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Do You Think His Lyrics Are Ironic Or Sincere?

posted 2 years ago by HarveyManFredSin (4877)
5 replies | jump to latest

I'm generally a big The Smiths/Morrissey fan, but part of my affection for the band pivots on whether the latter's lyrics are meant to be an ironic self-parody of his misanthropic, self-pitying and at times borderline misogynist world view (and my take is that there's nothing theoretically wrong in having such shitty or pathetic feelings; that's what makes us human-beings; the problem is when you think those shitty pathetic feelings are somehow *just* and something you should stand by or act upon), or they're genuinely sincere.

If it's the former, I say Morrissey is one of the finest lyricists in pop history. If it's the latter (and my fear is based on various interviews where he comes across as the most pompous, self-regarding, humourless twat on the face of the planet), I worry for the man's sanity.

[–] AndyKing1967 (39853) 2 years ago

Massive Mosser fan here. My take is that it’s all an act, but what a brilliant act!

Currently he lives a sunkissed existence in L.A. - a convertible Rolls-Royce is his ride of choice; heaven knows I’m miserable now, lol.

[–] HarveyManFredSin (4877) 2 years ago

If it's an 'act', I wish he'd drop the Islamophobic and xenophobic part of it.

Also, I don't want him to be completely detached from the songs he writes (I thus doubt that he could write anything as powerful and affecting as How Soon Is Now? or This Charming Man, now, because he isn't living that life). I just want him to recognise the absurdity of all self-piting 'woe is me' and misanthropy of the songs. I love the raw naked honesty of them. He isn't being false. He's admitting how he, and many people feel, but I hope he's also mocking himself/us rather than saying that it's a good thing to be a bitter 'the world is against me' asshole.

[–] AndyKing1967 (39853) 2 years ago

Think of him as a musical Dame Edna Everage - he’s as ‘real’ as that.

[–] HarveyManFredSin (4877) 2 years ago

I'm cool with the character he 'plays' in his admittedly brilliant music. Does he have to keep playing such an asshole in other contexts?

[–] AndyKing1967 (39853) 2 years ago

He has to be ‘on’ at all times, nevertheless, once you scratch beneath the surface….