound quite futuristic, with electronic elements supporting ZAYN’s voice. This “futuristic” type of music seems to follow out throughout the Mind of Mine album as a common theme, which I will touch on as I continue to analyze his songs on this album. It additionally pushes the idea of how ZAYN is moving on from his past days with One Direction, and that he is doing his own projects from now on.

All in all, PILLOWTALK allowed ZAYN to enter the R&B genre with a bang. Upon the release of the single, ZAYN became the first British male artist to debut at #1 on both US and UK charts, a feat that even One Direction was unable to achieve. PILLOWTALK not only objectively symbolizes ZAYN’s transition from a boy-band member to a solo act, but it also displays his creativity with his lyrics and introduces his new style of music.