The Sound (song)

"The Sound" is a song by English rock band The 1975. It was released as a radio single on 19 February 2016.[1] It was the band's highest charting single in the UK, peaking at number 15, until it was surpassed by "If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)" in 2020, which peaked at number 14. Rolling Stone named "The Sound" one of the 30 best songs of the first half of 2016.[2]

"The Sound"
Single by The 1975
from the album I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It
Released	19 February 2016
Recorded	2015
Genre	Synth-pop dance-pop house pop rock
Length	4:08
Label	Dirty Hit
Songwriter(s)	George Daniel Adam Hann Matthew Healy Ross MacDonald
Producer(s)	Mike Crossey George Daniel Matthew Healy
The 1975 singles chronology
"Somebody Else" (2016) "The Sound" (2016) "A Change of Heart" (2016)

Music video

The music video for the single was released on 25 February 2016 on the band's YouTube channel. The group are shown dressed in black and playing in a large glass cube in a dark room throughout. The cube's lighting intersects between black and white to pink as they play, and at one point fills with smoke. They are observed from outside and spoken about by well-groomed strangers all dressed in white, with pink cards showing negative comments from real-life critics about the band as they play (such as Terrible high-pitched vocals over soulless robo beats, Totally lacking the wow factor, and Pompous arena synth-pop.) Lead singer Matty Healy writes 'HELP ME' on the glass, and the video ends with the band sitting and observing the critical audience inside the box.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Argentina Airplay (Monitor Latino)[3]	10
Australia (ARIA)[4]	53
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[5]	28
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[6]	84
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7]	91
Ireland (IRMA)[8]	25
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[9]	42
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[10]	1
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[11]	6
Scotland (OCC)[12]	11
UK Singles (OCC)[13]	15
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[14]	3
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[15]	32
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16]	9
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[17]	24
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[18]	34
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[19]	21

Year-end charts

Chart (2016)	Position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20]	91
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[21]	26

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22]	Platinum	600,000
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References

1. The Sound (Sleeve). The 1975. Dirty Hit/Polydor. 2016. none.CS1 maint: others (link)
2. "30 Best Songs of 2016 So Far". Rolling Stone. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
3. "Top 20 Argentina – Del 13 al 19 de Junio, 2016" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
4. Ryan, Gavin (30 January 2016). "ARIA Singles: Jonas Blue 'Fast Car' Is Australia's No 1". Noise11. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
5. "Ultratop.be – The 1975 – The Sound" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
6. "1975, The: The Sound" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
7. "The 1975 Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
8. "Chart Track: Week 13, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
9. "The 1975 Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
10. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas". Billboard Japan. Billboard Japan. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
11. "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
12. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
14. "The 1975 Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
15. "The 1975 Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
16. "The 1975 Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
17. "The 1975 Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
18. "The 1975 Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
19. "The 1975 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
20. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
21. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
22. "British single certifications – 1975 – The Sound". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 February 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The Sound in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.