Zayn’s New Album Is Shady, Petty, and Way Too Long, but I'm Still Here for It
Zayn Malik has finally released his second album, Icarus Falls! It’s a 27 track compilation of apparently every passing thought he’s had in the two years, eight months, and 19 days since his debut, Mind of Mine, was released. But who’s counting?!
The Zquad (that’s Zayn stans, FYI), have had a long wait, but December 14 is a significantly shady date for the boyband dropout. Today is the three year anniversary of One Direction’s indefinite hiatus. This is definitely not a coincidence. Intentional album releases are totally Zayn’s style; Mind of Mine dropped exactly one year after he broke all of our hearts left 1D. If shade is what you're looking for, Icarus Falls delivers.
Before we examine all of the steamy lyrics and tea Zayn spills, it's probably important to note why this album is so damn long. First off, it includes nine previously released singles: “Let Me,” “Too Much (featuring Timbaland),” “Fingers,” “No Candle No Light (featuring Nicki Minaj),” “Rainberry,” “Good Years,” and "There You Are."
#NoCandleNoLight feat. @nickiminaj out now 🚫🕯🚫💡 [link in bio]
A post shared by Zayn Malik (@zayn) on Nov 15, 2018 at 5:26am PST
Second, Icarus Falls is a two-disc concept album inspired by the Greek myth where Icarus tries to fly using some wings that his dad made of feathers and wax. His dad was like, “Don’t fly too close to the sun,” but then cocky Icarus does exactly that and the sun’s heat melts his wings and he falls. Make of that what you will.
Icarus, the first 13 tracks (or the first disc if you're one of those, "born in the wrong era" kind of people), is meant to represent the light, happy side of life. Basically, these are all of the lovey anthems about when things are going well with Gigi Hadid. Falls, disc two, is the dark side of life, AKA where the juicy shit is.
The Steamy Stuff
Since going solo, Zayn has not taken a break from reminding us that he has sex. But like, really meaningful sex, you guys. I mean, Icarus Falls literally kicks off with Zaddy crooning “Sweet baby, our sex has meaning,” in “Let Me,” and he really doesn’t let up for the rest of the first disc. To be fair, this is technically an R&B album, so it makes sense. But, it’s like the guy has horrible amnesia and every time he does the deed, he’s like “HOLY SHIT, what is this?! It’s amazing!”
Humble brags about the incredible sex he has, presumably with Gigi Hadid, include:
"It's incredible, unforgettable, nothin' compares to when I feel you on my skin."
"When I hold you in my arms, there ain't nothin' common 'bout us."
"I've been feeling high when I touch your body, 'till I feel the soul inside your body"
"I wanna see ya leave the lights on"
The Shady Stuff
The second half of Icarus Falls begins with a warning that Zayn is not a “Good Guy,” which feels like a pretty great primer, because everything gets mad shady after track 14.
Here are all of the times Zayn had zero chill on disc two:
“Do you hear yourself when you speak? Do you see yourself desperately talkin’ shit? Tryna act like you mad. I don’t know you like that”
Well, then.
The entire three minutes and 22 seconds of “Entertainer” does not hold back and might be about his ex-fiancé, Perrie Edwards.
“You were my favorite entertainer. I watch you, I laugh away, fake it, too”
This kinda sounds like a direct response to Little Mix’s “I hope she’s gettin’ better sex. Hope she ain’t fakin’ it like I did, babe,” lyrics from their song about Zayn, “Shoutout to My Ex,” don’t ya think?
“Good Years” sounds A LOT like it could be a One Direction song, and it rightly has Directioners in their feels.
"I close my eyes and see a crowd of a thousand tears, I pray to God I didn't waste all my good years"
This certainly drums up memories of memories of all five members singing to stadiums, but it kinda sounds like a burn. Oh! Speaking of burning things...
Like a sour diesel, she burn, she burn, she burn
"Sour Diesel" is about a girl who "burns." It's also the name of a cannabis strain.
The Takeaway
Zayn obviously has a lot to say, which is... fine. It's just a good thing that the age of CDs is long gone, and we don't have to skip past a dozen tracks to get to the good stuff.
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