Day 23: The 1975, Jesus Christ 2005… | 30-Day Song Challenge 🎶

For Day 23 of the 30-Day Song Challenge, The 1975 deliver a song everybody should listen in “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America.” 

Embracing the trendiness of social media, The Musical Hype unleashes its own, month-long version of the 30-Day Song Challenge.

Day 23 Prompt: A song you think everybody should listen to

“I’m in love with Jesus Christ / He’s so nice.”  Hmm, quite interesting coming from an atheist/secular humanist. Matthew Healy of The 1975 doesn’t seem to be speaking about his religious beliefs as much as the character he portrays on “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” (Notes on a Conditional Form). Featuring uncredited vocals by Phoebe Bridgers, “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” tackles faith and sexuality. If the wheels aren’t already turning, the reason why I chose “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” for Day 23 of the 30-Day Song Challenge is because I believe it truly is a song everybody should listen to and reflect upon.

The opening lyric from comes off incredibly spiritual – quite Christian.  However, the issue comes into play on the second verse, with Bridgers assisting: “I’m in love with a boy I know / But that’s a feeling I can never show.”  Why can’t he show it? Well, there’s been plenty of friction between being homosexual and Christian. Often, Sodom and Gomorrah are cited in the purported sin.  Of course, the phrase “Adam and Eve, Not Adam and Steve” predates those ‘sinful’ happenings in Sodom and Gomorrah. Bridgers also has her own moment where sexuality comes to the forefront:

“I’m in love with the girl next door
Her name’s Claire
Nice when she comes ‘round to call
Then masturbate the second she’s not there.”

Wow.  Of course, because both Healy and Bridgers are Christian (contextually), ‘it’s all good’ – NOT. The chorus is the centerpiece:

“Fortunately, I believe, lucky me
Searching for planes in the sea, and that’s irony
Soil just needs water to be, and a seed
So, if we can turn into a tree, can I be the leaves?”

Definitely deserving of its inclusion on 13 Songs That Are Biblical – Sort of, the chorus features a Biblical allusion to Faith being like a mustard seed.  You can argue that Healy desires faith he doesn’t possess, while simultaneously, captures the plight of the gay Christian who is essentially a walking contradiction. Definitely a lot to unpack.  “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” also previously appeared on Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: April 2020.

The 1975 • Notes on a Conditional Form • Interscope • 2020

Day 23: The 1975, “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” (30-Day Song Challenge) 🎶 [Photo Credits: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Pixabay, Pexels]