heartbeatocean said:

Here's my thing with Morrissey: he romanticizes depression. Dangerous.

Ace said:

I don't go for this argument that listening to Morrissey is dangerous as he 'romanticizes' depression. Have you thought that he may actually be depressed himself and why not talk about it...would you prefer that he said nothing and sung about sex, drugs, rock and roll. Not everyone can relate to that.
In the 80's when I first discovered The Smiths they were much needed in my life as I was living in terrible conditions with horrible people doing dreadful things to survive...and because of this I was depressed. Everything was awful and I couldn't relate to Duran Duran singing about the untouchable things in life and glorifying a good life or understand my friends obsessions with football, skateboards, 'up' music or Rambo- none of this was helpful, actually the things in life that were supposed to make you feel better just made me feel worse. Then The Smiths appeared with humour, second hand style, cheekiness and understanding. Morrissey's lyrics appealed to me, not only because I loved that someone was singing about the way that I was feeling, but that for every song about suicide or dark clouds, there were songs about the things in life that could be had and suddenly I had encouragement and understanding in my life...the things that the endless supply of doctors and constant change of tablets just couldn't achieve. I was well again and lived my strength through this singer- he was my shield against...well...everything.
I know more people who's lives Morrissey has saved than the fans that have died as a result of his 'flirtation' with depression...me included. I really wouldn't be here today if I had been left to my distant councilor, numbing pills and the rotation of doctors- I faced my fears through someone saying "I know how you feel and isn't it silly, but it happens- now, let's go pick on the Queen and Margaret Thatcher!"
Growing up with Morrissey and hearing recent songs like "That's How People Grow Up", "At Last I Am Born" and "In The Future When All's Well" continues to give me that much needed boost during down days...the sad songs are still there, but life is sad sometimes- it's just great that someone understands this and is still there for people like me. I lost a good friend last year who took his own life- he was life and soul of the party, always 'happy' and smiling, always present- listened to the most upbeat, positive music...he committed suicide as he was secretly unhappy- he did it because he didn't want to BE anymore, he wanted release from himself, he didn't want to burden anyone with how he was feeling- now his life was set up to be the most positive and he inspired everyone to live life when in actual fact he was so unhappy and no one knew- no signs in his tastes in music, the films he watched, the places he'd been to, the massive circle of friends he had...sometimes just nothing helps. I'm glad I had something/someone that knew how I was feeling. If I did do anything stupid then it would be because of my brain, American Idol, endless wars, drugs or the lack of someone saying, "I feel your pain". So for me: There is a light that never goes out.

Ace said:

I don't go for this argument that listening to Morrissey is dangerous as he 'romanticizes' depression. Have you thought that he may actually be depressed himself and why not talk about it...would you prefer that he said nothing and sung about sex, drugs, rock and roll. Not everyone can relate to that.
In the 80's when I first discovered The Smiths they were much needed in my life as I was living in terrible conditions with horrible people doing dreadful things to survive...and because of this I was depressed. Everything was awful and I couldn't relate to Duran Duran singing about the untouchable things in life and glorifying a good life or understand my friends obsessions with football, skateboards, 'up' music or Rambo- none of this was helpful, actually the things in life that were supposed to make you feel better just made me feel worse. Then The Smiths appeared with humour, second hand style, cheekiness and understanding. Morrissey's lyrics appealed to me, not only because I loved that someone was singing about the way that I was feeling, but that for every song about suicide or dark clouds, there were songs about the things in life that could be had and suddenly I had encouragement and understanding in my life...the things that the endless supply of doctors and constant change of tablets just couldn't achieve. I was well again and lived my strength through this singer- he was my shield against...well...everything.
I know more people who's lives Morrissey has saved than the fans that have died as a result of his 'flirtation' with depression...me included. I really wouldn't be here today if I had been left to my distant councilor, numbing pills and the rotation of doctors- I faced my fears through someone saying "I know how you feel and isn't it silly, but it happens- now, let's go pick on the Queen and Margaret Thatcher!"
Growing up with Morrissey and hearing recent songs like "That's How People Grow Up", "At Last I Am Born" and "In The Future When All's Well" continues to give me that much needed boost during down days...the sad songs are still there, but life is sad sometimes- it's just great that someone understands this and is still there for people like me. I lost a good friend last year who took his own life- he was life and soul of the party, always 'happy' and smiling, always present- listened to the most upbeat, positive music...he committed suicide as he was secretly unhappy- he did it because he didn't want to BE anymore, he wanted release from himself, he didn't want to burden anyone with how he was feeling- now his life was set up to be the most positive and he inspired everyone to live life when in actual fact he was so unhappy and no one knew- no signs in his tastes in music, the films he watched, the places he'd been to, the massive circle of friends he had...sometimes just nothing helps. I'm glad I had something/someone that knew how I was feeling. If I did do anything stupid then it would be because of my brain, American Idol, endless wars, drugs or the lack of someone saying, "I feel your pain". So for me: There is a light that never goes out.
[Edited 11/3/08 2:24am]