If you’ve ever found yourself lost in a swirl of dreamy synths, heartfelt lyricism, and genre-defying production, you’ve probably already fallen for The 1975. Since emerging from Manchester, England, this four-piece band — led by vocalist and creative force Matty Healy — has produced some of the most culturally resonant music of the modern era. Whether you’re a longtime fan revisiting the classics or a new listener looking to explore their expansive catalog, this guide to the best The 1975 songs of all time will take you through their most iconic tracks. Along the way, you’ll discover must-listen songs from their earliest days to their most recent releases, proving why The 1975 remains one of the most important bands in contemporary music.
A Brief Introduction to The 1975
The 1975 — comprising Matty Healy, Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald, and George Daniel — officially formed in Manchester in 2002, though they didn’t gain widespread recognition until their self-titled debut album in 2013. Their sound is notoriously hard to pin down, blending indie rock, pop, R&B, ambient electronic, post-punk, and jazz into an ever-evolving sonic identity. Critics and fans alike have praised their willingness to take bold artistic risks, making each album feel like a new chapter in an ongoing cultural conversation. If you enjoy exploring the best songs across genres and eras, you’ll want to check out our dedicated songs section for more curated music guides. Now, let’s dive into the tracks that define The 1975’s remarkable legacy.
The Sound
“The Sound” from the 2016 album I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It is arguably one of The 1975’s most anthemic and accessible songs. Built around a propulsive, danceable beat and a shimmering synth progression, the track sees Matty Healy firing back at critics who dismissed the band’s music as shallow or inauthentic. The bridge, where the band plays live critic quotes over the song’s chorus, is a brilliantly satirical and self-aware moment that cements “The Sound” as not just a great pop song, but a statement of intent.
Chocolate
Released in 2012 before their debut album, “Chocolate” was the song that first put The 1975 on the radar of mainstream audiences and radio programmers across the UK. The track is a jangly, guitar-driven indie-pop gem with a laid-back, almost nostalgic atmosphere that evokes long drives and youthful freedom. Its deceptively simple charm hides clever wordplay and a warm emotional undercurrent that made it an instant fan favorite and a staple of their live performances for years.
Robbers
“Robbers” from the debut self-titled album is one of the most emotionally raw and cinematic songs The 1975 have ever produced. Inspired by the 1993 film True Romance, the track tells the story of two lovers caught in a dangerous world, delivered with a slow-burning intensity that builds to a devastating climax. Matty Healy’s vocal performance here is particularly striking, conveying a sense of desperate love and resignation that listeners have found deeply moving since the song’s release in 2013.
Girls
“Girls” is a lively, guitar-forward track from the debut album that captures the awkward energy and excitement of adolescent romance with an almost comedic self-awareness. The song’s narrator comes across as simultaneously charming and clueless, which gives the track a relatable humor that resonates with listeners of all ages. It remains one of the band’s most beloved early singles and a highlight of their live shows, typically drawing enormous sing-alongs from devoted fans.
Somebody Else
Widely considered one of The 1975’s masterpieces, “Somebody Else” from I Like It When You Sleep… is a melancholic electronic ballad about the painful experience of watching an ex move on. The production is lush and atmospheric, leaning heavily into 80s-inspired synths and a slow-groove rhythm that feels both euphoric and deeply sorrowful. Many fans and critics cite it as one of the best breakup songs of the 2010s, a track that captures the particular anguish of wanting someone you know you can’t have back.
Fallingforyou
“Fallingforyou” is a tender, understated love song from the debut album that strips away The 1975’s more elaborate production choices in favor of something intimate and quietly beautiful. The song’s narrator tentatively admits romantic feelings, unsure whether they’ll be reciprocated, giving the track an endearing vulnerability that sets it apart from the band’s more polished anthems. Its hushed, dreamy quality has made it a fan-favorite deep cut, often cited as one of the most emotionally honest songs in their catalog.
It’s Not Living (If It’s Not with You)
“It’s Not Living (If It’s Not with You)” from the 2018 album A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships is one of the most striking examples of the band using an upbeat, jangly musical arrangement to deliver brutally honest lyrical content. Matty Healy wrote the song as a direct reflection on his own struggles with heroin addiction, framing the dependency with both dark humor and heartbreaking sincerity. The juxtaposition of the song’s almost cheerful instrumentation with its sobering subject matter makes it one of the most uniquely powerful tracks in The 1975’s discography.
I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)
Closing out A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, “I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)” is an epic, layered rock anthem that deals with depression, mortality, and the strange comfort found in simply continuing to exist. The track builds slowly before exploding into a massive, guitar-driven crescendo that feels both cathartic and life-affirming. It’s a song that resonates deeply with fans who have struggled with dark thoughts, and its message — that staying alive, even imperfectly, matters — has made it one of the most emotionally significant songs the band has ever released.
A Change of Heart
“A Change of Heart” from I Like It When You Sleep… is a bittersweet indie-pop track that chronicles the gradual unraveling of a relationship with quiet devastation. The song’s narrator recounts the moment they realized the person they loved had changed, or perhaps that they themselves had, making the split feel inevitable but no less painful. The understated production and Healy’s conversational vocal delivery make it one of the most emotionally affecting tracks in the band’s catalog, a slow heartbreak rendered in exquisite detail.
The 1975 (Self-Titled Track)
The instrumental-turned-spoken-word track “The 1975” has served as a kind of thematic overture, appearing in slightly different forms at the beginning of each of the band’s studio albums. Each version features a distinct voiceover, giving the recurring track a different emotional and philosophical context depending on the era it represents. It functions as a statement of purpose, a reset button between chapters, and a reminder of the band’s consistent artistic ambition, making it one of the most conceptually interesting recurring elements of their entire career.
Sincerity Is Scary
“Sincerity Is Scary” from A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships is a jazz-pop gem that critiques modern irony culture and the fear of genuine emotional expression. The track’s warm, horn-inflected production contrasts beautifully with its incisive lyrical content, which calls out the tendency to mask real feelings behind detached, ironic posturing. It’s one of the most intellectually engaging songs in The 1975’s catalog, and its message about the value of vulnerability feels more relevant than ever in an age dominated by performative online behavior.
Love It If We Made It
Perhaps the band’s most ambitious single to date, “Love It If We Made It” is a sprawling, defiant anthem that collages headlines and cultural flashpoints into a meditation on modern despair and cautious hope. Released in 2018 as part of A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, the song references social media, political turmoil, addiction, and climate anxiety in rapid-fire succession, building to a massive, euphoric chorus that feels like a rallying cry. It was widely praised as one of the best songs of the decade, with many critics calling it the defining rock statement of its era.
She’s American
“She’s American” from I Like It When You Sleep… is a sleek, funky indie-pop track that examines the narrator’s relationship with an American woman through a lens of both infatuation and cultural observation. The production is polished and groove-heavy, drawing on 80s pop influences to create something that feels simultaneously retro and modern. It’s one of the most fun and accessible songs in The 1975’s catalog, a track that works equally well as a piece of cultural commentary and a straight-up pop banger.
Part of the Band
Opening the 2022 album Being Funny in a Foreign Language, “Part of the Band” is a stream-of-consciousness indie-folk track that finds Matty Healy reflecting on his own identity, contradictions, and place within the cultural landscape he helped create. Produced by Jack Antonoff, the song has a warm, acoustic-forward production style that marks a deliberate shift toward simplicity and emotional directness. The lyrical density is extraordinary, packing references to queer culture, celebrity, addiction, and self-mythology into a track that rewards repeated listening and close attention.
About You
“About You” from Being Funny in a Foreign Language is one of the most achingly beautiful songs The 1975 have released in recent years, a slow-burning synth ballad that draws unmistakable comparisons to the work of Kate Bush. The track deals with the lingering emotional presence of a past relationship, that sense that certain music or places or moments will always belong to someone you once loved. It features one of Healy’s most restrained and affecting vocal performances, letting the melancholy of the melody carry the emotional weight with remarkable grace.
Happiness
“Happiness” from Being Funny in a Foreign Language is a shimmering, saxophone-laced pop song that manages to be simultaneously joyful and deeply introspective. The track explores the complexity of accepting happiness when you feel you don’t deserve it, a theme that runs through much of the band’s later work. Its breezy, effortless production — again courtesy of Jack Antonoff — makes it one of the most immediately enjoyable songs on the album while hiding real emotional depth beneath its cheerful surface.
Oh Caroline
“Oh Caroline” is a driving, hook-laden rock track from Being Funny in a Foreign Language that channels the energy of classic 80s new wave and post-punk into a contemporary indie-pop framework. The song is addressed to a woman the narrator can’t quite let go of, blending longing with a kind of restless, kinetic energy that makes it impossible to sit still while listening. It was praised upon release as one of the most immediately gratifying songs on the album, showcasing the band’s ability to make complex emotions feel effortlessly catchy.
When We Are Together
Closing Being Funny in a Foreign Language on a tender, hopeful note, “When We Are Together” is a gentle acoustic ballad that strips the band’s sound down to its emotional core. The song celebrates the simple joy of human connection, a reminder amid the album’s more anxious and introspective moments that love and presence are themselves a form of meaning. It’s a quietly powerful song that has resonated deeply with fans as a piece of genuine emotional sincerity, which feels fitting given how central that theme is to The 1975’s artistic identity.
I’m in Love with You
“I’m in Love with You” from Being Funny in a Foreign Language is a widescreen pop declaration of romantic devotion, built on a soaring chorus and lush, cinematic production. The song finds Healy in a state of unguarded vulnerability, simply and directly expressing a feeling that the band’s earlier work often approached more obliquely. It’s a track that demonstrates how The 1975 have matured as songwriters, capable now of the kind of grand romantic gesture that once seemed at odds with their arch, ironic public persona.
Settle Down
“Settle Down” from the debut album is a vibrant, percussion-driven track with a restless, almost anxious energy that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being young and unsure of the future. The song explores the tension between the desire for stability and the fear of being pinned down, a theme that was deeply personal for the band at the time of writing. It remains one of the most beloved tracks from their early catalog and a testament to their ability to capture universal emotions with remarkable precision and musical flair.
If you’re serious about getting the most out of your The 1975 listening experience, the right pair of headphones makes all the difference — their layered, studio-crafted production rewards high-quality audio equipment. You can explore our detailed headphone comparisons or, if you prefer listening on the go, our earbud comparisons to find the perfect match for your listening style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The 1975’s most popular song of all time?
“Somebody Else” and “The Sound” are consistently ranked among the band’s most streamed and critically acclaimed songs, with both frequently appearing at the top of fan polls and critics’ lists. “Somebody Else” in particular is often cited as the song that defined their artistic peak, blending emotional depth with accessible electronic pop production in a way that resonated with an enormous audience globally.
How many studio albums has The 1975 released?
As of 2024, The 1975 have released five studio albums: their self-titled debut (2013), I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (2016), A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (2018), Notes on a Conditional Form (2020), and Being Funny in a Foreign Language (2022). Each album has represented a distinct artistic evolution, cementing their reputation as one of the most consistently innovative bands of their generation.
Are The 1975 considered an indie band?
The 1975 are broadly classified as indie pop or indie rock, though their sound draws from an exceptionally wide range of influences including post-punk, ambient electronic, jazz, R&B, and synth-pop. Their genre-blurring approach has made them difficult to categorize neatly, which is part of what makes them so unique and enduring in the contemporary music landscape. Many critics prefer to simply call them a pop band, acknowledging that their songwriting craft and commercial appeal has long transcended the traditional indie music sphere.
What themes does The 1975 typically explore in their music?
The 1975’s music frequently explores themes of love, mental health, addiction, cultural anxiety, modern technology, political disillusionment, and the search for authenticity in an age of irony and performativity. Matty Healy is known for his deeply confessional lyrical style, often drawing directly from his own experiences with relationships, substance abuse, and public life to create songs that feel both intensely personal and universally relatable. Their willingness to engage with difficult and politically charged subject matter has made them one of the most thought-provoking bands in contemporary mainstream music.
What is the best album to start with if you’re new to The 1975?
For new listeners, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It is often recommended as the ideal entry point, as it showcases the full range of the band’s sonic palette while containing some of their most celebrated and accessible songs. Being Funny in a Foreign Language is also an excellent starting point for those who prefer a more streamlined, emotionally direct sound. Ultimately, any of their albums will give you a clear sense of why The 1975 have earned their reputation as one of the most important bands of their era.