"Sincerity Is Scary" | ||||
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Single by the 1975 | ||||
from the album A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships | ||||
Released | 13 September 2018 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:45 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | ||||
The 1975 singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Sincerity Is Scary" on YouTube |
"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.
An experimental neo soul, R&B and neo jazz ballad, "Sincerity Is Scary" is built upon a hip hop beat. The song contains a hip hop production that incorporates layers of brass, trumpets, horns, saxophones, lounge piano riffs and a steady drum beat. It also draws from jazz, funk, indie pop, soul and lounge jazz. Thematically, the song highlights the problems of modern communication and critiques society for being generally cold and emotionless. Lyrically, Healy laments his partner for not being honest with herself and leading to a breakdown of their relationship.
"Sincerity Is Scary" received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who mostly praised the production, lyrics and thematic depth. Reviewers compared the song to A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, the Soulquarians and Musiq Soulchild. It peaked at number 57 on the UK Singles Chart, number 84 in Scotland, number 66 in Ireland and number 20 on the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. The song was later certified silver in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). An accompanying music video, directed by Warren Fu, was released on 21 November 2018. Inspired by classic musical films, the visual features numerous references and Easter eggs related to the 1975's previous works. The video received positive reviews from contemporary critics, who praised the storyline, choreography and atmosphere, while it later appeared on several year-end lists.
"Irony is okay. Like, it's fine [...] It's harder to be really sincere. It's harder to be soft and vulnerable in the face of earnestness, serious shit… It's easier to be ironic in the face of those situations. It's easier to take the piss out of it. Or like be really sardonic. It's just something that I really, really noticed. And I kind of wanted to denounce."
—Healy, on denouncing irony in "Sincerity Is Scary". [1]
In an interview with Genius, Healy revealed that the process of creating "Sincerity Is Scary" was not calculated. The singer relied on his instincts, having learned that the 1975's best music was created by trusting themselves. He sought to denounce sardonicism and insincerity in the song's lyrics, saying it is easier for people to remain ironic and defensive in the face of adversity. [1] Speaking to Zane Lowe of Apple Music's Beats 1 Radio, Healy revealed that the song is meant to denounce his postmodern fear of being authentic. He believed there was a widespread tendency among people to hide behind irony and shield themselves from judgment. Elaborating further on his use of postmodernism within "Sincerity Is Scary", the singer used self-awareness when developing the lyrics, recognizing certain defence mechanisms of his and correcting them by being "just a bit more open and a bit easier, and genuinely sincere". [1] [2]
The 1975 collaborated with the London Community Gospel Choir on "Sincerity Is Scary", with them providing the choir vocals. [3] After having previously worked with them on I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It, Healy lauded the choir as "amazing" and wanted them on A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, saying: "It wouldn't really be a 1975 record without them on it." [4] The London Community Gospel Choir recorded their vocals at Abbey Road's Studio Three, which were engineered by Chris Bolster with assistance from Daniel Hayden. [5] Roy Hargrove, who collaborated with the band on their previous album, performs the trumpet on "Sincerity Is Scary". [3] According to Healy, they were highly impressed by Hargrove's playing on D'Angelo's Voodoo (2000), calling his work "iconic". The singer felt intimidated by the instrumentalist, calling the experience: "So intense. You'd get him in the room and you'd be so scared." [6] Hargrove died two months after the song's release, an event that Healy called "heartbreaking", noting the instrumentalist was the first non-band contributor to feature on one of the 1975's albums. The singer took to Twitter and encouraged the band's fanbase to listen to "If I Believe You" (2016) and "Sincerity Is Scary" in remembrance of Hargrove, who Healy assured "made those songs so special for us". [6] [7]
Musically, "Sincerity Is Scary" is an experimental neo soul, [8] R&B and neo jazz ballad built upon a hip hop beat. [9] [10] [11] [12] The song also contains elements of jazz, [9] funk, [13] indie pop, [14] soul and lounge jazz. [15] [16] It has a length of three minutes and 45 seconds (3:45). [17] According to sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Hal Leonard Music Publishing, "Sincerity Is Scary" is set in the time signature of common time with a slow tempo of 90 beats per minute. The track is composed in the key of A major, with Healy's vocals ranging between the notes of F♯3 and F♯4. It follows a chord progression of Dmaj–E♯dim–F♯m–G9. [18] The song's hip hop production contains gentle sounds, gospel choirs, [19] billowing trumpet lines, [11] dragging beats, delicate guitar chords, soothing keyboard arrangements, [20] piano riffs, a steady drum beat, synths and smooth layers of brass. [21] [22] It features waves of instrumentation composed of slow drums, smooth saxophones, [20] intentionally scattered trumpets, [23] horns and a loungey piano. [12] [21] [22] [24] "Sincerity Is Scary" features contributions from Hargrove, who performs the trumpet, and the London Community Gospel Choir, who provide the choir vocals. [3]
Thematically, "Sincerity Is Scary" deals with modern communication problems, allowing oneself to be vulnerable, Healy's limitations as a songwriter and his struggle with heroin. [22] [24] Lyrically, "Sincerity Is Scary" critiques society at large for being cold and emotionless. As the song begins, Healy highlights the irony of insincerity and accuses people of hiding behind their feelings. In the chorus, he describes being in a relationship with a woman who is not honest with herself, inhibiting a closer emotional bond between the pair. However, trying to address this problem puts a strain on their relationship: "Why can't we be friends, when we are lovers? / 'Cause it always ends with us hating each other". [20] [23] Later, Healy addresses social media surveillance, self-knowledge and a communication breakdown ("And why would you believe you could control how you're perceived / When at your best, you're intermediately versed in your own feelings?") and derides her inability to mature and start a family ("Keep on putting off conceiving / It's only you that you're deceiving / Oh, don't have a child, don't cramp your style"). [21] [23]
Rhian Daly of NME observed the premise of "Sincerity Is Scary" to be Healy's dismantling of his ironic defences. He considered the lyrics "You lack substance when you say / Something like, 'Oh, what a shame'" to be self-referential, noting the later phrase is used multiple times throughout I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It. [22] Jarrod Johnson II of Paste felt the song addresses the mental hurdles of reduced transparency and honesty in modern-day relationships, both socially and romantically. [25] Maura Johnston of Rolling Stone interpreted religious undertones, calling it "a shuffling rumination on the gaps between people that underscores Healy's hoped-for leap into faith". [26] Matt Collar of AllMusic compared the track to the work of D'Angelo. [17] Marissa Lorusso of NPR noted that the chorus of voices in the refrain are evocative of the "more touching" numbers on the 1975's second studio album, [21] while Joe Goggins of Drowned in Sound said the inclusion of Hargrove is more specifically reminiscent of the band's "If I Believe You". [15] Echoing Goggins' statements, Caitlin Ison of Atwood Magazine said both songs share sonic similarities owing to the use of gospel choirs in their choruses. [23]
"Sincerity Is Scary" was released as a single on 13 September 2018; the song was met with generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics. [20] Chris DeVille of Stereogum deemed "Sincerity Is Scary" the 15th-best pop song of 2018, [27] while Frazier Tharpe of Complex declared it the fifth-best song of the year. [28]
Johnston deemed the song a highlight from A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships. [26] Robin Murray of Clash praised the 1975's incorporation of jazz in "Sincerity Is Scary" and noted influences of A Tribe Called Quest and Gang Starr that are "filtered through a 1975 lens". [11] Goggins commended Hargrove's contribution. [15] Danny Chau of The Ringer said the song was one of the most surprising stylistic choices on the album, praising Hargrove's contribution and comparing the composition to the Soulquarians and Musiq Soulchild. [29] Shannon Cotton of Gigwise called the song smooth and sultry, saying it "makes you feel like you should be sat on the rooftop of a New York apartment, with a cigarette in one hand and an expensive glass of red wine in the other, gazing at the skyline". [30] Ross Horton of musicOMH praised the fun and "sexy" sound of "Sincerity Is Scary" and the London Community Gospel Choir's inclusion, saying he could image listeners repeatedly listening to it. [31]
Daly praised the stark yet warm composition and lyrical depth, saying: "[Healy's] attempts at [sincerity] are still as beautiful and thought-provoking as his lyrics at the other end of the spectrum. This time, he just feels a lot more human." [22] Marina Pedrosa of Billboard highlighted the contrast of the song's emotionally-charged lyrics against the uplifting sonics and graceful melody. [20] Lorusso declared it the most exciting single from A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationship, praising Healy for providing an earnestness that "positions him as a try-hard worth rooting for". [21] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone said "Sincerity Is Scary" serves as a "reminder that sincerity is worth flexing every once in a while", commenting that its subject matter matches the band's sonic dichotomy. She observed the underlying message to be a confrontation with society's desire to hide insecurities by presenting a brighter facade. [14] Isabella Castro-Cota of Spin commented that the song's lyrics are performed through "a more honest lens". [32] Ison commended the 1975 for exploring a larger, more serious topic, while remaining approachable through a fun and feel-good sound. [23] Althea Legaspi of Rolling Stone highlighted the earnest sentimentality of the lyrics and the warm chorus of voices on the hook. [24] Gil Green of Stereogum praised Healy for "working towards some innovative angle that never quite means what you think". [2]
In a mixed review of "Sincerity Is Scary", Claire Biddles of The Line of Best Fit deemed it one of the few missteps on A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationship. While she praised the laid-back music style, Biddles found the lyrics "painfully close to the faux-authenticity of a charity single". [33] Similarly, Libby Cudmore of Paste called the song a "stupefying mess" and the album's accidental thesis. While she praised the composition and songwriting, Cudmore felt the 1975 were attempting to incorporate too many genres at once. [34] In a negative review, Roisin O'Connor of The Independent compared "Sincerity Is Scary" to a throwaway Ed Sheeran song, calling it a "sickly ballad that frontman Matty Healy claimed was about dismantling his ironic shield, but if anything this sounds as false and insincere as anything else they've released before". [35] Commercially, "Sincerity Is Scary" performed modestly on international music charts. In the 1975's native United Kingdom, the song peaked at number 57 on the UK Singles Chart and number 84 in Scotland. [36] [37] Internationally, it reached number 66 in Ireland and number 20 on the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. [38] [39] "Sincerity Is Scary" was later certified silver in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting sales of over 200,000 units. [40]
To create the music video for "Sincerity Is Scary", the 1975 worked alongside director Warren Fu. It was filmed on a fake American street located on a set at Walt Disney Studios in Los Angeles, California. The video was inspired by classic musical films such as Singin' in the Rain (1952) and My Sister Eileen (1955). Healy was also influenced by more recent musicals, specifically La La Land (2016), saying: "I grew up wanting to be a dancer [...] I was obsessed with Michael Jackson." [41] Building upon a Hollywood musical theme, Healy and Fu spent several months brainstorming ideas before filming. They sought to incorporate a supporting cast of chorus girls, dancers and marching bands. Speaking on his experience working with Healy, Fu said: "When it comes to music videos, it never ceases to amaze me when sketches on a whim materialise in person a few days later on set. There's no better feeling." [42]
Much of the video was shot using a whip pan technique to create an "endless" flow, while Healy invented other production techniques himself, such as using a treadmill to create an optical illusion that he is continuously walking on the same spot. [42] Overall, the singer called the video his proudest visual, describing it as a "good bowl of soup levels wholesome". [41] [43] On 26 October 2018, Healy teased the video on Twitter, posting a photo of the band from an NME photoshoot alongside a caption reading: "Sincerity Is Scary Video". On both the occasions, the singer wore a rabbit hat that Shahlin Graves of Coup de Main compared to the 2009 film Where the Wild Things Are . [44] The video was later released on 21 November. [45] Upon release, Healy challenged the 1975's fanbase to find all the Easter eggs hidden in the visual. [46] The rabbit hat worn by the singer was later made available for purchase on the band's official website, labelled as the "Sincerity Hat". [47] [48]
The video begins with Healy waking up in his all-white bedroom. [49] [50] A framed photo is shown on the wall, [45] captured from an avant-garde art performance by Joseph Beuys entitled I Like America and America Likes Me , a nod to the band's song of the same name. [46] As he sits up, a clock is shown with four hands, pointed at numbers one, nine, seven and five–spelling out the 1975's name; this is why an extra hand was added. [45] [46] The singer puts on the rabbit hat and a pair of headphones before exiting the house–shown to be located at street number 1975–in a 1990s inspired outfit. [45] [49] [51] While initially shown to be drowsy, [52] Healy's demeanour changes to joyful, and he skips down the stairs toward the street wearing a backpack. [43] [53] Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, Healy begins to sing the song on the bright, busy and colourful street, greeting strangers and sharing kindness as he performs retro choreography. [49] [50] [53] No Rome makes a cameo in the scene, greeting the singer while wearing a spacesuit and walking his Dalmatian. [43] [45] Continuing his walk down the street, Healy encounters a man wearing a paper bag over his head that reads "A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships". The man also holds a newspaper with the headline "Modernity has failed us", a lyric from "Love It If We Made It". [46] The singer steals flowers and grabs one to give to an older woman watering her plants. [43]
Healy continues walking the street before falling into a hole in the ground, immediately emerging from a nearby building. [45] He engages in a dance-off with a well-dressed man in the street, reminiscent of the video for the band's "A Change of Heart" (2016), and the pair swap outfits out of frame. [43] [45] [46] The singer performs a dance sequence evocative of Jackson and gives his hat to a child before dashing to a lamppost, swinging around it in reference to Gene Kelly. [46] As the camera pans, Healy emerges from a different house and is greeted by a choir of women on the steps. [45] The women, dressed in pantsuits, are meant to represent women in the United States Congress. [41] After performing the chorus with them on the road, the singer performs a football trick and plays a game of hopscotch with one of the children. [41] [43] [45] In a cartoonish fashion, he then rushes to save MacDonald from a falling piano that crashes onto the sidewalk as the chorus starts. [43] [45] [50]
The camera pans again to show Healy in front of a theatre as the sky fades into a sunset, changing the visual to a rosy hue. [45] [50] The signage outside the theatre reads "La poesie est dans la rue", meaning "the poetry is in the streets", a reoccurring motif that appears in several of the 1975's works, including the videos for "Love It If We Made It" and "Robbers" (2014). [46] Healy performs the final chorus and bridge and is joined by the choir of women and a marching band. [45] A little girl, dressed in mime makeup and holding an umbrella, stands with Healy out front of the theatre. [45] Her attire is a nod to the 1975's video for "A Change of Heart", where the singer dons a similar appearance and plays a mime. While she is initially shown in black and white, Healy climbs up a ladder and pours water on her using a watering can, with the girl's appearance being restored to full colour. [43] [45] As the video concludes, the camera pans off into a pink sky. [50]
Upon release, the "Sincerity Is Scary" music video was well-received by contemporary critics. [47] Tom Breihan of Stereogum gave the video a positive review, saying it "fucking rules". He compared the visual to the 2010 film Step Up 3 , saying: "Healy goes into a series of full-on charming and ridiculous old-timey movie-musical dance routines." [51] Ryan Reed of Rolling Stone declared it a "joyously surreal" sidewalk musical. [49] The Dork editorial staff compared the visual to a mix between the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Fred Astaire, praising Healy's dancing, "winningly likeable smile and [the] spring in his step". [54] Shea Lenniger of Billboard commended the visual, calling it charming, [50] while Graves deemed the music video a "must-watch" and called it heartwarming. [55] Melissa LaGrotta of Soundigest echoed Graves' second comment, saying the video is heartwarming. [56] Daly gave the video a very positive review, saying: "Much like the song it accompanies, [the video will] make you feel a different kind of way than you'd typically expect The 1975 to make you feel – warm, fuzzy, and overflowing with positivity." [43] Philip Cosores of Uproxx deemed it a "joyful dance party on the city streets". [53] Patrick Campbell of Don't Bore Us called the visual "incredibly fun" and praised the less-serious tone in comparison to the previous videos released from A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships. [57] Maggie Serota of Spin wrote: "['Sincerity Is Scary'] has everything, up to and including choreography, sick soccer moves, a child in corpse paint, and what appears to be one long tracking shot." [58]
Rosie Byers of Wonderland declared the visual one of the seven best music videos of 2018, calling it "unapologetically wholesome". [59] Breihan ranked "Sincerity Is Scary" as the 16th-best music video of 2018, describing it as a "gloriously sunny, weirdly endearing pop-music hallucination". [60] Hannah Mylrea of NME included the video on her year-end music videos list, commending the visual beauty, Easter eggs and dance routines, while calling it "gorgeous". [61] Billboard declared "Sincerity Is Scary" the 15th-best video of 2018, with C.S. praising the 1975's successful execution of the musical-inspired concept, self-awareness and memorability, commenting it is "very fun". [62] Daniel Welsh of HuffPost ranked the visual at number 18 on his year-end music videos list, writing it is: "At once both completely pretentious and utterly silly, which is actually a perfect description of the band themselves." [63] Grant Sharples of Alternative Press included "Sincerity Is Scary" on his list of 10 music videos from the 1975 that should be made into feature-length films. Describing the visual, Sharples said it "is so charming and charismatic that it virtually begs the listener to smile and sing along". [64]
On 16 January 2020, Lauv released his music video for "Tattoos Together". [65] The 1975's fanbase quickly drew similarities between the two videos, noting both visuals featured the singers dancing in the street, accompanied by dancers in a Broadway-style fashion in front of similar backdrops. After receiving criticism over accusations of plagiarism, Lauv posted a public apology on Twitter, saying: "[I] wanna be one to own up to shit, [I'm] sorry." He posted a photo showing a text message conversation between himself and Healy, saying he is a "massive fan" who heavily respects the 1975 and made "an honest mistake [...] [I] want to do whatever [I] can to make this right". Healy humorously replied, "[your] mums a hoe", telling Lauv he did not mind the similarities and encouraged him to post a screenshot of the messages in response to the criticism. He ended the conversation by saying: "Let's all love making music." [66]
The 1975 played "Sincerity Is Scary" live at the 2019 Brit Awards. The band's performance mirrored the song's music video, featuring Healy wearing a knit hat, a backpack, a pair of headphones and a tuxedo. Host Jack Whitehall described Healy's attire as "half James Bond, half Japanese schoolgirl". Healy also used the same moving conveyor belt from the video, creating the feeling of constant motion. [67] The 1975 performed "Sincerity Is Scary" as part of their setlist for the Coachella Festival on 12 April. For the song, they included the Jaiy Twins from their Music for Cars Tour and incorporated the travelator into the front of the stage to recreate Healy's choreography from the music video. [68] Included as part of the tour's setlist, the band replicated the video for "Sincerity Is Scary", including the backdrop of the houses and the built-in treadmill, while dancing in the streets. [69]
Credits adapted from A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships album liner notes. [3]
Chart (2018–19) | Peak position |
---|---|
Ireland (IRMA) [38] | 66 |
Scotland (OCC) [36] | 84 |
UK Singles (OCC) [37] | 57 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [39] | 20 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [40] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
The 1975 are an English pop rock band formed in Wilmslow, Cheshire in 2002. The band consists of Matty Healy, Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald (bass), and George Daniel. The band's name 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".
"She's American" is a song by English band the 1975 from their second studio album, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (2016). The song was written by Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald. Mike Crossey handled the production alongside Daniel and Healy. The song was released on 4 November 2016 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the sixth single from the album. Healy was inspired by the interplay between the British and Americans, creating a tongue-in-cheek song about the subtleties involved in a British rockstar courting an American woman. Containing a 1980s-style beat, futuristic synths and a saxophone solo, it is a retro funk, pop and synth-pop song with elements of disco, yacht rock and synth-funk.
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.
"Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America" 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, while Daniel and Healy handled the song's production. It was released on 2 April 2020 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the fifth single from the album. The song features guest vocals from singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers. Healy re-wrote the song several times, focusing on the prison–industrial complex and the religious oppression of young people, while the final version was created as a patchwork from each iteration. After meeting Bridgers, the band invited her to record vocals for the song, turning it into a duet.
"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.
"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.
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.
"Love It If We Made It" 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 Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, while the production was handled by the former two. It was released on 19 July 2018 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the second single from the album. Daniel created the song's production in 2015, while Healy collected daily tabloid headlines from 2016 to 2018 to use as lyrics. They became too humorous, so he rewrote the song to summarize the volatile social and political events in that period, using Prince's "Sign o' the Times" as an inspiration.
"TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" 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 Matty Healy, George Daniel, and Guendoline Rome Viray Gomez, who has the stage name of No Rome, while production of the song was handled by the former two. It was released on 15 August 2018 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the third single from the album. The beat originated from an accident that occurred during "Narcissist", the band's collaboration with No Rome. Having developed a skeletal song structure, the band created the song to celebrate their varied discography and fondness of pop music.
"Be My Mistake" is a song by British indie rock band, The 1975. The track is the sixth song on their third studio album, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships. Despite not being an official single from the album, it charted on the New Zealand and U.S. rock charts.
"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.
"I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)" 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. Daniel and Healy handled the production alongside Jonathan Gilmore. Healy began the songwriting process at his home using an acoustic guitar, while the production was built around the song's opening guitar riff. Inspired to create a cinematic, gritty version of Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", the band worked with David Campbell, who conducts the string arrangements.
"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.
"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.
"The 1975" is a 2019 song by the English band of the same name from their fourth studio album, Notes on a Conditional Form. It was released on 24 July 2019, and included on the album as the opening track in May 2020. It continues the tradition of the band's albums opening with an eponymous song, but whereas the previous three had a shared set of lyrics sung by Matty Healy, the 2019 song uses different lyrics delivered by the environmental activist Greta Thunberg. She calls for civil disobedience in response to climate change, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in a modified version of her speech "Our House Is on Fire" from the 2019 World Economic Forum.
"Nothing Revealed / Everything Denied" 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, while the production was handled by Daniel and Healy. The London Community Gospel Choir provide the song's choir vocals. Its creation was inspired by J Dilla and self-reflection, with the band wanting to fulfill their responsibilities as artists by challenging ideas.
"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.
"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.
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