Behind The Music: The Smiths
PHOTO COURTESY OF: Rachel Quinones Two of The Smiths’s most popular albums
October 24, 2022
Hey Rams! Welcome to the first Behind the Music publication for the ‘22-’23 school year! It’s great to be back in the saddle. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this blog, here I discuss music, its meanings, and artists from all eras and styles. We’re going back to the 1980’s for this issue, with The Smiths.
The Smiths were an English rock band that emerged in 1982 in Manchester. Their line-up consisted of singer Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce. They are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s.
COMPASS senior Marissa McGrath says, “I love The Smiths. Honestly, their music is so easy to listen to. Morrissey has that kind of voice that you can listen to for hours on end and not get sick of it.”
This amazing band has so many notable songs to this day, consisting of “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” “This Charming Man,” “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” and “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now.”
Morrissey, the band’s frontman and songwriter, frequently wrote songs about tragedy and devastating scenarios. In “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” he writes, “If a ten ton truck kills the both of us, to die by your side, oh the pleasure and the privilege is mine.” This lyric is especially tragic because the devastation surrounding being hit by a truck can be terrifying, but having the one you love close to you seems to make it all okay.
“As a musician, I love the strum and the jangle pop against Morrissey’s sad, and a bit off key voice. It feels…true to life,” says the newly retired Millikan English teacher, Ms. Wood. While there is some controversy surrounding Morrissey’s outspoken nature, there is no doubt that The Smiths and Morrissey are the Indie Pop/New Wave Elvis Presley.
Their album, “The Queen Is Dead,” reached number 70 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1986 and stayed there for 38 weeks, longer than many other bands from the decade. That is one of their most famous albums to date.
As always Rams, keep listening to what you love, and for now listen to the Behind the Music Spotify playlist. Until next time, let the music move you.
Sofia Duarte • Dec 9, 2022 at 11:12 am
December 9, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On October 24, Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled “Behind the Music: The Smiths”. The article mentions the background of The Smiths, and the kind of music you should expect from this band. This article caught my eye because I love The Smiths, and I have been listening to them for a while now.. I would definitely be interested in knowing more about the background to some of their songs and why Morrissey wrote them. I think if you were to continue to write about this topic, it would be important to elaborate more on the history of the band. While reading this, I especially loved the quotes from both the music itself and people who just love the band. Some things I question now after reading your article are, what are their main inspirations? What are some similar bands? Who are their main audiences? I just love this article because my mom is the one who introduced me to The Smiths, it was a very happy memory. Overall I think your article was a great straight forward read, and it will definitely help open the youthful minds to a classic type of music. Awesome job, keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Sofia Duarte, Grade 11
Luis Chavez • Nov 18, 2022 at 7:28 pm
On October 24, Emma Lloyd wrote an article called “Behind The Music: The Smiths”. The article focuses on a popular 80’s band known as The Smiths and their legacy as one of the top tier musicians of their time. Prior to this article, I did not know that Morrissey was in a band, I thought that he was just a solo singer, but it turns out that he was part of this band of four. I really need to get it together with my 80’s bands. I also would like to ask a few questions regarding The Smiths. What was their debut album? When did this first piece of work get released? The article gave great information and description about the talented singer known as Morrissey, who was the singer and songwriter of the band. Lloyd did a great job mentioning what made Morrissey a unique singer, which was his voice, but what about the other band members? What were the qualities and skills that made the other group members such legendary musicians? What awards did The Smiths receive and what are they up to today? Thank you for teaching me more about bands that made the 80’s such an exciting and memorable era in history. If someone were to ask me about The Smiths, I would now be able to give them good information and facts about the band.
Emma Lloyd • Nov 27, 2022 at 7:59 pm
Well, the primary lyricist from The Smiths, Johnny Marr, obviously had a knack for writing exceptional lyrics and obviously was great at lead guitar. If you want some more info go ahead and email me and I can answer whatever you need answered. Thanks for reading!
Keira Ly • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:50 am
On October 24, 2022, Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled “Behind the Music: The Smiths.” Prior to reading this article, I already knew The Smiths and I love their music. I loved all of the songs you listed, but my favorites would be “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” and “Back to the Old House.” I listen to them all the time and they’re in most of my playlists. I think the lyric that you explained is my second favorite lyric in “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.” But, my favorite would be, “And if a double-decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die.” This is really similar to the one you wrote and is right before it, but I think it’s really beautiful. I just really love the way it explains how it feels to love someone. I also really like that Ms. Wood said that The Smiths and Morrissey are the Indie Pop Elvis Presley and I deeply agree with that statement. I was shocked to read that “The Queen is Dead” reached number 70 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1986 and stayed there for 38 weeks. That sort of achievement doesn’t feel real to me, but I think it was deserved because that album is such a great one. Overall, I’m glad that you chose to write about The Smiths, you have an amazing taste in music!
Karen Coca • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:28 am
I love the energy that is radiating from the article. The word choice and the energetic opening made me pumped up to read about them and I feel like it also can energize people who are new to the band as well. Being a rock fan myself, I love how you are covering old rock bands, since they have fallen out of relevancy ever since the popularity spike in the early 2000’s. Although I am new to this band, the article has really encouraged me to start listening to their music. The quote of one of the lyrics from the song,”There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” was also a very nice touch. It gave a little taste, almost, of the intense lyricism that is stated at the beginning of the article. I am also surprised that The Smiths’s album,”The Queen is Dead ” was able to stay on the Billboard Top 100 for so long as it is quite competitive. I do wish that the article could be longer though, since they seem like a very interesting band! Overall, the article is very enjoyable to read, even for people who don’t know much about The Smiths.
Jonah Gonzalez • Nov 16, 2022 at 10:32 pm
Thank you for writing this article, as it taught me about a band I had not known of. Only having a basic understanding of the band’s instrument composition and lyrics, I have a few questions. What genre can The Smiths be most classified to? Do they still produce music today? Where were they popular when they first released music, and where are they popular now? I like how you provided evidence of their success, as stated by “number 70 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1986 and stayed there for 38 weeks”. I appreciate that you highlighted this achievement by adding the following statement that their album stayed longer in the Billboard top 100 for a longer period than albums from other bands released in the same decade. What albums/bands is this statistic being compared to? I suggest you add the other side of the comparison as many may not know famous bands who released albums from 1980-1990. I am surprised to see those sad lyrics have led to success for the band, and I now wonder about the emotions presented in the songs I listen to. After reading this article, I now think deeper about the meanings of the lyrics of modern songs. Thank you for changing the way I see music.
Jonah Gonzalez • Nov 16, 2022 at 10:31 pm
Thank you for writing this article, as it taught me about a band I had not known of. Only having a basic understanding of the band’s instrument composition and lyrics, I have a few questions. What genre can The Smiths be most classified to? Do they still produce music today? Where were they popular when they first released music, and where are they popular now? I like how you provided evidence of their success, as stated by “number 70 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1986 and stayed there for 38 weeks”. I appreciate that you highlighted this achievement by adding the following statement that their album stayed longer in the Billboard top 100 for a longer period than albums from other bands released in the same decade. What albums/bands is this statistic being compared to? I suggest you add the other side of the comparison as many may not know famous bands who released albums from 1980-1990. I am surprised to see those sad lyrics have led to success for the band, and I now wonder about the emotions presented in the songs I listen to. After reading this article, I now think deeper about the meanings of the lyrics of modern songs. Thank you for changing the way I see music.
Emarie Garcia • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:58 pm
November 16, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On October 24th of 2022, Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled “Behind The Music: The Smiths. This struck my attention; I am happy to see a fair distribution of Pop-Culture in our Millikan Corydon, way to set off a start to Behind The Music! I, too, admire the lyrical strategies Morrissey used throughout his musical journey… It’s easy to say that the band as a whole did a remarkable job setting themselves apart from Artists in the 80s. While this has been mentioned, I also admire how The Smiths manipulated certain variables among certain bands from various Gothic Rock bands from the 70s (Cocteau Twins and Bauhaus), and incorporated these factors (an offset tone) into their own genre & style. However, it is fair to say that the instrumental values and lyrical utilization are quite different in nameable ways, and that’s what makes them so unique and varied from other Pop bands. I am very happy with this address regarding the much admired Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce; They have single-handedly elevated the Music Industry as a whole… Thank You Emma Lloyd for writing such an article for people like me to see.
Best Regards,
Emarie Garcia, Grade 11
Kevin Angulo • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:33 pm
Personally I enjoy listening to The Smiths and I find comfort in their music. I had never heard of them until around February of 2022 when a friend introduced me to the band’s music. I was immediately encapsulated by their lyrics and I continue to listen to them to this day. I like how Lloyd gave an example of one of the devastating scenarios the band includes in the song “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out”, which is one of my favorite songs by them. Another song by The Smiths I also like is called “I Want the One I Can’t Have- 2011 Remaster”. Some more things I like that Lloyd included in her article is the photo that depicts a millikan student holding two of The Smiths vinyl, how she included that one of their albums reached number 70 on the Billboard Top 100, and the link she added to a playlist related to this article series. Thank you for starting off this years “Behind The Music” series with The Smiths.
Christopher • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:30 pm
The article mentions the emergence and notability of the English rock band and the type of music they write and play. They also mention how the band was in the ¨Billboard top 100¨ for 38 weeks! That is crazy for a band with this style of music and definitely got me interested. I started listening to the band and they are awesome! Prior to the article I did not really know about the band and this article made me look at more of their songs. Turns out Emma and Ms. Wood were right. The band never gets old to listen to and definitely got a place in my Spotify playlist called ¨My oldies¨. Thank you for writing and sharing some of your music interests because it opened me up to a whole new band in one of my favorite genres. Being indie music. If you have more ¨oldie style-indie bands¨ keep writing about them! It’s cool to find new music of that style and learn that other people share the same interests in this type of music!
Marisol Covarrubias • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:24 pm
This is a wonderful article, being a person who loves music it’s amazing. This blog can introduce me to new artists that I can explore with. This specific article speaks about The Smiths and talks about their genre of music. I love how Lloyed included music from the 80’s which actually states in her article that The Smiths are from 1982. I like How Lloyed asked other students from COMPASS specifically, being the pathway of arts, what they think about The Smiths. She interviewed Marissa McGrath and she stated that The Smiths is easy to listen to and that Morrissey has a voice that you can listen to for hours and not get tired of it. In the article it’s trying to tell you why The Smiths have good music and that they have music that you may like and you should look at. I especially love how Lloyed included some lyrics of the song “There is light that never goes out” and explains what the meaning may be. She also informs the reader that most of their songs are of tragedy and devastating scenarios. She goes into debt about a specific lyric and the meaning of it and proves her point of why most songs are about devastation. Lloyd also interviewed a teacher and I loved her response to it. Ms. Wood had responded that their music feels true to life. Lloyd is trying to let you know that The SMiths music may be very relatable. Overall this article is amazing and is telling people or helping people to find new artists they have not known about and may be interested now.
ava catalanotti • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:06 pm
On October 24, 2022, Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled “Behind the Music: The Smiths.” This article was written to educate students on the background of the Smiths band and its lead singer, Morrissey. This article was especially interesting to me because I really enjoy listening to the Smiths. I love most of their songs, my favorite being “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” which is also mentioned in the article. I liked that you interviewed Millikan students and teachers about their opinions on the Smiths, and I found that I related to their takes. Additionally, I learned many things about the Smiths that I did not know before I read this article. For instance, I found it very interesting that their album “The Queen is Dead” reached number 70 on the Billboard Top 100 and stayed there for a stunning total of 38 weeks. Another thing I really liked is how you dissected the lyrics of one of the songs. It was very interesting to read your take on the lyrics and what they may represent. I also found it very interesting how you called the band “New Wave Elvis Presley.” Thank you for teaching me more about one of my favorite bands!
Dylan • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:57 am
This article goes into depth about an eighties rock band called The Smiths, and their music and meaning behind their lyrics. I like how the author wrote about the band’s notable hits such as “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” and “Charming Man”. I’m familiar with both of them since I listen to them all the time. Morrissey’s voice is very nice too. On top of that, I found it interesting how the band’s lyrics could have such depth. I never thought of it like this since I’m always too distracted listening to the beats. I also enjoyed how the author had people’s opinion about the band in the article. Having other people’s opinion on a specific topic can always make a claim stronger. I never knew that the author had a whole series about music analyses titled “Behind the Music”. I hope Emma continues to do analysis on artists from the eighties since that was such an important time for music like rock. I look forward to reading more about this series and the artists they’ll go into depth about next.
Madalena Gonzalez • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:32 am
On October 24, Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled ”Behind The Music: The Smiths.’’ I like how she provided different information about the band, including the band members, and the music they wrote. I like how she puts everything together. I’m a big fan of music, so I’m always interested in learning about different musicians. The Smiths seem like a very interesting band, and their music also seems interesting. I do have some questions though. You state how one of their albums reached 70 in the top 100 and stayed there for many weeks. So I was wondering, is it usually hard for Indie artists to make it to the top 100? I would also like to know: Does Morrissey write most of his music from experience? I liked how she explained one of the songs. It’s a great way not only for people to understand but to get a generalization of the type of music he writes and how they convey the message. After reading this article, It made me want to go and listen to the artists and get a feeling for myself of how the music sounds. Thank you for introducing me to a new artist. I might give them a try.
Tanner Henderson • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:27 am
Dear Corydon Editor,
On October 24, Emma Lloyd wrote an article entitled “Behind the Music: The Smiths.” The article discusses the origin and music style of the British rock band The Smiths. Prior to reading this article, I had heard about The Smiths but never knew their backstory or discography. However, in the article Lloyd lists many of the band’s songs and I realized that I had heard a few of them without knowing they were by The Smiths. She also notes that the band is regarded as one of the most important British bands to come from the 1980’s. I often listen to other British bands from the 80s such as Tears for Fears, The Police, and Duran Duran so I was surprised that I haven’t listened to The Smiths yet with them being so highly regarded. Although I don’t know much about the band, I do know a little about the singer, Morrissey, and his antics in later years. Nonetheless, I try to separate the artist from the music so I don’t think that will stop me from trying. Lloyd did a good job of presenting The Smiths in an appealing way to new listeners. Thank you for introducing me to the band and their music.
Madalena Gonzalez • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:24 am
On October 24, Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled ”Behind The Music: The Smiths.’’ I like how she provided different information about the band, including the band members, and the music they wrote. I like how she puts everything together. I’m a big fan of music, so I’m always interested in learning about different musicians. The Smiths seem like a very interesting band, and their music also seems interesting. I do have some questions though. You state how one of their albums reached 70 in the top 100 and stayed there for many weeks. So I was wondering, is it usually hard for Indie artists to make it to the top 100? I would also like to know: Does Morrissey write most of his music from experience? I liked how she explained one of the songs. It’s a great way not only for people to understand but to get a generalization of the type of music he writes and how they convey the message. After reading this article, It made me want to go and listen to the artists and get a feeling for myself of how the music sounds. Thank you for introducing me to a new artist. I might give them a try.
Rolo Cruz • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:23 am
On November 16, Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled “Behind the Music: The Smiths”. I was extremely interested in the article since my father has always loved classical rock, and he repeatedly listens to The Smiths. It was intriguing to understand how popular and successful they were. I was also shocked to learn that their album charted to 70 on the Billboard Top 100 for 38 consecutive weeks. Although my father listens to The Smiths, I have never really known anyone from the band, so including the band lineup of Morissey, Marr, Rourke, and Joyce helped me better understand the article. I was also engaged to learn and understand the eerie and dark lyrics sung by The Smiths, and how listeners described Morissey’s unique voice as sad and off key. The article also includes notable songs from the Smiths, but most importantly compares the group to a Indie Pop/New Wave Elvis Presley. Since Presley was a notable figure in the music industry, it was surprising to see The Smiths justly compared to him. It was also interesting, including the opinion of other students and teachers. Thank you for including and writing about The Smiths, and I wonder if there are more Behind the Music articles to come.
Adora Vinhnee • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:23 am
Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled “Behind The Music: The Smiths.” This was a well written piece that caters to many of the people at Millikan’s music taste. As more teenagers have begun listening to older songs and artists this article was not only a great way to please those who currently listen to The Smiths, but also invites new listeners who haven’t heard of them to give their music a try. By providing an excerpt of one of their songs, it gives people the opportunity to have a feel for the type of music Morrissey writes. Analyzing the reason for why they wrote these specific lyrics was effective in understanding how their songs have both a catchy beat and a deep meaning behind them. The article was constantly bringing in new and interesting information such as the controversy surrounding Morrissey’s outspoken nature. Having not known about this previously made me wonder and want to do more research on him as a person and singer/songwriter. Lloyd did a proficient job in informing her audience about The Smiths and supplied a pre-made playlist that makes it easier and more likely for individuals to explore new music. All in all, she tied her writing together well at the end by assuring her readers that you should keep listening to what you love.
Luke Neuhaus • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:21 am
On October 24th, 2022, Emma Lloyd published an article by the name of “Behind
The Music: The Smiths.” In this article, the band ‘The Smiths’ is talked about in great
detail, from their individual members, to some of their most popular songs. I enjoyed this
article a lot, because I myself like to learn about music and the people making it. While I
have not personally heard of this band before, it was interesting to hear about what they
have made and what people think of them. Getting interviews from other students was
also a smart decision, as it helps sell what we are being told. However, it would’ve been
nice to hear more about the band’s history, such as what caused the band to form, what
their most popular song of all time is, and what they are doing now. While I understand
that there was likely a word limit on what they could put, it still would’ve been nice to
hear about. The article also alludes to some controversy towards the end, but it does
not elaborate on this, which is a small shame. Regardless of these minor issues, the
article was still an informative and interesting piece, and I enjoyed listening to
information about something I had not previously heard of.
Sincerely,
Luke Neuhaus, Grade 11
Natalie Heilig • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:20 am
On October 24, Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled “Behind The Music: The Smiths.” The article delves into an analysis of and opinions on the popular 80’s British band, The Smiths. As someone who also loves this band’s music, I was interested to see what the author and interviewees had to say. I think it was very smart of Lloyd to interview people of different ages. This helped to show the impact this band has on various generations and can connect the band’s followers to each other even when they may have differences. I thought it also very significant that the author stated the band’s most popular songs and lyrics. Even if the reader may not know much about the band, they can learn a little more about them and their music style. Mentioning that Morrissey, the lead singer, was a version of the pop/indie version of an Elvis Presley was bold, yet supported the ideas mentioned by the two people Lloyd interviewed. I wish there was a little bit more on the lyrics and meaning behind some of the band’s popular records and possibly another interview of another person or two to really get a diverse perspective on the impact of the band. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this first edition of this year’s Behind the Music blog, and I look forward to listening to the playlist she provided!
Lucas Thorne • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:16 am
November 16, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On October 24th, Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled “Behind the music: The Smiths” The article goes into some detail about the Smiths, an English rock band from the 80’s. I do enjoy the Smiths as a band and I am glad that she took time to write about them. I am confused however whether the purpose of the article is just to provide information about the Smiths or to have the audience go and listen to them. I believe that she should try to engage the audience a little more. She did mention that she has done blogs like this before so is this the structure for each one? I also believe that she should focus on one of these topics. An example could be to persuade the audience to give the Smiths a listen or to provide the history of them. This would make the article easier to read. Besides that, the article is pretty good. She goes over a few of the albums and shows student and teachers opinions. She also adds her own when it is necessary. The overall article isn’t half bad and I am glad that I read it and that someone else enjoys 80’s music.
Sincerely,
Lucas Thorne, grade 11
Emma Crocker • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:42 am
On October 24, Emma Lloyd wrote an article titled “Behind The Music: The Smiths.” The article discusses the English rock band, The Smiths, and delves into the tragic meanings of their music. Specifically, I found the discussion of the song “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” very intriguing, as it is a song I listen to regularly. Prior to reading this article, I did not know much about the band themselves, except for Morrissey because he is quite the spectacle, so getting to learn more about the members was engaging. For example, I was excited to see that the band emerged from Manchester since the music scene there has been known to produce other widely-known bands such as Oasis, Joy Division, and the 1975, whom I am seeing live in concert this month. That being said, the opportunity to make new connections between bands that I already know and love also made this article a compelling read. Overall, I greatly enjoyed being able to learn about the music and stories of The Smiths behind the scenes. I think this article did a great job in making music discussion engaging for readers and would gladly read more from the “Behind the Music” column.