If there’s one song that fully embodies falling in love, it’s ‘I’m in Love with You’ by The 1975. This is their third single off of their upcoming album Being Funny in a Foreign Language. Just based on their most recent releases, this album seems to be lighter and more fulfilling. While their previous records covered a variety of darker topics — including singer Matt Healy’s personal struggles with mental health and substance abuse — this next one seems to look less at the materialistic aspect of love, and more so the intangible and emotional core of relationships. This theme is particularly evident in the instrumental and production side of things.
The 1975 have always favored synthesizers to help create their signature sound within the indie scene. While this affords a style specific to them, something has always been synthetic about it. Healy is a lyrically honest songwriter. But his most nuanced and effective work has been less produced with a focus on sharp strums of an acoustic guitar. Examples of this include ‘She Lays Down’ and ‘Be My Mistake’. In ‘I’m in Love with You’, he takes the authenticity of the instrument and applies a lighter tone to it. He strips it of all the sexual innuendos, and of all physical compliments. Instead of assertive, he’s shy and openly happy. This results in an extremely uplifting track about falling in love.
We also learn through this single more about Healy’s own misgivings. He mentions how his significant other shows him all her “Black girl things”. Then, he pretends to understand but really, he isn’t listening. As an activist constantly singing about the political state of the world, this lyric is a direct confession of his own ignorance. Healy admits to still being a work in progress. This is even in the midst of being deeply in love with this girl. It’s also important to note that the music video for ‘I’m in Love with You’ connects to the music videos of ‘A Change of Heart’ and ‘Somebody Else’. This sequence of short films lends more credence to Healy’s emotional growth in love. He no longer blames the girl or external circumstances; in ‘I’m in Love With You’, he takes ownership of his own shortcomings.
Words by Mae Trumata
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