Being Funny In A Foreign Language by The 1975
Back from my hiatus!
Being Funny In A Foreign Language by The 1975
General Idea: Being Funny In A Foreign Language is the most focused album from The 1975 to date. It’s not as long as usual albums but keeps the album's message, that love will save us, prominent and unforgettable. Additionally, the album keeps the original 1975 “sound” while also branching out into some new styles in music.
My Thoughts: I thought that this album was a work of art. The various themes and instruments used were incredible and I enjoyed listening to the entire thing. I would highly recommend this album to anyone reading!
Tracks:
“The 1975”: The 1975 starts their album the same way they have the past 4 albums they have made, with a song titled “The 1975”. The past two albums, however, have strayed from the norm. Last album, “The 1975” consisted of a Greta Thunberg speech, and this album’s “The 1975” is a completely new song. In the past, the lyrics have always stayed the same, but in this album, the lyrics are different, and the song's beat has stayed adjacent to those of previous albums, showcasing a brand new 1975. Lead singer Matty Healy spends the majority of the song pointing out his flaws of the past,
I'm sorry about my twenties, I was learnin' the ropes
I had a tendency of thinkin' about it after I spoke
which helps set the scene for the album ahead.
“Happiness”: The title of this song works perfectly with the vibe it gives out. There is nearly no way you can listen to this song and not get at least a little bit happy. The song stems from the band’s want to create a track where they just jam out and play what feels right. In an interview, Healy says,
We just wanted this record to be really like a captured moment and not be too constructed and even produced that much…
They ended up finishing the song in a little over a day, focusing on the raw sounds of the tracks they recorded rather than focusing on all the different ways they could use technology to edit it.
“Looking For Somebody (To Love)”:
TW: School Shooting
“Looking For Somebody (To Love)” is an 80s synth-pop song that originally gives off a happy tone, however, when the lyrics are actually dissected the song reveals that it is not as happy-go-lucky as it may seem at first glance. The song is a dichotomy of an upbeat tune and a very dark topic, school shootings. “Modern masculinity” is the major theme in the song, and is described, “As if Black Mirror had an episode on what happens when a man can’t convince a woman to date him.” Healy writes that,
We provide young boys with a vocabulary to assert their dominance in any position, typically moving them toward things like violence and destruction.”
I think that using an upbeat tune for such a dark topic was an interesting, but well done choice on Healy’s part. The song gives a feeling of looking forward to something. However, it is actually discussing a very horrible and prominent topic.
“Part of the Band”: “Part of the Band” is the lead single of the Being Funny In A Foreign Language album. It opens with a string background, leading into a playful folk-rock-style song. It continues with themes of self-depreciation, sarcasm, and reflection; however, none of these make the song feel gloomy. The constant string beat in the background once again makes the song feel upbeat. “Part of the Band” truly covers the span of the different musical vibes seen throughout the entirety of Being Funny In A Foreign Language.
“Oh Caroline”: Throughout this song, Healy sings about everything someone will do for love. A key lyric to this theme is,
I wanna get it right this time
'Cause you're always on my mind
where Healy says, he keeps trying and will always try until he gets it right. The song is a bit repetitive, with “Oh, Caroline” repeated through verses and the chorus, but all in all, the synthetic background beat mixed with piano is a cool combination that works quite well for the song.
“I’m In Love With You”: Healy keeps the theme of love once again in “I’m In Love With You”. The song is thought to be the sequel to the track in 2016 titled “A Change of Heart”. This is probably the most traditional 1975 song on the entire album, as the band branched out musically for most songs on this album. I like that the pre-chorus in this song is as if Healy is trying to convince someone that he loves them.
“All I Need To Hear”: This track sounds different than others, and that’s because it’s supposed to. Matty Healy said in an interview for Pitchfork that
The goal when creating the track was to make something that sounded like a cover.
This track is also one of the more slowed down and chill songs in the album, especially in comparison to “Looking For Somebody (To Love)” and “Happiness".” The song again gives way to The 1975’s main theme for this album, love. With a chorus of,
'Cause I don't need music in my ears
I don't need the crowds and the cheers
Oh, just tell me you love me
'Cause that's all that I need to hear
the song carries through with the question of if love can cure all. In this song, it seems that the answer to this is yes, specifically in this song.
“Wintering”: “Wintering” is about this and that and everything in-between, but somehow doesn’t feel confusing. The song feels linear, as Healy is talking about returning home to family for Christmas, his family is also getting ready for his arrival. Healy talks about his friends, giving out some of their main characteristics, as well as a name. The track gives off a very loving vibe, that although he has been gone, Healy is showing his connection to his family and friends, and that it will never not be important to see his family in the winter like this.
“Human Too”: One of the slower songs on the album, “Human Too” has major themes of fragility and weakness. Healy sings about how when he gets ‘cancelled’ it’s not as bad as a major celebrity, but it still hurts. With a chorus of,
Don't you know that I'm a human too?
You know that you're a human too?
The song goes to show that when artists are criticized, it doesn’t go unnoticed. They are ‘human too’ and comments shared online or to their face hurt just as much as they would for any “regular” person.
“About You”: Carrying the past theme of “Robbers” by The 1975, “About You” contains a gothic theme and sound. Although the gothic theme is prominent, the song is about love, and how even after two people break up, they don’t forget about each other, and how they made each other feel. In contrast to “Robbers,” “About You” is less so about the toxicity of a relationship, and more about the love you can feel and never forget from a person.
“When We Are Together”: '“When We Are Together” is another one of Healy’s reflection on his life, trials and tribulations. The line,
It was poorly handled
The day we both got canceled
Because I'm a racist and you're some kind of slag
is heavily based on when the 1975 released a song in 2018 that tackled subjects of systemic racism and police brutality. Healy got ‘cancelled’ for the song when people thought the band was trying to profit off of the BLM movement, when in reality, they were trying to bring light and information to the topic. Additionally, the song is about a lot of Healy’s past/failed relationships and the aftermath of them. “When We Are Together” is an excellent finishing song for the album, and great reflection for singer Matty Healy. Overall, I absolutely loved this album and the themes that carried through it. I absolutely recommend this album to everyone reading!
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Be sure to comment on what I should read and listen to for next week. :)