The 1975 released “Being Funny in a Foreign Language” on October 14, 2022. This album has long been anticipated, especially when it was revealed that Taylor Swift was one of the first to hear it. Just a week post-release, the album is already a chart-topper.
The new album is receiving many rave reviews from fans. With 11 songs, “Being Funny in a Foreign Language” is a shorter album, clocking in at 43 minutes. The 1975’s previous release, “Notes on a Conditional Form,” was twice the length of this new album.
The 1975 has a way with musical interpretations, tending to span across multiple genres. This album is not different; almost every song on this album has a different feel to it, as if you were listening to different genres.
The album starts out with a lot of fast-paced songs and moves into two ballads by the end of the album.
- “The 1975”
The opening track feels like it’s from the start of a grand musical, but the lyrics combat the tone of the song’s melody. The song’s lyrics feature modern-day events with the attached modern-day chaos. The main part of the chorus is, “I’m sorry if you’re living and you’re 17,” seemingly an ode to all people growing up through everything occurring in the world.
- “Happiness”
Continuing the positive, pop vibe, “Happiness” is about a modern love story. Lead singer Matthew Healy sings about how he will “never love again,” since he’s so in love with this person. It’s one of the most positive songs that The 1975 has released, but there are subtle hints of self-sabotage in this relationship that Healy is describing.
- “Looking for Somebody (To Love)”
This is a classic 1975 song. Although it’s a great, upbeat song, it’s about a dark theme: murder. Part of the lyrics state, “looking for somebody to love / somebody lying on the field / somebody crying on the phone / somebody picking up the body…” This was definitely an expected style for this album since the band tends to enjoy dark lyrics with an upbeat soundtrack.
- “Part of the Band”
This song is honestly one of the best on the album. It features many different rhythms, involving violins, a piano and an acoustic guitar. It feels as if you’re listening to multiple songs within one. There’s not a chorus, so for a first listen, it feels a bit strange. Although music from The 1975 normally features traditional rock elements, this song is different and more folksy. This track is self-reflective and self-depreciative of Healy, with lyrics such as, “Am I just some post-coke, average, skinny bloke calling his ego ‘imagination?’”
- “Oh Caroline”
This is a top-notch song on this album. Even though the lyrics begin with, “I’ve been suicidal,” this song is a sweet love story. The song is an ode to Caroline and how much Healy wants to be with her. With the aspect of the drums, the twinkling of a synthesizer and the guitars, an amazing rhythm is created. With the intent of the song, something that would normally be a slow, melodic song, the fast rhythm keeps the listener on their toes and wanting to jam out to “Oh Caroline.” If this song were just a bit longer, it would be even better.
- “I’m In Love With You”
The 1975 always has some strange lyrical choices, and this song is no exception. It’s definitely not as positive as the previous track “Oh Caroline” but still is excessively positive for its tone. The urge to dance to this song is definitely strong.
- “All I Need to Hear”
Here’s the comedown of this album. When this song starts, you can immediately tell there’s a major shift in the vibe of the story being told by the album. There are no jokes or hidden meanings in this song – just pure sadness and despair. It’s a song full of heartbreak. Pro tip: don’t listen to this one after a break-up.
- “Wintering”
The mood is picked back up with Wintering with an upbeat tone. Once you listen to the whole song once, you realize it’s a Christmas song. At first, the story seems to be all over the place, but this song is ultimately about the hassles of Christmas. It’s one of the first songs from The 1975 without a ton of meaning.
- “Human Too”
Yet again, the mood is brought down by “Human Too.” With a slow and low rhythm, the whole song feels like a long apology. This song is simultaneously an apology and an excuse for something gone wrong. As Healy asks, “don’t you know I’m human too? / you should know that you’re human too / oh darling, that’s what humans do.”
- “About You”
This is the hardest song to listen to on the album. The rhythm is a decent speed, yet the lyrics hold weight that slow the song down. This is a continuation of “Robbers,” a song from the group’s 2013 album “The 1975.” If you compare lyrics from “Robbers” to “About You,” this seems to be finishing a story and a very heartbreaking one. Healy, the lead singer, and guitarist Adam Hann’s wife, Carly Holt, share a duet in “About You.” With the opening, listeners can tell that this song is hard to listen to, as the pace is slower and with heavier lyrics. Healy begins, “I know a place / it’s somewhere I go when I need to remember your face / we get married in our heads / something to do while we try to recall how we met.” This song is the longest on the album, a clearly intentional choice. Healy is really a heartbreaker, after all.
- “When We Are Together”
The ideas from “About You” are continued here, seemingly reflecting on good memories. It sounds like the end of a time with this person that Healy loves but cannot continue to be with. Like the majority of The 1975’s music, this one makes you want to cry too.
“Being Funny in a Foreign Language” has had amazing reception from its fans. The band continues to add tour dates all over the world. This album envelops classic 1975 trademarks, with orchestra music, cryptic lyrics and stories of sadness. However, since so many of the songs are upbeat, it’s hard to listen to the majority of the album and be sad. The 1975 fans are definitely satisfied with this album, and it should be a hit for a while.