Sincerity Is Scary

“Sincerity Is Scary” is a feel-good song that addresses one’s tendencies to put up a facade out of insecurity and anxiety, with the realization that this type of illusory behavior will tend to breed confusion and conflict in a relationship with others. It is a piece of social commentary on the postmodern obsession with irony and cynicism, where sincerity is often ridiculed. The song begins with slow, heavy drums accompanied by soulful-sounding horns that lead into Matt Healy’s smooth vocals. The soothing backing of the band’s instruments and choral background seem to juxtapose Matty’s emotionally charged lyrics, which still come off as sounding carefree in the midst of such a smooth and mellow song. Matty first made mention of the song’s title while discussing the topic of sincerity in a post-modern society with Zane Lowe during the Beats 1 premiere of the album’s second pre-released song “Love It If We Made It.” “Sincerity Is Scary” is the third single on the album A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships.. The song premiered on the Beats 1 Radio Show on September 13, 2018, as Healy returned for another interview on Zane Lowe’s radio show.

[Verse 1] Irony is okay, I suppose Culture is to blame You try and mask your pain in the most postmodern way You lack substance when you say something like, "Oh, what a shame" It's just a self-referential way that stops you having to be human I'm assuming you'll balloon when you remove the dirty spoon and start consuming like a human, that's what I am assuming [Pre-Chorus] I'm sure that you're not just another girl I'm sure that you're gonna say that I was sexist I feel like you're running out of all the things I liked you for [Chorus] Why can't we be friends, when we are lovers? Because it always ends with us hating each other Instead of calling me out, you should be pulling me in I've just got one more thing to say [Verse 2] And why would you believe you could control how you're perceived When at your best you're intermediately versed in your own feelings? Keep on putting off conceiving It's only you that you're deceiving Oh, don't have a child, don't cramp your style, I'll leave it [Chorus] Why can't we be friends, when we are lovers? Because it always ends with us hating each other Instead of calling me out, you should be pulling me in I've just got one more thing to say [Outro] I'm just pissed off because you pied me off After your show when you let go of my hand In front of some sket who wanted bit on your Nah, I’m just messing