Being Funny in a Foreign Language

Many of the band's 2020 shows that were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic were ultimately cancelled on 12 January 2021. During this time, lead singer Matty Healy teased future music under their previous name "Drive Like I Do", and said that the band was working on their fifth studio album. However, there was no indication as to when writing, recording, or mixing would be finished.{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Nick |title=The 1975 cancel entire 2021 tour – but confirm work on new album |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/the-1975-cancel-entire-2021-touring-schedule-due-to-ongoing-pandemic-2855046 |website=NME |access-date=8 July 2022 |date=12 January 2021 |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115001346/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/the-1975-cancel-entire-2021-touring-schedule-due-to-ongoing-pandemic-2855046 |url-status=live }}

On 14 February 2022, the band deactivated their main social media accounts, hinting at new material.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-1975-hint-at-new-music-by-deleting-social-media-accounts-3161251|title=The 1975 hint at new music by deleting social media accounts|website=NME|date=29 June 2022|access-date=8 July 2022|archive-date=12 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512094655/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-1975-hint-at-new-music-by-deleting-social-media-accounts-3161251|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-1975-reveal-title-and-tracklist-for-fifth-album-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language-3258626|title=Album title and track list revealed via postcard|website=NME|date=29 June 2022|access-date=7 July 2022|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922081114/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-1975-reveal-title-and-tracklist-for-fifth-album-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language-3258626|url-status=live}}

The album title and track listing were revealed to select fans through postcards. The band released its first single from the album "Part of the Band" on 7 July 2022.{{cite news|last=Garcia|first=Thania|title=The 1975 Shares First Single and Music Video From Upcoming Album, 'Being Funny in a Foreign Language'|url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/the-1975-new-part-of-the-band-1235311200/|work=Variety|date=7 July 2022|access-date=13 July 2022|archive-date=26 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926052321/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/the-1975-new-part-of-the-band-1235311200/|url-status=live}} The second single, "Happiness", was released on 3 August 2022.{{cite web|url=https://readdork.com/features/first-listen/first-listen-the-1975-happiness/|title=First listen: The 1975 – Happiness|work=Dork|last=Ackroyd|first=Stephen|date=3 August 2022|access-date=3 August 2022|archive-date=12 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812215655/https://readdork.com/features/first-listen/first-listen-the-1975-happiness/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2022/08/the-1975-happiness/|title=The 1975 Announce Tour Dates, Ponder "Happiness" on New Single: Stream|work=Consequence of Sound|last=Jones|first=Abby|date=3 August 2022|access-date=3 August 2022|archive-date=3 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803171630/https://consequence.net/2022/08/the-1975-happiness/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-the-1975-new-single-release-happiness-3282733|title=The 1975 share 'fun' new single 'Happiness' and announce North American tour|work=NME|last=Skinner|first=Tom|date=3 August 2022|access-date=3 August 2022|archive-date=26 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926052321/https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-the-1975-new-single-release-happiness-3282733|url-status=live}} The third single, "I'm in Love with You", was released on 1 September 2022.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/the-1975-im-in-love-with-you-song-music-video-1235134137/|title=The 1975 Clown Around With Phoebe Bridgers in 'I'm In Love With You' Video: Watch|magazine=Billboard|last=Dailey|first=Hannah|date=1 September 2022|access-date=17 September 2022|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921193502/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/the-1975-im-in-love-with-you-song-music-video-1235134137/|url-status=live}} The fourth single, "All I Need to Hear", was released on 21 September 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-1975-release-new-single-all-i-need-to-hear-listen-3314423|title=Listen to The 1975's tender new single 'All I Need To Hear'|work=NME|last=Skinner|first=Tom|date=22 September 2022|access-date=22 September 2022|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922105324/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-1975-release-new-single-all-i-need-to-hear-listen-3314423|url-status=live}}

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| width = 25%

| quote = "Every record I've made, I convinced myself that I had so much to prove, so it had to be about everything that ever happened, everything that's happening now, and everything that could ever happen. But on this record, I said, 'Instead of a magnum opus, what about more like a polaroid?"

| source = —Matty Healy, on Being Funny in a Foreign Language{{Cite web |last=Dombal |first=Ryan |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/cover-story/the-1975-interview/ |title=The 1975's Matty Healy Turns On, Tunes In, and Logs Off |website=Pitchfork |date=9 August 2022 |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407054743/https://pitchfork.com/features/cover-story/the-1975-interview/ |url-status=live }}

}}

Writing sessions for what would eventually become Being Funny in a Foreign Language started in 2021, when the band worked on-and-off with producer BJ Burton, whom Healy admired for his production work on Bon Iver's 22, A Million (2016) and Low's Double Negative (2018) and Hey What (2021). During their time together, Burton noticed that his creative process varied greatly from the band's, as they would "[pull] up songs from Spotify, or [check] another reference for a chord progression" while writing. He set out to align their differences, and eventually they did record what amounted to be "sparks where songs were being bred ... a bunch of early demos", but after Burton heard that the band began working with producer Jack Antonoff, he ended the sessions. In an August 2022 interview with Pitchfork, Burton indicated that the band's creative pivot still "stung", though Healy indicated he was hoping to rekindle his working relationship with Burton for a future album.

When recording with Antonoff, the band was determined to focus on their instrumental strong-suits and keep things as live and unadulterated by computers as possible. In an interview with Apple Music 1, Healy amounted the process to outright defining the true sonic identity of the band, while host Zane Lowe described it as the next step for a band with "such restless energy" as the 1975. Lowe cited that the band had "exhausted" their stylistic exploration and had reached a point of reflection on their improved technical skill in this record.{{Cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/post/1637712112 |title=Matt Healy, of The 1975, on "Happiness" |publisher=Apple Music 1 |date=1 August 2022 |access-date=1 September 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815165939/https://music.apple.com/us/post/1637712112 |url-status=live }} Similarly to Burton, Healy sought out to work with Antonoff, whom he called the "biggest producer in the world" out of respect for his production capabilities, specifically his work with American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. However, Healy made it clear to Antonoff that he retained full creative control of the recording process while working together.

To support the album, the band embarked on a world tour titled At Their Very Best in 2022.{{Cite news |date=1 September 2022 |title=The 1975 announce huge arena tour for 2023 |work=Radio X |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/1975/arena-tour-2023-dates-tickets/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901173337/https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/1975/arena-tour-2023-dates-tickets/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Spinelli |first=Adrian |date=3 August 2022 |title=The 1975 Announce The 'At Their Very Best' North American Tour |work=Uproxx |url=https://uproxx.com/indie/the-1975-2022-tour-dates/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901181126/https://uproxx.com/indie/the-1975-2022-tour-dates/ |url-status=live }} This was followed by an arenas tour titled Still... At Their Very Best the following year.{{Cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=2023-06-13 |title=The 1975 Are Still at Their Very Best for New North American Tour Dates |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-1975-new-north-american-tour-dates-1234766917/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=17 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617032718/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-1975-new-north-american-tour-dates-1234766917/ |url-status=live }}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.6/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/13455/The-1975-Being-Funny-In-A-Foreign-Language.aspx|title=Being Funny in a Foreign Language by The 1975 reviews|website=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=14 October 2022|archive-date=22 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022033828/https://anydecentmusic.com/review/13455/The-1975-Being-Funny-In-A-Foreign-Language.aspx|url-status=live}}

| MC = 82/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/being-funny-in-a-foreign-language/the-1975|title=Being Funny in a Foreign Language by The 1975|website=Metacritic|access-date=14 October 2022|archive-date=17 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017194526/http://www.metacritic.com/music/being-funny-in-a-foreign-language/the-1975|url-status=live}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/being-funny-in-a-foreign-language-mw0003751021|title=The 1975 - Being Funny in a Foreign Language Album Reviews, Songs & More|last=Collar|first=Matt|website=AllMusic|access-date=23 March 2023|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320115451/https://www.allmusic.com/album/being-funny-in-a-foreign-language-mw0003751021|url-status=live}}

| rev2 = Clash

| rev2score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language/|title=The 1975 – Being Funny In A Foreign Language|work=Clash|last=Mellen|first=James|date=10 October 2022|access-date=14 October 2022|archive-date=13 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113205204/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language/|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Dork

| rev3score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |last1=Ackroyd |first1=Stephen |title=The 1975 – Being Funny In A Foreign Language |url=https://readdork.com/albums/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language/ |website=Dork |date=10 October 2022 |access-date=14 October 2022 |archive-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113205204/https://readdork.com/albums/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language/ |url-status=live }}

| rev4 = Evening Standard

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last1=Smyth |first1=David |title=The 1975 - Being Funny in a Foreign Language review: Finally, an album that leaves us wanting more |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language-review-album-b1032230.html |website=Evening Standard |date=14 October 2022 |access-date=14 October 2022 |archive-date=25 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025031150/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language-review-album-b1032230.html |url-status=live }}

| rev5 = Gigwise

| rev5score = 10/10{{cite web |last1=Giouras |first1=Philip |title=Album Review: The 1975 - Being Funny in a Foreign Language |url=https://gigwise.com/reviews/3427269/album-review--the-1975---being-funny-in-a-foreign-language |website=Gigwise |date=11 October 2022 |access-date=14 October 2022 |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018071217/https://gigwise.com/reviews/3427269/album-review--the-1975---being-funny-in-a-foreign-language |url-status=dead }}

| rev6 = i

| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last1=Solomon |first1=Kate |title=The 1975, Being Funny In a Foreign Language review: A surprisingly tender record |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/1975-being-funny-in-foreign-language-review-chilled-record-1903379 |website=i |date=10 October 2022 |access-date=14 October 2022 |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018154756/https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/1975-being-funny-in-foreign-language-review-chilled-record-1903379 |url-status=live }}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last1=Hunt |first1=El |title=The 1975 – 'Being Funny In A Foreign Language' review: back to their very best |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language-review-3325710 |website=NME |date=10 October 2022 |access-date=14 October 2022 |archive-date=15 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015212633/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language-review-3325710 |url-status=live }}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8score = 8.0/10{{cite web |last=Brickner-Wood |first=Brady |title=The 1975: Being Funny in a Foreign Language Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language/ |website=Pitchfork |date=14 October 2022 |access-date=14 October 2022 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031111406/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language/ |url-status=live }}

| rev9 = The Skinny

| rev9score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |last1=Tuck |first1=Dylan |title=The 1975 – Being Funny in a Foreign Language |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language |website=The Skinny |date=12 October 2022 |access-date=14 October 2022 |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018071214/https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language |url-status=live }}

}}

Being Funny in a Foreign Language received critical acclaim upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 based on reviews from mainstream critics, the album received a score of 82 out of 100, based on reviews from 16 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". The album was rated an 7.6 out of 10 on the aggregator AnyDecentMusic?.

Brady Brickner-Wood of Pitchfork wrote that the album "tames the group's taste for excess and plays up their fundamentals: goopy '80s guitars, pumping drums, schmaltzy saxophones, and infuriatingly good hooks" and praised the band's experimentation, noting that "even when their songs reek of camp, Healy has enough moxie to elevate a potentially horrible idea into an eloquent exclamation point". El Hunt, writing for NME, noted how the band "tightened things up" on Being Funny in a Foreign Language, calling Healy's songwriting on the album "his most contradictory and intriguing yet, frequently turning his pen back on himself", concluding that the record "feels like the right next step after pushing experimental excess to its logical conclusion, and is comparatively lean with just eleven tracks to its name. 'The 1975: At Their Very Best' – the lofty, and slightly tongue-in-cheek title they've given to their upcoming tour – might be infuriatingly, brilliantly cocky, but let's face facts: it's also pretty accurate."

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Matthew Healy and George Daniel. Co-writers noted below

| headline = Being Funny in a Foreign Language track listing

| total_length = 43:26

| title_width = 50%

| writing_width = 50%

| title1 = The 1975

| writer1 = {{hlist|BJ Burton|Tommy King}}

| length1 = 4:10

| title2 = Happiness

| writer2 = DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ

| length2 = 5:03

| title3 = Looking for Somebody (To Love)

| writer3 = {{hlist|Ilsey Juber|Jamie Squire}}

| length3 = 2:58

| title4 = Part of the Band

| writer4 = Squire

| length4 = 4:20

| title5 = Oh Caroline

| writer5 = {{hlist|Juber|Squire|Benjamin Francis Leftwich|Jimmy Hogarth}}

| length5 = 3:32

| title6 = I'm in Love with You

| writer6 = Adam Hann

| length6 = 4:22

| title7 = All I Need to Hear

| writer7 = Squire

| length7 = 3:30

| title8 = Wintering

| writer8 = Jacob Bugden

| length8 = 2:45

| title9 = Human Too

| writer9 = {{hlist|Squire|Leftwich|Hogarth}}

| length9 = 3:44

| title10 = About You

| writer10 =

| length10 = 5:26

| title11 = When We Are Together

| writer11 = Rob Milton

| length11 = 3:36

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese Version

| title_width = 50%

| writing_width = 50%

| title12 = All I Need to Hear

| note12 = Demo

| writer12 = Squire

| length12 = 2:54

| total_length = 46:20

}}

{{Div col}}

The 1975

• Matthew Healy – vocals, guitar, drums, piano, clavinet, percussion, string arrangements, production, creative direction
• Adam Hann – guitar, backing vocals, programming
• Ross MacDonald – bass guitar, double bass, keyboards, backing vocals
• George Daniel – drums, keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals, piano, percussion, programming, string arrangements, production

Additional musicians

• Jack Antonoff – guitar, piano, drums, backing vocals, violin, programming, string arrangements
• Tommy King – keyboards, synthesizer
• BJ Burton – synthesizer, programming
• James Squire – backing vocals, piano, Wurlitzer, Clavinet, synthesizer, organ, acoustic guitar
• John Waugh – saxophone
• Evan Smith – brass
• Bobby Hawk – strings
• Warren Ellis – strings, string arrangements
• Michelle Zauner – backing vocals
• Oli Jacobs – Wurlitzer
• Carly Holt – additional vocals
• Zem Audu – saxophone
• Sabrina the Teenage DJ – programming
• Bobby Hawk – string arrangements
• Ben Hudson – additional programming (track 10)

Technical

• Jack Antonoff – production
• BJ Burton – co-production (tracks 1, 5)
• Robin Schmidt – mastering
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Chris Galland – mixing
• Laura Sisk – engineering
• Oli Jacobs – engineering
• Andrew Gearhart – additional engineering
• Dave Gross – additional engineering
• Evan Smith – additional engineering
• Jon Gautier – additional engineering
• Jeremie Inhaber – mixing assistance
• Robin Florent – mixing assistance
• Scott Desmarais – mixing assistance
• Dani Perez Carasols – engineering assistance
• Dom Shaw – engineering assistance
• Freddy Williams – engineering assistance
• John Rooney – engineering assistance
• Katie May – engineering assistance
• Liam Hebb – engineering assistance

Visuals

• Samuel Burgess-Johnson – artwork, creative direction
• Samuel Bradley – photography
• Patricia Villirillo – creative direction
• Ed Blow – creative direction

{{Div col end}}

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Being Funny in a Foreign Language}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=1975|title=Being Funny in a Foreign Language|award=Gold|relyear=2022|certyear=2023|id=18530-3813-2|access-date=February 26, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=The 1975|title=Being Funny In A Foreign Language|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2022|id=2024-07-25|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

• At Their Very Best
• Still... At Their Very Best
• The 1975 discography
• List of songs by Matty Healy

{{Reflist}}

• {{discogs master}}
• {{MBrgID}}

{{The 1975}}

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Category:2022 albums

Category:The 1975 albums

Category:Albums impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

Category:Albums produced by Jack Antonoff

Category:Dirty Hit albums