Part of the Band

Last updated
"Part of the Band"
Part of the Band.jpg
Single by the 1975
from the album Being Funny in a Foreign Language
Released7 July 2022 (2022-07-07)
Recorded2021–2022
Genre
Length4:20
Label Dirty Hit
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The 1975 singles chronology
"Spinning"
(2021)		"Part of the Band"
(2022)		"Happiness"
(2022)
Music video
"Part of the Band" on YouTube

"Part of the Band" is a song by English band the 1975. It was released on 7 July 2022 through Dirty Hit as the lead single of their fifth album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language . Reviewers identified the song as breaking new ground for the band, containing aspects of different pop, folk and rock genres. String instruments play throughout the acoustic song, with additional incorporation of woodwind and jazz instruments. The lyrics, in a stream of consciousness style, explore Healy's relationships and himself without a chorus.

Contents

Background and recording

"Part of the Band" arose from the song "New York" that Matty Healy performed in 2021 as a support act for Phoebe Bridgers. "New York", written by Benjamin Francis Leftwich, lacked a bridge, so Healy wrote one; it developed into a separate song. [1] The single is a collaboration with Jack Antonoff, co-producer, and Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, a contributing vocalist. [2] [3]

Composition

Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan described the song as art pop. [4] In Pitchfork , Sam Sodomsky wrote that the song was "serene folk-rock", with a "light and buoyant" instrumental that evoked Vampire Weekend. [5] Multiple reviewers found it to evoke the style of indie folk artists Bon Iver. [3] [5] [4] Stephen Ackroyd of Dork characterised it as lo-fi music, a genre that the 1975's previous album Notes on a Conditional Form had incorporated, and saw aspects of indie music similar to Phoebe Bridgers. [6] Ali Shutler of NME identified aspects of Midwest emo as in "Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America" and "dreamy" synthesiser effects as in "The Birthday Party". [2] Stereogum 's Chris DeVille also compared it to "The Birthday Party" due to its "floaty, dreamy" tone, and labelled it sophisti-pop. [3] However, Ackroyd found that the song ultimately left "genre confined to the scrap heap". [6]

The song is acoustic. [7] Instrumentals—wrote Sodomsky—include "percussive strings" and "lush acoustics", while the melody is "bittersweet". The layered instrumentals create the effect of "false stops and starts", with "flashes of woodwinds and horns, swirls of digital effects and spoken overdubs that sound like accidents". [5] The song opens with, according to Ackroyd, "string stabs that feel both warm and darkly anxious at the same time". [6] This string music, a motif throughout the song, yields at points to "soft, floksy indie rock", according to DeVille. [3] The instrumentals incorporate saxophone; [1] Ackroyd compared the "wild, organic jazz soundscapes" to Black Country, New Road. [6] Robin Murray of Clash described the song as "baroque in its arrangement" and "floral in its tone". [7]

Lyrically, Shutler described the song as an "intense tangled stream-of-consciousness", as Healy reflects on his past relationships and then on himself and his "role as an outspoken, political mouthpiece for a generation". [2] The lyrics were described by Ackroyd as "a winding, fast-running train of thoughts, memories and ideas", including reference to in-jokes among fans. [6] Murray said that the lyrics incorporate both sincere and surreal elements. [7] The song has no chorus. [6] [2] DeVille compared Healy's singing style to a soft rock musician, though at one point he imitates Elvis Presley. [3]

The song is written in the key of F♯ major with a tempo of 142 beats per minute in common time. The vocals span two octaves, from G♯2 to G♯4, in the song. [8]

Release

"Part of the Band" was released as the lead single of Being Funny in a Foreign Language on 7 July 2022. [5] [7] The 1975 continued their tradition of deactivating their social media accounts before the release of new music on 14 February 2022. [9] Prior to release, billboards teased lyrics to the song; Healy posted lyrics and a snippet of the song on Instagram. [10] [11] According to a tracklist released by the band on 29 June 2022, "Part of the Band" will be fourth of 11 songs on their fifth album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language. [11] The album is scheduled for release on 14 October 2022. [12]

Critical reception

Shutler rated it four out of five stars. He commented that the band "continue to reinvent themselves and carve their own path forward" and enjoyed the "giddy freedom" of the song's "gut-led recklessness". [2]

Ackroyd saw the song as "a thrust towards new horizons", continuing the 1975's "lack of defined expectation". He praised that the band were "at their most organic" and called it "either brave or stupid" as a "comeback track". [6]

DeVille concurred that the single was "not quite like any 1975 song to date". He reviewed of the lyrics that "Healy weaves his more outlandish words into the music so smoothly that you might not even notice how many buttons he's pushing". [3]

Sodomsky found it more minimalistic than Notes on a Conditional Form. He reviewed that the lyrics are more "dense" and "neurotically quotable" than any song by the band, and that the "grand, playful" nature was something "that only this band could pull off", serving as "a reminder that nonchalance can also be a meticulous performance". [5]

Murray reviewed the song as "remarkably subtle", finding it "one of their most straight-forward, heart-on-sleeve" songs and praising Healy as "never a writer to dull his pen". [7]

Year-end rankings of "Part of the Band"
PublicationListRankRef.
NPR The 100 Best Songs of 2022
80
 [13]
NME The 50 Best Songs of 2022
29
 [14]
Pitchfork The 100 Best Songs of 2022
13
 [15]
Rolling Stone The 100 Best Songs of 2022
79
 [16]
Time The Best Songs of 2022
3
 [17]
Vulture The Best Songs of 2022
Honorable Mention
 [18]

Charts

Chart performance for "Part of the Band"
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA) [19] 70
Japan Hot Overseas ( Billboard Japan ) [20] 6
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [21] 14
UK Singles (OCC) [22] 57
UK Indie (OCC) [23] 1
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [24] 29
US Rock Airplay ( Billboard ) [25] 22

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The 1975</span> English pop rock band

The 1975 are an English pop rock band formed in Wilmslow in 2002. The band consists of Matty Healy, Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald (bass), and George Daniel. The name of the band was inspired by a page of scribblings found in Healy's copy of On the Road by Jack Kerouac that was dated "1 June, The 1975".

<i>A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships</i> 2018 studio album by the 1975

A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships is the third studio album by English band the 1975. It was released on 30 November 2018 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records. Initially titled Music for Cars, the album was intended as the follow-up to I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (2016). The term later denoted an era encompassing both their third album and Notes on a Conditional Form, released in 2020. The band halted recording of the first part after lead singer Matty Healy left for a drug rehabilitation clinic in Barbados, seeking treatment for his heroin addiction. Following the singer's return, the band spent several months completing the album in Northamptonshire and Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Not Living (If It's Not with You)</span> 2018 song by the 1975

"It's Not Living (If It's Not with You)" is a song by English band the 1975 from their third studio album, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (2018). The song was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, and produced by Daniel and Healy. It was released on 18 October 2018 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the fifth and final single from the album. Contributions are featured from the London Community Gospel Choir, who provide the choir vocals, and Amber Bain–known professionally as the Japanese House–who performs several instruments and provides the background vocals. Healy was reluctant to write a song about his former heroin addiction, which prompted him to develop the narrative around Danny, a character meant to represent Healy's struggle with heroin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There's a Honey</span> 2017 single by Pale Waves

"There's a Honey" is the debut single by English indie pop band Pale Waves. The track was released through Dirty Hit on 20 February 2017 as the lead single for their debut studio album, My Mind Makes Noises (2018). Written by Pale Waves members Heather Baron-Gracie and Ciara Doran, the track's production was handled by the 1975 band members, Matty Healy and George Daniel. Lyrically, the song discusses insecurities and doubt in a romantic relationship. A music video for "There's a Honey", directed by Silent Tapes, was released on 11 April 2017. The video is performance based and took visual inspiration from the American sculptor Daniel Wurtzel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give Yourself a Try</span> 2018 single by The 1975

"Give Yourself a Try" is a song by English band the 1975 from their third studio album, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (2018). The song was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, while Daniel and Healy handled the production. It was released on 31 May 2018 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the lead single from the album. The band was inspired by the works of Joy Division, specifically their track "Disorder", which Healy said stemmed from both acts originating from Macclesfield. He wrote the song using a mix of autobiographical and fictional elements, wanting to capture the health and social anxiety experienced by millennials.

<i>Notes on a Conditional Form</i> 2020 studio album by the 1975

Notes on a Conditional Form is the fourth studio album by English band the 1975. It was released on 22 May 2020 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records. Initially titled Music for Cars, the album was intended as the follow-up to I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (2016). It later came to denote an era spanning two albums. The first, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, was released in November 2018. The band recorded much of the second album in London, Los Angeles, Sydney, Northamptonshire and in a mobile studio on their tour bus. The album faced several delays and was submitted only weeks before the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sincerity Is Scary</span> 2018 single by the 1975

"Sincerity Is Scary" is a song by the English band the 1975 from their third studio album, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (2018). The song was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, while Daniel and Healy handled the song's production. It was released on 13 September 2018 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the fourth single from the album. Contributions are featured from Roy Hargrove, who performs the trumpet, and the London Community Gospel Choir, who provide the choir vocals. Healy was inspired to write the song to confront his fear of sincerity, using postmodernism in the lyrics to denounce sardonicism and irony, choosing to portray vulnerability and honesty instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Like America & America Likes Me</span> 2018 song by The 1975

"I Like America & America Likes Me" is a song by English band the 1975 from their third studio album, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (2018). The song was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, while Daniel and Healy handled the production. Guendoline Rome Viray Gomez provides the background vocals. The song was created as a homage to SoundCloud rap, while the title is a reference to an art performance by Joseph Beuys, titled I Like America and America Likes Me.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Birthday Party (song)</span> 2020 single by the 1975

"The Birthday Party" is a song by English band the 1975 from their fourth studio album, Notes on a Conditional Form (2020). The song was released on 19 February 2020 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the fourth single from the album. It was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, while production of the song was handled by Daniel and Healy. Contributions are featured from Bob Reynolds, who plays the alto and tenor saxophone, and Rashawn Ross, who plays the trumpet and flugelhorn. The brass arrangements were composed by John Waugh, who performs the saxophone alongside Reynolds and Ross. The song originated from a jam session in Los Angeles, California, and was intended to be released as the lead single from the album, ultimately being replaced by "People" (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frail State of Mind</span> 2019 song by the 1975

"Frail State of Mind" is a song by English band the 1975. It was released on 24 October 2019 through Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the second single, following "People" (2019), from their fourth studio album, Notes on a Conditional Form (2020). It was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, while Daniel and Healy were responsible for the song's production. "Frail State of Mind" is an experimental UK garage and electronica ballad. Its ambient production is composed of a brisk dubstep beat, a heavy, shuffling drum line, cascading synths, chopped vocal melodies, and influences from a variety of electronic, modern rock, and electronic dance music subgenres. Lyrically, the single revolves around Healy's social anxiety and the themes of depression, fear, apprehensiveness, disappointment, insecurity, and anti-social behaviour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People (The 1975 song)</span> 2019 single by the 1975

"People" is a song by English band the 1975 from their fourth studio album, Notes on a Conditional Form (2020). The song was released on 22 August 2019, through Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the lead single from the album. It was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald. Production of the song was handled by Daniel and Healy alongside Jonathan Gilmore. An anarcho-punk and screamo song, it features an intense, heavy rock instrumentation consisting of desert-rock guitar riffs, straightforward chords, breakneck drums and "renegade" percussion. Lyrically, it is a protest song that calls for change and rebellion to deal with global, political and environmental turmoil, and deals with themes of desperation, urgency and anxiety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me & You Together Song</span> 2020 single by the 1975

"Me & You Together Song" is a song by English band the 1975 from their fourth studio album, Notes on a Conditional Form (2020). The song was released on 16 January 2020 through Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the third single from the album. It was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald. Production of the song was handled by Daniel and Healy alongside Jonathan Gilmore. Inspired by Amy Watson, Chelsea Pollard and the idealism of a teenage romance, Healy conceived the song as part of the soundtrack to German, a film he planned on creating. Although the film did not come to fruition, the 1975 continued to work on the song, channeling the sound of their former band Drive Like I Do.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guys (song)</span> 2020 single by The 1975

"Guys" is a song by English band the 1975. It was released on 13 May 2020 through Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as an exclusive the seventh and final single from their fourth studio album, Notes on a Conditional Form (2020). The song was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald. Production of the track was handled by Daniel and Healy alongside Jonathan Gilmore. "Guys" is a mid-tempo indie rock and pop rock ballad that celebrates the band's nearly two decades of friendship, described by Healy as an ode to platonic love and an answer song to "Girls" (2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy)</span> Song by pop band the 1975

"Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy)" is a song by English band the 1975 from their fourth studio album, Notes on a Conditional Form (2020). The song was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald alongside Guendoline Viray Rome Gomez and Hiroshi Sato. Daniel and Healy handled the production of the song. It originated from an a cappella sample, with the band gradually merging different pieces of music together to create the final version. Healy was inspired by the Backstreet Boys, producer Max Martin and rapper Kanye West, along with the melodic music of Brandy, Whitney Houston, SWV and TLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)</span> 2020 single by the 1975

"If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)" is a song by English band the 1975 from their fourth studio album, Notes on a Conditional Form (2020). The song was released on 23 April 2020 through Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the sixth single from the album. It was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald. Production of the song was handled by Daniel and Healy alongside Jonathan Gilmore. FKA Twigs provides operatic background vocals on the song's ambient new-age introduction, Rashawn Ross performs the trumpet and flugelhorn in the choruses, and Bob Reynolds performs the tenor and alto saxophone solo in the bridge. Videos of the band performing the song were widely circulated on social media several months prior to its official release, quickly becoming a fan-favourite, and resulting in a high degree of anticipation among their fanbase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinning (song)</span> 2021 single by No Rome, Charli XCX and The 1975

"Spinning" is a song by Filipino recording artist No Rome, English musician Charli XCX and band the 1975. The song was written by Andrew Wyatt, Charli XCX, No Rome and the 1975 members Matty Healy and George Daniel, while the production was handled by the latter three. It was released as a standalone single by Dirty Hit on 4 March 2021. Creation of the song began in 2018 when the producers developed its chorus, beat and production. Charli XCX received the song the following year, writing and recording her portion in one night. The singer later recorded vocals with Healy and Daniel in Sydney, while the song was completed remotely in early 2021.

<i>Being Funny in a Foreign Language</i> 2022 studio album by the 1975

Being Funny in a Foreign Language is the fifth studio album by English band the 1975. It was released on 14 October 2022 by Dirty Hit. The album was recorded primarily at Real World Studios in Wiltshire. The band released the lead single "Part of the Band" on 7 July 2022, which was followed by the subsequent singles "Happiness", "I'm in Love with You", "All I Need to Hear", "About You", "Oh Caroline", and "Looking for Somebody ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happiness (The 1975 song)</span> 2022 single by The 1975

"Happiness" is a song recorded by English band the 1975. It was released on 3 August 2022 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm in Love with You (The 1975 song)</span> 2022 single by the 1975

"I'm in Love with You" is a song by English band the 1975 from their fifth studio album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language (2022). The song was released on 1 September 2022 through Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the third single from the album. It was written by band members Matty Healy, George Daniel and Adam Hann. Production of the song was handled by Healy, Daniel and Jack Antonoff, while American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers provides backing vocals. Initially written to include an ironic, tongue-in-cheek tone, Healy was challenged by his co-writers to create a song that was earnest and unabashedly about falling in love. Using his relationship with FKA Twigs as inspiration, Healy wrote the song with the notion that love supersedes all cultural and political differences within a relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Need to Hear</span> 2022 single by the 1975

"All I Need to Hear" is a song by English band the 1975 from their fifth studio album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language (2022). The song was released on 21 September 2022 through Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the fourth single from the album. It was written by band members Matty Healy and George Daniel alongside Jamie Squire. Production of the song was handled by Healy, Daniel and Jack Antonoff. Inspired by Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years" (1976), Healy sought to replicate Simon's sincerity and earnestness by crafting a songwriting exercise where the singer deliberately omitted sardonic and humorous lyrics, aiming to make the song sound akin to a cover.

References

  1. 1 2 Richards, Will (4 July 2022). "The 1975's Matty Healy rejoins Reddit and shares new album details". NME . Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Shutler, Ali (7 July 2022). "New song 'Part Of The Band' finds The 1975 ripping up their own rule book". NME . Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 DeVille, Chris (7 July 2022). "The 1975 – "Part Of The Band"". Stereogum . Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 Sacher, Andrew (7 July 2022). "The 1975 release new song "Part of the Band" (watch the video)". BrooklynVegan . Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Sodomsky, Sam (7 July 2022). ""Part of the Band"". Pitchfork . Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ackroyd, Stephen (7 July 2022). "First listen: The 1975 – Part of the Band". Dork . Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Murray, Robin (7 July 2022). "The 1975's 'Part Of The Band' Thrives On Nuance". Clash . Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  8. ↑ Healy, Matthew; Squire, Jamie; Daniel, George (8 July 2022). "The 1975 "Part of the Band" Sheet Music in F# Major". Musicnotes. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  9. ↑ Richards, Will (14 February 2022). "The 1975 hint at new music by deleting social media accounts". NME . Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  10. ↑ Richards, Will (28 June 2022). "Lyrics to The 1975's new song 'Part Of The Band' teased on billboards". NME . Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  11. 1 2 Richards, Will (29 June 2022). "The 1975 reveal title and tracklist for fifth album 'Being Funny In A Foreign Language'". NME . Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  12. ↑ Richards, Will (6 July 2022). "The 1975 announce release date for 'Being Funny In A Foreign Language'". NME . Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  13. ↑ NPR (2022-12-15). "The 100 best songs of 2022". NPR. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  14. ↑ NME (2022-12-05). "The 50 best songs of 2022". NME. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  15. ↑ "The 100 Best Songs of 2022". Pitchfork. 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  16. ↑ "The 100 Best Songs of 2022". Rolling Stone. 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  17. ↑ "The Best Songs of 2022". Time. November 22, 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  18. ↑ Suskind, Justin Curto, Alex (2022-12-07). "The Best Songs of 2022". Vulture. Retrieved 2023-01-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of July 20, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  21. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  22. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  24. ↑ "The 1975 Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  25. ↑ "The 1975 Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.