"A Change of Heart" 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. The song was released on 22 February 2016 by Dirty Hit and Polydor Records as the fifth single from the album. A synth-pop and electropop power ballad, the song features 808 beats, a portamento keyboard riff, pulsing synthesisers and elements of ambient pop, electro, new wave, yacht rock, chillwave and indie rock. The song's melancholic lyrics describe falling out of love and detail the end of a romance, focusing on the theme of technology.
Upon release, "A Change of Heart" received positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who praised the lyrics and production. The song later appeared on several year-end lists. Commercially, it reached number 127 on the UK Singles Chart, number 47 on the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and number 36 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay charts. The song was later certified silver in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). An accompanying music video, written by Healy and directed by Tim Mattia, was released on 21 April 2016. The black and white tragicomic visual is based on Federico Fellini's film I clowns (1970), and follows Healy as a Pierrot-style clown engaging in a short-lived romance at an abandoned carnival.
Background and release
During the song's premiere on Annie Mac's self-titled BBC Radio 1 show, Healy described it as a "simple song – three notes – and the truth" and a "very atypical '1975' song", saying the band wanted the track to convey serious conviction, self-awareness and beauty. On 22 February 2016, "A Change of Heart" was officially released as the album's fifth single.
Music and lyrics
Musically, "A Change of Heart" is a low-tempo synth-pop and electropop power ballad. The song has a length of four minutes and 43 seconds (4:43). Containing a retro sound, the track's light and airy production consists of synthetically charged choirs, a percolating rhythm, simple three-note repetitions, a pop hook, 808 beats, a backing drum beat, jittering guitars, a portamento keyboard riff, quietly reverberating and meandering synthesiser pulses, a whirring synthesiser solo, lightly-tapped synth pads and a calming rock instrumentation. It also contains elements of ambient pop, electro, new wave, yacht rock, chillwave and indie rock. Ryan Reed of Rolling Stone described it as a "John Hughes-worthy synth-pop ballad", while James Grebey of Spin called it a "relaxing, floaty throwback to decades past" and Chris Ingalls of PopMatters said it "[sounds] like it was transported from 1987 and wouldn't sound at all out of place on some big-haired college radio DJ's late-night playlist".
Lyrically, "A Change of Heart" is a melancholic song that deals with falling out of love. Healy sings of a woman with whom he is romantically involved, before admitting that her appearance alone cannot sustain their relationship. The singer openly admits his superficial flaws, revealing his partner's appearance both initially attracted and later repulsed him. He points out her quirks while making derogatory remarks, singing: "And you were coming across as clever / Then you lit the wrong end of your cigarette". Healy also comments on his own behaviour in the couplet "I’ll quote On The Road like a twat". Conversely, the singer's partner says he looks terrible and is riddled with diseases. Returning to the theme of technology explored in "Love Me", the song analyses connection in the digital age, describing a partner more interested in being on their phone than with the relationship. As they become more connected on social media, they become disconnected from one another in reality, with Healy singing: "And then you took a picture of your salad/And put it on the internet". Ultimately, the singer breaks down into tears when the relationship has concluded.