The 1975 – “Sincerity is Scary” • Page 2

(And TOOTIMETOOTIME is the band using with white space.)

 

Love this song. Incredible.

Also love that there is debate in here about simple vs. simplicity. My prof went on a rant about that yesterday in my Strategic Communication class haha.

 

I get what you mean. This conversation reminds me of when your know it all classmate/work peer keeps correcting you until you agree with them.

The iPhone analogy was good. iPhones are definitely not simple pieces of technology but lots of people buy Apple because it’s simplicity/easy connectivity to their products compared to android.

Also, it’s your opinion of a song. I’m not sure why there’s a conversation trying to get you to change it and that you’re wrong. You can think whatever you want

 

Interesting, what did your professor say about it? Didn’t even know there were Strategic Communciation classes haha

 

I’m personally a fan of using the word ergornomical in place of simplicity lol

 

Exactly. "Easy to use" and "Simple" are not at all the same thing.

 

That's what happens when you use the wrong words ... you get corrected. It's the wrong word to describe The 1975's music. Their restraint (a better word) hasn't changed, it's still right there. The debut single from this album is built around that very concept.

 

I cannot believe i missed this conversation.

 

And, put simply, the whole point of a message board is to communicate.

Seems like precision of language is pretty essential to that function.

 

And I'd spend forever talking about what Ken Segall means when he calls Apple's design process goals "insanely simple" (it's a good book, and explains it way better than I could in a post) ... again, using the word "simple" as it means, but I think arguing over Apple is way too 2009. And I'd also argue how much they've lost this specific plot in recent years and think "removing things" = "more simple," but that's a different argument altogether.

The 1975 employ a variety of different techniques on their songs. These elements have been a throughput from the start and they continue today.

 

Me, the pedantic pretend writer, likes words. Heh.

 

I write published legal opinions for a living. My words are legal precedent.

I will always be here for semantic arguments.

 

Oh, and I don't think "sparse" or "minimal" means "simple/simplicity" either (but I would bet good money on multiple of the 20 something songs on the next two albums being right in that vein). However, I don't think a track that's built to be like a lounge freeform jazz song is a good example of the band as a whole not still using those techniques when it's their intent (see the first single's structure, or the second's intentional breeziness).

 

Lol the debut song is built around another band's song.

 

what?

 

Responding to a post that's a bit farther up regarding the the debut track of this album.

 

Holy fuck dude.

 

Yep.

 

brah 1975 is very intricate. every sound on every measure has a purpose. the music composition that goes into this band is dope. they really try to make every instrument standout

 

I like The 1975 but that Joy Division song is superior. Did the band ever say something about taking the song to make it their own (though after hearing the original, it’s basically a cover...). If not that’s kinda sketchy.

Also while I agree that semantics are important, I kinda feel like this discussion might not have happened if it had been about a positive comment on the band/song.

 

Nothing has been said addressing it on either end yet.

To me, if you want to pay homage to a band you like, do a cover in your own way. Don't take the structure of a song and then add a few of your own things and act like that's respectful or normal.

I also don't care for anyone waiting to try to rationalize this method in music cause it has not and never will sit well with me. Copying and using the same stuff as another artist partially or completely is stealing. Point blank. You would never see a painter take someone's photo, make their own additions and then sell it.

 

Does this viewpoint apply when it's credited or labeled as "sampling?" Cause if so then I'll never understand that. All art is derivative at least partially. At this point it's literally impossible for it not to be.

And actually-- your painting example is absolutely a thing. There's a very famous painting that is literally Mona Lisa with just a mustache added. All of these situations are covered under U.S. Copyright Law as "Derivative Work," as long as you have a license/permission from the owner. It's not stealing unless you have intention to actually copy someone else's work to pass as your own without permission/credit.

And obviously I'm not commenting on how this ties into The 1975 situation (who knows, they could've had it cleared ahead of time.. or not). I'm just saying morally (and legally) there's nothing wrong with expanding on someone else's expression.

 

The 1975 are talented enough to not be "derivative" at this point in their career. It's not for me and using the reasoning that derivative artwork exists for an artist you like creates a bias to somebody who doesn't see it the same way.

 

The point you're missing is that being "derivative" or "influenced" has nothing to do with level of talent or creativity. I have no idea if they intentionally based it off of that song or not. But if they did it intentionally, I would hope they would've sought permission if they are pretty similar, but it doesn't make it any less creative to me. If that's the case then they were influenced by something and wanted to expand on a musical idea formed by somebody else.

Half of hip-hop is based off of the same sentiment with sampling and such. I see that as a tool to create something new, not laziness or thievery. There are always going to be exceptions to that having to do with motive.. but the 1975 song is obviously very different lyrically and vocally from the Joy Division song. It's a different statement.

 

The Disorder comparison is so fucking overblown lmao. The guitar riffs are really similar rhythmically (not identical, and there’s a fourth note in Disorder whereas there are only 3 in GYAT), sure, but they’re in completely different keys played on entirely different parts of the neck, also besides maybe the drums, the similarities end there. Completely different basslines, song structures, lyrics and vocal deliveries, etc. Overall, they’re more dissimilar than they are similar. Even the function of the guitar in each song is different.