Far Out: "The National’s Matt Berninger explains why he no longer listens to Morrissey" (April 21, 2023)

The National’s Matt Berninger explains why he no longer listens to Morrissey

While promoting The National’s latest album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, frontman Matt Berninger revealed that he no longer listens to Morrissey because of his difficulties separating the art from the artist.

The National’s Matt Berninger explains his Morrissey boycott

While promoting The National’s latest album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, frontman Matt Berninger revealed that he no longer listens to Morrissey.

faroutmagazine.co.uk

'Usual' Far Out article with Matt placing "all" fans in the same boat as himself.
FWD.

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Excerpt from the linked Guardian interview, The National’s Matt Berninger: ‘I have a healthy marriage because I write about looking into the abyss’ (April 21, 2023):

In the song Pink Rabbits you reference the album Bona Drag. Do you still listen to Morrissey? scuzzboy24

I haven’t listened to Morrissey in a long time. I go back to The Queen is Dead, but I haven’t in a while. It’s a little bit hard to separate the ickiness of things he’s said. I still believe he’s a brilliant, sensitive artist. Morrissey was one of the first where I was like, that guy gets me. I have genuine love for him. But I’m in the same boat as all Morrissey fans, just like: “Agh, please!”

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Related items:

• Morrissey-solo: "The Guardian: "Matt Berninger webchat: your questions answered on Morrissey, Taylor Swift and infinite creativity" - October 13, 2020
• Morrissey-solo: "Matt Berninger (The National) on The Queen is Dead - September 19, 2020

 

[ACTON]

"I haven’t listened to Morrissey in a long time.."

I'd love to know how long.

When The National and Morrissey were on the Jools Holland show on the BBC, I think it was around the time of Low In High School, he dedicated the song they were about to play to him.

I remember that. Both The National and Moz were great that night.

 

[johnny marr is sh*t]

Your post makes no sense, Matt is 12 years younger than Morrissey, the band sell shit loads more records than Morrissey and they sell out far bigger venues than Morrissey, so not sure why you would think they need to use Morrissey's name for attention?

Oh phoney

 

[Crisstti]

“I still believe he’s a brilliant, sensitive artist. Morrissey was one of the first where I was like, ‘that guy gets me’. I have genuine love for him.”

Actually really positive. Of course The Guardian focuses only on the negative in the headline.

“I still believe he’s a brilliant, sensitive artist. Morrissey was one of the first where I was like, ‘that guy gets me’. I have genuine love for him.”... but what's REALLY important, is if he has opinions different from mine.

Nothing worse than thoughtcrime.

 

[Watson]

So, to summarize...

Man in a band doesn't like the singer you do, and because of that, you hate him.

Have I got that right?

Given your past success rate, I'd say almost certainly not.

 

[goinghome]

“I still believe he’s a brilliant, sensitive artist. Morrissey was one of the first where I was like, ‘that guy gets me’. I have genuine love for him.”... but what's REALLY important, is if he has opinions different from mine.

Nothing worse than thoughtcrime.

What noble lads though, so pc and conformist. In turn, I imagine Morrissey doesn't bother listening to The National, because they have so little to say.

Incidentally, if Sam & co put an item from this populist source up on Central, they'd be castigated mercilessly around here. Then worthier stuff mightn't get a look-in. 1+1=3.

 

[Anonemous]

Welcome to how the rest of the world views Morrissey outside of your little echo chamber.

 

[NealCassidy]

This is where we ask whether Bowie was a paedophile or not

 

[MoneyChangesEverything]

Another sh*tty old man talking sh*t about M anytime he can and get some extra attention, like the guitar of the smiths. At least, in the latter, I'm glad M did shut his mouth.

*looks at The National's album sales*
*looks at the fact that The National actually release albums*
*looks at the venues The National are selling out*

Yeah sure, he's just slagging off Moz for attention, and that's why his band are selling records, making records, and selling out venues, because people come for the singers well known ability to slag off Moz. Which somehow sells more tickets than the actual Morrissey. Whatever you say, Einstein.

 

[ACTON]

Welcome to how the rest of the world views Morrissey outside of your little echo chamber.

Fuk off back to your oxygen rich utopia so.

 

[ACTON]

This is where we ask whether Bowie was a paedophile or not

I grew up in a primary school and secondary school system rife with paedophiles. You could spot their dripping mouths a mile away and you stayed away under all circumstances even if it meant running home to Ma in the middle of the day. I say that as a person who, at the time, could get home fast and didn't sleep over in any school. Fuk them all and the sick system that allowed them to exist. My mother, as a child, was made to stand in a line of kids on a path as the degenerate nuns and priests paraded little kids born out of wedlock. So many of those babies were left to starve to death because they were an affront to 'God'. That is to say an affront to the void of nothingness. Don't move this to off-topic. Moz grew up.in the same mindless violence.

 

[Anonymous]

Shouldn't this band change their name for these easily offended times, as British Sea Power did? I mean - 'The National' sounds pretty nationalist. How have they not been cancelled yet by the snowflake brigade?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Similar, apart from Rylan I didn't enjoy I am easy to find to find at all, it was a real let down after the excellent Sleep Well Beast. Saying that they're brilliant live so I've got tickets for their Alexandra Palace gig.

They really are great live. Haven’t seen them since 2010, though, but the Way Out West 2008 gig I saw is one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to.

 

[William Fisher]

Morrissey was a bit of an arsehole in the 1980s and he hasn’t really changed.

I feel if that has come as a surprise to you in the last 10 years or so, then you never really “got him” in the first place.

 

[ACTON]

Morrissey was a bit of an arsehole in the 1980s and he hasn’t really changed.

I feel if that has come as a surprise to you in the last 10 years or so, then you never really “got him” in the first place.

Perhaps and perhaps not. But nobody speaks for all Moz fans. That was his mistake. He's entitled to his opinion without projecting it on everyone. There is no 'boat of Morrissey fans'. We're all different. In a decade intent on making everyone the exact same.

 

[William Fisher]

Perhaps and perhaps not. But nobody speaks for all Moz fans. That was his mistake. He's entitled to his opinion without projecting it on everyone. There is no 'boat of Morrissey fans'. We're all different. In a decade intent on making everyone the exact same.

Agreed. Don’t get me wrong, I love Morrissey. But he probably wouldn’t like me. And that’s fine.

 

[ACTON]

Agreed. Don’t get me wrong, I love Morrissey. But he probably wouldn’t like me. And that’s fine.

Exactly. I feel the same.

 

[ActualMorrisseyFan88]

No actually we aren’t all in the same boat. Morrissey is free to say what he wants and doesn’t have to tiptoe around sensitive so called artists within the music industry who never took a stand that wasn’t approved by the establishment mainstream.

 

[johnny marr is sh*t]

*looks at The National's album sales*
*looks at the fact that The National actually release albums*
*looks at the venues The National are selling out*

Yeah sure, he's just slagging off Moz for attention, and that's why his band are selling records, making records, and selling out venues, because people come for the singers well known ability to slag off Moz. Which somehow sells more tickets than the actual Morrissey. Whatever you say, Einstein.

Hahaha cry baby cry. Go tell the nation... or whatever it calls.

You just dont get it, and never will.

 

[Johnnie Ray]

Saw the National live in 2009/10 and then again in 2019 (I think)

The first concert was a bit of a snoozefest (Brixton) and the second was even more snore-inducing. The lead singer went on a walkabout and sang from behind the bar. If you need tricks like that to engage the crowd then it's pretty desperate. (imo)

Some good records in their earlier days but as soon as they became flagwavers for the Democratic Party I went rapidly off them. Plus their music became boring.

Then go see Kid Rock, azzwipe.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Welcome to how the rest of the world views Morrissey outside of your little echo chamber.

Speaking for myself, and I get the feeling others may agree, but one of the reasons why so many fell in love with Morrissey is because of the way the world views Morrissey. And I assume it may be the same for the younger audience members that are showing up to his shows these days.