What has happened to Bonfire of Teenagers? - media request

[The Queen of Batons]

In answer to the original question I find the whole Bonfire of Teenagers concept stale, even though the theme is relevant today. I don't have any enthusiasm left, and the announcement of a release date would have little impact on me. The best time for release has passed. It's boring. I would be excited by the release of any of the new (ie unreleased) material though including some of the tracks from BOT. How about throwing the titles of all the songs from the three supposed albums (two unreleased and one rumoured) into a hat and then taking inspiration from the order in which they are randomly drawn? Base the concepts of the new albums on that? Ie, release the material but not in the original BOT combination.

 

[Light Housework]

In answer to the original question I find the whole Bonfire of Teenagers concept stale, even though the theme is relevant today. I don't have any enthusiasm left, and the announcement of a release date would have little impact on me. The best time for release has passed. It's boring. I would be excited by the release of any of the new (ie unreleased) material though including some of the tracks from BOT. How about throwing the titles of all the songs from the three supposed albums (two unreleased and one rumoured) into a hat and then taking inspiration from the order in which they are randomly drawn? Base the concepts of the new albums on that? Ie, release the material but not in the original BOT combination.

You sound stir crazy, which is okay by me.

 

[robertw93]

In answer to the original question I find the whole Bonfire of Teenagers concept stale, even though the theme is relevant today. I don't have any enthusiasm left, and the announcement of a release date would have little impact on me. The best time for release has passed. It's boring. I would be excited by the release of any of the new (ie unreleased) material though including some of the tracks from BOT. How about throwing the titles of all the songs from the three supposed albums (two unreleased and one rumoured) into a hat and then taking inspiration from the order in which they are randomly drawn? Base the concepts of the new albums on that? Ie, release the material but not in the original BOT combination.

Production wise Bonfire will sound very different from Without Music

 

[Johnny]

There would 100% be issues in the UK with the title of BOT. We live in a nanny state here at present.

It's wrong to put this fiasco at the doors of Capitol. For some insane reason Moz wanted MC's vocals on a track despite her own label saying she would categorically not be allowed to do so.

Fought many a battle for Moz over the years but the failure to get BOT released on Capital is completely his fault.

He also has a well earned reputation of being impossible to work with and that has only become worse over the years.

 

[robertw93]

Thinking back, wasn't the release only set for America? There was never a deal for a UK release.

 

[SteveWS]

There would 100% be issues in the UK with the title of BOT.

I wish, for his sake, that he'd consider rewriting the lyrics, after some contemplation. It's not so much the political aspect of the words that trouble me but the disdain for ordinary people - our (supposed) ready and unthinking emotional reactions, our assumed naivety or docility etc etc - evident in the words. Even the title displays this patrician contempt and lack of actual care or respect; even the 'sentimental' part of the song is suspect in this way, IMO.

Besides, BOT's lyrics look as if they were written not in sympathy with the tragedy's victims or relatives or friends - that comes across as virtually an afterthought or merely as necessary lip-service - but instead to rail against immigration. It's not a good look, to say the least, if a tragedy's victims are used simply as a vehicle for one's political views.

Everyone's accustomed to Morrissey being outspoken regardless of personal consequence. That habit of his can be a very courageous one. This time, though, just as he lacked the courage to use the word 'Muslims' - as he surely wished to - then he also lacked the courage to use the word 'herd'. But then, he'd already made his attitude clear...

 

[gashonthenail]

I wish, for his sake, that he'd consider rewriting the lyrics, after some contemplation. It's not so much the political aspect of the words that trouble me but the disdain for ordinary people - our (supposed) ready and unthinking emotional reactions, our assumed naivety or docility etc etc - evident in the words. Even the title displays this patrician contempt and lack of actual care or respect; even the 'sentimental' part of the song is suspect in this way, IMO.

Besides, BOT's lyrics look as if they were written not in sympathy with the tragedy's victims or relatives or friends - that comes across as virtually an afterthought or merely as necessary lip-service - but instead to rail against immigration. It's not a good look, to say the least, if a tragedy's victims are used simply as a vehicle for one's political views.

Everyone's accustomed to Morrissey being outspoken regardless of personal consequence. That habit of his can be a very courageous one. This time, though, just as he lacked the courage to use the word 'Muslims' - as he surely wished to - then he also lacked the courage to use the word 'herd'. But then, he'd already made his attitude clear...

and oh, you should have seen her, leave for the arena...
That doesn't sound like an after-though to me. That sounds very much in sympathy.
I think the song has disdain for the manipulation of the population that was going on, and people allowing themselves to be manipulated. We all have a choice about whether to go along with such manipulation. And I think many people saw through it. What would you do if you weren't afraid?

 

[SteveWS]

I hope you're right, and that I was very wrong.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

I do hope all of our posts are put to great use for the OP’s article

 

[gashonthenail]

I hope you're right, and that I was very wrong.

What you may be right about is how the song will be described and characterised by the likes of The Guardian if the album ever gets to be released. But let's hope most people are equipped to take anything they read in The Guardian with a huge pinch of salt.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

and oh, you should have seen her, leave for the arena...
That doesn't sound like an after-though to me. That sounds very much in sympathy.
I think the song has disdain for the manipulation of the population that was going on, and people allowing themselves to be manipulated. We all have a choice about whether to go along with such manipulation. And I think many people saw through it. What would you if you weren't afraid?

I think the sole purpose and only reason for Morrissey to write the song BonfireOT, was to take a jibe at Oasis and their awful song. The rest of the subject matter, came second or possibly third.

Btw, I heard that Oasis has been rehearsing the song BonfireOT, for their reunion shows.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

There would 100% be issues in the UK with the title of BOT. We live in a nanny state here at present.

It's wrong to put this fiasco at the doors of Capitol. For some insane reason Moz wanted MC's vocals on a track despite her own label saying she would categorically not be allowed to do so.

Strange how some fans can’t see or even imagine why Morrissey would want MC on the song. I think Morrissey is right, just not in this world.

Fought many a battle for Moz over the years but the failure to get BOT released on Capital is completely his fault.

‘… there is a better world…’

He also has a well earned reputation of being impossible to work with and that has only become worse over the years.

and yet, Capitol were still keen on releasing the album at first. Even with their knowledge of his falling out with Harvest, it seems they felt it was worth buying the record off of Morrissey and working with him again.

 

[SteveWS]

What you may be right about is how the song will be described and characterised by the likes of The Guardian if the album ever gets to be released. But let's hope most people are equipped to take anything they read in The Guardian with a huge pinch of salt.

Well, regarding the press, we all probably have our trusted and untrusted favourites and non-favourites. Me, I'm still awaiting the arrival of the '100-metre-high icebergs headed towards London!' that the Express predicted...

 

[Musician]

The whole Bonfire fiasco tells a lot a about Morrissey he possibly wants not to be told. Re-writing the lyrics to "Bonfire"? Why? If this is his artistic statement, so be it - despite what he or his arse-licking minions here say, it's (as of today) still a free world, he can release this song with its current lyrics. However, if he really was the ARTIST he likes to paint himself, he would release the album. If I was an artist (well, I am actually) and wanted to release something so bad - an album, a book, whatever -I'd find the way to get the "product" to the people. In the actual case Morrissey even has the money to set a label and do it, but somehow letting people hear the album is not THAT important when it comes to spending money (which would be re-imbursed by the way).

 

[SteveWS]

Re-writing the lyrics to "Bonfire"? Why? If this is his artistic statement, so be it...

I agree. I just think, rightly or wrongly, that those lyrics reflect badly on him.

 

[JerryCan]

I think the sole purpose and only reason for Morrissey to write the song BonfireOT, was to take a jibe at Oasis and their awful song...

Can't remember which show but someone did call up to him after BOT and say "... but I like that song?".
I'm sure Moz replied "so do I".
Something like that.

 

[Grim Reaper]

and oh, you should have seen her, leave for the arena...
That doesn't sound like an after-though to me. That sounds very much in sympathy.
I think the song has disdain for the manipulation of the population that was going on, and people allowing themselves to be manipulated. We all have a choice about whether to go along with such manipulation. And I think many people saw through it. What would you if you weren't afraid?

I don't think there was manipulation in the way you are inferring, people worried about and indeed there was a huge spike in hate crimes, people came together and sang a song. A really cheesy song, but I see nothing with the motivation unless you think it was just about accepting the terrorists behaviour.

 

[Ryan]

The Cure just updated their official site with a new band logo and mailing list. Does this mean the first new album since 2008 is almost here?

If so, I have faith in BOT.

 

[gashonthenail]

I don't think there was manipulation in the way you are inferring, people worried about and indeed there was a huge spike in hate crimes, people came together and sang a song. A really cheesy song, but I see nothing with the motivation unless you think it was just about accepting the terrorists behaviour.

It was about accepting what happened as 'normal'. All part of living in a big city in the 21st century, in the words of Sadiq Khan. Don't think about or ask questions about why it happened, or how we might stop it happening again. Kumbaya. The same thing is happening all over again with Southport.

 

[gashonthenail]

I think the sole purpose and only reason for Morrissey to write the song BonfireOT, was to take a jibe at Oasis and their awful song. The rest of the subject matter, came second or possibly third.

Joking aside, Don't Look Back in Anger is a very good song - and I say that as someone who has never been a big Oasis fan. I'm sure Moz thinks so too. I think the issue for Moz was always how the song was used.
Have never been sure about Noel's singing though.