Picture this: You're jamming to your all-time favorite album, only to hit play and realize one of the tracks has mysteriously disappeared from your streaming playlist. It's not a glitch—it's a deliberate choice by the artist. That's the baffling situation fans of The 1975 are facing right now, and it raises some intriguing questions about control, creativity, and listener rights. But here's where it gets controversial—should musicians have the power to rewrite history on albums they've already released? Stick around, because this story dives deep into the world of music updates and what it means for fans everywhere.
In a surprising turn of events on November 5, 2025, supporters of the British rock band The 1975 discovered that 'Human Too,' a standout track from their 2022 album Being Funny in a Foreign Language, was no longer available on popular streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or Tidal. The culprit? Frontman Matthew Healy himself, who hopped onto Reddit to clarify the puzzling removal. In a straightforward post, he explained, 'Human Too was removed from the album so the album is more how I want it to be.' No beating around the bush there—he's all about crafting the perfect listening experience on his terms.
Healy didn't stop at just one track, either. He reassured fans that the rest of the band's discography remains untouched because he's 'pretty happy with them,' but he dropped a teaser that 'What Should I Say,' from the 2020 album Notes on a Conditional Form, might be next on the chopping block. 'So that may also be removed who knows,' he mused. If you're a fan, you might want to stream or download 'What Should I Say' while it's still out there—check it out below for a quick listen and reminisce.
Now, for those new to the music scene, it's becoming increasingly common for artists to make changes to their albums after the initial release. Why? Well, sometimes it's practical stuff like clearing samples—think of it as getting legal permissions for pieces of other songs or sounds used in the track, which might take time to sort out. Other times, it's pure perfectionism at play. Take SZA, for example; she re-released her album SOS with updated mixes and bonus tracks to fine-tune the overall vibe. Or consider hip-hop group Clipse, who updated their album to include a new track called 'So Be It' after some post-release tweaks. These adjustments aren't just random—they often reflect an artist's evolving vision or technical fixes. But Healy's move to erase a song three years after its debut? That's rarer, like a plot twist in a movie you didn't see coming.
And this is the part most people miss—while the digital versions of Being Funny in a Foreign Language now omit 'Human Too,' the physical copies, like CDs or vinyl records you can hold in your hand, still feature the song. For beginners wondering why, streaming services are like online libraries where music can be instantly edited, whereas physical media is pressed and distributed in a fixed form, making changes trickier and less common. It's a reminder of how technology shapes our music consumption: digital platforms give artists unprecedented flexibility, but it can leave listeners feeling like the ground is shifting beneath their feet.
Of course, this raises eyebrows and sparks debate. Is it fair for Healy to yank a track that fans have grown attached to, potentially disrupting playlists, memories, and even the album's narrative flow? On one hand, musicians pour their hearts into their work and deserve the autonomy to refine it—after all, art evolves, right? But on the other, buying or streaming an album implies some level of permanence; fans invest time and emotion, and sudden changes can feel like a betrayal. What if an artist removes your favorite song from a classic album years later? Does that undermine the value of owning or streaming music? And here's a controversial twist: Some argue that in an era of digital streaming, albums should be seen as living entities, constantly updatable like software. Counterpoint? Others believe this strips away the integrity of released art, turning music into something ephemeral and unreliable. It's a hot topic that divides fans and industry folks alike.
We'd love to hear your take! Do you think artists like Matthew Healy should have the final say on their albums, even if it means altering released works? Or does this trend erode the trust between creators and listeners? Share your opinions in the comments below—agreement, disagreement, or wild theories welcome. Let's discuss!
