The first contact with this band was through a one-sheet article in a music magazine, by the end of 1985. The review was quite positive. In the article there was a really cool photo of the four members of the group. I vividly remember that the article ended with the phrase: "he sings with his soul and if the listener approaches the speaker, it's because they believe in what he's singing". The first song I heard was "The Boy With The Thorn in His Side", and I could hear the pain in that voice, very different from the happy songs in the pop universe at the time. It was the 80s, the internet was far from existing and information took centuries to arrive. And for a poor kid in Latin America it was even worse. I dreamed of London and being able to go to a record store and buy the singles (the 7" vinyl). The singer was one of the people most responsible for me deciding to learn English. Video clips were one of the most powerful ways that record companies used to promote an artist. And The Smiths hated music videos. Morrissey (the lead singer) said that the artists looked like Aliens in those videos. The band made almost no videos to promote their records. It's very curious to see these reactions to those great bands from the 80s, made by young people like you, who weren't there when they emerged. It is a very peculiar vision and different from the vision of those who lived in that period. Your reactions are valid. I liked that you mentioned "Girlfriend in a Coma". See, I've never heard or read Morrissey revealing anything about the meaning of the song, but my perception is that there is no girl in a coma! Note, when he wrote these lyrics, there were already several signs that guitarist Johnny Marr was dissatisfied with the band's direction and the growing internal problems. My perception of "Girlfriend in a Coma" is that Morrissey is talking about himself, and about the Group he helped to create. The girl in the coma is him, the band! Because he is ambiguous (a strong lover of Oscar Wilde), he uses the term in the feminine. The person who is terminally ill is him, not only him but also The Smiths. The Smiths were his life and he began to feel that the band's days were numbered.
One of my favorites (#1 for me is There Is A Light That Never Goes Out). Marr's writing doesnt just touch my soul, he aggressively holds my soul down & tickles my soul until we both stare at each other in uncomfortable silence.
Cheers, appreciate that. And indeed, I've also reacted to some Electronic (with Marr and Bernard Sumner), though I've sort of put that on hold while I close out the Smiths catalog. But solo Morrissey will start eventually too. :)
I like the simplistic way he says he drank one and it became four and then he fell on the floor and drank more. It's quite comedic and naive that he can't quite believe that he fell on the floor after drinking so much. But he states it in a way a drunkard might say it. Matter of fact. Puts all sorts of visions in my head. There are quite a few references to alcohol in his songs.
So glad you are reviewing the Smiths, love their music. My brother introduced me to them and the wit and imagery of the lyrics blew me away. To me the Smiths were the Abba of indie music.
i so LOVE this song!!! more than the successful cover Mark ronson done. i mean who else can write this line? "the pain was enough to make a shy, bald, buddhist reflect and plan a mass murder"???? this song is so witty about the existance of lies in our lives, intimate, romantic, friendships whatever....it just take them into the extreme so perfectly!!!
The song seems to describe someone who is an inveterate liar and a drunk, coming up with excuses for their unreliability/philandering. The title was also a dig at their critics who claimed that all Smiths songs sound the same. It was due to be released as a single but after the Hungerford massacre (where a man shot 17 people) the radio refused to consider playing it due to the "plan a mass murder" line so "I Started Something" was released instead. It does have a much fuller, richer sound and Marr's wanting to experiment with the sound was part of the tension between them - he was starting to feel boxed in. Marr was also frustrated by Morrissey wanting to cover sixties songs by female singers - they had done Twinkle's Northern Lights but he drew the line at covering Cilla Black's Work Is A Four Letter Word (which is a brilliant song but I get where he was coming from).
The Smiths in full glam rock splendour. I think it’s been overlooked that your average Smiths fan is actually quite discerning when it comes to the tune.
Brilliant! Thanks again love from Australia
The first contact with this band was through a one-sheet article in a music magazine, by the end of 1985. The review was quite positive. In the article there was a really cool photo of the four members of the group. I vividly remember that the article ended with the phrase: "he sings with his soul and if the listener approaches the speaker, it's because they believe in what he's singing". The first song I heard was "The Boy With The Thorn in His Side", and I could hear the pain in that voice, very different from the happy songs in the pop universe at the time.
It was the 80s, the internet was far from existing and information took centuries to arrive. And for a poor kid in Latin America it was even worse. I dreamed of London and being able to go to a record store and buy the singles (the 7" vinyl). The singer was one of the people most responsible for me deciding to learn English. Video clips were one of the most powerful ways that record companies used to promote an artist. And The Smiths hated music videos. Morrissey (the lead singer) said that the artists looked like Aliens in those videos. The band made almost no videos to promote their records.
It's very curious to see these reactions to those great bands from the 80s, made by young people like you, who weren't there when they emerged. It is a very peculiar vision and different from the vision of those who lived in that period. Your reactions are valid.
I liked that you mentioned "Girlfriend in a Coma". See, I've never heard or read Morrissey revealing anything about the meaning of the song, but my perception is that there is no girl in a coma! Note, when he wrote these lyrics, there were already several signs that guitarist Johnny Marr was dissatisfied with the band's direction and the growing internal problems. My perception of "Girlfriend in a Coma" is that Morrissey is talking about himself, and about the Group he helped to create. The girl in the coma is him, the band! Because he is ambiguous (a strong lover of Oscar Wilde), he uses the term in the feminine. The person who is terminally ill is him, not only him but also The Smiths. The Smiths were his life and he began to feel that the band's days were numbered.
One of my favorites (#1 for me is There Is A Light That Never Goes Out). Marr's writing doesnt just touch my soul, he aggressively holds my soul down & tickles my soul until we both stare at each other in uncomfortable silence.
great reactions brother... love you getting into the rabbit hole of the Smiths and Morrissey
Cheers, appreciate that. And indeed, I've also reacted to some Electronic (with Marr and Bernard Sumner), though I've sort of put that on hold while I close out the Smiths catalog. But solo Morrissey will start eventually too. :)
I like the simplistic way he says he drank one and it became four and then he fell on the floor and drank more. It's quite comedic and naive that he can't quite believe that he fell on the floor after drinking so much. But he states it in a way a drunkard might say it. Matter of fact. Puts all sorts of visions in my head. There are quite a few references to alcohol in his songs.
My favorite album can't love it less
So glad you are reviewing the Smiths, love their music. My brother introduced me to them and the wit and imagery of the lyrics blew me away.
To me the Smiths were the Abba of indie music.
This one is so catchy. It gets stuck in my head every time I hear it.
4:48 Marr é um incrível criador de belas melodias. Este final da canção é lindo.
i so LOVE this song!!! more than the successful cover Mark ronson done. i mean who else can write this line? "the pain was enough to make a shy, bald, buddhist reflect and plan a mass murder"???? this song is so witty about the existance of lies in our lives, intimate, romantic, friendships whatever....it just take them into the extreme so perfectly!!!
Cool George Costanza shirt
Hahaha, yup. "And you wanna be my Latex salesman..."
The song seems to describe someone who is an inveterate liar and a drunk, coming up with excuses for their unreliability/philandering. The title was also a dig at their critics who claimed that all Smiths songs sound the same. It was due to be released as a single but after the Hungerford massacre (where a man shot 17 people) the radio refused to consider playing it due to the "plan a mass murder" line so "I Started Something" was released instead. It does have a much fuller, richer sound and Marr's wanting to experiment with the sound was part of the tension between them - he was starting to feel boxed in. Marr was also frustrated by Morrissey wanting to cover sixties songs by female singers - they had done Twinkle's Northern Lights but he drew the line at covering Cilla Black's Work Is A Four Letter Word (which is a brilliant song but I get where he was coming from).
Love the reaction to realising an ex liked it and to some of the lyrics. LOL
The Smiths in full glam rock splendour. I think it’s been overlooked that your average Smiths fan is actually quite discerning when it comes to the tune.