[Closed] Morrissey- why cant he concentrate on writing/signing new music?

Hora - why can't he concentrate on riding his bike?

I'd prefer it if Morrissey didnt write any more music thanks.

He should have done an Amy Winehouse. Then his reputation would be unassailable.
Everything post Smiths horrid IMO.

Disagree Viva Hate was one of his best musically

I've never got this flaming hero worship of the smiths. they did a few reasonable songs and split up over twenty years ago. let it lie ferchristssakes

He's driven by politics and is allowed an opinion; where do you think his lyrical inspiration comes from?

Love the Mozza but he needs to stick to singing.

I suspect he didn't volunteer his opinion

it's probably the bottom feeding journos you should complain about

Blimey, the Smiths courted controversy in the 80s -"hang the DJ"! Racist! Morrissey draping himself in a union jack too... I can't believe anyone listens to what an old hasbeen has to say now though.

When he was on the One Show a while back his answer to the problems with the economy was along the lines of - if people can't get a job, then why don't they just paint and read books.

Idiot.

His solo stuff is dependant on the quality of his collaberators. Viva Hate was good, Kill Uncle too.

He's never been a great songwriter, but a brilliant, brilliant lyricist whith the Smiths.
The Smiths needed each other and they needed Manchester too.

As you can tell from my user name, I'm a huge Smiths fan, but I'm not sure if I'd like to see them reform.
They split at the top of their game (Strangeways is still a superb album) and I'd hate them to ruin it.

As to his opinions, they're just that. He's entitled to them, just like everyone else.

I like the Moz 😀

There was a fantastic Viz t-shirt back in the day that summed him up perfectly. Something along the lines (and I'll paraphrase here) of "Morrisey - Pop genius or ladygarden?"

Massive Smiths fan and used to love the Moz, unfortunatley he is now a c0ck.

His comment on The One Show (WTF was he doing on there??) about having no sympathy for white collar workers who were finding themselves unemployed really did it for me - these people are the former students who got him were he is (or was)

Really hope they don't reform and taint it (but I would be 1st in the queue for tickets! 🙂 )

Hate the bloke. I remember the first time I saw the Smiths I burst out laughing, I thought they were taking the piss.. then Imagine my surprise when I discovered they were deadly serious!
He should just go away.To put it politely.

He Is a complete tool and I think only comes out with this pish for the same reason Jeremy Clarkson comes out with verbal diahorrea. Stupid comments keep them in the limelight for another few months. Johnny Marr on the other hand is a bit of a legend.

[I]I remember the first time I saw the Smiths I burst out laughing, I thought they were taking the piss[/I]

+1

I've yet to hear him say anything in a song or not which doesn't sound like a naive, whining student.

There was a mickey take about him on an 80's comedy program singing about shoes being expensive, it was brilliant. Can't find it now though.

[i]I remember the first time I saw the Smiths I burst out laughing, I thought they were taking the piss.. then Imagine my surprise when I discovered they were deadly serious![/i]

They sang a song about tits and you thought they were being serious? wow, you really missed the point.

Weapons grade bell-end IMHO.

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I'd prefer it if Morrissey didnt write any more music thanks.

+1

Spot on emsz.

The Smiths were brilliant at being serious (Suffer Little Children), being funny (Cemetary Gates) and being both at the same time (pretty much everything else).

Always amazed me that the haterz never got the humour. It's pretty obvious really 😀

IME the people who hate Morrissey have never really sat and listened to the music or thought about what he has to say.
He basically says it as he sees it, and a lot of it is what people want to say/admit to but haven't the courage - he's the most eloquent writer about personal insecurities and fears I know. Equally the comments he makes which come across as racist 'With a Rush and a Push...' - there's plenty of people who'll express those ideas behind closed doors who haven't the balls to say it in public. And we all know racism comes from personal insecurity...
+ people don't understand the concept of an author or singer taking a role/persona ie: they're not necessarily his personal views...
If you listened to his Desert Island Discs you'll find he's a very insightful, very considered individual, and actually comes across as a nice guy.
His attitude to work is spot on too - for so many people, their job is boring, stressful, unsatisfying, soul-destroying but they do it because they want the money. That's just the point he's making. It's really a call to arms for employers to care a little bit more, and I can't see many people disgreeing with that...
Oh, and just like Clarkson, he says stuff cos he knows it winds people up. Childish? probably, but it's yr own problem if you let it wind you up...

IME the people who hate Morrissey have never really sat and listened to the music or thought about what he has to say.

Nope, I hate his "music" because its sh*t, but then thats what music is all about, each to their own etc.

Aah, so he's just toying with us? He certainly had me fooled.
He's really, really good at making himself look like a complete bellend.

I don't hate him or the rest of the smiths, i quite like some of the songs, I just don't get this hero worship thing

I thought they were taking the piss.. then Imagine my surprise when I discovered they were deadly serious!

Morrissey has a significant Hispanophone fan base. A comment like this will appeal to them and scandalise the Anglophone media - which is great for sales.

Does he mean it? Does he care? Does it matter? You be the magistrate (who lives their life hiding their mistakes...).

Nah, The Smiths weren't as clever as some on here make out. Musically, they had a few decent songs on each album but never made a great record. They were just an average indie band who happened to make it big coz Morrissey waved some flowers around on stage and the music press loved them. File alongside Suede, the Arctic Monkeys, and countless other bands over the decades. Oh, and Morrissey is a total bell end, it has to be said.

"Morrisey - Pop genius or ladygarden?

I'd love that tshirt!

What difference does it make?

When the leather runs smooth on the passenger seat.

What a line.

'Smiths' threads are ace, a great way of outing the humourless.

Here's something to cheer you all up:

The Smiths v.s. Suede or the Arctic Monkeys

You really think there is a possible comparison? Putting aside that they were a popular group, The Smiths are waay more musically important IMO. Poignant, comic, deeply satirical social commentary accompanied by jangly guitar pop. Flippin' genius idea for it's day.

These threads are certainly a great way of outing some very odd hero worship, that's for sure.

So just to re-cap then, if you don't think morrisey and/or the smiths are funny, you're humourless.
Everyone? In the entire world who doesn't think they're funny?

Wow.

"you can't help but feel the Chinese are a sub-species"

ladygarden afaic

I don't like Frankie Boyle, Jimmy Carr or Jim Davidson. But I still recognise what they do as humour, just not the kind I enjoy.

I find it genuinely odd that some people can't see the humour in the Smiths.
I don't expect everyone to like it, but it's pretty obvious that it's there.

Oh, no hero worship from me btw, politically, he's a bellend.
He always has been. Most musicians are.
Great frontman and lyricist, though.

And very funny, in a northern miserableist, LesDawson/Rob Wilton/Hovis Presley/John Cooper Clarke kind of way.

I was a student in that era and lived through quite a frightening amount of smiths as a consequence.

I appreciate the silver tongued pokings at contemporary society and all that but there comes a point when, however post-neo-ironic you set your stall out to be, the music you make has to stand up for itself and be taken at face value. I'm afraid that's where it falls pretty flat in my opinion. He does look good staring dreamily skywards on a Sunday supplement cover though, I'll give him that.

So....a vote for "[i]Ladygarden[/i]" from me 😛

he has written and sung some really sensitive thoughtful funny songs that I love, also is a stupid ignorant dickhead.

Not a massive fan, but:
1) he has a point on the Malvinas.
and
2) 'these people are the former students who got him were he is (or was)'
so he should change his views because some people liked his music? He owes them nothing.

Kevevs succinctly put. Probably describes what I feel on him to a T.

AndyP - Member
Not a massive fan, but:
1) he has a point on the Malvinas.

On what basis?

I'm with Rusty Spanner...Loved The Smiths,but no hero worship from me..

The Smiths v.s. Suede or the Arctic Monkeys

You really think there is a possible comparison? Putting aside that they were a popular group, The Smiths are waay more musically important IMO. Poignant, comic, deeply satirical social commentary accompanied by jangly guitar pop. Flippin' genius idea for it's day.

My point is that they were all indie bands that were championed by the press and the kids at the time, whereas the music doesn't really live up to the hype. Heck, I'm sure loads of kids will be saying how much of a wonderful poet the singer from the Arctic Monkeys was/is in years to come and they may be right. I just don't think the music is very good. The Smiths were an ok band with a few good songs, nothing more, nothing less.

jangly guitar pop

I listened to the first album for the first time in ages a few weeks ago, and it was far from jangly guitar pop. I had to skip nearly every song, it is so dreary and just well, not very musical. They never did make a great album - The Queen is Dead came closest, but there are some rubbish songs on that too.

I love all music and it's history, but I just don't understand the absolute adoration some people have for the Smiths. It's akin to a bunch of lasses (or lads) wetting their pants over Bros, or Milli Vanilli or something.

I love all music and it's history, but I just don't understand the absolute adoration some people have for the Smiths.

Because they were making original and meaningful music in an age of corporate, manufactured pap.

And so were thousands of other bands. What's your point?

funny thread - if you cant see the humour in his songs (some of them at least) then the smiths are wasted on you

i expect he says these things about politics for the exact reason you are all moaning about - to be controversial and to cause people to question him and his views, he likes to be outspoken and he likes the controversy of saying what he feels, his songs/lyrics thrive off this

he has cult status because at the time the smiths were one off band, they were not a run of the mill carbon copy of somebody thats done it before, they certainly helped along with joy division create a proper indie scene in and around manchester, they were a one off band at the time they created a sound that hadnt been done before, or at least hadnt become popular, he was an eccentric character whom people often and still do question his sexuality, yet in typical morrisey style hes never let on, nor does he care what people think of him....

and who said the smiths arent jangly?!?!!?! are you deaf? jonny marr created a new type of sound with the smiths, his riffs were highly noticeable and very original....

they were infact a very original band, i cannot imagine just how many bands (decent or otherwise) have been influenced by them....sad yet funny songs, clever, great music accompanied by passionate meaningful lyrics...

he may come across as a bellend to some, but i like the fact he speaks his mind, hes done what a lot of folk would like to do and left the uk as he simply got depressed with the way its run and people running it....

to me his a hero, obviously that comes across in my defence of him here, but his music is up there with best bands of all time to me....

of course its horses for courses, and depends what music you are into, but hes very talented and one of the best peotic musicians that has ever graced england...

long live the moz

Ah, so they are an elitist in joke then? 🙂

Cant understand all the absurd Morrissey fanbois adoration-they used to make death threats to Mike Joyce in the court case FFS

He's our Elvis.

very talented and one of the best peotic musicians that has ever graced england...

Is he a talented musician tho? A bit pedantic maybe but he is definitley on a downward spiral All of his albums since the Smiths had one or two stand out songs (eg 1st of the gang to die/our frank) But the last one (tuxedo on the cover - can't even remember the title) had absolutley no redeeming features.

So what did he actually say?

Billy Bragg has some pretty interesting things to say but I won't be doing hill-sessions to his albums any time soon.

Subjective innit though - I personally can't stand the whiny streak of pi55 but each to their own. I got the Flight of the Concords album t'other day and its awesome. Doubt many others on here like them though.

He's a bell and I don't like his music (Smiths or otherwise)....

so they are an elitist in joke then?

our frank

Was that the duet with Frank Sidebottom?

Morrissey is far from being a whiny streak...

I have the flight of the conchords album and it's great. It isn't a musical game changer though is it?

If you don't 'get' Morrissey it doesn't matter. Your loss I guess.

I think it must have been when I was fourteen
I had turned on my radio when
A peculiar voice sang with Mancunian twang
About how he was miserable then
I sat through the song as he droned on and on
Like some pale intellectual outlaw
And when he was done I thought 'That wasn't much fun
That feller wants to get out more'
And even now my friends are all amazed
When I tell them that I never went through a Smiths phase

I was just the right age at just the right stage
Just one city along to the west
Though I could tell Johnny Marr sure could play that guitar
I was never that deeply impressed
My more sensitive friends thought I was round the bend
And started looking at me down their noses
As they sat in the dark I thought 'Sod that for a lark'
Went home and cranked up Guns N' Roses
And people are still startled nowadays
When I tell them that I never went through a Smiths phase
They're the same ones who gaze at me in fear and dread
When I say I can't be arsed with Radiohead

"Never Went Through A Smiths Phase" by Mitch Benn And The Distractions

There's always someone somewhere with a big nose who knows and trips you up and laughs when you fall.

IMO.

I'm not sure it's my loss that I don't find him funny but I appreciate what people are saying about his attempts at humour.

For what it's worth I don't pay any attention to any song lyrics. If they sound good musically then that's all that's important to me. Pop stars, on the whole are bell ends and the things they have to say are usually equally ridiculous.

msany of my friends were fans and it always made me laugh about how the reacted to manufactured pop and what it stood for. They then bought into the image of Mr Sensitive with the oscar wilde books, using public transport and not eating meat [ is he even still a veggie?]. They sold this image to the "alternatives" just like Stock aitken and waterman sold kylie to the masses.
They thought they were very counter culture yet it was the same trick with a different package that they were buying

Bit like everyone buying the song F you we wont do what you tell us to stop X factor getting to number 1 - how very not doing what you are told.

The odd good song but so have U2 and lionel Ritchie

[url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9126635/Falklands-Morrisseys-band-wear-We-Hate-William-and-Kate-T-shirts-in-Argentina.html ]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9126635/Falklands-Morrisseys-band-wear-We-Hate-William-and-Kate-T-shirts-in-Argentina.html[/url]

wat

Much as I used to loved the Smiths, mozza's mindset of recent years seems to be

1. buy a copy of the Daily Mail
2. find the main foaming-at-the-mouth diatribe contained within
3. say the opposite, accompanied by some inflammatory, pompous and self-regarding grand gesture.
4. sit back and giggle at resulting foaming-at-the-mouth outrage
5. note increased album sales from gullible people and Argentinians*
6. count money
7. buy some more property to add to already enormous portfolio

It all looks increasingly cynical when you consider that Jonny Marr quietly keeps proving he was the real talent in the Smiths, while being down-to-earth, self-effacing, faintly enigmatic and generally pretty damn cool!

He opened a music shop in Manchester on Saturday. My mate came back from there with a story of chatting to a thoroughly nice bloke, who then played his 5 year old daughter her favourite song, then gave her a pink Cribs plectrum. Not very Morrisey-esque at all

* may not be mutually exclusive

Wow Junkyard, I'm not and have never been a Smiths obsessive, I've got a few albums and singles by them though.
But I have to say, while what you wrote may not be complete and utter drivel, I entirely disagree with it.

There is a massive difference between a band like the Smiths making their own, original sound and manufactured pop made to make money for music producers or Simon Cowell types. Yeah sometimes the latter make a decent song (I love Girl's Aloud, me), but its a completely different artform.

wat

Yeah. Aren't there any graphic designers in Argentina, ffs? Those shirts look awful.

Yeah. Aren't there any graphic designers in Argentina, ffs? Those shirts look awful.

They had them designed for free by a random guy off some mtb forum, perhaps?

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what you wrote may not be complete and utter drivel

Even I can accept that they were {far]better than manufactured pop and had a message*. it was just a message hyped to the weirdos and frankly I thought [ and still do] that mosser was full of shit...does the sensitive and emotionally angsty one not live in LA now? rolls eyes thousands of times

* it was the way they were hyped and marketed I was referring to as similar

Dear God! He looks like an off-duty, tired and emotional, predatory gay social worker, who's taken the 'special' group out to a wedding reception, after they've had their outreach afternoon. This week it was t-shirt making

Dear God! He looks like an...

One of the first times I've seen the edit function used to add more spice to a post, as opposed to taking some away... good work!

I may not have finished yet! 😀

Worst. Can can. Ever.

not a single song he as ever done has ever appealed to me ever tbh he's an utter goon
this is much better
http://soundcloud.com/lazyitis-1/super-morrissey-bros

he has cult status

Nearly right but for one letter, on his current actions!

Wow, that guy on the left looks a weal webel in his I hate woyalty t-shirt. What a bunch of [s]pricks[/s] session musicians.

I guess the irony of whining about Morrissey whining has passed a few people by...

Strange, a film about the Los Angeles Latino Morrisey Cult

This thread prompted me to give his last album another go. After careful, considered listening I can now say I was right in the 1st place it's sh1te. Can't find anything good to say about it even his lyrics are drivel now. Children on backing vocals and one song could have been Snow Patrol if it were not him on vocals.

At one point I was sat in traffic on Regent Road listening to it and looked across at the Salford lads Club - made me think just how far he has come (down).

+1 Binners on the mindset thing too