The Smiths song Johnny Marr called “‘Goldfinger’ on bad acid”
The Smiths carved out an immense legacy in just three years and across four albums. Amid an era of synthesised sounds, they stood apart from the trend, biding their time and enjoying their unconventional and bold spirit.
According to Johnny Marr, despite each of their albums achieving high levels of popularity, the peak of the world they constructed might have occurred towards the end of their fleeting brilliance. Reflecting six years after their final album’s release, the guitarist explained, “Strangeways suffers because it was our last record, so people think there were arguments and horrors in making it, but there weren’t. Morrissey and I both think it’s possibly our best album.”
When The Smiths first released Strangeways, Here We Come, the AIDS crisis was in full swing. At the time, many musicians used their platforms to speak out in support of those suffering from the disease or the repercussions of homosexual taboo as a result of the epidemic. Within Strangeways, Morrissey reflects on the increase in AIDS-related deaths within the gay community and instances of homophobic violence.
‘Death of a Disco Dancer’ arrived as a bleak elegy to those suffering during this time, wherein Morrissey substitutes the phrase “disco dancer” for “homosexual”. He sings: “The death of a disco dancer / Well, it happens a lot ’round here / And if you think peace / Is a common goal / That goes to show / How little you know.”
This is also the only song in the band’s discography that features Morrissey playing a musical instrument, lending his hand at the piano arrangements within the track. As a result, Marr claims the piece perfectly summarised The Smiths’ musical conceptualisation: in his view, the best thing about the song “is that keyboard drone,” he told Q Magazine. “It’s like Goldfinger on bad acid. Which is kind of The Smiths in a nutshell.”
The Smiths often drew on their own social awareness to craft profound songs and lyrics that resonated with many. For instance, the track ‘Girlfriend in a Coma’ is thought by some to allude to the devastation of the AIDS crisis. What’s more, while not explicitly addressing the situation, The Smiths’ music contained nuanced references that touched on the societal issues and challenges faced by the wider community during that time.
‘Shoplifters of the World’, too, has been speculatively linked to discourse about homosexuality. However, in true Morrissey fashion, many of their songs are open to interpretation. Most importantly, The Smiths, through their music and lyrics, subtly addressed various issues and societal attitudes toward the things that mattered, amassing fans from all over who still cherish their music to this day.
