Moz flipping Nat Merchant the bird?

[The Original J.T. Ripper]

In the video "Introducing Morrissey", the second song they perform is Have-A-Go Merchant, which, as we all know is a potshot at Natalie Merchant for her essaying his Every Day is like Sunday tune....

Twice, as he sings "ha ha, ha ha, ha ha, ahhh-ahhh HA HAAAA!" he leans forward towards the crowd in those last four syllables and turns his hand into a fist and shoves it upwards into the air, literally as if he were were giving somebody the finger.

Is this what I'm seeing? Is this effectively Morrissey mocking Merchant by flipping her the bird in concert?

Great song, and great performance all-around..... somehow, and I can't explain it, there's something vaguely amusing about seeing the HUGE poster of Cornelius Carr (from Boxers) behind the stage while Moz is mocking Natalie Merchant..... makes me smile every time.

J.T.

 

[Tart Tart]

Who says "Have-A-Go Merchant" is about Nathalie ?

> In the video "Introducing Morrissey", the second song they
> perform is Have-A-Go Merchant, which, as we all know is a potshot at
> Natalie Merchant for her essaying his Every Day is like Sunday tune....

Who's "we" ? "Have-A-Go Merchant" is a common phrase, is there any evidence that he intended to excoriate her attempt at EDILYS ? There have been no shortage of execrable covers which he has he ignored, after all.

 

[Mickey Vegas]

Re: Who says "Have-A-Go Merchant" is about Nathalie ?

> Who's "we" ? "Have-A-Go Merchant" is a common phrase,
> is there any evidence that he intended to excoriate her attempt at EDILYS
> ? There have been no shortage of execrable covers which he has he ignored,
> after all.

I don't think he liked the cover version, although that's what I've heard, I have no proof. If it's true I disagree with him, I quite like it. 'Have A Go Merchant' is a common phrase and leans much closer to the actual subject matter of the song, than that of a jibe at the lovely Natalie.

 

[The Original J.T. Ripper]

Re: Who says "Have-A-Go Merchant" is about Nathalie ?

> Who's "we" ? "Have-A-Go Merchant" is a common phrase,
> is there any evidence that he intended to excoriate her attempt at EDILYS
> ? There have been no shortage of execrable covers which he has he ignored,
> after all.

This is relatively common knowledge.

Heck, even the internet encyclopaedia Wikipedia refers to his "response to Natalie":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_Hate (2nd para under SONGS)

Merchant released her cover of EDILS in April of 1993, and Morrissey follows up in January of 1995 with "Have-a-go Merchant".... the timing isn't coincidental. Furthermore, yes that phrase is a common phrase, but that's exactly the point -- Moz loved to use double entendres, and it's right up his alley to cleverly disguise a potshot at Natalie via the use of a wellknown phrase...

J.T.

 

[Danny]

Re: Who says "Have-A-Go Merchant" is about Nathalie ?

Yes, but there's nothing whatsoever in the song that points to that meaning. The only thing is the title which is a well known saying anyway.

Sorry, it don't make sense. Morrissey is never that ambiguous.

 

[Tart Tart]

Re: Who says "Have-A-Go Merchant" is about Nathalie ?

> This is relatively common knowledge.

> Heck, even the internet encyclopaedia Wikipedia refers to his
> "response to Natalie":

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_Hate (2nd para under SONGS)

> Merchant released her cover of EDILS in April of 1993, and Morrissey
> follows up in January of 1995 with "Have-a-go Merchant".... the
> timing isn't coincidental. Furthermore, yes that phrase is a common
> phrase, but that's exactly the point -- Moz loved to use double entendres,
> and it's right up his alley to cleverly disguise a potshot at Natalie via
> the use of a wellknown phrase...

> J.T.

That's hardly convincing - "even the internet encyclopaedia Wikipedia" - you do realise that anyone can submit and edit Wikipedia content without verification - and that particular set of articles appear to be a catalogue of factual errors and spurious unsubstantiated opinions.

 

[Tart Tart]

PS: Who says "Have-A-Go Merchant" is about Nathalie ?

> That's hardly convincing - "even the internet encyclopaedia
> Wikipedia" - you do realise that anyone can submit and edit Wikipedia
> content without verification - and that particular set of articles appear
> to be a catalogue of factual errors and spurious unsubstantiated opinions.

.. and truly atrocious writing:

Wikipedia on "Kill Uncle" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_Uncle

"It emblematizes the quintessence of the album as a whole in many ways"

 

[The Original J.T. Ripper]

Re: PS: Who says "Have-A-Go Merchant" is about Nathalie ?

> .. and truly atrocious writing:

> Wikipedia on "Kill Uncle"
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_Uncle "It emblematizes the
> quintessence of the album as a whole in many ways"

Pretty awkward writing, to be sure... probably in an effort to sound more intelligent than the author really is!

J.T.

 

[bigglespercifoth]

Are you still here, you nazi? I always read you saying you are distraught at all the liberals and are packing your bags and f***ing off, but you keep coming back. Why?

 

[The Original J.T. Ripper]

> Are you still here, you nazi? I always read you saying you are distraught
> at all the liberals and are packing your bags and f***ing off, but you
> keep coming back. Why?

Still putting words in my mouth, hmmm? Nice to see you're as mean-spirited and vitriolic as ever.

Have a nice Labour Day,
J.T.