Morrissey Central "Witness To The World" (December 10, 2022)

WITNESS TO THE WORLD - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - WITNESS TO THE WORLD

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

www.morrisseycentral.com

 

[Redacted]

It could absolutely work for him. In better times he could've have started his own independent label, but I don't think he has the following for that anymore, or many friends/fans amongst British artists and acts.

Brett Gurewitz (of Bad Religion) started Epitaph Records in 1980, which is now one of the largest independent records in the world, and has its own subsidiaries (like Hellcat Records). Fat Mike of NOFX (who were signed to Epitaph) started Fat Wreck Chords in 1990 and, like Epitaph, it's still going strong now. Both Epitaph and Fat Wreck Chords give their artists freedom from strict contracts etc like the majors, while still enabling bands (both smaller and bigger acts) the opportunity to release music on vinyl and CD, both of which I'm sure Morrissey would enjoy.

It's worth mentioning that neither Bad Religion and NOFX, while being popular bands in their own right, have never achieved the levels of commercial success that Morrissey did at his height and all their music was released on indie labels, yet they still managed to set up their own labels which are still thriving over 30 and 40 years later.

This is interesting, but I agree, I don't think he has the following anymore and I really think the quality of his work is just very bad, his website is awful and he is up to his same old tricks so if he's been dropped or something, it's not hard to see why.

 

[Phranc & Open]

I thought it was Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton (do you think it sounds like it?)

Absolutely. I even developed romantic feelings for a very short time, during this very typical 70/80s AOR crooner ballad.

 

[Redacted]

Absolutely. I even developed romantic feelings for a very short time, during this very typical 70/80s AOR crooner ballad.

very short, me too

 

[Phranc & Open]

very short, me too

Actually, I'm no shorty too but this tune has uncomfortable lengths.

 

[Johnnie Ray]

Sorry but those woke kneelers deserve the loss. Go woke and choke

How's your lyric writing career coming along?

Couldn't be much worse, I'm assuming.

 

[Johnnie Ray]

find your surprise.
find your adventure.
find your exotic.
find your freedom.
find your wild side.
find your self.
strike a match and let msolo burn.
M should go on strike,everybody else is.

find your punctuation.

 

[Apollo]

Don't like the slide guitar on the live version of the song. Sounds like its being played on a banjo.

 

[Luxo]

His lyrics have become so trite

Yeah, it's a shame, it feels like he's running out of lyrics to fill a whole song, and I think it started happening in 2014 with World Peace. In my opinion, in the absence of decent, clever lyrics, they have declined into really repetitive songs, whereby he repeats the same verse over and over (Kiss Me A Lot: When You Open Your Legs - although I actually like these songs), cack-handed, corny rhyming (Who Will Protect Us From the Police (easily one of his worst songs), Bullfighter, What Kind of People Live In These Houses, Rebels Without Applause - the latter is a nice tune though), and just downright not that good in comparison to his previous work (almost the whole of Dog).

I just feel like the wit and cleverness behind his lyrics has faded, which I can completely understand, as I suspect it is incredibly difficult to maintain the quality he had in The Smiths, his early solo work and 2004-2006 solo stuff. It's saying something when one of his best songs since 2014 was a Pretenders cover.

I don't think this is one of his worst songs though, certainly lyrically, it's just a bit of a boring tune. Slide guitar is nice though. Very honky-tonk.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Yeah, it's a shame, it feels like he's running out of lyrics to fill a whole song, and I think it started happening in 2014 with World Peace. In my opinion, in the absence of decent, clever lyrics, they have declined into really repetitive songs, whereby he repeats the same verse over and over (Kiss Me A Lot: When You Open Your Legs - although I actually like these songs), cack-handed, corny rhyming (Who Will Protect Us From the Police (easily one of his worst songs), Bullfighter, What Kind of People Live In These Houses, Rebels Without Applause - the latter is a nice tune though), and just downright not that good in comparison to his previous work (almost the whole of Dog).

I just feel like the wit and cleverness behind his lyrics has faded, which I can completely understand, as I suspect it is incredibly difficult to maintain the quality he had in The Smiths, his early solo work and 2004-2006 solo stuff. It's saying something when one of his best songs since 2014 was a Pretenders cover.

I don't think this is one of his worst songs though, certainly lyrically, it's just a bit of a boring tune. Slide guitar is nice though. Very honky-tonk.

when comparing to their early work, it’s difficult to think of many great writers that have maintained their original form, a loss of vigor sets in, their fans complain.

Obviously there’s going to be changes in a writers evolution, so come the expected complaints from those that prefer a certain style, or more importantly, complaints from those that have identified with an earlier image of what they believe that artist is and what they believe that artist should only write about and how they should write. So with that identification in place, it’s difficult to accept an artist’s later art.
I prefer the earlier work of many artists, and I don’t really listen to their later work, with the two exceptions being Bowie and Scott Walker. But for me, with Morrissey, it’s really about his voice. The other day I was really enjoying Rebels Without Applause, and realized how perfect it was, perfect for me, in that moment, at this time in my life.

Of course there’s the repetition and a change in, shall we say, poetic direction, so subjectivity, taste plays a role in our judgments. But if one can put aside those preferences, they will find that in actuality, all his later work is great, when not comparing it to his earlier work. It’s strange how we automatically compare, rather than appreciating and enjoying what’s new before us, maybe it’s easier to live in a past that’s familiar to us. Though I’m not denying that taste and mood plays a huge part in deciding what we are going to listen to.

today, for me ….

 

[Vesper Nocturne]

I think fixation on comparison happens when people are unwilling and uninterested in being witness to an evolution. But an evolution is driven by the passage of time, and by a broader human experience having been lived as a result of that, and by growth. All of which are good things, and which add to the layers and complexities of every/any new output.

A total fixation on comparing something (constantly) unfavorably with something which cannot be equivalently compared, I think shows an unwillingness and a disinterest in and a very negative mindset in the approach to art in general. And that’s fine. Not everyone has an interest in art, this is a fact, and it’s just one of the many things that makes us all different

 

[Les Tameside]

Why don’t you take a minute and change your moniker name. That’s disgusting to use that word in such a ‘trite’ way. People’s lives have been crushed by loved ones forever, never to get their soul back, because of that word.

I’m ashamed for Morrissey for writing such despicable lyrics as ‘Jim Jim Falls’. I love Morrissey, and what he has done for my life. My life would be forever different if I never heard his voice. But those lyrics and to even sing them doesn’t help anyone. Morrissey, that’s your worst effort ever. And it’s too bad because you wasted a good track with lyrics that are triggering and taken lightly.

******* You’re sick. And if your life has ever been touched by that act, I am forever sorry for you. Truly. But to put that as your name, be better.

David, do the right thing and take it down. Free speech is one thing, but triggering words that are not used in any useful or helpful context can cause misery for some.

I ask this with honest intent, and hope for all.

Jim Jim Falls is a great song, and a remarkably honest account of a type of conversation many people have with themselves. It’s no slight on anyone, I don’t feel.

 

[Les Tameside]

when comparing to their early work, it’s difficult to think of many great writers that have maintained their original form, a loss of vigor sets in, their fans complain.

Obviously there’s going to be changes in a writers evolution, so come the expected complaints from those that prefer a certain style, or more importantly, complaints from those that have identified with an earlier image of what they believe that artist is and what they believe that artist should only write about and how they should write. So with that identification in place, it’s difficult to accept an artist’s later art.
I prefer the earlier work of many artists, and I don’t really listen to their later work, with the two exceptions being Bowie and Scott Walker. But for me, with Morrissey, it’s really about his voice. The other day I was really enjoying Rebels Without Applause, and realized how perfect it was, perfect for me, in that moment, at this time in my life.

Of course there’s the repetition and a change in, shall we say, poetic direction, so subjectivity, taste plays a role in our judgments. But if one can put aside those preferences, they will find that in actuality, all his later work is great, when not comparing it to his earlier work. It’s strange how we automatically compare, rather than appreciating and enjoying what’s new before us, maybe it’s easier to live in a past that’s familiar to us. Though I’m not denying that taste and mood plays a huge part in deciding what we are going to listen to.

today, for me ….

The thing is, Morrissey has shown himself to be capable of transcending the norms: World Peace was fantastic, and Dog was his best album since the simply ace Maladjusted.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

The thing is, Morrissey has shown himself to be capable of transcending the norms: World Peace was fantastic, and Dog was his best album since the simply ace Maladjusted.

Interesting. So you think World Peace, Dog, and Maladjusted are examples of him ‘transcending the norms’ ?

What are ‘the norms’ then?

 

[Les Tameside]

Interesting. So you think World Peace, Dog, and Maladjusted are examples of him ‘transcending the norms’ ?

What are ‘the norms’ then?

As you know (and laid out clearly) there is in most careers a story of inevitable creative problematics over time. Success tends to distance people from (1) the concerns of a fanbase, and (2) need. Morrissey has proven he can transcend that story.

Which means I find no compulsion to patronise him. You clearly take another tack.

 

[Vesper Nocturne]

As you know (and laid out clearly) there is in most careers a story of inevitable creative problematics over time. Success tends to distance people from (1) the concerns of a fanbase, and (2) need. Morrissey has proven he can transcend that story.

Which means I find no compulsion to patronise him. You clearly take another tack.

This is not exactly true, and this is a really antagonistic post, although through your (falsely) projecting patronizing behavior on someone else, you appear to be pretending that it isn’t. Not only did you not answer a fair question - which would have helped everyone understand better where you’re coming from, but also your original post doesn’t take into consideration under any form the fact that people have different tastes

 

[Was I ever any good]

find your punctuation.

He doesn’t need it, he never has, nor never will.

 

[Was I ever any good]

So many pompous people on here, carrying themselves on about grammar.
Why?
As long as you get their point FFS

 

[Uncleskinny]

So many pompous people on here, carrying themselves on about grammar.
Why?
As long as you get their point FFS

Well, language is important. Wouldn't you agree? Perhaps you're happy with sloppy language?

 

[Les Tameside]

This is not exactly true, and this is a really antagonistic post, although through your (falsely) projecting patronizing behavior on someone else, you appear to be pretending that it isn’t. Not only did you not answer a fair question - which would have helped everyone understand better where you’re coming from, but also your original post doesn’t take into consideration under any form the fact that people have different tastes

Thanks for reminding me that people have different tastes.

 

[Vesper Nocturne]

Thanks for reminding me that people have different tastes.

No. I was reminding you that if you had answered the question, it could have led to a more interesting and more compelling conversation