Some days ago in Facebook I came across a clipping in which Morrissey reviews the singles for some weekly magazine (Record Mirror? No. 1?) in 1984. It was a surprising read, since Morrissey awarded Duran Duran's Wild Boys as "the bestest single of the week" and also was very appreciative of Ultravox, Psychedelic Furs's Heartbeat and Scritti Politti (even though he mentioned that Green has said mean things about The Smiths so many times, that at some future point he must take revenge -- but Hypnotize is too good a single to not praise). Since we also remember how he liked a-ha a lot in the eighties, it seems that he really never was totally against synthetizers, even though he has used them in his own music very rarely until recently. Sparks have also been very much a synth band at times, even though Morrissey really loves their seventies glam period the best.
Morrissey & synthetizers
- Thread starter Eldritch
- Start date
Gregor Samsa
I straighten up, and my position is one of hope.
Didn’t he also say something like “if there’s ever a synthesizer on a Smiths record, I won’t be.”
BookishBoy
Well-Known Member
I remember that quote, and here's a slightly different one from an interview with Sounds in Nov 83:
"It's very strange — this complete lack of intellect and complete lack of sensitivity. And of course there was nothing more repellent than the synthesizer, so it was really time to sweep all that down the drain."
gashonthenail
You will own nothing and you will be happy...
I don't think it was the synth sound per se that The Smiths saw themselves as being against in the 80s. I'm sure there was much about the 'do it yourself' spirit of those synth acts that both Moz and Marr admired. I think it was more the crappy pop lyrics of many of them that said nothing about his life that Moz objected to. Plus it's good to be 'against' something when you are a new band. Creates a bit of dramatic tension. How serious it all was is debatable.
Gregor Samsa
I straighten up, and my position is one of hope.
That said, he liked Wild Boys by Duran Duran. Not really TS Eliot level poetry.
No, I think most of it was hyperbole plus a general dismissal of the fabricated pop music of the day.
I’m glad no one told him about Orkestrazia Ardwick and The Hated Salford Ensemble.
Redacted
Perfectly Satisfied
Wild Boys is based on a novel by William S. Burroughs, it's about homosexual boys. A lot of musicians have referenced it or incorporated something about it into songs. Ian Curtis said it was one of his favorite books. I think it was almost made into a very pornographic film, I think by Russell Mulcahy who was directing all those great Duran Duran videos. I seem to recall him wanting them to do the soundtrack, and they wrote this song. Ziggy Stardust is sort of based on that book, or the look.
Morrissey probably knew a lot of this. A very artsy choice. Produced by Nile Rogers.
Morrissey probably knew a lot of this. A very artsy choice. Produced by Nile Rogers.
Gregor Samsa
I straighten up, and my position is one of hope.
Huh! Had no idea. Thanks!
gashonthenail
You will own nothing and you will be happy...
It's a great read. Also referenced by Patti Smith in Horses.
The Wild Boys (novel) - Wikipedia
Ashley_TakeABow
Well-Known Member
Golden Lights?
Gregor Samsa
I straighten up, and my position is one of hope.
Is there a synthesizer on Golden Lights? Haven’t listened to that one in a long time. But my point was that there are a few Smiths tracks that feature synthesizers, despite Morrissey’s disapproval.
O
Orange Crush
Guest
I hope the delayed albums are remixed and synth heavy. Autotune on full blast, synth drums, the works. Just saying.
Ashley_TakeABow
Well-Known Member
I'm unsure, it just seems like there is. I honestly enjoy that song.
Gregor Samsa
I straighten up, and my position is one of hope.
There are definitely worse songs one can listen to in and out of the Moz canon.
You might be exactly right. Just like naming the band as "The Smiths" was an antidote to all pretentious band names like Orchestral Manouvres In The Dark. But I would have never expected him to say anything positive about Duran Duran, not to even mention naming their work as the single of the week. But I'm glad he did, because at their best Duran Duran were pop geniuses, and they have always been big readers and art lovers too.
TheSmiths_1985
I know, right?
Some of us do, but not all.
Redacted
Perfectly Satisfied
I don't want to hijack the convo but have to sshare. I checked Spotify and the Smiths have twice as many listeners as Duran Duran, which is shocking to me given how long each band has lasted and DD is massive. Someone check the numbers? I feel like I read it wrong. Anyway, also DD is actually a very good band, I have seen them and expected some overgrown boy band but they are seriously great musicians and just very different than you'd think.
I'm pretty sure he goes to bed every night.
M
Musician
Guest
Indeed: The Smiths 15,5 M, Duran at 9,5M
Redacted
Perfectly Satisfied
Thank you
