Why The 1975 are the voice of our generation

 Why are The 1975 the voice of our generation? 

April 2024 

Despite controversial opinions The 1975 are a comfort and inspiration to their fans across the globe, speaking on environmental issues, rights and causing chaos onstage.

The 1975, a Manchester born band formed in 2002 (Wilmslow, Cheshire) Built from George Daniel (Drummer), ross Macdonald (Bassist) Adam Hann (guitar) and lead vocalist/front man Matty Healy. The band have been making music since their teen years and have got bigger and better throughout their journey, headlining Reading, receiving brit awards and number 1 albums the band have been successful without the years forming a bond with the youth. 

The band have a large fanbase all over the world with a huge age range, loyal fans who have stuck by them from day one and the young adults who are only just discovering them the 1975 have become a voice for today’s generation speaking up on political views, mental health and the truth on today’s society and the world today. 

 

The 1975 have spoken about the challenges we face, the state of our world today, political views and opinions on the government. Although this may be deemed as controversial the band are educating and speaking up for our generation which is a bold move to make and has challenged the minds of us all. 

 

The bands album released in 2019, ‘a brief enquiry into online relationships’ an album the album explores the opinions of the government, social media and technology today and the state of our world today. The single ‘love it if we made it’ talks about modernity, effects of the current issues, the state of our world and the bands views of it all. The lyric “were just left to decay modernity had failed us”^[1]states that modernity had failed society. I agree with Matty’s statement, as life has gone on, I feel that the world is becoming more overwhelming and dangerous, and our generation are impacted massively. If you asked a teen or young adult in the early 2000s if they were into politics, they would have more than likely said no whereas today most young adults are this is because we feel that we have to. Only we can change the world into a better place, as time is going on there are more and more crisis going on, wars, the corrupt government and the extreme impacts of social media modern society is overwhelming and exhausting. ‘Love it if we made it’ (2018) is still such a relevant song despite being released in 2018 criticising the impact and consequences of the modern day, social media today’s society. The band speak on cultural and environmental issues in the song and the visuals within the music video. Matty stated that “the song lyrics developed from newspaper articles”^[2]. The song also speaks about police brutality associated the murder or eric garner and yet is still relevant due to the more recent murder of George Floyd.  The bands lyrics will forever stay relevant unless we as a society can change that, the band voice the opinions of the young adults in a post modernism way. 

‘I like America and America likes me’ is another song that is on the album a brief enquiry into online relationships that speaks about gun violence and the current state of America. The song states the current anxieties of kids in America, the gun laws and his frustration towards it. The lyrics “would you please listen”^[3] states Mathew’s frustration towards the laws today.  The lyric “kids don’t want rifles they want supreme”^[4] reflects on teens in America today and the gun laws / gun violence it’s a scary world that young society are living in. The lyrics throughout the song are impacting and expresses the outrage and frustration we as a whole have on modern day society. 

 

Moving forward to the band’s newer album ‘Notes on a Conditional Form’ the song ‘people’ has a similar feel and impact of the earlier releases previously mentioned. people released in 2019 (album released in 2020) lyrically states political views asking for change. The song has a rebellious edge to it exploring political, environmental and global issues we face today. The song has a frustrated rage feel to it. The lyrics “wake up, wake up, its Monday morning and we’ve only got a thousand of them left”^[5] explores the environmental impacts of this world and that if we don’t make change there may not be much time left. With that being said when the band released this album and announced the tour, with every ticket purchased a tree was planted, as well as the band holding a sustainable merch event where fans could have old merch repurposed, the band do a lot for the environment. The lyric ‘stop f*cking with the kids’^[6] reflects on the fact that the older generation almost manipulate the younger generation in how to feel and that the younger generation are impacted massively by the world today and face a lot of problems, anxiety and have experienced a lot and demands change in the world so we can live peacefully again.

 

To conclude on what has been mentioned I believe that the 1975 are the voice of our generation due to their powerful, outspoken yet impactful and informative lyrics. They talk about all issues that are created and that we live through and face every day. I think that they grab attention and educate through their lyrics. Due to them being very successful within their career the band are shared across all social media, on the tv and in magazines and newspapers grabbing attention to all audiences and gain interaction. I feel that they speak for us a whole and get our opinions and frustration out to a wider audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

^[1] The 1975 (2018) ‘Love It If We Made It” A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships Available at https://open.spotify.com/track/6WmIyn2fx1PKQ0XDpYj4VR?si=0fffafa083b4442d [Accessed: January 18, 2023]

 

 

 

^[2] Nayeli G. Pena, C.C. (2020) The 1975's 'love it if we made it' is the perfect protest song for Today, Study Breaks. Available at: https://studybreaks.com/culture/music/the-1975-love-it-if-we-made-it/ [Accessed: January 20, 2023]

 

^[3] The 1975 (2018) I Like America and America Likes Me A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships Available at https://open.spotify.com/track/1RHuBRoACkLRo2vjGqFCwf?si=c1058ceab2f2488d [Accessed January 18^{, 2023}]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^[4] The 1975 (2018) I Like America and America Likes Me A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships Available at https://open.spotify.com/track/1RHuBRoACkLRo2vjGqFCwf?si=22e64718f2834708 [Accessed January 18, 2023]

 

 

^[5] The 1975 (2018) ‘people’ Notes on a Conditional Form Available at https://open.spotify.com/track/39sJbSgJmIrB9J1pkRbpaX?si=468ae511f0934492 [Accessed January 18, 2023]

 

 

 

^[6] The 1975 (2018) ‘people’ Notes on a Conditional Form Available at https://open.spotify.com/track/39sJbSgJmIrB9J1pkRbpaX?si=468ae511f0934492 [Accessed January 18, 2023]