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Are the Smiths Funny? - column by Tom Ewing in Pitchfork
posted by davidt on Thursday August 02 2007, @11:00AM

 Moho sends the link:

Are the Smiths Funny - Pitchfork
Column by Tom Ewing

Excerpt:

When I was 16 the Smiths were the most important thing in my life and so I had one particular conversation many times. Somebody would say of the band, "I hate them, they're so miserable." "No they're not," I would pipe up, "They're funny." Cue eye-rolling, exclamations, explanations, etceteras. But I was right-- the Smiths were funny. Not so much for the occasional punchline-- "Caligula would have blushed," "You should hear me play pian-ohh"-- but for Morrissey's theatricality and timing: You could always take him as seriously as you needed to, he never demanded it.

I could say those things until my gladioli wilted, but most of the people I talked to weren't buying it. The miserableness of the Smiths was what I think of as the Big Fact about the band. Most bands have one: The thing that everyone who's heard of an act but doesn't generally listen to them knows about them. The Big Fact about Joy Division is that Ian Curtis killed himself. The Big Fact about Ashlee Simpson is that she lip-synched on TV. The Big Fact about Amy Winehouse is that she likes a drink or two. And so on.

 
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Are the Smiths Funny? - column by Tom Ewing in Pitchfork | Log in/Create an Account | Top | 19 comments | Search Discussion
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The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
Well . . (Score:1)
I always thought the Big Fact about Joy Division was that the singer sounded like Vic Reeves no matter what he did, and Amy Winehouse’s infamous appendage was that atrocious beehive hairdo thing. I’ve not heard of Ashlee (what sort of spelling’s that?) Simpson. There’s probably a good reason for this.

I think my actual point was that The Smiths are funny, to some.
Poppycocteau <celticcurls_4@hotmail.com> -- Thursday August 02 2007, @11:23AM (#270503)
(User #9489 Info)
 We are ugly but we have the music
[ Reply to this comment ]
    Agree!!!! (Score:0)
    I've always said that the Smiths were/are funny.... I agree!!
    Anonymous -- Thursday August 02 2007, @11:24AM (#270504)
    [ Reply to this comment ]
      Well said... (Score:1)
      and the thing that people do not know or understand about Morrissey, solo, is that he makes people happy.
      PFTLT -- Thursday August 02 2007, @11:27AM (#270505)
      (User #19538 Info)
      [ Reply to this comment ]
        Really....... (Score:1)
        What can I say....I just love Morrissey's wit, charm & sense of humor.
        poetrylover -- Thursday August 02 2007, @02:12PM (#270509)
        (User #18707 Info)
         With loves, and hates and passions just like mine...
        [ Reply to this comment ]
          Me without clothes... (Score:1)
          "You could always take him as seriously as you needed to, he never demanded it."
          That´s nicely put. Though I´m sure Morrissey would have wanted to be taken seriously, his lyrics are full of humour & there are many songs that leave the decision whether or not to take them seriously to the listener. It´s something that I like a lot about Morrissey´s music.
          The whole article was enjoyable to read - & it also offered the idea to a new poll: Would you crawl naked across ground glass to get near Morrissey?
          I wouldn´t mind the ground glass so much, but I might feel a bit shy being naked near Morrissey! ;-)
          Cashews -- Thursday August 02 2007, @02:24PM (#270511)
          (User #18140 Info)
          [ Reply to this comment ]
          pitchfork? (Score:0)
          is worse than Madonna!
          Anonymous -- Thursday August 02 2007, @02:33PM (#270512)
          [ Reply to this comment ]
            Morrissey is funny and he was in the Smiths (Score:1)
            Morrissey has the last laugh sence of humour/ revenge is a dish best served cold funny. The Smiths were made up of a hero and three robots that could play instruments (a bit)
            Wolf whiskers -- Friday August 03 2007, @02:46AM (#270528)
            (User #18108 Info)
            [ Reply to this comment ]
            Swallowneck Humour (Score:0)
            I also believe that the Smiths fans are capable of great humour - take the Swallowneck posts, which are themselves a brilliant example of art imitating life!!!

            VIVA SWALLOWNECK!!!

            MarkFromScatter -- Friday August 03 2007, @08:29AM (#270541)
            (User #16900 Info)
             If you don't like me, don't look at me...
            [ Reply to this comment ]
            humour (Score:1)
            Morrissey is obviously humorous, and Id say probably funnier than comedians such as Russell Brand, now hes fake. I dont think Morrissey has seen through him yet.

            Anyway, just pick up a Morrissey interview from the 80s and early 90s there absolutely hilarious.
            LongHaired_Dandy -- Friday August 03 2007, @04:02PM (#270557)
            (User #19769 Info)
            [ Reply to this comment ]
              I agree (Score:1)
              everyone I knew said they were depressing. and yet they were the ONLY band that made me happy. funny, witty, interesting, poetic, the smiths are/were the BEST.
              crh -- Friday August 03 2007, @09:30PM (#270569)
              (User #18209 Info)
              [ Reply to this comment ]
                laugh until you cry (Score:1)
                There is a thin line between:
                  love and hate
                  friend and foe
                  creativity and madness

                To get the Smiths on the double decker bus sort of level, the listener is often one of those line walkers or at least understanding of line walkers.
                Morrissey makes me laugh until I cry and sometimes cry until I laugh.
                musicmattersman -- Saturday August 04 2007, @06:50PM (#270614)
                (User #18472 Info | http://www.musicmattersman.blogspot.com/ )
                [ Reply to this comment ]
                  lol (Score:1)
                  When i first started listening to the smiths i remeber busting up over the lyrics. They were so clever and the songs so well written. Even if it was meant to be sad i always felt happy and content inside. Morrissey is very funny because he doesn't try to be somebody he's not...
                  shorts -- Monday August 06 2007, @12:35PM (#270680)
                  (User #19582 Info)
                  [ Reply to this comment ]

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