British pop-rock outfit The 1975 have shared a new track, also entitled ‘The 1975’, which features the words and voice of 16-year old climate activist Greta Thunberg.
“We have to acknowledge that the older generations have failed,” speaks Thunberg on the track over instrumental backing. “All political movements in their present form have failed. But homo sapiens have not yet failed. Yes, we are failing, but there is still time to turn everything around.”
“We are facing a disaster of unspoken sufferings for enormous amounts of people,” she continues on the song. “And now is not the time for speaking politely or focusing on what we can or cannot say. Now is the time to speak clearly.”
“So, everyone out there, it is now time for civil disobedience. It is time to rebel.”
Earlier this month, Thunberg addressed French politicians, urging them to “unite behind the science” of climate change. After MPs boycotted her address, she commented on how young people have been targeted for acknowledging the realities of climate change.
“Just for quoting or acting on these numbers, these scientific facts, we receive unimaginable amounts of hate and threats. We are being mocked and lied about by members of parliament and journalists,” she said.
Proceeds from the sale of the track will go to non-violent climate activist organisation Extinction Rebellion. As The Guardian point out, the band’s record label Dirty Hit have said they’re attempting to minimise their impact on the environment by phasing out single-use plastic and only doing lightweight vinyl from now on.
A different version of a track entitled ‘The 1975’ has appeared as the first song on every album by the band since their inception. This one will open the band’s forthcoming fourth studio album Notes on a Conditional Form, which is due out for release sometime next year.
Listen to ‘The 1975’ featuring Greta Thunberg below.
