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.