Album review: Being Funny In A Foreign Language — The 1975

The British indie-pop band’s new record is all about love.

The 1975 are back with their new record, Being Funny In A Foreign Language. I personally was super excited for this release, since The 1975 is my favorite band. I first started listening to them when I was in sixth grade (2014), and I credit them with being the artist that truly got me “into” music. Their self titled debut album from 2013 marked my introduction into what I could only recognize to be “real music”, as I was only listening to Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, and emo music before that point. I immediately fell in love with their catchy pop guitar riffs and angsty lyrics. This and their 2nd album, “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it” has had a lasting impact on my taste in music. They were one of the pinnacle Tumblr-aesthetic bands of the mid 2010s and I’ve been introduced to so many other great artists since.

Produced by Jack Antonoff, this sound of this album deviates from the band’s previous album, Notes on a Conditional Form. Jack Antonoff has produced many albums for artists such as Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey. I think there is enough evidence to suggest he is somewhat of a genius when it comes to producing a great pop record. However, I was actually really pleasantly surprised when listening to this album because many of the tracks reminded me of Jack Antonoff’s solo project, Bleachers. This especially comes through in the tracks “Part of the Band” and “Wintering”. Many fans were disappointed with Part of the Band because of its sharp string instruments that make the song sound kind of offbeat. I definitely understand why people didn’t like this track, and although it’s not one of my favorites, it made me excited to see what the rest of the album would sound like.

The next single, “Happiness”, remains one of my favorite tracks on this album as well as from the band’s discography. It has an 80s-inspired riff that feels very on point to The 1975’s traditional sound, but the lyrics are so genuinely uplifting and optimistic, which is not something the band does very often.

She showed me what love is (Showed me what love is)

And now I’m actin’ like I know myself (Actin’ like I know myself)

Oh, in case you didn’t notice (Ooh-ooh)

Oh, oh, oh, I’m never gonna love again, hey

I’m never gonna love again

At first listen, the lyrics “I’m never gonna love again” sound like the lead singer, Matty Healy, confessing how he’s so in love with his significant other that he can’t see himself loving anyone else besides her. In the wake of Healy’s breakup with indie artist, FKA Twigs, these lyrics can take on a whole new meaning. These words are repeated throughout the song and eventually it starts to sound almost fearful. In the context of a failed or unreciprocated relationship, “I’m never gonna love again” could represent feeling doomed to never love anyone else again, because his past love was simply irreplaceable.

This song more accurately reflects the general theme of the album, love. The next single, “I’m in love with you” is a very lyrically simple song and self explanatory. In an interview, Matty Healy actually stated that he kept trying to write a cynical song where the chorus would croon “I’m not in love with you”. Eventually, bandmate Adam Hann commented that it seemed inauthentic and that after years of putting out pessimistic breakup songs laced with irony, it would be fine for them to write a cheesy love song. I thought this was very hilarious and accurate to the public persona that Matty Healy has created over the years. Outside of love, many of the tracks have political undertones and commentary on modern society, which is something the band has been doing for years, most prominent in their 2018 single, “Love it if we made it”.

The first track on the album, “The 1975” is actually one of my favorite tracks on this album. Every album of the band begins with a track titled “The 1975”, with each album having a different version of the song. The first three albums opened with a song about oral sex in a car, each with vastly different instrumentation and vocal performances. The version of the song on Notes on a Conditional Form was literally Greta Thunberg warning the audience of the perils of climate change. As someone who’s incredibly passionate about environmentalism, that version of the track was definitely not for me and so frankly, I was expecting the worst. This track feels like the band checking in with their audience while also commentating on the current state of society.

You’re makin’ an aesthetic out of not doin’ well

And minin’ all the bits of you

You think you can sell whilst the fans are on

Whimsical, political

Liberal, with young people as collateral

The song closes out with the lyrics, “I’m sorry if you’re living and you’re seventeen” on repeat. I am absolutely obsessed with the lyrics and message of this track. As a long time fan, I found it comforting and like I was being reminded of my “old friends, The 1975”. It reminded me of the troubles and chaos of my later high school years, solidifying this band as the perfect artist for the soundtrack of my life.

My favorite track on this album is “About You”. The band described it as being a continuation of their 2013 song, “Robbers”. The instrumentation is super orchestral and big; the arrangement was done by Warren Ellis of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The reverb in the song is similar to Robbers, but vocally it’s much more calm and grounded. The song is about a relationship that has ended or fizzling out, and hoping that one day the two lovers will reconnect. Even though they are no longer together, they can’t forget about each other and the love that they shared. My favorite part of the track is the verse:

There was something about you that now I can’t remember

It’s the same damn thing that made my heart surrender

And I’ll miss you on a train

I’ll miss you in the morning

I never know what to think about

(I think about you)

It’s sung by Adam Hann’s wife Carly, which I thought was interesting because this is the first time something like that has happened on a song by them. I wasn’t expecting the song to turn into a duet at all so this part was a pleasant surprise. Having this verse be performed by a band member’s wife ultimately makes the song feel more hopeful and optimistic, as the love between the people behind the music is thriving and alive.

Many of the tracks on Being Funny In A Foreign Language are some of The 1975’s best work and it’s a significantly more cohesive project than their previous album. Even though they experimented with some new sounds, it feels very grounded and true to the identity of the band. I’m very excited to see how the rest of this musical era pans out for my favorite artist.