Fiona Dodwell: "Sing Your Life: How Morrissey Became Music’s Greatest Lyricist" (December 21, 2022)

Sing Your Life: How Morrissey Became Music’s Greatest Lyricist

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Was hoping for a Bonfire review...
Ah well.
FWD.

Update:
Added as a post on Morrissey Central:
THE SINGING VOICE IS LOVE - December 22, 2022

 

[Johnnie Ray]

Greatest lyricists of the English language:
Nick Cave
Ian Curtis
Scott Walker
Morrissey
Robert Smith
Leonard Cohen
Conor Oberst
David Eugene Edwards
Bruce Springsteen
Kris Kristofferson
Willie Nelson
Jason Molina
Hank Williams

Obviously Bob Dylan, Joe Strummer.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Obviously Bob Dylan, Joe Strummer.

Yes, I should’ve included Strummer.

 

[goinghome]

A comprehensive saunter through Morrissey's various phases and themes.
Saying the press continually vilifies him, and all other music acts are vapid, overshoots a little: points made. A nice end of year roundup.

 

[jmb066]

Amen, keep up the praise Fiona.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Yes, I should’ve included Strummer.

Over Paul Weller?

and over Ray Davies? Who was an obvious influence on Paul.

 

[Johnnie Ray]

Over Paul Weller?

and over Ray Davies? Who was an obvious influence on Paul.

Ray Davies for sure.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Ray Davies for sure.

One of Lennon’s favorite songs at one point was ‘Wonder Boy’ and I read somewhere Paul McCartney always made sure to get the latest Kinks album even before it was released.

 

[Johnnie Ray]

One of Lennon’s favorite songs at one point was ‘Wonder Boy’ and I read somewhere Paul McCartney always made sure to get the latest Kinks album even before it was released.

 

[hand in glove]

Oh, Fiona…Hows that Zak Bagans obsession going?

it’s nice to have someone Moz can trust to write articles for him, but hers are way too sweet and ridiculous. I’d just like to read an interview that isn’t contrived and/or controlled. But who would he trust to do such a thing?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Over Paul Weller?

and over Ray Davies? Who was an obvious influence on Paul.

Most definitely. But that’s saying more about Joe than Paul or Ray.

 

[nicky wire's legs]

Agreed. Stylisticly Moz´s lyrics are very clearly indebted to 60s ´kitchen sink´dramatists like Shelagh Delaney, with even a touch of Joe Orton at times. Sweet and Tender Hooligan is very Joe Orton. Where you can see the influence of Wilde though is when Moz is at his witty best in some of the classic interviews. It´s been a while since we had one of those.

agree, but even at his wittiest, moz's wit is a bit dour. oscar wilde was never dour.

 

[Famous when dead]

Now a Central post:

THE SINGING VOICE IS LOVE

THE SINGING VOICE IS LOVE - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - THE SINGING VOICE IS LOVE

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

www.morrisseycentral.com

 

[Redacted]

She is such a terrible writer, I really have difficulty paying attention while I read I am thinking about my grocery list, what color to paint my nails - important things like that.

This however ........

It is clearly demonstrated through the artist’s solo successes (of the level that certain other band members subsequently failed to attain) that Morrissey’s unique lyrics and vocals apparently provided that extra “something” that music fans so obviously adored and needed.

Who do we think she means? Craig? No. Andy? No. Mike? No.
I think only one other band member has a solo career.....
Now that Johnny has stopped taking shots at Morrissey after the high drama at the beginning of this year, Morrissey is going to do this by proxy through Fiona? And she is just going to insert herself into this like Nile? I think Morrissey is not just aware of this, but part of it, I don't think it was done without his permission and it's wrong. He has been dredging up every single complaint and grudge, and now this? Johnny has pretty much been behaving himself, as far as I know.

 

[Mimi Ramone]

She is such a terrible writer, I really have difficulty paying attention while I read I am thinking about my grocery list, what color to paint my nails - important things like that.

This however ........

It is clearly demonstrated through the artist’s solo successes (of the level that certain other band members subsequently failed to attain) that Morrissey’s unique lyrics and vocals apparently provided that extra “something” that music fans so obviously adored and needed.

Who do we think she means? Craig? No. Andy? No. Mike? No.
I think only one other band member has a solo career.....
Now that Johnny has stopped taking shots at Morrissey after the high drama at the beginning of this year, Morrissey is going to do this by proxy through Fiona? And she is just going to insert herself into this like Nile? I think Morrissey is not just aware of this, but part of it, I don't think it was done without his permission and it's wrong. He has been dredging up every single complaint and grudge, and now this? Johnny has pretty much been behaving himself, as far as I know.

Yeah it's absolutely hard to read and I stopped right at the beginning. Because that doesn't sound like an in depth analysis. It sounds like snippets M wrote to get his points across again and again. I don't understand the necessity for this, because - again - he really doesn't need this kind of promotion. If he would let his work and art stand alone for itself he would get a better result, because many many people like it. But hearing over and over again that he's THE one artist, that is bashed by everyone just gets old and getting a fan writer to write everything you want and even to take a dig at your former colleagues just doesn't help the cause, because it looks weak and he could do so much better than that. And I mean the way/medium he uses to communicate. As a lot of people here already pointed out, do interviews, talk, get your points across yourself etc.

 

[Luxo]

Now a Central post:

THE SINGING VOICE IS LOVE

THE SINGING VOICE IS LOVE - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - THE SINGING VOICE IS LOVE

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

www.morrisseycentral.com

Lol of course there is.

 

[Luxo]

She is such a terrible writer, I really have difficulty paying attention while I read I am thinking about my grocery list, what color to paint my nails - important things like that.

This however ........

It is clearly demonstrated through the artist’s solo successes (of the level that certain other band members subsequently failed to attain) that Morrissey’s unique lyrics and vocals apparently provided that extra “something” that music fans so obviously adored and needed.

Who do we think she means? Craig? No. Andy? No. Mike? No.
I think only one other band member has a solo career.....
Now that Johnny has stopped taking shots at Morrissey after the high drama at the beginning of this year, Morrissey is going to do this by proxy through Fiona? And she is just going to insert herself into this like Nile? I think Morrissey is not just aware of this, but part of it, I don't think it was done without his permission and it's wrong. He has been dredging up every single complaint and grudge, and now this? Johnny has pretty much been behaving himself, as far as I know.

The irony being that Johnny has had a very successful career as a solo artist, addition to existing bands (e.g. The Cribs), song writer for other successful artists (must be good, easy money for him) and as a film score composer/writer. Johnny is doing pretty well for himself.

 

[T Rox]

The irony being that Johnny has had a very successful career as a solo artist, addition to existing bands (e.g. The Cribs), song writer for other successful artists (must be good, easy money for him) and as a film score composer/writer. Johnny is doing pretty well for himself.

Not only that, Johnny now has the legendary status and unadulterated adoration that Morrissey craves. It's because Johnny worked hard to get where he is, whereas Morrissey only does what he wants and expects people to come to him.

 

[Roman Holiday]

Not only that, Johnny now has the legendary status and unadulterated adoration that Morrissey craves. It's because Johnny worked hard to get where he is, whereas Morrissey only does what he wants and expects people to come to him.

Better to be a pariah with Morrissey’s solo discography than enjoy “legendary status and unadulterated adoration” with Marr’s post-Smiths output.

 

[Les Tameside]

Yes, I should’ve included Strummer.

Right after Billy Bragg.

 

[T Rox]

Better to be a pariah with Morrissey’s solo discography than enjoy “legendary status and unadulterated adoration” with Marr’s post-Smiths output.

Have you looked at Johnny's post-Smiths discography? It is astounding and wide-ranging, hence his legendary status. I don't understand people who put him down and think it's making Morrissey look good. It's not. It doesn't have to be one or the other, Morrissey could be just as respected if he'd put the work in.