What Song(s) Is Best To Introduce Someone To The Smiths?

[ACrackOnTheHead]

Hey there all. I'm a teenager and i'm in a band with two other friends. It's not a serious band, atleast not yet, and we all get on really well. We all like the same kind of music, though the main thing we share is a love of The Beatles. We all love the Beatles, they are all our favourite band. I love the Smiths (second favourite) and i've talked about The Smiths to them, so they want to listen to some of it. I've never known someone else who likes the Smiths, so it would be brilliant if they did. What song or songs would be best to introduce them to The Smiths? I was thinking How Soon Is Now but i'm not sure. What do you all think?

[Amy]

The Boy With the Thorn In His Side.
Shoplifters...
There Is a Light.

[Irregular Regular]

Reel Around The Fountain
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
Well I Wonder
Stretch Out and Wait
Half A Person
Paint A Vulgar Picture
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
The Headmaster Ritual
Cemetry Gates
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

Any of these or any of the many others they recorded...

[Tibby]

I think This Charming Man is a perfect song to introduce someone to the Smiths

Some others

Still Ill

The Queen Is Dead

Well I Wonder

How Soon Is Now

Stop Me

Half A Person

Sheila Take a Bow

[still ill life]

Reel Around The Fountain
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
Well I Wonder
Stretch Out and Wait
Half A Person
Paint A Vulgar Picture
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
The Headmaster Ritual
Cemetry Gates
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

Any of these or any of the many others they recorded...

Haha, you actually managed to mention 8 of my 24 favorite songs by them, and the 9th one is almost a favorite as well.

[still ill life]

I think Panic could be a good song too for this purpose.

[123xyz]

How Soon Is Now ?
Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
What She Said
Unhappy Birthday
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Bigmouth Strikes Again


I think these tracks act as perfect introductions for the uninitiated. I've found that the tunes themselves tend to prick up the ears of the casual listener more than most. I would ,perhaps, give the lyrically camp/theatrically forlorn songs a miss at this stage . From my own experience, I've found others exposed too early to songs like "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" , "Ask" , "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" etc., tend to end up fixated (irritatedly or otherwise) on that aspect of Morrissey's persona and overlooking the music itself.

For beginning listeners, try the songs that let the music breathe ,with Morrissey being merely another band member rather than the focus.


Good luck. If you get a chance ,let us all know how the experiment turns out...

[mcrickson]

"Golden Lights."

[Oh my god, it's Robby!]

for dancing to?
Bigmouth Strikes Again

for them to hear me karaoke?
How Soon Is Now?

for me to just play for them at home?
Cemetry Gates

& if I really like them?
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

[Aberratio]

IMO, Panic is the best, mainly because of it's beggining.

[EPbabe]

I think This Charming Man is a perfect song to introduce someone to the Smiths

Yes, if I had to pick just one song, that would be the one.

[billy scissors]

What Difference Does It Make?

Their second best song.

[PregnantForTheLastTime]

Good thread. I find myself in a similar position. I want to introduce someone to the canon and I'm not sure where to start. So I'm directing this specifically at those here who are musicians: which Smiths songs are most sophisticated musically? Complexity is good. I could probably list a few on my own, but I'm not a trained musician and I have an ear for quirk, which sometimes comes at the expense of formal excellence.

Thank you!

[mcrickson]

Good thread. I find myself in a similar position. I want to introduce someone to the canon and I'm not sure where to start. So I'm directing this specifically at those here who are musicians: which Smiths songs are most sophisticated musically? Complexity is good. I could probably list a few on my own, but I'm not a trained musician and I have an ear for quirk, which sometimes comes at the expense of formal excellence.

Thank you!

Technically speaking, "Girl Afraid" is the most intricate guitar line Johnny wrote while with the Smiths. It is hands-down the hardest to play correctly.

[DAVIE]

Give 'em "The Very Best Of The Smiths". If it got a young fan like me into The Smiths, then it'll work on anyone.

[Anonymous]

Money Changes Everything

[Tibby]

Yes, if I had to pick just one song, that would be the one.

The proof is in the pudding as they say my whole family knows this one.From my nieces and nephews and my sisters to even my mom have to sing along when I play this one.If your talking about introducing Morrissey I would choose Suedehead.

[EPbabe]

Money Changes Everything

[lindsey1151]

"Golden Lights."

[billybu69]

Wow look at that 18 different opinions and they're all right, except for mcrickson obviously.