| "1965" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Jessie Murph | |
| from the album Sex Hysteria | |
| Released | July 18, 2025 |
| Length | 2:48 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Music video | |
| "1965" on YouTube | |
"1965" is a song by American singer Jessie Murph. It was released on July 18, 2025, from her second studio album, Sex Hysteria . It was produced by Vynk, Steve Rusch and Laura Veltz, all of whom wrote the song with Murph. The song and its music video ignited widespread controversy regarding the message relating to women's roles and obscene displays respectively.
The song explores a retro-inspired sound, [1] particularly retro soul. [2] It opens with a snippet of a mock commercial promoting the use of cigarettes and idea of women belonging in the kitchen. The production uses "seismic 808s", strings [1] and a piano lick. [2] In the lyrics, Jessie Murph satirically takes the role of a present-day woman who is mistreated by her boyfriend to the extent that she romanticizes being a married woman in the 1960s. She compares the life of women in that era with those of modern times, highlighting the differences in advantages and disadvantages. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] For example, she wishes her partner would send her letters rather than booty calls. [1] A notable line from the chorus is "I think I'd give up a few rights / If you would just love me like it's 1965". [1] [4] [6] [7] While she seemingly longs for a return to dating customs of the 1960s, Murph also acknowledges the restrictions of women's liberty during that period, [1] [2] in lyrics such as "I might get a little slap-slap, but you wouldn't hit me on Snapchat / Don't fuckin' text me at 2 AM sayin', 'Where you at, at?', boy, fuck you" (from the first verse) [1] [2] [5] [6] [8] and "I would be twenty, and it'd be acceptable for you to be forty / And that is fucked up, I know / But at least you wouldn't drive off before I get in the fuckin' door / You fuckin' fuck, fuck you" (from the second verse). [1] [2] [7] In the outro, which is given a vocal effect similar to the sound of an old gramaphone recording, Murph mentions she would have been unable to watch the 1987 film Dirty Dancing , which is set in 1963, but would enjoy reading with her partner instead. [1]
The music video was released alongside the song. It takes place in a 1960s setting [6] with grainy footage. Jessie Murph wears a white dress [8] and lingerie throughout the video, [5] which depicts her as a bored housewife in a chaotic environment at home. [6] She dances in front of an her supposed husband, [8] an older man, [6] and his family, with a sense of calm detachment. The husband walks off with another woman, and after a scene where a little girl hands Murph an iPad, [8] they perform fellatio in their bed as Murph watches. [6] [8] Later, Murph sticks a cocked and loaded pistol into his mouth for cheating on her as he is in bed, [6] [7] and is also seen bound and gagged like a bondage on the couch. [6] [7] At a dinner party, a woman is hiding between the legs of an older man under the table. The clip also shows people smoking cigarettes, [5] [7] including Murph. [8]
The song received heavy backlash in regard to the lyrical content. Many perceived Murph as advocating for the tradwife lifestyle and oppression of such women, [4] [2] [6] and normalizing domestic violence. [8] The music video was also widely criticized, with many viewers believing it should not have been allowed on YouTube due to its sexually graphic content, especially concerning the sex scene. [5] [6] [7] Some also took offense at the appearance of a child in such a video. [5] [7] Murph defended herself from the blowback in a TikTok video on July 19, 2025, stating "This entire song is satire r yall stupid", but the commenters were unconvinced. [2] [6] [7] [8] In an interview with Teen Vogue on July 21, Murph addressed the line about giving up her rights:
I had a feeling you were going to ask about that. That whole song is kind of a joke. I've been watching all of these old movies, a lot of '60s movies, and everything seems so romantic. It's a movie, so it's probably a lie. But I don't know, everything was slower. Everybody was more in the moment, I think. I really like a gentleman. But I didn't mean that line.
She further clarified, "Yeah, I don't actually want that. I love having rights. On the record, I love rights. Specifically [for] women. Like, what the fuck. Bodily rights specifically." Murph also explained the meaning behind another line in the song: "I'm trying to read books. If I didn't have to have a phone for what I do, I would not have a phone." [4]
Jessie Murph performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on July 22, 2025. [9]
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [10] | 98 |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [11] | 14 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 [12] | 84 |