Yes, Johnny's work is incredible, but once Morrissey starts droning over it, it all goes to shit. Ah, yes, Jeane would be interesting now. Although the thing I often feel with Jeane is, despite having written those biting lyrics, Morrissey doesn't FEEL them because it's not a situation he's ever been in - ie it involves a relationship. With a woman (and we all know what he thinks about those). So I do wonder whether he could give it the required empathy, but it would be really interesting to find out.
You've got everything now
Miserable lie
Pretty girls make graves
Accept yourself
Girl afraid
This night has opened my eyes
I don't owe you anything
Jeane (Morrissey vocals) - I love the song but I agree with Amy - his vocals are flat and tuneless here. I love the Sandie Shaw version, she seems to wring the maximum emotion from the (brilliant) lyrics and makes you really feel the desperation.
It's a cliche but I think they got better as they went on. I find some of the early stuff a bit monotone - although Johnny's work was often still brilliant, I think it took until Meat is Murder for Morrissey to properly find his voice and confidence with vocal melodies.
But I've got to disagree with others here, I think Never Had No-one Ever is a masterpiece!
Yes, I think that's exactly it, they are his own kitchen sink narratives, and his homage to the ones he loved on film. I still think they're awful, though! I always wondered if 'Jeane' (and Miserable Lie) were about the time he spent living with Linder Sterling, actually. I think he has had relationships with women (perhaps few and far between). It could also be seen in the same vein as his other "Taste of Honey", kitchen sink narratives, along with "This Night Has Opened My Eyes".
I'm making a list of shitty Smiths songs. I've come up with:
Miserable Lie
Jeane (Sorry, it could be good, but his voice is so flat and tuneless all the way through that I can't bear it)
Meat is Murder (not really a 'song', is it?)
Accept Yourself
Death At One's Elbow
Never Had No One Ever
....erm, that's it. Everything else was solid gold.
The whole world did. Guess Babe has his personal opinion.
I like The Smiths as much as the next fan, but come on!
The Twinkle cover is awesome. ...far better than any original he’s written since Your Arsenal.
As for the others in your list of “worst Smiths songs”, those that are weaker are weaker because of Morrissey. If he’s getting credit for lyrically flushing out the brilliance brought forth by Marr, Rourke and Joyce, he can also take it for the utter pap in WIA4LW and DAOE.
Musically? Not one bad song in the entire lot. The only weakness - especially toward the end - was Moz. ...and it’s laughable that folks are pointing out weak tunes in a brilliant Smiths oeuvre, while excusing 25 years of GARBAGE that he’s released as a solo artist.
Puh.
This Night is GORGEOUS. Top to bottom.Who is excusing him? Most people here spend 7 days a week shitting all over Morrissey's solo career. I was just allowing some small opportunity to extend this pastime to the Smiths, which is very difficult, and most people can't come up with more than 5 songs.
Take your point about the music - but "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" is a bit of a musical non-entity isn't it, despite good lyrics?
Even the Beatles didn't have a perfect musical catalogue no long running act has, but the Smiths came close with the exception of a couple of dodgy covers and maybe Accept Yourself.
Nothing that The Smiths recorded comes close to the greatness that is The White Album/The Beatles.
Agreed a great album but even that had that piggies song on it. What the hell was that about?