“Alaina Margaret Droog’s songwriting gets ever-stronger on 42 (It Wouldn’t Mean a Thing) as she blends relatability with her own unique experiences.”
New York based singer-songwriter and performer Alaina Margaret Droog has followed up her debut Rabbit Hole with her November single 42 (It Wouldn’t Mean a Thing). In the depths of this stripped back melody, Droog sings about the warning signs that come to light post-breakup.
The vocals are raw and powerful from the beginning of 42 (It Wouldn’t Mean a Thing). So whilst the song is generally acoustic folk in terms of genre, there are wistful moments of soulfulness that add to the heartfelt nature here. When it comes to rhythm Droog crafts a melody that is relatively free flowing, mirroring the emotional string of thoughts released, but there are also noticeable patterns. We can see this in the repetition of the superb high notes that heighten the emotional delivery.
Whilst at the core of the song there’s a glorious amount of relatability, it’s fascinating to see all the specific references Alaina makes lyrically e.g and it wouldn’t mean a thing if Jackie Robinson didn’t share a birthday with you.
“The song explores the experience of taking off the rose-colored glasses and realizing everything wasn’t quite as wonderful as it seemed,” says Droog when speaking of the album’s meaning.
As the melody is guided out by the vocals, they become softer and quieter. Alaina shows off her versatility in her ability to belt out a tune and almost whisper it, and maintain the emotional grace of the song in both tones.
You can listen to 42 (It Wouldn’t Mean a Thing) here: