What do you think of "I Ex-Love You"

[cat on a train]

Do you mean musically or lyrically? I think it definitely hovers on similar emotional territory. Also I wonder who's within those 'cold stone walls', or is that metaphorical, hinting at individual boundaries, as in 'I am I and you are you'?

Good point there, gh.
I was about to ask if we are really sure about the "cold stone halls". This metaphor seems a bit out of line with the rest of the lyrics, but i like the assonance of vowel sounds, there is something awkwardly British about it.

 

[cat on a train]

This song might grow on me once I can listen to the "cleaner" studio version.
First thing that sticks out is of course the verb "ex-love" in the title. Seems that the person who delivers the devastating news makes a little joke, but also makes it clear that it's no longer about the emotionally enmeshed self-victimizing ex-lover, but more about the other one as an individual agent who is now in control of things: "I ex-love you". It's assertive but also respectful, and also creative, because we need new words to break up these patterns of language to liberate ourselves from those who try to dominate our emotional experience even if we might come across like psychopaths to them who can without any sign of real compassion hum a little funny ditty while delivering the heart-breaking news.

This song is like a little, unobtrusive flower in the garden, overlooked but quite lovely.

 

[Amy]

I was so exited for this song, because of the previous hinted certain Smiths sound and the possible message of it and I must say on first listen I am disappointed. The live version totally falls flat and sounds lacklustre somehow. Lyric-wise...oh boy. His newer lyrics often sound like a never finished prompt or idea, as if he always just thinks "etc., etc" and therefore repeats the same three lines stretched with some mumbling sounds. But I also think, that it wasn't a total coincidence that he debuted the song on J Marr's BDay, it's Morrissey after all.

I was excited for this one, and I've liked a lot of the other Bonfire songs so I expected great things. Don't mind the music but the lyrics are really disappointing. Sit in your favourite chair... Let me brush your hair, really? It's such an interesting title and there were so many places he could have gone with it and it's like he didn't even try. If he were going to pen something about Johnny, I'd expect something a lot better than this thin gruel that could be about anyone and no-one. B-side material at best.

 

[NealCassidy]

The objective is to be a ditty like Telephone, not to be profound. .

 

[Luxo]

I like it!

I didn't think it was great based on the live recording (I'd rather withhold judgement until a studio recording is released), but those lyrics are terrible.

 

[That's Enough For Me]

He seems to be as bored performing it as I was listening to it.

 

[Anonymous]

He seems to be as bored performing it as I was listening to it.

Yeah - I don't know if he's ill, but he looked like he was going to fall asleep halfway through it.

 

[Ryan]

I’m hoping the remaining three Bonfire songs are more akin to I Live In Oblivion and Saint In A Stained Glass Window, and not this and Kerouac’s Crack.

 

[Anonymous]

Or how about even if we don't all love the song we at least are glad that he is still writing and singing and playing live?

Sure - anything is better than nothing, but that's a pretty low bar which even 'The Kid's a Looker' scrapes past.

 

[goinghome]

Good point there, gh.
I was about to ask if we are really sure about the "cold stone halls". This metaphor seems a bit out of line with the rest of the lyrics, but i like the assonance of vowel sounds, there is something awkwardly British about it.

Thanks for sharing poetic impressions, coat. I'm now in line with those who detected a Smiths vibe and who liked the quirky murmured parts, which suggest space gaps. The words offer interactional wiggle-room, by which I mean a menu of alternative thoughts in tight social situations; here a good relationship gone sour. This places the new tune in the category of songs that could save your life. So a warm welcome to I Ex-Love You

 

[The Alchemist]

And only after recent events. I wonder what anyone else makes of this?

Personally I think there's something in it.

Too much of a coincidence.

I am I and You are You...

 

[Anonymous]

I am I and You are You...

'..and we are all together - goo-goo g'joob'?

 

[Eldritch]

It's decent but like so many of his new(-ish) songs it seems to miss something. Some lyrical twist, some kind of a sting in its tail, some musical surprise in the last minute. Like so many other Bonfire songs, I wonder how long it took him to come up with this. Ten minutes? Of course you could labour over something a year and it could still be shit, but to me it just sounds like M. does not care enough anymore to put in the effort.

It's also interesting, that if I counted right, there were four songs in the opening night's setlist from Bonfire and nothing from Without. Does he want to keep the newer album under wrap or is he already over that one? Or did Whyte's latest departure sour the album for him?

 

[AndyRourke’stwin]

I think it's great. I really enjoy it. People say the bassline and some of the guitar sound too much like This Charming Man but I don't think so. I think it's just got that really fun upbeat Motown underbelly like Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness. It's like Motown-jangle pop.

The lyrics are smart without being intellectual and the whole song has that great deadpan-with-a-wink thing that he does so well. It's funny and sarcastic and relatable. Great melody. Love the slight lyrical callback to I've Change My Plea To Guilty, too.

I adore it.

i could skip happily to it. It’s for a certain mood.

 

[Eldritch]

If this was really planned as the first single in the now abandoned new album campaign, I guess the main reason would have been that people hadn't heard this before this week. A lead single needs all possible publicity, but it would be hard to get fans excited about a song they have already known for two years.

 

[The Ghost of Troubled Joe]

parts of the melody remind me of parts of 'By the Time I Get To Wherever I'm Going'. And the casual, nonchalant way he is singing it.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

@Skylarker

As this song proves again, he’s one of the best at delivering unique and memorable vocal melodies. And not to mention the obvious, but I will, a voice like no other singer, naturally comforting and engaging.

Musically, it points to the 60’s pop that was a huge influence on both him, Marr, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

Compared to his own high standards, this is disposable B-side material - at best. Would this pass muster on any Smiths album, or be considered for inclusion on a top tier record like 'Vauxhall' or 'Your Arsenal'? Not a chance - it would have been dismissed out of hand.

 

[April Snow]

I have listened to it a few times now, and it is a grower, also after watching the footage in sequence of the show - it fits in, with the live delivery of this song.

On the studio recording I think this is going to be really good too, with a good band behind it? As a full production?
Watching it at an isolated track on it's own really did not give the right vibe.

I thought his performance of "Rebels" was fabulous ........that song is growing on me (hate the auto tuned studio version) & I have liked Veronica from the start.

 

[Luxo]

It's decent but like so many of his new(-ish) songs it seems to miss something. Some lyrical twist, some kind of a sting in its tail, some musical surprise in the last minute. Like so many other Bonfire songs, I wonder how long it took him to come up with this. Ten minutes? Of course you could labour over something a year and it could still be shit, but to me it just sounds like M. does not care enough anymore to put in the effort.

It's also interesting, that if I counted right, there were four songs in the opening night's setlist from Bonfire and nothing from Without. Does he want to keep the newer album under wrap or is he already over that one? Or did Whyte's latest departure sour the album for him?

It doesn't help that everyone on stage looks bored as f*** when playing it. None of them seem to have a spring in their step in the slightest. Boz and Alain always looked like they were having fun.