Music, Style & Culture
| Print : Web : Radio : Mobile

Heaven Knows Smiths Fans Are Miserable Now

Those who hang on The Smiths’ every word and inaction are having it tough.

Posted 26th November 2011, 9:01pm in Blogs by Jamie Milton
Jamie Milton

Jamie Milton

Writer

Heaven Knows Smiths Fans Are Miserable Now You experience a complex mix of emotions in seeing one of your favourite songs being brought to the masses. For one, you’re slightly satisfied that your taste is being backed up by some important ad agency, with their assurance that this certain song is going to be adored by hundreds of thousands of people. But then, you feel a tinge of pride in the track’s original form; a sense of ownership at what was previously an unsung discovery.

Such a paradox is being dealt with by hardcore fans of The Smiths, this Christmas. ‘Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want’ is a song that’s seen itself tarnished in every way possible by various bands. Its most recent butchering involves being transformed into the most sentimental of piano ballads, accompanying shots of a slightly adorable child actor giving his parents extravagant gits, all in the name of John Lewis.

The fact is, The Smiths wrote pop songs, albeit smart ones with plenty of wit. ‘Please Please...’ in itself is a charming little rarity, so no wonder it’s shown its face already on the closing credits of Danny Boyle’s ‘This Is England’, having even been performed as a cover by Muse, a few years back. It’s a cult classic, rearing its ugly head for mass consumption. Therefore it’s due time the few vocally begrudged moaners begin to dust their discrepancies off the floor.

Having said that, this latest “tragedy” is just the most current of problems facing wounded supporters of the band. Smiths fans have had their fair share of challenges, from putting up with Morrissey’s ridiculous on-stage remarks (one being comparing the tragic Norwegian shootings of this year to fast food chains' treatment of animals) to seeing ‘Stop Me If You Think That You’ve Heard This One Before’ being smothered in ghastly Mark Ronson-affiliated horn sections. Their songs, though a good 20 years old today, are still culturally celebrated in certain corners, all desperate not to let the masses into their little secret.

Not only is Morrissey conducting himself in a stranger manner as each day passes, his partner in crime, promiscuous being Johnny Marr, sets off on new projects every year or so, from joining Modest Mouse to not only becoming a member of The Cribs but also shifting their sound significantly in the disappointing ‘Ignore The Ignorant’. All the while, a Smiths reunion is being dismissed left, right and centre. The second any former member of the group gets misquoted as claiming they’d love to get back together, another sets out to dismiss the rumour mill before it gets going. This year, fans of the Stone Roses have collectively rejoiced and their celebrations won’t stop until the closing out of the band’s festival performances next year. No reunion looks less likely than one for The Smiths (cue a dramatic press conference announcement tomorrow), with the exception of a few acts whose members have been deceased for decades.

So for those with the determination of seeing their heroes back together and for those with intent in maintaining a view that Morrissey might not be a complete and utter turd of a human being, the last few years haven’t been too enjoyable. As soon as they think themselves capable of shaking off haunting memories of T.A.T.U’s cover of ‘How Soon Is Now?’, some ghastly, overdone piano-based rendition of one of their favourite songs accompanies yet another viral ad campaign. If you compare how fun it must currently be to call yourself a Radiohead fan, with remixes coming out of the sky, those who hang on The Smiths’ every word and inaction must be having it tough right now.
Click like to get the latest music news, hottest tracks and more via Facebook.

Comments