“I’m in love with a boy I know / But that’s a feeling I can never show.” Clearly, the lyric is a prime example of suppression. With some additional context, things are even more complex and multilayered. Matthew Healy, the front man of The 1975 commences “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” professing love for Jesus Christ. If you’re familiar with Healy, you know that faith is a prominent theme in his music but he’s not a Christian, rather a secular humanist. So, what’s the point of all this? Healy portrays a character who is a Christian, and also gay but is forced to suppress his true feelings. Furthermore, this is another instance where Healy seems to express his own issues with religion.
“Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” seeks to atone for the more judgmental, restrictive, and tone-deaf aspects of Christianity, you might say. The biggest is the divide between faith and sexuality. Even though Healy professes faith in the context of this song, he’s clearly mocking it and being sarcastic. One of the preeminent examples is the chorus, where the value of faith is clearly questioned:
“Fortunately, I believe, lucky me
I’m searching for planes in the sea, and that’s irony
Soil just needs water to be, and a seed
So, if we turn into a tree, can I be the leaves?”
Hmm, Faith the grain of a mustard seed? Further amplifying his argument, he enlists Phoebe Bridgers, whose character is also forced to suppress her sexuality. In love with a girl (Claire), Bridgers sings, “Nice when she comes ‘round to call / Then masturbate the second she’s not there.” Masturbation – yet another aspect of sexuality frowned upon from the most strictly religious.
So, what does one make of all of this? In Healy’s eyes, Christianity is more damaging, extreme, and restrictive than the things they prohibit, which can affect people adversely. Neither character in the song should have been forced to mask their sexuality, yet, that’s what happened.
You can learn more about The 1975 here:
About The Curator – Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype (https://themusicalhype.com). When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event.
