The Slow, Public Death of a Musical Hero: Morrissey
It is disheartening to see the once intelligent and articulate lead singer of The Smiths, Morrissey, smearing his legacy with hateful and ignorant statements, lately — downplaying sexual abuse, blaming the victims, while ranting against Muslims and immigration:
Everyone sleeps with minors. What are we supposed to do, throw them all in jail?
"If you try to make everything multicultural,” says the Irish immigrant, “you will not have any culture in the end.”
It's amazing the contradictions that can exist in one human. Morrissey does have a massive Latino/Mexican following and has championed the underdog in the past. Yet, there's something ugly in the air —fear, hatred, ignorance— and it seems he was not smart enough to avoid catching it...
To add insult to injury, he continues:
I'm sad that Berlin has become the rape capital… because of the open borders.
It beggars belief, really.. For what it's worth, regarding Berlin, according to recent statistics, sexual crime is actually on the decline in the city, while the overall number of reports across Germany has remained lower than the UK, Sweden and the US. It’s shocking to hear this once-refined artist beginning to sound as coarse, and dangerous, as President Chump.
Words matter and Morrissey, who sings about 'living for the written word,' should know better. As an example of hate speech leading to physical violence, recent court documents reveal that the Canadian gunman who killed six Muslim men in a Quebec mosque was an avid follower of alt-right figures, while authorities also found a photo of him in a MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat.
While Morrissey is no stranger to controversy throughout his decades-long musical career, it becomes increasingly difficult for people of conscience to appreciate his art as he continues to spew such divisive and mean-spirited sentiments—such as his latest vile, and uninformed remarks, posted on his website, just yesterday:
‘Halal meat requires certification that can only be given by supporters of ISIS’
A cursory listen to his new album, Low in High School suggests that Morrissey has found lust in Tel Aviv while taking leave of the rest of his mind and good taste. Critics of 'Israel’s actions – say, the bulldozing of Palestinian homes in the occupied territories – are jealous' according to his bewildering, simplistic assessment. Further, in yesterday's inflammatory (self?) interview, he offers this fresh provocation and weirdly willful nonsense:
As far as racism goes, the modern loony left seem to forget that Hitler was leftwing. When someone calls you racist, what they are saying is: hmm, you actually have a point, and I don’t know how to answer it, so perhaps if I distract you by calling you a bigot we’ll both forget how enlightened your comment was.”
Nevermind that Hitler, actually, banned unions, workers' strikes and abortions; or that his regime persecuted homosexuals, despised immigrants, was anti-gun control for the majority of Germans, pro-Nationalism and pro-militarism. There is no reasoning with a mind and a heart, stubbornly, closed.
Yes, throughout history, there have been far too many examples of artists acting badly. The question is: where do we draw the line, and withhold our support - when it infects the art? when it affects our core values? Truth is, what we are willing to overlook or pardon often says a lot about our own priorities.
Pity that an artist of Morrissey's caliber and heightened sensitivity should allow such steel to have crept into his soul (admittedly, over the years). Is this what occurs when one leads an isolated, self-absorbed life, feeding off negativity and quick to lash out in spite? Has the solitary cynic, finally, become an embittered, older man with little love left for the world?
Who knows. But the horror is that he is not alone. At times such as ours, it seems apt to share these cautionary words from someone who knew, far more than my fallen idol, the price of silence and speaking out:
Interesting to think about how a musician's personal opinions might affect how we view their art.
I am a music lover, but in my case, I value the music first, the tone of the vocals second, and the actual lyrics generally last. Since I don't key in much on the lyrics, I don't think much about what the singer or band is trying to say. And I wouldn't spend much time thinking about what they say on social media or anywhere else.
If I liked a song in the past, I'll generally keep enjoying it, regardless of what the band is doing now, or what I find out about their lifestyles or opinions.
I appreciate thoughtful articles like this! it gives me a chance to think about a topic and write out some sort of comment, even if it's only loosely based on the article. If a piece makes me stop and think, I'll write my thoughts, just as an exercise in expression. But I do hope what I say has some relevance to what you've said. :)
Of course, what you are saying, Kenny, has much relevance. And, normally, the position you outline, above, is similar to mine. The near perfect artist/art is one thing, the flawed man, another. But, it becomes harder to make this moral distinction when the the artist in question is known as a lyricist, not as a musician. So, we're listening to the poetry of his words and his clever word play, more than we pay attention to the music itself.
Vocally, Morrissey remains in fine form (considering he is approaching 60) but it becomes increasingly difficult to separate the man from the art, when his ugly views find their way into the songs, and in his own words he insists they are one and the same:
This was something I wrestled with, to some extent, being an admirer of Woody Allen films. Wagner's music is, more or less, banned in Israel (having been tainted by association with Hitler). Similarly, there are many principled readers who will not read great poets like Ezra Pound for being a vocal anti-Semite, or philosopher Heidegger, a pro-Nazi. Where does one draw the line? This is the tricky question that I attempt to ask in my post.
Thank you, my friend, for your thoughtful reply.
_/|\_It's a very tricky problem. I've never liked Woody Allen but I wouldn't have liked to 'not' watch his films because of personal distaste for the man. However, I also think that if I am principled, then I wouldn't. I've certainly watched films and read books by those we would abhor for their version of morality - even Hemingway, whose writing I adored, would be off limits for me if I wrote up a list of those artists whose personal views didn't align with my own. We can't live in bubbles of our choosing and need to read and watch widely to understand the world. Censorship can be dangerous - we on Steemit know that. 'Where do we draw the line' is the question, indeed.
I agree:
Trying, every day, to find the right balance... Thank you, for sharing your quandries, as well.
Dear Yahia,
Morrissey's brilliance and his insanity points to the importance of not worshipping heroes because eventually they will all disappoint you. I am of the belief that racism and bigotry is insanity. But he has always been a negative nelly ... to begin with an insightful and humorous negative nelly. Once he called us to question and now he seems to be calling us not to so much to question but to judge and even to fear and hate. Alas when you set out to be at war with everything, everything becomes evil in your eyes, except that which you ally yourself with. But be warned, all allies remain on borrowed time.
Change is inevitable. It cannot be stopped and should be aided but let the guide be compassion and not fear and anger. We are all where we are from what came before ... every last one of us ... and we all share a connection. The only way that is not insane and self-destructive is the compassionate way.
I think you said it here ...
" An isolated, self-absorbed life, feeding off negativity and quick to lash out in spite? Has the solitary cynic, finally, become an embittered, older man with little love left for the world?"
I will continue to enjoy his earlier work, but here I honour the source of all creativity and not this poor man that has lost his way from compassion and as such is slowly destroying his piece of mind and body. It might interest you to know that he has been fighting colon cancer. He really is ill.
Oh and Hitler was not a leftist ... the nazi's co-opted the term socialist. It was a misnomer.
What a beautiful response, Pryde... Yes, thinking that this is part of growing up, too, to put no human on a pedestal and to find it in my heart to pity even those who have lost their way (as they, especially, need it).
Yes, I'm aware he's ill, and wish him health of mind, body and soul. Thank you, friend, for your deeply compassionate reminders: that love is, always, the sane answer, that we must embrace change (the only constant), to honor the source of all creativity and guard against any negative nellyness :(
Ah, Humanity!
Everything serves creation ... although everything does not serve every individual. Only compassion and love do that. Morrissey will get there too ... that saying a metaphorical kick in the pants might help him too ... the problem is he is just so sharp-witted ... he has what we call in the business ... brilliant defences.
Well-spoken, P, Everything serves creation... That reads like a prose poem. You're sounding, particularly, wise tonight :) Forgive my obtuseness, but what 'business' are you referring to—are you a psychologist?
No just a poet ... but they are similar in orientation. The expansion and healing of the mind:)
Yes, of course..
—Gabriel García Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera
I never heard that one about the mayor of London smh. This is how I look at it when I try to seperate an idea or art I like from th eperson who produced it: Bell curves. The mathematical probability that someone will be a genius with say colors or music and the ALSO be on the high end of any other trait, such as kindness, empathy, even attractiveness or height get smaller and smalleras we add traits. So I can take Newton and the Wutang for their specific geniuses and really enjoy them deeply while understanding that I might not say , marry any of the Wu or come to religious aggreement with Issac ;). As a women who has been in heavily male dominated spaces and seems to forget that we have been and even still are not taken as equals- or even any where close to- , it has been my saving grace and one I'm thankful to have accidently understood.
He's out of control, almost unrecognizable, as human or artist. Hate is disfiguring, that way... It would be nice to expect basic human decency from those that are gifted and have a platform, as well as responsibility to use it, gracefully. But, as you point out, that is not a given. Working on understanding this better, in others & myself.
I was speechless when I first read this post, so that would be wordless in online terms...
So having recovered from my shock, I’m going to focus on the multiculturalism aspect. I’d say that as an Asian female having arrived in Australia at the age of 2 and growing up with a lot of racism, I’ve seen my home change. Melbourne (where I live) has been voted the most livable city in the world 7 times and that includes 2017. I’m surrounded by multicultural influences. Yes, there will always be friction caused by differences, fear when new groups are introduced and cultural adjustment issues. Sure we’ve had our incidents, but I feel safe and happy. Generally, we are so boring that the news report over the silliest alarmist things. That irritates.
In my opinion, multiculture creates a richer culture. It works, but nothing wonderful is easy. There will always be those who disagrees and spread fear, but they are detractors, and in my mind, useful to make sure we don’t take our freedoms and the health of our culture for granted. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, even if we don’t agree. But I’ll never understand the degree of unproductive negativity as expressed by Morrissey. I will say I much prefer people be honest about it so we know where they stand, rather than hide and whisper and it’s not open for debate. What I actually find more interesting is seeing who gravitates to the negativity, who speaks up against it, and most tragically, who remains silent. That’s always what interests me, the behavior of others and not necessarily the one who is screaming into the microphone in a rant of hate.
An excellent post, Yahia.
Thank you, Linny, for bringing your life example to the mix (I did not realize you were Asian). Yes, multiculture creates a richer culture. It works, but nothing wonderful is easy. I was fortunate to grow up in a multicultural atmosphere (an American school in Egypt) so that I hardly had to think twice about differences in nationality or religion -- certainly, not as a setback. But, my own culture back home in Egypt seems to be changing, cutting off its nose to spite its face, so to speak. We, who once thrived on account of tourism, are now more suspicious of others and less inviting. The same, of course, can be said about Trump's sad America. We are diminished, as a people, when we close our doors and hearts to others, and I see this happening all over. Oftentimes, as the case of Morrissey, I'm shocked at supposedly decent folks falling for the lie.. Sigh
Thanks, for stopping by, and for your, typically, engaged feedback.
_/|\_We are very lucky in Melbourne as multiculturalism is a source of national pride. We understand the richness of migrant culture and embrace it as our own, knowing we benefit from it. It's a very different 'vibe' (to quote the Castle) in Europe though.
I didn't know this about the Smith's, but I usually say that you can appreciate the art without condoning the actions of or subscribing to the artist. Like, Woody Allen has a pretty bad rep, but I still own most of his movies and see each new one. It might be different with music though. It depends on if those beliefs infect the music because, if they are, they are suddenly empowered by the infectious nature of music and could actually do serious damage.
Yup, that's exactly my point... the hate is finding its way into the art & it's seriously off-putting. I think it's been a long-time coming and has, finally, reared its ugly head so that it's become near impossible to separate art from artist. Oh well, part of growing up and moving on. This is the world we live in and not all are smart enough (emotionally, intellectually, spiritually) with strong immune systems to fight viruses.
Yes its really weird these days - every interview or statement he gives makes him less and less appealing. He should probably just let the music speak for him!
But, that's part of the problem, Ben, the hatred has infiltrated the music and, as a result, diminished his art (see review of his latest album that I link to, above). Sad...
England is a different place now. I was horrified when I was there for Brexit. People are actually really scared for their towns and of course, blame it on immigration and policy and whatever else the media feeds them. People really hate change - they are scared of it. They are scared of a lot of things. Morrissey, however, should definitely know better, as you say - his comments only worsen the situation. To be honest, I've never thought Morrissey 'refined' - and my husband would throw the radio across the room rather than hear his whiney, monotonous crap. We have always felt that he was rather conceited and self-absorbed.
Haha, yes, he can be conceited and self-absorbed, but he was also capable of much aching Beauty (that I'll try to remember and hold on to...) I don't recognize the England I hear about in the news, and that you describe--I went there (lifetimes ago) when I was in boarding school and would visit, fairly regularly. But, it's been awhile and the world is changing. We don't think straight when we are afraid, less so when we panic. I wish everyone would just take a deep breath and try to work with things out of a place of more calm and openness...
Agreed. I didn't recognise it either. We were lucky enough to be near Bristol and in the Mendips - areas that voted to remain - yet they didn't quite have the influx of migrants and the social issues common to other areas of England. It was hard not to judge such reactions but I had to keep examining what it was that was making them react in this way, and feel compassion for their ignorance, which was hard too. Do you ever get the sense that you're the one being naive, idealistic and fluffy by saying 'take a deep breath, be open and calm and compassionate?' - this is what I get told, anyway. But I seriously don't think there is any other way to be. God - the divine - whatever it is tells us this. Essentially, we are goodness - all this fear is because of illusionary beliefs that we're divided, different, other - and that otherness threatens the 'us' that we have constructed for ourselves - in England, the centuries of tradition and Englishness. But we're all after the same things - home, comfort, security, love, companionship, purpose, family. We're not so alien to each other. Taking a breath and being open and compassionate doesn't sound too hard or basic, does it?
Yes, I get told that, too. But, I know it's the only way; the other way is a dead end. Yes, it's when we forget our allegiances to one another that we lose our way (England, of course, with its history of colonization, cannot simply turn its back on those who seek refuge, there). It's complicated and difficult, but being in a position of power/privilege, the burden is on us to better imagine the suffering of those with less and make the necessary sacrifices to ease their pain.
Exactly! 'The burden is on us to better imagine the suffering' - nicely put.
Also, do you mind if I share to my facebook? I like to ask people on here first before sharing, but my facebook circle is larger and I like sharing with them great posts from here.
You're very gracious to ask, yes, please do. I have a much larger following there, too, though I visit less & less (please, feel free to tag me, https://www.facebook.com/YahiaLababidi2) if you'd like for me to see/participate in any of the comments that might be made :)
Sent you a friend request- my full name is Sara Kilbride Johnson and my profile pic says "A Billion Lives"