Topic: The Smiths

[MichaelA]

What possessed them to license 'Please please please let me get what I want' for the M&S advert. Is money that tight? 

[Filler.]

What possessed them to license 'Please please please let me get what I want' for the M&S advert. Is money that tight? 

Yeah, that was an odd one wasn't it? Somehow felt that your childhood spat in your face. Interestingly, the marketing manager of John Lewis, suggested that they were aiming at their prime target age group of 45-55, which I gladly fall under - tho I'd somehow suggest that maybe they take on board the under 40's or something. I sometimes go to John Lewis, and I walk around and I never see anything that I want to buy (except a small hand held vacuum cleaner once, which did look lovely), but surely there's room for growth.

I thought the ad was a nice twist tho, in the way that nice twists are horrible and you want to kill someone. I love giving. But it does sodomize my head thru an ear.

[tubby]

I like the way that advert is shot, actually.  But that cover is really awful.

[rusty-la]

I like the Ad.

Aren't they just piggy backing on the John Lewis ad' from last year with Elton Johns song?.

[rafathegaffa83]

Had this stuck in my head the past few days, Marr's guitar has such a great washed-out sound in this

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/RgNfTx9pGzA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/RgNfTx9pGzA</a>

[ghost1359]

I cringe every time I see that John Lewis advert. Such a sad but beautiful song used to advertise a fucking department store. For shame. Also the cover is shit.

[MichaelA]

I cringe every time I see that John Lewis advert. Such a sad but beautiful song used to advertise a fucking department store. For shame. Also the cover is shit.

Me too. I wonder if Messrs. Morrissey and Marr are cringing at the royalty cheques? They must have given approval somewhere up the line for this travesty.

[KERRYKOP]

Me too. I wonder if Messrs. Morrissey and Marr are cringing at the royalty cheques? They must have given approval somewhere up the line for this travesty.

As CD sales dry up its inevitable you'll see more band reunions and whoring out of back catalogue as well. Doesn't make it right, but they have to maintain their lifestyles some how

Had this stuck in my head the past few days, Marr's guitar has such a great washed-out sound in this

One of more favourite Marr performances for sure, the arpeggios the lushes chords its all there

[KERRYKOP]

Great news! Morrissey and Robbie Keane are realated



Mozzer writes

It was a joyous head-storm to attend LA Galaxy -v- Club Tijuana last night and to see captain Robbie Keane score in the fourth minute. Why, exactly?
Well, family tree aficionados will be aware that Robbie and I share the same Irish blood; his late grandfather (Thomas Nolan) being my own father's cousin. In filial terms the Irish blood, English heart genetic between Robbie and I is evident - his chin is my chin, my chin is his. Robbie was raised on Captains Road (as was my mother) in Crumlin (Dublin), before he was shipped out to Tallaght. He is a gentleman of the highest caliber (or, if you must, calibre), and to watch him on the pitch - pacing like a lion, as weightless as an astronaut, is pure therapy. Robbie, the pleasure, the privilege is mine.

Morrissey
20 February 2013
Los Angeles

[Phil M]

Great news! Morrissey and Robbie Keane are realated



Mozzer writes

In other news Robbie has announced that he was a boyhood Morrissey fan and meeting his hero was a dream come true.

[Phil M]

"There'll never be a Keaner, window cleaner..."

[KERRYKOP]

In other news Robbie has announced that he was a boyhood Morrissey fan and meeting his hero was a dream come true.

First thing a fella at work said back to me

[Phil M]

Morrissey looking like Robbie Williams in a few years there.

[Hazell]

I thought it was a picture of Morrissey with an unidentified fan.

[tubby]

I thought it was a picture of Morrissey with an unidentified fan.

Heh.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

So I've just downloaded Hatful of Hollow

 

I sometimes think is it worth looking into new music when I find myself constantly going back and downloading music from decades ago that I've been missing out on.

[Mr Grieves]

For me it's the best album in the smiths cannon.

[Pistolero]

Meat Is Murder for me....every note, every line is perfect...


the opening, ringing bars of 'Headmaster Rital' that opened the album still gives me neckhair erection...

[KERRYKOP]

For me it's the best album in the smiths cannon.

Not really a proper album though is it.

Came to the conclusion recently that "The Queen is Dead" is defiantly my favourite. It has been a straight shoot out between it and "Meat is Murder" for years. "Cemetry Gates"  "Bigmouth Strikes Again"  and "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" sit beside each other on the record which is a ridiculous hatrick of songs plonked in the middle of the album. I think Iv never listened to a song in my life as much as "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" and I'm still not sick of it.

The album also charts brilliant highs and lows from the hilarious "Oh give us your money" line at the end of "Cemetery Gates" to "I Know Its Over" where lines like "If you're so clever then why are you alone tonight" can strip you to your very core in that incredibly straight forward manner only Morrissey can do with such caustic results. Its a record for me that has everything even great drumming and bass playing along with Morrissey and Marr's genius. The pleasure the privilege is always mine.

the opening, ringing bars of 'Headmaster Rital' that opened the album still gives me neckhair erection...

Top five Marr arpeggio's for sure!

"Belligerent goons run Manchester school......"

[Mr Grieves]

Splitting hairs on what's the best when there's not much to split between them all. The lyrics and the musicianship on all are top drawer.

For me  despite HOH being a collection of sessions it's the attitude of the way they play , we're The Smiths and we fuckin rock being the attitude that comes across.

Sound of a band knowing they've got the tunes and are miles ahead of the competition.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

"Belligerent goons run Manchester school......"

I thought it was 'belligerent ghouls'?


Was watching This Is England 88 last night and they made good use of This Charming Man.

[Phil M]

I thought it was 'belligerent ghouls'?

It is.

Shame on you Kerrykop.

[Davidbowie]

I thought it was 'belligerent ghouls'?


Was watching This Is England 88 last night and they made good use of This Charming Man.

It is 'ghouls'.

I'm into The Smiths in a big, big way. About 5 or 6 years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke doing a gig in the old Quiggins. Got both to sign my Queen is Dead LP and T shirt. Joyce is a top bloke.

What do others make of Morrissey/Marr's solo versions of Smiths tunes?

[Quaid]

The Smiths is my favourite, as a whole album. Favourite song of theirs is on Meat is Murder though.

[KERRYKOP]

It is.

Shame on you Kerrykop.

I feel so ashamed I want to cry...

I've also made another error on this page, extra points to the big noes who knows and gets it.

[tubby]

I feel so ashamed I want to cry...

I've also made another error on this page, extra points to the big noes who knows and gets it.

Wrong song for the money line, yo.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

The Queen is Dead is named the best album of all time by NME

http://www.nme.com/news/the-smiths/73363

[Drinks Sangria]

The Queen is Dead is my favourite proper album, but I probably prefer Hatful. Just love it. There's several songs on there that I go back and forth between thinking are my favourite Smiths' tracks. Reel around the Fountain, How Soon is Now, Accept Yourself, Back to the Old House etc.

[Cochise]

Great news! Morrissey and Robbie Keane are realated



Mozzer writes

Didn't know Keane had 2 spines.

[the good half]

RE: The the Keane/Morrissey photo.

This must piss Joey Barton off to thee highest.

[Filler.]

The Queen is Dead is an absolutely cracking album, always has been. And I say that because fashions change and music journalists change, but Queen Is Dead was an immense thing when it came out. Looking thru the top 10 lists of the various people writing for the NME tho, was a saddening experience I have to say - was just left feeling... slumped.

[Garstonite]

Didn't know Keane had 2 spines.

I didn't know he had one.

WAYYYYYY, SEEWHATIDIDTHERE EH? WAYYYY OOAREYER OOAREYER

[Cochise]

I didn't know he had one.

WAYYYYYY, SEEWHATIDIDTHERE EH? WAYYYY OOAREYER OOAREYER

Haha

[Titi Camara]

Less than 4 pages in 8 years but we can write 30 in a couple of days about an irate Alan fuming Pardew!

Oh the humanity!

I have a terrible habit of getting a song stuck in my head all day, especially if I'm tired, and it annoying the fuck out of me from dawn till dusk. Today though, A Charming Man, has been rattling about upstairs and it's made my day far more bearable

[red mongoose]

Less than 4 pages in 8 years but we can write 30 in a couple of days about an irate Alan fuming Pardew!

Oh the humanity!

I have a terrible habit of getting a song stuck in my head all day, especially if I'm tired, and it annoying the fuck out of me from dawn till dusk. Today though, A Charming Man, has been rattling about upstairs and it's made my day far more bearable

"This Charming Man" is indeed a lovely song, but thinking it will solve your mental problems is absurd  But that is funny about the Pardew fewm haha the absolute cock womble.

[the good half]

Less than 4 pages in 8 years but we can write 30 in a couple of days about an irate Alan fuming Pardew!

Oh the humanity!

I have a terrible habit of getting a song stuck in my head all day, especially if I'm tired, and it annoying the fuck out of me from dawn till dusk. Today though, A Charming Man, has been rattling about upstairs and it's made my day far more bearable

 

Em....

[sideshowme]

i was a late bloomer as far as smiths appreciation is concerned, but at their best they are up there with the very greatest bands ever.  the simplest praise you can give them is that the music hasn't dated at all (so, so rare for 80s artists).

i've had 'half a person' rattling round my head for the past fortnight after it triggered a weird deja vu experience in me.  it sounded instantly familiar but it's not a song i'd ever actually listened to.  great tune though

[S]

A dreaded sunny day...

When it comes to the music I won't be able to add anything that hasn't been said already in this thread. All I'll add is that I recommend reading Morrissey's autobiography (called..."Autobiography") and his short novel List of the Lost.

Autobiography is perhaps a little too long and goes into various fallings out in pretty meticulous detail, but at times it's incredibly well written. Morrissey has always had a way with words, and if you enjoy his lyrics you'll enjoy parts of this. The opening few pages are amongst my favourite pieces of writing.

List of the Lost got absolutely slated, but I'm convinced the slating was done by people who saw the author's name and leapt at the chance to get in some humorous jibes, without actually reading it. A simple, but unique premise and an atmosphere you can't quite put your finger on. I read a lot of novels, so I was glad to see someone try something a little different. I don't understand the vitriol it attracted, especially when you consider some of the other titles written (and I use that term loosely) by famous names.

[MichaelA]

List of the Lost got absolutely slated, but I'm convinced the slating was done by people who saw the author's name and leapt at the chance to get in some humorous jibes, without actually reading it. A simple, but unique premise and an atmosphere you can't quite put your finger on. I read a lot of novels, so I was glad to see someone try something a little different. I don't understand the vitriol it attracted, especially when you consider some of the other titles written (and I use that term loosely) by famous names.

I agree with you regarding Autobiography. Morrissey has been one of my musical idols for over thirty years. List Of The Lost is unreadable, verging on illiterate. Despite several loyal attempts, I have never got beyond the first few pages. I take no pleasure in saying that it is absolutely awful, and one of the few books that I've have started and not finished. I think there were a handful of people who wished him ill, but there were many more who were massively disappointed by such a self indulgent piece of work.

[Davidbowie]

Morrissey and myself fell out a long time ago..