‘Strange Attraction’: The Cure song exploring Robert Smith’s interest in fixation and chaos theory
Despite most of The Cure‘s discography being largely eclipsed by records like Disintegration, Pornography, and the latest masterpiece, Songs of a Lost World, there exist many gems to be discovered in the lesser-appreciated albums. For instance, once the dust settles on the charm of their more popular songs, others remain poised, waiting to guide you by the hand into Robert Smith’s beautiful melancholy.
That’s not to say that the more revered records haven’t earned their keep. For instance, Disintegration epitomises everything great about The Cure from start to finish, including Smith’s masterful ability to navigate all of life’s complications, from wallowing in self-pity to seeking beauty in self-discovery. Similarly, Songs of a Lost World reminds us that Smith is still very much on top of his game, with effortless sounds that oscillate between grandeur and euphoria in a gorgeous exploration of the human condition.
However, this exists to varying degrees beneath the surface throughout their discography, from the more stripped-back immediacy of Bloodflowers to the experimental Wild Mood Swings. The latter, in particular, is home to some of the band’s most commendable work, like ‘The 13th’, ‘Strange Attraction’, and ‘Jupiter Crashing’. Perhaps it was Smith’s desire to venture into unknown territories that made others feel disconnected from his work, but mainly, his venture into the unknown stemmed from several interests occupying his mind at the time.
One was the concept of chaos theory. To Smith, this meant exploring how things can become misconstrued in the present, language, or lack of communication, which he admits he can be the perpetrator of. Instead of saying what he feels in the moment, he’ll often save it for his songwriting, choosing instead to express himself through his music rather than any other approach. He once elaborated on this while discussing the album’s ‘Strange Attraction’ and how it explored chaos theory.
“[It’s] a song using the language of ‘chaos theory’ to tell a story of miscommunication,” he said. Continuing, “I have often endured whole correspondences as a non-participant, my answers are often, unknowingly, contained in my song’s words… song’s words such as ‘Strange Attraction.’ Rather aptly, considering the subject matter, there was no video made for this single.”
The track tackles a romantic liaison that starts with fixation and commitment and ends with obsession, warning against getting wrapped up in the fabrications of fantasy when all it offers is a precursor to disappointment. Smith has explored this well throughout his career, especially when it comes to perception and memory, but ‘Strange Attraction’ takes it on more directly, underscored by an almost playful atmosphere.
The subject is also clear immediately, with Smith beginning the song talking about a relationship that “started with dedication” before the obsession took over, leaving him so lost in the haze of infatuation that it rendered him feeling more alone than ever. Throughout the song, he toys with notions of communication with back-and-forth correspondence, and how things may not ever be how they seem.
As a result, Smith’s loose presentation of chaos theory beautifully parallels everything great about his music and the ever-pursuit of navigating the unpredictability of life itself. We may think we know where our paths are heading with approximations from the present, but we never truly know what will happen until we’re faced with it head-on, or as Smith puts it, “You never know how anything will change, you never know how anything will fade.”
