The 1975 – Give Yourself A Try

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On June 1st, 2018, The 1975 finally announced that the name of their new album would be A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships and released the brilliant single, “Give Yourself a Try.”

The first and most recognizable part of the song is the looped Adam Hann guitar riff that sounds almost abrasive, however the lyrics and Matt Healy’s vocals quickly bring the listener in with his trademark croon. The drum beat from George Daniel is precise and consistent, with very little variation. This beat is likely intentionally simplistic to bring the attention back to the lyrical content and soaring choruses. The bass line from Ross MacDonald complements the drum beat, however it’s not in the forefront as much as it was on the band’s previous two full lengths. The guitar and vocals are clearly what propel this song.

From a lyrical perspective, Healy’s self-reflection is easy to tune into from the beginning as he sings:

You learn a couple things when you get to my age
Like friends don’t lie and it all tastes the same in the dark
When your vinyl and your coffee collection is a sign of the times
You’re getting spiritually enlightened at 29
​

I think this preview of the content on the incomplete upcoming album showcases some of the writing style to expect on the new LP when it arrives this Fall.

The chorus of the track features various sung versions of the title, and features some of the best vocal work of Healy’s young career. The second verse is broken into two parts: more self-reflection in the first half and a personal story of Healy learning about a young girl who committed suicide:

I found a grey hair in one of my zoots
Like context in a modern debate I just took it out
The only apparatus required for happiness is your pain and fucking going outside
And getting STD’s at 27 really isn’t the vibe
Jane took her own life at 16
She was a kid who had the box tattooed on her arm
And I was 25 and afraid to go outside
A millennial that baby-boomers like
​

In the final verse, Healy gets even more personal by opening up about his drug use and lifestyle. Additionally, he begins to think about what has led him to this point in his life/career and has a good sense of humor about his band’s success:

And what would you say to your younger self?
Growing a beard’s quite hard
And whiskey never starts to taste nice
And you’ll make a lot of money, and it’s funny
‘Cause you’ll move somewhere sunny and get addicted to drugs
And spend obscene amounts on fucking seeds and beans online
​

Overall, this track has made the already rabid 1975-fanbase get even more excited for what is to come from the October 2018 album (and many even wondering about the second album teased for 2019). “Give Yourself a Try” accomplishes the rare feat of pleasing a large group of fans with a song that is worthy of having on loop for hours on end. That is until the next track arrives for us to dissect.

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