"Loving Someone" | ||||
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Single by the 1975 | ||||
from the album I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It | ||||
B-side | "Somebody Else" | |||
Released | 3 February 2017 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 4:20 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | ||||
The 1975 singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Loving Someone" on YouTube |
"Loving Someone" is a song by English band the 1975 from their second studio album, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (2016). The song was written by Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald. Mike Crossey handled the production alongside Daniel and Healy. It was released on 3 February 2017 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the seventh and final single from the album. Daniel developed the song's production and title during a jam session, using a chopped vocal stem, while Healy created the lyrics after completing the band's track "Paris".
An R&B song, "Loving Someone" has an electronic production that incorporates elements of spoken word, folktronica and Brit soul. Healy sings and raps the lyrics, which serve as a commentary centred on youth culture, in a mockney style. The song implores listeners to critically think about fame while focusing on themes of conditional love and homophobia. Upon release, the song received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Reviewers highlighted its production quality and dark humour.
An accompanying music video, filmed live at the O2 Arena, was released on 20 January 2017. The visual features footage of the band performing, close-ups of the individual members and fans in the crowd. To promote "Loving Someone", the 1975 performed the song on tour and at various music festivals, including the Bunbury Music Festival and the Hangout Music Festival. Healy dedicated the song to the LGBT community as well as black, Muslim and liberal Americans. The singer gave several speeches prior to the band's performances, including ones criticising Brexit and the 2016 US presidential election results. Healy was involved in a controversial kiss with a male fan in Dubai during a performance of the song, prompting him to apologise for endangering the individual due to the strict anti-LGBTQ laws in the United Arab Emirates.