Somebody Else

"Somebody Else" by The 1975 delves into the complex and often contradictory emotions experienced after a breakup, particularly the feeling of seeing a former partner move on with someone new. The central theme is the painful paradox of not wanting to be with the person anymore, yet being unable to stomach the thought of them being with anyone else. The lyrics, penned by Matty Healy, capture a specific kind of modern heartbreak, colored by themes of jealousy, melancholia, grief, and bitterness. Healy has described the song as exploring the 'guilty feelings that you don't really like thinking about,' such as the sense of ownership one feels in a relationship, even after it has ended. The line, "I don't want your body but I hate to think about you with somebody else," encapsulates this core conflict. It speaks to a post-breakup state where the physical desire may have faded, but the emotional attachment and the possessiveness over shared intimacy remain. The song also touches on the idea of souls being intertwined, suggesting that the connection was deeper than just physical, making the ex's new relationship feel like a profound betrayal. The narrative explores the feeling of being a ghost in your own life, watching the person you once loved build a new life, as depicted in the line, "I'm looking through you while you're looking through your phone and then leaving with somebody else." Ultimately, "Somebody Else" is a raw and honest portrayal of the lingering, messy feelings that defy the clean break society often expects, making it one of the band's most relatable and acclaimed songs.

The narrative begins with the protagonist hearing that a former lover has found a new partner. Initially, there's a sense of disbelief, a hope that it's just a rumor. To cope, the protagonist gathers their meaningful possessions—things that create sound, perhaps their music or instruments—and discards the rest, signifying an attempt to move on. However, this resolve is immediately contradicted by a complex emotional admission: a lack of physical desire for the ex-partner, but an intense hatred for the thought of them being with someone else. The love they once shared has grown cold, and the idea of their ex 'intertwining their soul' with another person is deeply painful. This suggests a connection that went beyond the physical, a spiritual or deeply emotional bond that the protagonist feels is now being violated.

The song then paints a picture of a painful social encounter. The protagonist observes their ex, who is engrossed in their phone, seemingly oblivious to the protagonist's presence, before leaving with their new partner. This moment highlights a sense of invisibility and the stark reality of the separation. The core conflict is reiterated: the protagonist doesn't want their ex's body, but is tormented by mental images of them with someone else. This internal conflict is emphasized through the repetition of 'I don't want your body,' which feels like a mantra to convince themselves of their own indifference, a battle they are clearly losing.

As the song progresses, the protagonist's emotional state unravels further. There's a moment of vulnerability where they admit to starting to believe anything their ex says, showing how easily they can be drawn back in. This is quickly followed by the self-reproach that they should be moving on. The bridge of the song takes a cynical turn, questioning the value of love and emotional connection. The rhetorical questions, 'Get someone you love? Get someone you need?' are dismissed with a jaded 'Fuck that, get money.' This reveals a defense mechanism, a retreat into materialism as a way to numb the pain of emotional loss. The protagonist feels they can't offer their soul because of a constant sense of being watched or not being truly alone with their ex, preventing any genuine reconnection. The song concludes by returning to the central theme of heartbreak, the coldness of the ended relationship, and the haunting image of their former lover finding intimacy with somebody else, leaving the protagonist in a state of unresolved longing and sorrow.

"Somebody Else" was the final song written for The 1975's second studio album, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (2016). The lyrics were conceived by frontman Matty Healy while he was in the back of a cab in Los Angeles. The song was written by all four members of the band: Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann, and Ross MacDonald. The production was handled by Healy and Daniel, alongside their frequent collaborator Mike Crossey. The song was recorded in 2015. In an interview, Healy explained that the song came together very quickly, in about 90 minutes one evening, and felt almost like it was 'given to him from something higher,' suggesting a very fluid and inspired creative process. It was released as the fourth single from the album on February 15, 2016, premiering on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show. The accompanying music video, directed by Tim Mattia with a treatment written by Healy, was released on July 7, 2016. The video further explores the song's themes of heartbreak and self-obsession and has a narrative that connects to the video for another song from the album, "A Change of Heart".

"Somebody Else" is set in a common time signature with a steady, downbeat tempo of approximately 100 beats per minute, creating a deliberate and melancholic pace that drives the song forward without feeling rushed. The rhythmic foundation is built on 808 percussion, a hallmark of its 80s-influenced synth-pop style, providing a sparse yet solid backbeat. The song's rhyme scheme is not strictly rigid, favoring a more natural, conversational flow. It often employs couplets, such as the memorable rhyme in the chorus: "I don't want your body / But I hate to think about you with somebody else / Our love has gone cold / You're intertwining your soul with somebody else." The use of slant rhymes and assonance is prevalent, contributing to the song's sophisticated lyrical quality. The rhythm of the vocal melody often plays against the steady instrumental pulse, with Healy's phrasing stretching and compressing time to enhance the emotional delivery. This creates a sense of tension and release that mirrors the lyrical themes of inner conflict. The repetition of the phrase "somebody else" at the end of key lines acts as both a lyrical and rhythmic motif, grounding the song's structure and emphasizing its central obsession. The interplay between the syncopated synth melodies and the straightforward drum pattern gives the song its characteristic groove, a blend of somber reflection and subdued danceability.

Musically, "Somebody Else" is a melancholic synth-pop power ballad with strong R&B and electronic influences. Its production is noted for its 1980s-style aesthetic, featuring a sparse arrangement built around synthesizers, 808 percussion, and a downbeat tempo of 100 beats per minute. The song employs a range of synth sounds, from warm keys and plucky basslines to atmospheric pads that create a lush, expansive soundscape. There is a significant use of reverb and digitized vocals, which contributes to the track's haunting and emotive atmosphere. Matty Healy's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element; it is often described as longing and soulful, effectively conveying the pain and vulnerability in the lyrics. Lyrically, the song utilizes a direct and conversational narrative voice, making the complex emotions highly relatable. The repetition of the central couplet, "I don't want your body / But I hate to think about you with somebody else," acts as a powerful hook and reinforces the song's core theme. The bridge introduces a cynical shift in tone with the line "Fuck that, get money," which serves as a raw, stylistic contrast to the emotional vulnerability of the verses and chorus. The interplay between the melancholic lyrics and the polished, almost danceable synth-pop production creates a compelling tension that is characteristic of The 1975's sound.

"Somebody Else" is widely regarded as one of The 1975's signature songs and a defining track of the synth-pop revival of the 2010s. Upon its release, it received widespread critical acclaim, with many critics deeming it the best song on its parent album, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It. Publications like NME and Pitchfork included it on their lists of the best songs of 2016. The song achieved significant chart success, particularly in the United States, where it reached #5 on the Alternative Songs chart. Its introspective and universally relatable lyrics about modern heartbreak have resonated deeply with a generation, making it a staple on playlists and a fan favorite at live shows. The song's influence can be seen in the work of other artists who have adopted similar 80s-inspired synth sounds and themes of emotional vulnerability. "Somebody Else" has also been covered by other notable artists, including Vérité and Charlie Puth, further cementing its place in the pop culture landscape. The accompanying music video, with its cinematic quality and Lynchian influences, has also been praised for its artistic ambition and has garnered millions of views. Within The 1975's discography, "Somebody Else" marked a shift towards a more mature and emotionally nuanced songwriting style, helping to solidify the band's reputation as one of the most important and innovative groups of their generation.

"Somebody Else" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its emotional impact. The most significant lyrical metaphor is the idea of an ex-lover "intertwining your soul with somebody else." This moves beyond the physical act of a new relationship and into a spiritual, more profound sense of connection, highlighting the depth of the past relationship and the pain of its severance. The music video adds several layers of symbolism. It opens with a black-and-white sequence reminiscent of a sitcom, which could symbolize a past, perhaps idealized or artificial, version of the relationship. The video then transitions to color as Healy navigates a lonely, dark city, a common visual metaphor for emotional desolation. A key symbolic element in the video is Healy encountering and interacting with versions of himself. This has been interpreted as a representation of self-obsession in the face of heartbreak, loneliness, and the idea that one must learn to love oneself before being able to love another. The act of Healy getting beaten up by thugs while another version of himself watches can be seen as a metaphor for self-destructive tendencies and the internal conflict that comes with heartbreak. The recurring motif of the clown, carried over from the "A Change of Heart" video, symbolizes the facade one puts on and the feeling of being a fool in the context of a failed romance.

The most prominent recurring phrase in "Somebody Else" is the hook, "I don't want your body / But I hate to think about you with somebody else." This couplet is repeated throughout the song, serving as its central thesis and encapsulating the narrator's conflicted emotional state. Its repetition drills the central paradox of post-breakup jealousy into the listener's mind, making it the song's most memorable and quoted element. The phrase "somebody else" itself becomes a powerful motif, appearing at the end of multiple lines in the chorus and verses, each time reinforcing the theme of replacement and the pain of seeing a former lover move on. Another recurring lyrical idea is the coldness of the ended relationship, stated directly in the line, "Our love has gone cold." This is contrasted with the intimacy of the ex's new connection, described as "intertwining your soul," which also recurs. Musically, the song is built on recurring synth motifs, including a distinctive atmospheric pad and a pulsing bassline that create the track's signature melancholic yet groovy feel. The pitch-bent vocal sample that appears in the background is another recurring musical element that adds to the song's ethereal and haunting quality.