Frail State of Mind
"Frail State of Mind" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by the 1975 | ||||
from the album Notes on a Conditional Form | ||||
Released | 24 October 2019 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:55 | |||
Label | ||||
George Daniel | ||||
The 1975 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Frail State of Mind" on YouTube |
"Frail State of Mind" is a song by English band
"Frail State of Mind" was released to positive reviews from
Background and development
"I think [this song is] the perfect example of when a 'Brief Inquiry' happened... [when] it all starts to feel very big... we were always reaching for the stars creatively. So there's that but it was almost like we kind of just closed the door on the world a little bit and just went into this record."
—Healy, during an interview with Zane Lowe of Beats 1.[1]
In an interview with Aimee Cliff of
Music and lyrics
Musically, "Frail State of Mind" is an
Thematically, "Frail State of Mind" discusses Healy's social anxiety and the feelings ultimately derived from it, including depression, fear, apprehensiveness, disappointment, insecurity, and anti-social behaviour.[20] Benjo Kazue of The Ponder called the single a "dark, macabre imaginative manifestation of the world's current state of anxiety, hate, war, rampant self obsessiveness and narcissistic self doubt."[5] Throughout the song, Healy apologizes for not wanting to leave home ("Go outside? Seems unlikely"), ignoring phone calls ("I'm sorry that I missed your call / I watched it ring; 'Don't waste their time'") and not wanting to socialize with friends ("And I'll just leave at 9 / Don't wanna bore you with my frail state of mind").[7][19] Mark Richardson of The Wall Street Journal observed that "Frail State of Mind" appeared to showcase a dialogue between characters. The singer uses other voices to show a situation from multiple perspectives.[15] Rhian Daly of NME shared this observation, noting the voices are absent from the song's dialogue in the final verse. In it, Healy engages in an internal back-and-forth and reveals his true feelings ("What's your biggest lie? / I'm sure that you're fine / I haven't felt alright in quite some time / You know they'll leave if you keep lying").[13]
Exclaim! reviewer Ian Gormely called the single an "unintentional pandemic anthem" about social anxiety.[22] Trey Alston of MTV News noted that the song focused on fear and apprehensiveness, represented musically by "drums [that] crawl around and constantly smash into each other as elastic synths unfurl and roll back up."[19] Rob Harvilla of The Ringer described "Frail State of Mind" as a gentle, "anxiety-ridden" dubstep ballad balanced "between introversion and a remarkably insular sort of extroversion."[17] DeVille found the incorporation of dubstep in "Frail State of Mind" reminiscent of British electronic musician Burial, and described the track as a "tender, hyper-modern lullaby about depression."[7] Similarly, Kauze compared the song's ambient soundscape to electronic music producers such as Burial, Jamie xx, Boards of Canada, Blood Orange, and Jon Hopkins.[5] The song also drew comparisons to the band's own discography, specifically the songs "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" (2018), "How to Draw / Petrichor" (2018), and "I Like America & America Likes Me" (2018) from their third studio album, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (2018).[21][13][18][23] Sophia Andrade of The Harvard Crimson observed commonalities between the single and "How to Draw / Petrichor" (2018)", stemming from the use syncopated drums and synths in the song's intro.[21] Andrade also opined that the melody was similar to "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime" (2018), an opinion shared by Daly, who called the "cadence" and "flow" nearly identical.[21][13] Additionally, he noted fear as a theme present in both "Frail State of Mind" and "I Like America & America Likes Me" (2018), writing that inhabitants of metropolitan areas live in fear of being shot, stabbed, mugged, and assaulted.[13]
Reception
Upon release, "Frail State of Mind" was well-received by
Several critics complimented "Frail State of Mind" for returning to familiar territory, both sonically and lyrically. Writing for Stereogum, DeVille called the song "lovely stuff" that harkened back to the band's earlier work, praising Healy's "fresh spin on familiar themes."
Reviewers reacted favourably to the 1975's willingness to openly discuss mental health in the song's lyrics. Dana Tetenburg of Euphoria praised the 1975 for "[having] a knack for turning elements of the human condition into experimental sound bites", noting the unconventional structure and vulnerable lyricism resulted in "something quite unnervingly ambient, providing a genuine insight into modern anxieties."
Music video
A music video for "Frail State of Mind" was released on 21 November 2019. It was co-directed by Healy, Patricia Villirillo and Mara Palena, and filmed in a lo-fi, dulled VHS quality.[32] The video initially begins in black and white and opens with Healy in a small, cluttered room filled with pictures, art, papers, flyers, and a camera in the centre.[33] Images of Healy and the 1975 are projected onto the wall, while the singer films himself using a camcorder.[34][35] Close-up shots of the singer staring directly into the camera, laying on the floor, sitting at a desk, and dancing in an ankle-length skirt in front of flashing colours are also shown. Images of a computer-simulated face, digital images, and the song's lyrics displayed in red text overlaid on a black screen are interspersed between shots of Healy.[36] The video has drawn comparisons to the visuals for their previous single, "Love It If We Made It" (2018).[33][35]
DIY magazine called the music video "beautiful" and viewed the clip as "a visual representation of [Healy] being caught up in his own mind and isolating himself from others, with the glitchy graphics reflecting the music of the song itself."[35] Clash magazine writer Robin Murray praised the video for "neatly [expanding] on the song's lyrical anxiety."[37] Jordan Darville of The Fader noted the video showed Healy "living out the song's agoraphobic lyrics in a digital-age Howard Hughes-esque hermitage."[16] Writing for NME, Patrick Clarke declared the visual "spellbinding".[38] Lilly Pace of Billboard called the video "psychedelic".[33]
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Notes on a Conditional Form album liner notes.[39]
- Matthew Healy – composer, producer, recording engineer, vocals, background vocals
- recording engineer, drums, harp, piano, synthesiser, vibraphone
- Adam Hann – composer, guitar
- Ross MacDonald – composer
- Roy Hargrove – trumpet
- Jonathan Gilmore – recording engineer
- Robin Schmidt – mastering engineer
- Mike Crossey – mixer
Charts
Chart (2019) | Peak position |
---|---|
Ireland (IRMA)[29] | 69 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[31] | 28 |
54 | |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[30] | 17 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 24 October 2019 |
|
[40] | |
United Kingdom | 25 October 2019 | Contemporary hit radio | [41] |
See also
References
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- Dazed. Archivedfrom the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Mamo, Heran (24 October 2019). "The 1975 Expose Their 'Frail State of Mind' in Antsy New Single". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ Wright, Lisa (1 November 2019). "Turn On. Tune In. Drop Out: The 1975". DIY. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Kazue, Benjo (29 October 2019). "The 1975 – Frail State of Mind". The Ponder. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ Collar, Matt. "Notes on a Conditional Form – The 1975". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Deville, Chris (24 October 2019). "The 1975 – "Frail State Of Mind"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- Sony/ATV Music Publishing. 26 December 2019. Archivedfrom the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Slingerland, Calum (24 October 2019). "Hear the 1975's New Song "Frail State of Mind"". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ Consequence of Sound. Archivedfrom the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b Sodomsky, Sam (22 May 2020). "The 1975: Notes on a Conditional Form". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "The 1975 give 'Frail State of Mind' its live debut". DIY. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Daly, Rhian (24 October 2019). "The 1975's disorientating 'Frail State Of Mind' sounds like pranging out on the nightbus home". NME. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b Mano, Lizzie (20 May 2020). "The 1975 Are Far Too Ambitious on Notes on A Conditional Form". Paste. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ a b Richardson, Mark (27 May 2020). "The 1975's 'Notes on a Conditional Form' Review: Unconditionally Impressive". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ a b Darville, Jordan (21 November 2019). "Watch The 1975's video for "Frail State Of Mind"". The Fader. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ a b Harvilla, Rob (22 May 2020). "The 1975 Are Doing Too Much—but Also All the Right Things". The Ringer. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ a b Ackroyd, Stephen (24 October 2019). "The 1975 – Frail State of Mind". Dork. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d Alston, Trey (24 October 2019). "The 1975 Explain Anxiety In Easy Terms On The Mysterious 'Frail State Of Mind'". MTV News. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ a b Spanos, Brittany (24 October 2019). "The 1975 Explore Their 'Frail State of Mind' on New Song". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Andrade, Sophia (29 October 2019). "The 1975 Maintain Their Sound on 'Frail State of Mind'". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ Gormely, Ian (22 May 2020). "The 1975's 'Notes on a Conditional Form' Is Less Navel Gazey Than It Has Any Right to Be". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ a b Vettorino, Madison (25 October 2019). "The 1975 Address Social Anxiety on New Single "Frail State of Mind"". Atwood Magazine. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ Murphy, Lauren (15 May 2020). "The 1975: Notes on a Conditional Form review – passionate if indulgent work pushes boundaries". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ Larocca, Courteney (22 May 2020). "The 1975's 'Notes on a Conditional Form' has absolutely no skips — but that doesn't mean it's perfect". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ Shoemaker, Whitney (24 October 2019). "The 1975 tackle the topic of anxiety in new track "Frail State of Mind"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ Tetenburg, Dana (25 October 2019). "The 1975 – Frail State Of Mind". Euphoria. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ a b "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ a b "The 1975 Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- ^ a b "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (21 November 2019). "Watch the 1975's Immersive 'Frail State of Mind' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Pace, Lilly (21 November 2019). "The 1975 Share Lo-Fi Video For 'Frail State Of Mind': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ Schatz, Lake (21 November 2019). "The 1975 reveal personal video for "Frail State of Mind": Watch". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "The 1975 unveil 'Frail State Of Mind' video". DIY. 21 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ Nattress, Katrina (21 November 2019). "Matty Healy Records Paranoid Home Video In 'Frail State Of Mind' Visuals". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ Murray, Robin (21 November 2019). "The 1975 Share 'Frail State Of Mind' Video". Clash. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ Clarke, Patrick (21 November 2019). "Watch Matt Healy dance in a dress in The 1975's spellbinding new video for 'Frail State Of Mind'". NME. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ Notes on a Conditional Form (inlay cover). The 1975. Dirty Hit and Polydor Records. 2020. p. 3.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "The 1975 Share New "Frail State of Mind" Video: Watch". Pitchfork. 21 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- ^ "Radio 1 Playlist". BBC. 26 October 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.