Returning
home from tour can be a blasting reality crash – it smacks
you in the
face and suddenly you realize you’re stumbling through the mundane
trenches of everyday life rather than planning your next Morrissey
concert and visiting new cities. For me, May lagged on
lifelessly except for a few good points. Sadly, May was also fraught
with atrocity in Manchester, as innocent people were attacked and killed in one
of the only places in modern life where people feel free to enjoy
themselves - and to be themselves – a concert.
This interview is with Muriel Gray, who I think has a really fantastic interviewing chemistry with Moz. I was also immediately transfixed by the presence of mannequins in the background, as I have sort of a creeped-out fascination with them (hence my excitement at the hotel in Houston). Topics include the music press, lyrics, vegetarianism, and success of the Smiths. The interview finishes with a visit from an astrologer (for some reason I also find the astrologer part kind of creepy...).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF0YtZYw_HY&t=86s
4. Morrissey in Conversation (1987)
Another Muriel Gray interview: Morrissey shares quite a few laughs with her. They talk about the release of Strangeways, Here We Come and songs such as Paint A Vulgar Picture and Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loves Me. They examine the perils (and pros) of having views that are considered strong, and how Moz feels separated from the music industry. Romance is touched upon, with tidbits about celibacy, spiritual love, and "blunderously awful" relationships. Further into the interview they discuss the political statement of being vegetarian, the books Moz reads, and how he finds most music videos unappealing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhg6v0W1wGs&t=50s
5. Craig Kilborn (2002)
There's a bit of a gap through the 90's for longer, more in depth video interviews unless I am missing something (if so please let me know). Now we catapult ahead to 2002 - and the Craig Kilborn show. I am heart-eyes mesmerized by this interview in particular because... Morrissey is wearing a cardigan! I had to watch it a few times to make sure I caught everything that was said because the cardigan is just so captivating... It seems like Craig admires Moz a lot even though he doesn't get all the lyrics right. The audience is blooming with love and that touches Moz. Topics include lyrics and the singing voice, being sincere and realistic, American Idol, and living in Hollywood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5rUOR3HQhY
6. Lydverket (2002)
Another 2002 interview, this time on a Norwegian TV show. Morrissey talks about his early life and discovering music in the 60's and 70's, and how at one point he wanted to be part of the music press. This desire transformed as he grew older and he realized what he truly wanted was to be on stage, but in the 70's the singers were all very "extroverted...very sexual, very wild, and loud" as 70's rock was fairly aggressive. The conversation moves towards the early days of the Smiths, then Meat Is Murder. The interview finishes with discussion about the useless royals (like Charles), touring, and the pop industry being full of crashing bores.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQXLD8To90Q&feature=youtu.be
7. Jonathan Ross (2004)
Simply for the iconic line, "I don't like people, to be honest" this interview is a must-watch for even the most casual Morrissey fan. Jonathan and Moz are quite hilarious together, and I have a feeling I've memorized most of this interview word-for-word. They begin by talking about Morrissey's move to America, which segues into American television, then moving on to the more serious topic of politics. The importance of hairstyles is also touched upon, and I don't think I'll ever be able to look at Wossy again without thinking, "Oscar Wilde's haircut." Wossy is on a mission to become Morrissey's friend, but Moz is breathtakingly elusive. Topics include You Are The Quarry, vegetarianism, Morrissey's fan base, the songwriting process, Autobiography, and a gladioli-wielding, slightly out-of-tune rendition of This Charming Man from Stars In Their Eyes.
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZDI4PIq8_s
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14mEx0Wa2K4
8. SXSW Show (2006)
I adore this interview, as Morrissey says so many interesting, profound things in such a short time. He hates the "lowest common denominator" and thinks pop music caters to that. The world could change if we assumed "everybody's extremely intelligent." His honesty is a key part of who he is, and his openness can make certain people uncomfortable; "if you feel as if you're a writer by compulsion then you have to write everything... if you feel dreadful, then you have to write that... You can't just present a smiling face to the world all the time." Morrissey criticizes American Idol and adds that it's quite brutal to the contestants. Celebrity is now fairly meaningless. The interview wraps up with "Fate, Life, and Beauty."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPUSDLjUi7M
9. Wrestle with Russell (2009)
Irresistible and iconic! In what can only be described as a stunning work of art - a masterpiece, if you will - Russell's interview with Morrissey is my all-time favourite. Just look at the captured image above - seeing Morrissey laugh like this warms the heart. Rapid-fire witty discourse ensues and Russell expresses that Morrissey isn't always the easiest interviewee as he "doesn't answer questions very directly, darling." Saying something different and the art of not being formatted follow, and the conversation flows from the desire to flee reality of life in 1970's Manchester, to hairstyles, to cliches. The two vegetarians discuss animal rights: "animals look to us for protection." They also talk about making the mundane poetic, people as art, and being loved and despised as an open, forceful person. The interview finishes as Russell serenades us, wearing an oh-so-alluring and "fetching cardigan".
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1GRRZegHow
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A6CK5g7Lws
10. Larry King (2015)
A radiant and bejeweled Morrissey meets with Larry King at Bootsy Bellows on Sunset Blvd. They begin their chat with the Smiths, the Mexican fanbase, and Moz talks about how he has always wanted to be himself in an industry that doesn't normally allow people to do that. Morrissey describes his "chattering mind" and his sensitivity. He discusses his health, veganism, touring, and politics. The second part of the interview includes fan questions from social media. One question in particular moves me deeply, as Morrissey is asked about his depression: he says it is "usually the very first thing when you wake up... there is no cure... it's part of being a sensitive, open human... it's a frame of mind, a state of mind, and it's circumstantial mostly." Larry asks Moz about suicide, to which he replies, "It crosses everybody's mind... even people who mistakenly assume they are happy... it's taking control and saying no more... and it's admirable." After the interview, Morrissey sings Kiss Me A Lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vKBu3-jecM&t=1235s
Honourable Mentions:
I've decided to choose 2 videos for my selection of honourable mentions. The first one was the write-in darling of the Twitter Poll I made. The results of the poll are as follows:
1. Jools Holland (2004)
Morrissey's 2004 interview on Jools Holland was the most popular one not listed in the poll. The obvious highlight for me (being entirely phobic of visitors) is "No Jools, I refuse to open the door."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3emBbAEuXY4
2. The One Show (2009)
Obviously, no one voted for The One Show appearance as it's deeply steeped in the land of awkwardness. However, I like watching it because I see this as a perfect example of how Morrissey stands out against the bland, crashing bores of the world; he actually says something about me to my life in this desert of soullessness! The statement "I couldn't think of a job I wanted to do, so I thought I shouldn't do any" seems to palpably rattle the interviewers. Another highlight is when Adrian Chiles, who seems perpetually confused, bumbles and stumbles his way through a perplexingly out-of-touch comment about how "We'd all have to sympathize with the white collar workers, who have only ever really enjoyed success..." WHAT?! Moz weighs in, "Therefore, why sympathize with them" and you have to love him for it. I do feel for Moz here though, as he looks generally uncomfortable for much of the interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiwhwuRBmk4&t=50s
I'll leave you with this photo, just posted today on Jesse Tobias' instagram: Morrissey in Rome:
People
somewhat removed from traumatic events often tell others to keep
their spirits up, or that pain makes one stronger, but I’ve always
thought this is very easy to say from afar, and at some level, it’s
perhaps a little dismissive, even if the intention is to rally the
spirit. When lives are lost, how can this bring any semblance
of closure, or make sense of that which makes none? I think it’s
just very hard to know what to say.
“Words,
words, words,” mused
doomed
overthinker
Hamlet, in perhaps the most minimalistic Shakespeare quote ever.
What's simple is complicated; this quote tells us nothing and
everything. How stunningly vague: like all threads of words, the
quote is open to interpretation.
Without
words we cannot discuss and examine methods of change, and yet when
someone says something, anything, against the expected,
we bristle and criticize.
How
many times have we twisted or misunderstood another’s words,
because even neutral words arrive through unneutral eyes to an
unneutral mind.
This
is where the concept of the interview is quite interesting. When we
admire someone, we want a glimpse of understanding their hearts or
minds, but two people can hear, or read the words of the interviewee
very differently. Who among us hasn't had our words twisted at
some point? What pressure language and the existence of other minds
and biases thrusts upon us.
Before
I blaze on with my main topic of this post, I will show you a couple of the bright moments for me
last month:
I wanted to make vegan cupcakes for Morrissey's birthday - and as I hadn't done fancy decorating like this in many years, I think they turned out quite nicely...
 |
| Vegan Morrissey cupcakes |
As well as being Morrissey's birthday month (for which I get far more excited than I do my own), May also means ducklings. Prior to nesting season, whenever I approached the duck pond I heard what can only be described as drama - wings flapping and major quacking. As you saw during winter, there are a lot of ducks living there, so it's assumed that with the arrival of a new brood, lack of space can be an issue. It seemed in the weeks leading up to nesting, there was mass discussion and politics involved, and I can't help but wonder if there was some sort of hierarchical decision-making system taking place. This leads me back to the question of language: the majority of humans, (incorrectly and arrogantly) believing themselves to be superior to other animals, are so narrow-minded and self-absorbed that they assume animals do not possess the ability for language, when in fact they could have fairly sophisticated linguistic structures. To our untrained ears it may sound like "Quack Quack Quack" but there could be an absolute soap opera going down! Next time, listen closely, and you'll see there are different nuances and subtleties to how many animals "speak."
 |
| Ducklings <3 |
For Mozzer's birthday, we also saw a new print interview published in the Daily Mail, "Inside the Head Of...", which has some pretty brilliant moments. I particularly liked the dig at Judge Judy (Moz calls her Judge Rude-y), who I've always found to be an annoying loudmouth (my stepdad used to watch her all. f'ing. afternoon. at top volume... oh the torture). Moz also mentions that the last book he read is Poor Folk by Fydor Dostoyevsky, and the teenage Russian lit nerd that I once was (and still am a bit) now longs to chit-chat Russian lit with Moz. In the interview, Moz says he "obviously...didn't understand a word of it", which might pair nicely with my experience reading Dostoyevsky's massive tome Brothers Karamazov: it took me a year to read to page 698, at which point I abandoned it... 20 pages before the end.
One final point about the interview is that the Mail (watch how information is channeled and funneled through to us)... censored Mozzer, refusing to print the following quote about Theresa May (via Jesse Tobias on Twitter):
Mail: Which person do you most dislike?
Morrissey: Theresa May for saying, "I fully support fox-hunting." She doesn't realize that foxes are mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters.
Free Speech is None Of Your Business?
 |
Now that we are back on the topic of interviewing, for some time I have been meaning to follow up my blog about Morrissey Radio Interviews, with a post about video interviews. Again I offer my gratitude to my friend Janah (who I often think might be the Indonesian version of me) for sending some of these gems my way. So, for now, I bring you a Top Ten Morrissey Video Interviews, in chronological order. Enjoy:
1. Earsay 1984
Morrissey discusses his teenage years, including school, the New York Dolls fan club, the support of his mother, and how he preferred to stay in to write furiously and read, which was "quite perverse." The conversation continues about depression, celibacy, gender, and religion. His comments about religion are particularly interesting, as he talks about the oppressive nature of the Catholic Church, which didn't allow for self-expression or individuality; "people never flock to the church for a positive reason."
I roared at the part about Moz hating people at work: the fact we spend our lives with people we don't like and doing things we don't want to (oh the flashbacks of the jobs I've had): how delightfully honest. Morrissey discusses how the music press analyzes and destroys his character, and how destructive this is. He explores the vastness of the Smiths audience, as well as how the lyrics say things that are quite serious and open, but by their airing, especially with humour, become positive. The interview wraps up with Morrissey's views on vegetarianism and his writing goals.
2. Morrissey Talks About His Youth (1985)
Morrissey takes us back to Manchester to the old neighbourhoods where he grew up, some of which have since been demolished and rebuilt. He visits his Primary and Secondary schools, the latter being "sadistic" and "barbaric." He walks along streets upon streets upon streets down Kings Road, describing his life of mostly sitting, reading, and "writing furiously" with very little social life. Writing was truly his outlet... and "you also have to have a grain of hope, which is a very difficult thing to have."
3. Morrissey Interview Studio One (1985)
This interview is with Muriel Gray, who I think has a really fantastic interviewing chemistry with Moz. I was also immediately transfixed by the presence of mannequins in the background, as I have sort of a creeped-out fascination with them (hence my excitement at the hotel in Houston). Topics include the music press, lyrics, vegetarianism, and success of the Smiths. The interview finishes with a visit from an astrologer (for some reason I also find the astrologer part kind of creepy...).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF0YtZYw_HY&t=86s
4. Morrissey in Conversation (1987)
Another Muriel Gray interview: Morrissey shares quite a few laughs with her. They talk about the release of Strangeways, Here We Come and songs such as Paint A Vulgar Picture and Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loves Me. They examine the perils (and pros) of having views that are considered strong, and how Moz feels separated from the music industry. Romance is touched upon, with tidbits about celibacy, spiritual love, and "blunderously awful" relationships. Further into the interview they discuss the political statement of being vegetarian, the books Moz reads, and how he finds most music videos unappealing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhg6v0W1wGs&t=50s
5. Craig Kilborn (2002)
There's a bit of a gap through the 90's for longer, more in depth video interviews unless I am missing something (if so please let me know). Now we catapult ahead to 2002 - and the Craig Kilborn show. I am heart-eyes mesmerized by this interview in particular because... Morrissey is wearing a cardigan! I had to watch it a few times to make sure I caught everything that was said because the cardigan is just so captivating... It seems like Craig admires Moz a lot even though he doesn't get all the lyrics right. The audience is blooming with love and that touches Moz. Topics include lyrics and the singing voice, being sincere and realistic, American Idol, and living in Hollywood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5rUOR3HQhY
6. Lydverket (2002)
Another 2002 interview, this time on a Norwegian TV show. Morrissey talks about his early life and discovering music in the 60's and 70's, and how at one point he wanted to be part of the music press. This desire transformed as he grew older and he realized what he truly wanted was to be on stage, but in the 70's the singers were all very "extroverted...very sexual, very wild, and loud" as 70's rock was fairly aggressive. The conversation moves towards the early days of the Smiths, then Meat Is Murder. The interview finishes with discussion about the useless royals (like Charles), touring, and the pop industry being full of crashing bores.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQXLD8To90Q&feature=youtu.be
7. Jonathan Ross (2004)
Simply for the iconic line, "I don't like people, to be honest" this interview is a must-watch for even the most casual Morrissey fan. Jonathan and Moz are quite hilarious together, and I have a feeling I've memorized most of this interview word-for-word. They begin by talking about Morrissey's move to America, which segues into American television, then moving on to the more serious topic of politics. The importance of hairstyles is also touched upon, and I don't think I'll ever be able to look at Wossy again without thinking, "Oscar Wilde's haircut." Wossy is on a mission to become Morrissey's friend, but Moz is breathtakingly elusive. Topics include You Are The Quarry, vegetarianism, Morrissey's fan base, the songwriting process, Autobiography, and a gladioli-wielding, slightly out-of-tune rendition of This Charming Man from Stars In Their Eyes.
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZDI4PIq8_s
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14mEx0Wa2K4
8. SXSW Show (2006)
I adore this interview, as Morrissey says so many interesting, profound things in such a short time. He hates the "lowest common denominator" and thinks pop music caters to that. The world could change if we assumed "everybody's extremely intelligent." His honesty is a key part of who he is, and his openness can make certain people uncomfortable; "if you feel as if you're a writer by compulsion then you have to write everything... if you feel dreadful, then you have to write that... You can't just present a smiling face to the world all the time." Morrissey criticizes American Idol and adds that it's quite brutal to the contestants. Celebrity is now fairly meaningless. The interview wraps up with "Fate, Life, and Beauty."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPUSDLjUi7M
9. Wrestle with Russell (2009)
Irresistible and iconic! In what can only be described as a stunning work of art - a masterpiece, if you will - Russell's interview with Morrissey is my all-time favourite. Just look at the captured image above - seeing Morrissey laugh like this warms the heart. Rapid-fire witty discourse ensues and Russell expresses that Morrissey isn't always the easiest interviewee as he "doesn't answer questions very directly, darling." Saying something different and the art of not being formatted follow, and the conversation flows from the desire to flee reality of life in 1970's Manchester, to hairstyles, to cliches. The two vegetarians discuss animal rights: "animals look to us for protection." They also talk about making the mundane poetic, people as art, and being loved and despised as an open, forceful person. The interview finishes as Russell serenades us, wearing an oh-so-alluring and "fetching cardigan".
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1GRRZegHow
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A6CK5g7Lws
10. Larry King (2015)
A radiant and bejeweled Morrissey meets with Larry King at Bootsy Bellows on Sunset Blvd. They begin their chat with the Smiths, the Mexican fanbase, and Moz talks about how he has always wanted to be himself in an industry that doesn't normally allow people to do that. Morrissey describes his "chattering mind" and his sensitivity. He discusses his health, veganism, touring, and politics. The second part of the interview includes fan questions from social media. One question in particular moves me deeply, as Morrissey is asked about his depression: he says it is "usually the very first thing when you wake up... there is no cure... it's part of being a sensitive, open human... it's a frame of mind, a state of mind, and it's circumstantial mostly." Larry asks Moz about suicide, to which he replies, "It crosses everybody's mind... even people who mistakenly assume they are happy... it's taking control and saying no more... and it's admirable." After the interview, Morrissey sings Kiss Me A Lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vKBu3-jecM&t=1235s
Honourable Mentions:
I've decided to choose 2 videos for my selection of honourable mentions. The first one was the write-in darling of the Twitter Poll I made. The results of the poll are as follows:
1. Jools Holland (2004)
Morrissey's 2004 interview on Jools Holland was the most popular one not listed in the poll. The obvious highlight for me (being entirely phobic of visitors) is "No Jools, I refuse to open the door."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3emBbAEuXY4
2. The One Show (2009)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiwhwuRBmk4&t=50s
I'll leave you with this photo, just posted today on Jesse Tobias' instagram: Morrissey in Rome:
 |
| via 8stitches9lives on Instagram |
 |
| Forever Handsome in Rome |
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