Cover Story: Role Model Will Happily Let His Ex Be With “Somebody Else”

Despite the heartbreak expressed in the original breakup ballad that had Tumblr girls sobbing through 2016, Role Model’s spirited version of The 1975’s “Somebody Else” somehow finds joy in an utterly broken heart. 

Written by Claire Hookstra

Photos courtesy of Spotify and Samuel Bradley

It’s 2016: the era of skinny jeans tucked into Doc Martens, side parts, and pure teen angst. The 1975’s single, “Somebody Else,” from their second studio studio album, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful, yet So Unaware of It, became an instant soundtrack to heartbreak, vividly depicting the dramatic agony of an emotional breakup. Tumblr and Pinterest posts alike bore the track’s melancholic lyrics over moody cityscapes and glittery goth outfit inspiration, matching the album’s somber yet pink and sparkly aesthetic. 

The 1975 rose to fame when their first album, The 1975, debuted at number one in the United Kingdom in 2013. Formed in 2002 in Wilmslow, Chesire, the band — a group of boys who met in secondary school — navigated a rocky course of its career, including multiple world tours, a two-year hiatus from the lead singer, Matty Healy, and international backlash. Yet, the band has still stolen the hearts of its dedicated fanbase. Their most recent tour, ‘The 1975: At Their Very Best,’ sold out arenas worldwide throughout 2022 and 2023. 

“Somebody Else” is characterized by synthetic beats that slowly swell into a crescendo as the song progresses. Healy humbly accepts the terms of the breakup through his mellow lyrical delivery, maintaining monotonous vocals while the steady electric guitar riff keeps the song grounded. Telling the story of an ex-lover moving on and finding a new lover, the song serves its purpose as a quintessential breakup ballad. 

Role Model, who recently reached a new fan base with the release of his album Kansas Anymore and as an opener for Gracie Abrams’ ‘The Secret of Us Tour,’ dropped a Spotify Singles cover of “Somebody Else” on September 18, 2024. He transforms the ballad to a spritely, uplifting tune, shifting the theme of pining over a past relationship to celebrating an ex moving on. 

Photo courtesy of Neema Sadeghi

The cover's sound is a completely different approach from The 1975’s nonchalant essence. A lively drumbeat kicks off the track, followed by persisting piano instead of the original’s somber electric guitar and synthesizer. Role Model’s voice shines through the backing instrumentals, contrasting with the laid-back, whisper-like vocals of Matty Healy. Rather than the reverb and electronic sounds of the original, the new version incorporates acoustic guitar, piano, and energizing background vocals to create a groovy track.

Role Model’s raspy yet excited voice enhances the mood of acceptance and forgiveness toward his ex-partner. This sentiment echoes throughout his 2024 album, Kansas Anymore. Tracks like “Frances,” famously inspired by his past relationship with Emma Chamberlain, and “Deeply Still in Love,” are odes to the love he continues to feel for his past lover. The album’s tracklist places the blame for the breakup on himself. In the latter track, he sings that he is “proud” of his girlfriend for dumping him and moving on, layering these lyrically melancholy ideas atop uplifting pop and acoustic instrumentals.

While the versions are lyrically the same, the sonic deliveries oppose each other. Healy’s deep, shadowy vocal performance sharply contrasts Role Model’s energetic singing style. While both of the first verses and choruses begin steadily, the Spotify Session quickly picks up the pace with a punctuated “C’mon baby / I know.” The jaunty piano beat behind Role Model’s accentuated way of singing creates a lively, toe-tapping version of what was once a reverberated lament of a past relationship. 

As the bridge approaches, the cover becomes even more danceable. Background vocal additives like “Woah-oh!” and “Aw yeah!” punch through the original lyrics in true Role Model fashion. These vocal interjections characterize the jubilant delivery of “Somebody Else,” echoing the style of Role Model’s new album’s opener “Writing’s On The Wall.” The lighthearted first track boasts about the blinders one puts on in a failing relationship, which thematically ties to the singer’s upbeat take on The 1975’s tearjerker. The subtle but effective production alteration on Role Model’s cover keeps the song sonically aligned with Kansas Anymore.

In a key moment, Role Model exclaims “I don’t want your body!” in stark contrast to Healy’s mournful utterance of the line. This shift in tone contributes to the forbearance of the breakup at hand. While Healy hardly even enunciates the line, Role Model eagerly chants it, relieved that he will no longer face the ghost of his ex since she has moved on. He continues to repeat the line throughout the outro of the song joyfully. 

Role Model offers a stripped-back and minimalistic approach to The 1975’s emotionally-packed “Somebody Else.” Matching the airy aesthetic of his most recent album, Role Model transforms the song into a danceable tune. Both versions of the track serve their respective purposes as the soundtrack to a breakup. It just depends on whether you miss your ex or wish they would move on to “Somebody Else.”