ZAYN, Alienated | Song Review 🎵

After a promising start with his ‘about-face,’ ZAYN fails to achieve the same glory with “Alienated,” the second single from ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS.

On “What I Am”, the promo single from his fourth studio album, ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS (arrives May 17, 2024), ZAYN (Zayn Malik) did an about-face from the urban-infused pop associated with him in the past. The departure – more of an alternative, singer/songwriter sound – was promising and refreshing.  Once more, he embraces the alternative aesthetic on the second single from ROOM…, “Alienated”.  Unfortunately, “Alienated” doesn’t conjure up the same magic as “What I Am”.  Another song written by Malik and produced alongside Dave Cobb, this one is respectable but doesn’t hit the same way.

Positively, ZAYN sings well.  His voice remains expressive, nuanced, and soulful.  The songwriting also has its fair share of moments.  He’s honest, particularly in the first verse when he sings, “Made that age-old mistake / Tried to disconnect my body / From my soul, from my soul / See, I feel alright already on my own.” Ah, the alienation! In the chorus, a respectable section, he sums up the alienation soundly:

“And I’ve been feeling alienated

On my spaceship alone

Say goodbye to the past

Leave it all with a laugh

‘Cause you always was right all along.”

Despite strong vocals and respectable, sometimes poetic writing, “Alienated” feels more underwhelming than it should.  The formula is in place, including folksy accompaniment, but it just feels off. Maybe ZAYN tries too hard to embrace this shift in the musical genre. Or maybe, the song is a bit underwritten… It’s a bit of a bore even if it shouldn’t be. “Alienated” isn’t horrid but doesn’t rouse as I’d hope it would following the more potent “What I Am”. Some will like it more than others will.

ZAYN // ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS // Drop Zed Music, LLC / Mercury / Republic // 5.17.24

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Drop Zed Music, LLC / Mercury / Republic; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]