The Smiths: the riches of the poor

I like The Smiths. :)
I was lucky enough to get their album, The Sound of The Smiths, for Christmas last year. I like all their songs. It's different but good music.

Saw Morrisey once, drinking coffee in Waterstones bookshop on Deansgate in Manchester. I was rather more impressed at meeting and talking to the author Michael Moorcock (who also worked with the groups Hawkwind and Blue Oyster Cult) at the same location.

I look forward to your next nonsense post Steven

RIP Andy Rourke!

I view it - the 'Morrissey Problem' - as one long in the making: even at the beginning, he came across as being absolutely convinced that he was right about so many things; and sadly this arrogance has never altered. Arguably, this is a feature of essentially lonely lives, and we see it in the self-righteous & strongly-held views of talents like Morrissey and Hilary Mantel (for example) and even obscure people like me - we've been alone in our heads for so long, with no-one to debate our opinions, that we assume our views are either inarguable or are 'only common sense'.

Perhaps The Smiths split at exactly the right time - some of the songs he wrote at that time and obliged the band to rehearse were at best controversial, and continuing in that vein would have spoiled our fond memories of The Smiths.

I used to love the Smiths; probably listened to Strangeways and the Queen is Dead more than a hundred times each when I was a teenager, but knowing Morrissey is such a hateful person just ruined their songs for me. Same with Jesse Lacey in Brand New.

I know lots of people separate the art from the artist and can happily listen to Michael Jackson or Gary Glitter without thinking about who they were, but I never have and to be honest I'm not sure I'd want to.

Rest In Peace, Andy.

Johnny Marr: “Watching Andy play those dazzling basslines was an absolute privilege and genuinely something to behold."

www.theguardian.com/.../andy-rourke-bassist-for-the-smiths-dies-aged-59

Yh tbh that ruined the one or two songs of theirs I liked. Difference in musical taste is fine but you can't bridge an ethical gulf where the other person faced with standing behind you just living your life or someone who would take your human rights away would chose the side of the opressor not the opressed.

I was wondering what Smiths fans here think of the following song? Vocals and lyrics were added to a Smiths instrumental (which eventually became 'Heaven Knows, I'm Miserable Now') by Chris Quinn. But the impersonation doesn't matter so much to me; I find everything about it very memorable. I think it's great.

'In the end there's nothing left
All the pictures gone, only shadows on the wall
So sink me and drown me in the shallow end
I betrayed a friend, now I'm harder to defend
And In your rage,
I didn't lie to you the truth changed'

'The Smiths' - I Misses You (vocal):

m.youtube.com/watch

'I've seen this happen in other people's lives
And now it's happening in mine...'

Shyness is nice

And shyness can stop you

From doing all the things in life you'd like to

Just been listening to the masters of melancholy in the caron the school run educating the youth of the day....Reel Around The Fountain and Still Ill...great stuff

I used to go to Smiths Morrissey night in  Manchester. Pre pandemic I suggested they drop the Morrissey label as his right wing views were a major turn off and people stopped going. They didn't do it at the time but have now, I'm debating whether to go back. But what do I know, I'm just the ghost of a troubled Joe...

You’ve got everything now, and miserable lie are the Smiths songs I listen to the most. 
oh and Pretty girls make graves. 

Well I can imagine it would 

Me too but am fossilised compared to people for who ye olde 1980s are ancient history, like Jurassic Car Park. Anyway, it's not my fault that I knew the dinosaurs by their first names. So there.

Oh dear! It seems I can no longer highjack this post Simon. I am far too young to be a pensioner, even though I often feel like one. 

That is brilliant. Love it... 'plus Morrisey's chest' makes all the difference.

Rest of the Best (plus Morrissey’s chest) 

I like Morrissey; even though he's Vegan.