Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Post - Athens, OH
The independent newspaper covering campus and community since 1911.
The Post

Halle Weber is a freshman studying journalism with a focus in news and information at Ohio University.

On A High Note: The 1975's new single disappoints

The 1975’s new single is not good. There, I said it. 

Nobody is a bigger fan of The 1975 than I am, trust me. I buy the band's records, digital and vinyl. I saw it live in a small synagogue in Cleveland before it hit it big.

Front man Matt Healy was stumbling around drunk, and he still sounded flawless. I don’t think there is anybody else right now that sounds quite like The 1975, and that is why I have always loved it, for the creativity. The new single betrays that.

The single is a cover of Sade’s “By Your Side.” The 1975 absolutely destroyed the British soul group’s hit. In an effort to make it their own, the 1975 replaced the original tune’s reliance on acoustics with a more tech-based backing, but it didn’t stop there.

Throughout the entire rendition, there is a painfully over-edited auto-tune controlling Healy’s voice. I understand that the song is 17 years old, and the band wanted to modernize it, but it went about it in all the wrong ways.

In all fairness, one of the main reasons I am a fan of 1975 is because of Healy’s honest, clever lyrics. Drugs, depression, heartache and confusion transformed into something just quirky enough to be beautiful. But I refuse to blame this flop on the fact that Healy didn’t write it; it’s a gorgeous tune, and the bottom line is that 1975 just did not handle it well.

If the lyrics were what made the band, I would give it more leeway, but that is not the case. The primary aspect of The 1975 that has stood out to me for years is the ability to write melodies in such a unique way. The intellect that goes into the music amazes me. Both of its full-length records are filled with tunes combining the perfect mix of ‘80s glam rock, modern EDM and relaxed, alternative swagger.

Its cover of “By Your Side” lacks even a single unique composition element. Its laziness is almost insulting. Here’s to hoping it’s just a slip-up from an overworked band, not the beginning of the end. The band is just too damn good to go the route of everybody else; I’m still expecting greatness from the next record.

Great bands, however, can do covers. The Stones took The Temptation’s “Just My Imagination” and turned it into a hit single. It can and has been done countless times. If The 1975 would have just been true to themselves in their interpretation of “By Your Side,” it would’ve been magic.

Halle Weber is a freshman studying journalism with a focus in news and information at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. How do you feel about The 1975's cover of "By Your Side?" Let Halle know by emailing or tweeting her at hw422715@ohio.edu or @HalleWeber13, respectively.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2016-2024 The Post, Athens OH