By Ashley Jones

On The 1975’s fifth album ‘Being Funny in a Foreign Language’, the admired band aims to analyse
postmodern political and cultural environments from an empathetic and understanding standpoint as opposed to the often-critical lens of social media and the public eye.

This sense of empathy is conveyed throughout the album from the start to the very end. The opening self-titled track uses bouncy and rhythmic instrumentals paired with introspective lyrics to break down the experience of living in the modern age and all of the trials and tribulations that follow.

Be it the apathetic nature of social media or the romanticism of mental illness, lead singer Matty
Healy expresses his concerns for the welfare of young people today.

The album as a whole provides a more personal look at the way Healy thinks. Compared to previous
albums from the band, every song on this album feels like a personal diary entry. I found this album in particular was especially easy to connect to due to its honest and chaotically open nature.

Rather than listening to a song with a rigid and strict format, the lyrics felt more like I was listening to a friend who’s freely ranting about whatever’s on their mind.

Despite the band being known for their witty and often sarcastic lyricism, they have managed to strip back any layers to reveal their true feelings towards modern society as well as aspects of their personal lives. This is best conveyed through the lyrics of ‘I’m in Love With You’. The song is a sequel to a previous song titled ‘A Change of Heart’. The upbeat and more pop oriented track is about
putting political or cultural issues aside and just feeling pure love and adoration for someone.

I found the positive outlook on love and relationships to be a breath of fresh air. Healy isn’t trying to downplay his emotions to seem aloof, he’s freely talking about his feelings without veiling them for aesthetic purposes which is all too common in alternative and indie music.

Fans of the 1975’s previous work will also be glad to know that Healy’s beloved wit is still reflected throughout many of the lyrics as the singer uses comedy to slyly mock the state of society throughout the album.

The album provides in depth commentary on postmodern society from the perspective of someone
living in it. There is a level of self-awareness that listeners are able to relate to.