Yes, this will be my third Odyssey article about The 1975. Yes, they deserve it - especially after last night. On September 30th, The 1975 brought BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge month to an epic close with a special, 1-hour long performance of some of their songs accompanied by the BBC Philarmonic Orchestra at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. The band has had it’s fair share of success and special moments this year after the release of their sophomore album I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it (one of which included being shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, which is a celebration of the UK and Ireland’s best albums of the year), but this was definitely the highlight of their year so far - for the fans and for band members themselves.
In an evening that celebrated their music, the classic and progressive intertwined in a way that was soothing to everyone’s eyes and ears (because yes, they took their award-winning live show to the the orchestra as well). Their songs weren’t necessarily designed for a classical arrangement - most of their music, especially on their second album, relies on synths, electric guitars and drums, and what they create floats seamlessly through a range of genres without ever landing in a specific one. But wow, did it work - and beautifully so.
The show’s opener, title track “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it”, was tear-inducing and perfectly set the mood for what was to come. This song, along with “Please Be Naked” and “Lostmyhead” had never been performed live by the band until last night. These were my three personal favorites, but no songs of the set disappointed or failed to make the audience - both physically present and those who were streaming the performance worldwide on BBC’s iPlayer - feel the significance and emotion of the moment. They played a few songs off their new album, like singles “Love Me”, “A Change of Heart”, and “Somebody Else”, and their rendition of two songs they had already covered at BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge - Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” and One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful”.
It was a pivotal moment in their career. Frontman Matty Healy displayed this by letting a few tears escape during “If I Believe You” (“I’m crying on the telly, this is embarassing” he said afterwards) and confessing that band members had been extremely nervous, scared, but also excited for their performance. They’re a band who’s been touring non-stop since the release of their debut, self-titled album in 2013 (they won an award for most hardworking band of the world in 2014), performed at the Royal Albert Hall, opened for the Rolling Stones and Muse, and have toured this album since the end of 2015 - they’re not phased by just any gig.
They were once four Manchester, 13-year-old boys who rehearsed in Matty’s garage with dreams of making music for a living. Dreams which were fuelled by their strong artistic vision and persistence throughout the years. And fourteen years, two albums, and four EPs later, those same boys were onstage, with the same charisma, happiness, friendship, and determination as before - but this time performing their songs with a full orchestra beside them. It was grandiose and emotional, and the best way to solidify their mark as serious and extremely talented musicians who are here to stay.
