"TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" | ||||
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Single by the 1975 | ||||
from the album A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships | ||||
Released | 15 August 2018 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:28 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
The 1975 singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" on YouTube |
"TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" (stylised in all caps) 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.
"TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" is an electropop and synth-pop song that revolves around a four-on-the-floor tropical house beat. In addition to the main genres, the song draws from a diverse set of musical styles including Afrobeats, dancehall, Europop, disco and sophisti-pop. Its production consists of Afropop-influenced percussion, fuzzy synths, a kick drum pulse, electric guitars, vocal samples and piano stabs. Thematically, the song explores communication in the digital age, specifically how social media and the internet can impact relationships, leading to infidelity. In the lyrics, Healy tries to recount the number of times he has called a woman.
Upon release, "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" received positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who praised the song's playful lyricism, upbeat production and sonic experimentation. Commercially, the song peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart, number 29 in Scotland, number 29 in Ireland, number 17 on the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart and number 17 on the Sweden Heatseeker chart. The song was later certified silver in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). An accompanying vertical music video premiered on 15 August 2018, while the fullscreen version was released on 29 August 2018. It depicts Healy and a group of fans dancing and lip synching the song's lyrics in front of a changing multicoloured backdrop.
"Negotiating these things that are like relationships in a world that's constructed on so many things that just aren't, in the way that Instagram or Twitter or whatever, can get into the nooks and crannies of one's real relationships. I don't think you have to be monogamous or not to know how that feels. And [there's] almost like a frivolity to it, which I sort of like, because I don't do frivolity very often."
—Healy, on the theme of infidelity present in "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime". [1]
In an interview on the BBC Radio 1 show Annie Mac's Hottest Record in the World, Healy revealed that "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" was created accidentally during the recording of "Narcissist" (2018), the 1975's collaboration with No Rome. The pair were working on the song's production when according to Healy: "[...] something went wrong. It just started looping too fast and the beat in 2 time just kind of appeared. And then we just made that." [1] Having developed a skeletal, reggaeton-influenced song structure, Healy began writing the demo for "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime". [1] Speaking with Sam Sodomsky of Pitchfork , Healy said that he wanted to celebrate the band's musically varied discography, condensing the track into a pop song, which he admitted felt counterintuitive. The singer described the song as unapologetically representing his fondness for pop music, saying it does not "negate [his] intellect or integrity". Furthermore, he noted that it would not work if he tried to be verbose, wanting the song to resonate with fans and be enjoyable like he considers music to be "about at some point". [2] The final version of "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" was written and produced by Daniel and Healy, while No Rome provides additional songwriting, programming, drums, synths and background vocals. [3]
Musically, "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" is an electropop and synth-pop song that is built around a soft, insistent four-on-the-floor tropical house beat, [4] [5] running for a length of three minutes and 28 seconds (3:28). [6] [7] [8] The song contains a unique structure that subverts the common "loud-quiet verse-chorus" format and instead gradually builds in intensity as it progresses. [9] Pyror Stroud of PopMatters noted the song contains a "sheer, implacable momentum" that continuously builds before culminating in a climax that he deemed "the closest [the 1975] has come to pure pop perfection". [10] According to sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Hal Leonard Music Publishing, "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" is set in the time signature of common time with a moderate tempo of 116 beats per minute. The track is composed in the key of Ab major, with Healy's vocals ranging between the notes of E♭3 and E♭4. It follows a chord progression of Db–Bbm7–Eb(add4)–Ab(add9)/C. [11] "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" has a breezy, melodic production, composed of upbeat Afropop-influenced percussion, [12] fuzzy synth textures, [7] and upbeat groove, [13] watery synth chords, a steady kick drum pulse, funk-style electric guitar lines, pitch-shifted vocal samples, [9] electronic flourishes and piano stabs. [14] [15] The song's production also draws from house music, [16] Afrobeats, [17] dancehall, sophisti-pop, ambient, [10] bubblegum pop, [18] indietronica, [19] disco, piano house, electronic music and Europop. [14]
Thematically, "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" explores how social media can affect modern-day relationships. [9] The song expands upon the theme of communication in the digital age, a central topic in A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships. [7] In the chorus, Healy attempts to recount the number of times he has called a certain woman ("I only called her one time / Maybe it was two times? / I don't think it was three times / It can't be more than four times"), before accusing his partner of doing the same ("I think we need to rewind / You text that boy sometimes / Must be more than three times"). [3] Rolling Stone writer Ryan Reed commented that "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" discusses "how social media fuels jealous head games and romantic angst" through suspicious text messages, missed phone calls and Instagram interactions. [9] Tiana Timmerberg of Radio.com viewed the core thematic story behind the song as a tale of love and desperation, [20] a sentiment shared by Billboard writer Chris Payne, who wrote that the track "captures [Healy's] side of a back-and-forth with a romantic partner [...] Both parties appear to be getting into the same kind of mischief." [4]
Ross Horton of musicOMH wrote that "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" is reminiscent of tropical house music run through Brian Eno's processors. [21] Similarly, Philip Cosores of Uproxx observed a blend of retro aesthetics with contemporary sonics, exemplified by its use of both Auto-Tune on Healy's vocals and pulsing rhythms evocative of Peter Gabriel. [22] Jordan Sargent of Spin said the song "bends even further back towards the unnaturally gleaming, synthetic concoctions of European balearic dance music and dancehall". He compared the track to Drake's mid-tempo dancehall songs, specifically "Controlla" (2016) and "Signs" (2017), along with the Felix Jaehn remix of "Cheerleader" (2014) by Omi. [23] Pryour Stroud of Slant Magazine felt "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" is a reflection of modern infidelity, saying it's "about how we self-medicate in a world of such stark superficiality that nothing seems to matter". [24] This observation was echoed by Spin writer Ian Cohen in his review of A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, with him calling the song a deconstruction of Instagram-era infidelity. [25] Juan Rodriguez of No Ripcord opined that the track "looks into how the digital era broadens the gray areas when it comes to emotional affairs with an almost matter-of-fact indifference". [26]
"TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" was released on 15 August 2018. [23] PopMatters declared the song the 16th best track of 2018; Stroud called it "fun, plain and simple, like cotton candy or a cannonball into a pool". [10] Julianna Ress of The Ringer deemed "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" the "breeziest and most radio-friendly" single from A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, favourably comparing it to Drake's "Passionfruit" (2017). She praised the upbeat groove, lyrical exploration of anxiety and balance of sonic experimentation with a continued focus on the album's core theme of relationships in an online world. [13] Sargent felt the track represented a "very comfortable" midpoint between the band's penchant for musical experimentation and contemporary pop music, calling it "their new album's clearest mission statement yet". [23] Stereogum writer Ryan Leas commended "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" for successfully infusing contemporary pop music trends into the 1975's signature sound, opining the song "uses texting and hints of infidelity and jealousy to create an infectious, number-based hook". [16] Conrad Duncan of Under the Radar highlighted the song as an example of the album's "countless moments of inventive vision", saying it "jettisons the band's usual verbosity for a sharp pop crossover". [27] Similarly, Larry Fitzmaurice of Uproxx deemed it their global-pop breakthrough. [28]
Dan Stubbs of NME said he would play "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" "to death" and highlighted the myriad of musical elements in "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime". He also commented that despite not being as lyrically complex as "Love It If We Made It", the song is emblematic of Healy's writing style, which he described as "knowing, insecure, romantic, flawed, and cocky at the same time". [14] In her review of A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships for The Ringer, Lindsay Zoladz acclaimed the song for being able to "capture, so pithily, the surreal links between body and machine, technology and emotion, that now dictate ordinary life". [29] She specifically called the couplet "She said that I should have liked it / I said that I only use it sometimes"–which references "liking" an Instagram post–one of her all-time favourite Healy lyrics. [29] Shannon Cotton of Gigwise highlighted the same couplet, viewing it as a reference to the Instagram "generation" where "friendships are determined by who's liked your latest pre-night out mirror selfie rather than anything substantial or tangible". [30] DIY writer Will Richards praised the "catchiness" of the chorus and "deliberately vacuous" lyrics, saying that the 1975 understand "the power of letting [everything] go for three-and-a-half minutes via a pop song – and on the face of it, a very silly pop song – that makes you feel on top of the fucking world". [15]
Commercially, "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" performed modestly on music charts worldwide. In the 1975's native United Kingdom, the song reached number 26 on the UK Singles Chart and number 29 in Scotland. [31] [32] Internationally, it peaked at number 29 in Ireland, [33] number 17 on the Sweden Heatseeker chart and number 17 on the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. [34] [35] The song was later certified gold in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting sales of over 400,000 units. [36]
In July 2018, the 1975 invited fans to apply to be featured in an upcoming music video being filmed in London. [37] On 22 July, Healy tweeted: "I just spent the whole day shooting a video with our fans and I just want to say that I couldn't be more proud. You are all so weird and beautiful. It was one of the best days of my life, thank you". [38] A vertically-oriented music video for "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" debuted via Spotify on 15 August 2018. [23] [39] On 29 August, the fullscreen version was released on the band's YouTube page. [40] The video opens with individual fans calmly lip synching the song's lyrics against a colour-changing backdrop. [40] Healy, dressed in an all-black tuxedo with blonde hair, gradually joins some of the fans as the video progresses and the dancing becomes more eccentric. Towards the end of the video, Healy and the fans gather together and frantically dance as a group. [37] [38] [41] [42]
Antonio Harris of Soundigest opined that the music video for "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" suited the song's technology-themed lyrics, saying: "The song is all about communications among the online age, and [t]he 1975's fan base represents this perfectly." [38] Alessandra Rincón of Billboard praised the colourful backdrops of the visual. [43] In her review of the video for Nylon , Taylor Bryant wrote: "[...] it's easy to forget how charming music videos can be when they just show people hanging out, having a good time, and enjoying being alive. Well, [the band] is here to remind you." [42] Wandera Hussein of The Fader complimented the "cutesy" visual. [41] Stereogum writer Tom Breihan said that a viewer's enjoyment of the video "depends entirely on whether or not [they] find Healy charming", adding: "You will not be shocked to discover that I like the video. It has energy and brightness, it's fun to watch, and it executes the all-important task of making [the viewer] like the song more." [44]
Credits adapted from A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships album liner notes. [3]
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
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Ireland (IRMA) [33] | 29 |
Scotland (OCC) [31] | 29 |
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) [35] | 17 |
UK Singles (OCC) [32] | 26 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [34] | 17 |
Top 100 Venezuela (National-Report) [45] | 33 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [36] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ 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".
"Sex" is a song by English band the 1975 from their second extended play (EP) of the same name (2012) and eponymous debut studio album (2013). The song was written by band members George Daniel, Matty Healy, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald. The band co-produced the EP version of the song with Michael and Robert Coles, while Mike Crossey provided additional production. The album version, produced by Crossey and the band, was released as the lead single on 23 August 2013 by Dirty Hit, Polydor Records and Vagrant Records. Written at the age of 19, Healy said the song represents a love letter to prudish teenage girls.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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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