If this were my first time listening to it, the effect would've been even stronger, like, "OK these guys really aren't f-ing around with this one." When Healy screams "wake up, wake up, wake up!" and the song surges through your body right after Thunberg's speech, the effect is exquisite. "People" was released as the lead single from "Notes" in August 2019.Īhlgrim: I really wish the band hadn't released "People" as a single, because I like it so much better in the context of the album. It's impactful and sets "Notes" immediately apart from its three predecessors. Larocca: Every album by The 1975 opens with a track called "The 1975," but until "Notes on a Conditional Form," every single one used the same set of lyrics, beginning "Go down / Soft sound." This one breaks the mold with a powerful, spoken-word performance by the 17-year-old environmental activist, set to ambient music. This intro song was released back in July, and every time I listen to it, I wonder why everyone isn't talking about climate change constantly - and I wonder how long it'll be until every new album or piece of art is tackling the crisis in some way, literally out of necessity if nothing else. It was genius to give her the sole platform on the very first track I hope everyone hears it.
"The 1975" featuring Greta Thunberg, pictured, was released as a promotional track in July 2019.Īhlgrim: Frontman Matty Healy was spot-on when he called Greta Thunberg "the most punk person I've ever met." I'm so glad the band enlisted her to open this album, and I'm obsessed with her sobering speech.