The Smiths: Paint a Vulgar Picture

[HannahIsUnoriginal]

I think of this song every time the music industry gets a new dead star to make money from. Shame they don't give as much of a shit when they're actually alive.

[GreyRose93]

Love the fact that Geoff Travis got insulted by this song, but not by Frankly Mr Shankly or You just Havent earned it yet baby! Irony indeed...

[goodfella23rus]

i think @foolishlyable really means 5:14 where there is a geezer standing on the left hand side of the photo, right in front of Johnny Marr whose profile is pretty similar to Jeff Bucklys but I dont think it is

[ChiliPeppz]

This video is ace!

[boubounia1]

brilliant! 

[setfiretomyheart]

Where can I find the photo of Moz at 0:55?

[lavieperdu]

@setfiretomyheart foreverill (dot) com/gallery/details (dot) php?image_id=812&mode=search

[danno321s]

The intro guitar then the solo starting at 2:40...beautiful!

[Iscream4Irene]

At the record company meeting

[leverellis]

WONDERFUL!!!!



[MarkSentMe]

Back in 1986, whenever I would drive North on I95 through Maryland...I used to blast the part of the song.."A Child From Those UGLY New Houses!!

[ronremis]

we havent earned it yet either mi amorsito hope all is well and i hope your singing now

[lbridge1000]

Absolutely Splendid!!! The Smiths Forever! ;) x

[transonicbuoy1]

Tragic moment in Oct 1987. They played the big long riff as the singles and album sleeves shimmered by on The South Bank Show.

[stranget92]

and now, again they're re-relasing their material, why? because you can't get tired of too much Smiths

[CigaretteSmokingGuy]

I can't seem to find this song on "The Best of the Smiths" Vol 1. or Vol 2., The Best of the Smiths The Singles, The Very Best of the Smiths, The Sound of the Smiths or The Smiths Singles Box.

[GreyRose93]

@CigaretteSmokingGuy It wouldn't be in the singles boxsets cos not a single, and you can find it in all its glory on Strangeways here we come :) But yeh, would be nice to see in on best off, I suppose they just have too many great songs to choose between... xx

[HannahIsUnoriginal]

@GreyRose93 You missed the joke, CigaretteSmokingGuy was pointing out the irony that this song is complaining about sell-out musicians selling 'best of' albums to make money, and The Smiths have a tonne of 'best of' albums themselves now.

[GreyRose93]

@HannahIsUnoriginal ah, I thought they might be joking but wasn't sure so I thought I'd be helpful just in case lol ;p

[skateboardsinshorts]

@CigaretteSmokingGuy strangeways here we come

[ThePeterats]

Peut-on vraiment croire que ce fût le dernier album des Smiths ?

[morrisseymylove]

I knew him first and I knew him well...

[hautelick]

Aso came to mind not long after hearing about Amy Winehouse.

Great song.

RIP, Ms. Winehouse.

[eileenspruce]

Love this song. :)

[smurfieboo]

Had this song in my head the whole day, RIP Amy

[mollymaemorrissey]

***V*I*N*T*A*G*E*** ***G*O*L*D*** 

[M4rko96]

"About '86, I got really into the Les Paul and rediscovered Peter Green. I tried to play less chordally, a little more solo-notey. But the solo on 'Paint A Vulgar Picture' was done on a Strat. I was really pleased that the first solo as such on a Smiths record was one you could sing." Johny Marr

[Lanarkish]

My favourite song by The Smiths ever. Truly wondrous and a thing of massive beauty. Poetry from start to finish from Morrisey. Great uncluttered crisp playing from Marr, Rourke and Joyce. I remember listening to the Strangeways album when it came out and was blown away at every track. This was the eighth track and musically nothing before or since, has topped the first time I heard this song play out twenty-three years ago. It still sounds so fresh & alive - it still blows me away today.

[WhitstableWilliams]

@Lanarkish I completely agree! I remember my older brother bringing it home and it had a similar affect on me (although I had to hear most of it through the wall...)

[moonbeammalkmus]

Yes, a wonderful song, though am I the only fan out there willing to 'observe' that despite not being dead, his output of compilations over the years rehashing old material time and time and time again risks this lyric becoming ( unintentionally ) - erm - ironic ?? Anyone bought them all and felt deceived ???

[ryan49er1]

@moonbeammalkmus every song is to be interpreted to everyones own idea....thats the greatness of morrisey

[YourPrivateStalker]

Kissmyshades, where do you find these pictures?!

I NEED THEM!

I know I sound like a fanatic right now, but that's well...

Probably because I am, actually.

Any response would be greatly appreciated.

[hjiklmo]

i just love this song, it just seems to unfold progesively and keeps adding new sides of a story, barely at the end u realise what it's all about. i agree, it's one of the most underrated songs ever, and , in my opinion, definately worth a place in the top 5 of the best songs ever written.

[yeahacoustic]

probably my favourite smiths song. 

[GameStar1300]

4y records told me to come here

[BabeaaKarryei345]

l0l_Í_fêÉl_sö_løñëlY_tÓDàÿ

[MckyMseNTarotCrds]

Definitely in my top five all-time favorite songs.

[stig12342]

.......johnny marrs finest hour ..and final hour ..if , as a smiths fan you havent dance around to his guitar playing at 2:38 you need serious help...absolutely stunning......best band....ever!!

[MARCSPANJERSNL]

Painting the pain away..

[MarkSentMe]

...a child from those ugly new houses!!

I laugh and think of this song whenever I pass a new subdivision full of beige and light yellow cookie-cutter houses. 

[Fallen80sChild]

Damn Moz has a long tongue. O.O

[aretipr]

I really adooooooore this song. Amazing lyrics..and so true!

[mandiapple]

I can't understand how anyone could think this was a bad song - it is so clearly from the heart, just beautiful and touching... viva las Smiths :D

[bbuteo]

I love this band.

[GreatDarkWing0491]

My favorite Smiths song(that's saying a lot) and one of the most beautiful songs ever written, in my opinion.

[HollowVoices]

Something is telling me that this song is about Billy Fury...

[eisgren]

favorite song of all time. johnny is divine, andy solid, moz sings better than ever.

and tells a story that's pretty ironic, seeing him these days. you could have said no...couldn't you?

[Iberotimuka]

I bought Strangeways at the end of 91 and was convinced it could only just have been released as Moz seemed to be singing about Freddy Mercury.

[foolishlyable]

4.14 Is that Jeff Buckley? :O

[kissmyshades]

@foolishlyable

at 4:14, that's a photo of Morrissey standing in front of a framed James Dean photo.

[foolishlyable]

@kissmyshades

Oh now I see it, Buckley and Dean have always looked same to me :D

[skeletonkey6]

Does anyone else think that this is about Ian Curtis?

"At the record company meeting/on their hands a dead star"

Also, the fact that Factory was preparing the Joy Division - Substance compilation at the time that this was written...

[skeletonkey6]

Does anyone else think that this is about Ian Curtis?

[bns78123]

fave



[Johnny6666]

Johnny Marr's most lyrical solo. It's like a discrete conversation all its own within the song itself.

[ctriamimgons]

one of the most under-rated Smiths tracks. brilliant really.

[iansobieck]

ahh, the sickening greed paying his drummer and bass guitarist only 10% each.

yes go on paint a vulgar picture will you morrissey?

[elsquibbs]

@iansobieck

I don't care what anyone says: Joyce and Rourke were 50% of The Smiths. The band never would have sounded the way they do if it weren't for those 2 guys too.

[iansobieck]

@elsquibbs

i tend to agree all three instrumentalists were what made the band.

after that his music went to shit.

[elsquibbs]

@iansobieck

Pretty much. Morrissey's current band sounds like Green Day when they play live.

[ctriamimgons]

@elsquibbs No doubt. The thing Morrissey never got is that the band was more than the sum of its parts--especially at bass and drums. I've seen Morrissey's band live--one word--generic.

The Smith's band was a great combo.

[MsMtnGrrl]

@elsquibbs Absolutely! Rourke's such an underrated bassist.

[hexum7]

@iansobieck oh pleas, they all signed contracts willingly- And Morrissey wouldn't personally pay them anyway

[blotchy67]

Where is that picture at 2:07 from?? I love it.

[Tamastara]

Thank you for posting this; those are great pictures!! And this is my favorite Smiths song.

[milanotiki]

the best farewell from one of the best 80s pop bands(seen their last concert in original line up,brixton academy,the lonely fan from belgrade,serbia,milano tiki

[TodImJanuar]

You just haven't earned it yet baby...

[Blastbarnacle]

Bravo!

[RainJetSprinklers]

Amazing song with an ironic video!

[kissmyshades]

@RainJetSprinklers

3:21-3:30 ... ironic, yes!

[youstolemyeggo]

At the record company party, on their hands, a dead star

The sycophantic slags all say, ‘I knew him first, and I knew him well”

Reissue! Repackage! Repackage! Reevaluate the songs,

Double-pack with a photograph, extra track (and a tacky badge).”

[cueshark]

Smith's worst song?! Definately not.  It's beautiful.

[sophbites]

one of my favourites ^^

[anang1988]

I played this song on my campus raido show when Kurt Cobain died.  This song works on two levels. The 1st is the story of how the industry loves a dead star. Then have the fan who follows the singer everywhere, hmm...

[IchbinSchalker]

The Smiths was the most glorious things that happened on musical scene of last century.

[themadcaplaughs90]

whoever mixed this track done a great job, well recorded album

[themadcaplaughs90]

This song is one of their best ,wish they made more albums. The Smiths got better as time went by.

[kakashi4543]

The Beatles,Beatles,Beatles,Beatle­s......please do one us in favor STFU

The Smiths were just beyond them

it doesnt seem like it cause well, the Beatles got 100 times more Media attention......

[stevemindickson]

@jotapeeventos The Smiths are NOT The Beatles at any age let alone 80. Please go away odourlessly. We hope your drainage bag holds fast.

[jotapeeventos]

the smiths are the beatles age 80!!!

[theocosta]

i love this song...perfect

[noho181]

you just haven't earned it yet baby..........

[RainJetSprinklers]

Definitely in my top 5 favorite songs. "A list, playlist, Please them, please them, sadly THIS was your life."

A true masterpiece if there ever was one, right down to Marr's rift and Joyce's complementary drums.

[petesn]

yes.."you could've walked away ,couldn't you"....?

[grantchestermeadows1]

who the hell says this is one of the worst smiths songs? i love it.

[Queenesy]

In Mozz we trust!

[Crazydguy]

This is about a hatred of pop culture...I feel that kind of angst.

[FablesJonny]

a very cool and ironic video. nice work!!

[THESM1THS]

You will never be tainted in my eyes.

Lovely montage of images @kissmyshades.

[Iberotimuka]

this song was written four year before Freddie Mercury's death but when I heard it I thought it was about him

[aviadmei]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

[diskochimp]

"But you could've said no if you wanted to..."

[RainJetSprinklers]

I just saw a picture of Mike Joyce today, wow, he has really aged well.

[vividninurprime]

me and my true love....

[hexum7]

This is what they ought to have sang at Michael Jackson's so-called memorial .....

"i knew him first and I knew him well"

..........But you could have said no if you wanted to

[toweronepower]

oh yes fuck yes its fits sooooo fucking well! Have u seen kat Williams stand up piece on Jacko??

[hexum7]

@toweronepower haven't seen it- is there an youtube vid?

[hexum7]

@toweronepower found it . fuggin hilairious

[sproggett1]

ditto.

[sweeetxfire]

i don't care what people say about this being one of the smiths worst songs--its one of my faves!! it just seems so genuine and heartfelt, especially the line "they could never taint you in my eyes"

long live the smiths!!

[Rmg12]

@sweeetxfire who says that? it's brilliant. ALL the smiths songs are amazing. The only one I don't like as much is golden lights,

[mollymaemorrissey]

@sweeetxfire Dear friend....there are NO worst songs by *T*H*E* *S*M*I*T*H*S*...ERIN GO BRAUGH and Ruth Polski still sends her undying love to you dearest Morrissey...P.G.M.G. xoxox Love always Molly

[Griff1319]

@sweeetxfire ..Than their IDIOTS, for not like this not saying,because this is a Smiths Song, but it's fkn brilliant.

[salvanuts]

@sweeetxfire I'm with you

[salvanuts]

@sweeetxfire I'm with you, one of my fav.

[extremepietbh]

@sweeetxfire Who the hell says this is one of the worst smiths songs? Who even says there is a worst smiths song?

[Soulinisolation1]

@extremepietbh If anything, this is one of the better ones of the last album. Death at One's Elbow is often regarded as one of the 'worst' Smiths songs if we have to say it...and we won't mention Golden Lights or Work is a four Letter Word!

[MckyMseNTarotCrds]

@sweeetxfire Um...who says that? It's one of their best, if you axe my ass.

[sweeetxfire]

@MckyMseNTarotCrds just some self-proclaimed Smiths "fans" I've come across...

[gillyg1000]

Yep ur right it is so true,my fave Smiths song,I was lucky enough to tell Morrissey this in a phone conversation with him many years ago,i asked was it about Marc Bolan,he said it was about Billy Fury x

[toweronepower]

Elaborate, please...

[joydivisionfanboy]

Does anyone find this song funny? I LOL'd so much when I heard it because it's sooo true and honest.

[sidandmoi]

i find it pretty sad.

"At the record company meeting

On their hands - at last ! - a dead star !

But they can never taint you in my eyes

No, they can never touch you now

No, they cannot hurt you, my darling

They cannot touch you now

But me and my 'true love'

[joydivisionfanboy]

but you have to smirk at "reissue repackage repackage reevaluate the song"!

[sidandmoi]

well yea...its one of my fav bits too

[sidandmoi]

and i also like: "A-list, playlist

"Please them , please them !"

"Please them !"

[baboon2525]

please the press in belgium....

[sidandmoi]

Best of ! Most of !

Satiate the need

Slip them into different sleeves !

Buy both, and feel deceived

[RobVanMeter]

Please them please them please them , sadly this was your life......but you could have said NO if you wanted to.....

[wartyflange]

this sums up simon cowell's attitude to music as a business, don't you think?

[sidandmoi]

hahahaha yep

[KtotheY77]

oh my, I never heard this song....I enjoy it.

[TrevorMTopham]

definantly my favorite song

[alex99fever]

MOZ riules ahhh

[johnnymarr23]

amazing. pure art. and johnny marr's guitar is magic 2:39 and the pictures montage is great ,congratulations

[Belegaer]

4:48 James Dean

What a legend

[JAMIELEEMARBELLA]

sicophatic slags!

[oliverburke]

Yes, well put-together :)

[strangeloved]

it's just too beautiful, kissmyshades, thank you.

[NicaCore]

You captured this song perfectly!! Great pics!

[TheTroubleWithKathy1]

There was no pre dermined ideolgy for this..it was just THE SMTIHS....as they always were....no need to over anaylase anything...love them or like them...they were fantastic....and...I understand..what people say in comments...just do not tkae it all too serioulsy...that was all they asked way back then...and it is best not to...or one may be making postcards for the mentally ill...as in one smiths song...enjoy them..they were amazing...

[mrshankly213]

making christmas cards i do believe ;)

[khasperg]

Unbelievable song. I'm newly obsessed with The Smiths but only have the Sound of The Smiths, so some of these non singles are new to me. This song is one of the best I've heard.

[strangeloved]

ah, the joy of discovering the smiths :) i envy you <3

[theone456]

I discovered them rather embarrisingly, I borrowed "Singles" from the library.

[TrevorMTopham]

What a great song! In my opinion the very best of the Smiths and this is deserving a spot right above There is a light, this charming man and the boy with a thorn.

[stoleninfo]

we love you marilyn monroe

all the more now that your dead

[dancelikeadude]

thinking about it,

I've watched this exact entry by kissmyshades for at least a year and still can't get my head around the legality of it all.

Surely the Rec Co.'s can see the demand....?

I must be missing something? perhaps it's the blur of the 90's?

(anyone for a poncho?)

[dancelikeadude]

hey, isn't it funny how these lyrics hit home so hard.

anyone else forgo a Star Wars Chewi in their Christmas stocking (naughty santa)?

[TheJibs]

Who is that at 2:25?

[kissmyshades]

that's a 13 year old Morrissey. (:

[TheJibs]

:) where did you find these photos?

[Adriansh3r0]

Absolutely genius lyrics.

How subtle he suggests that the disappointed fan murders his disgraced idol to save him from becoming an embarresment any further.

Both fan and idol are Morrissey if you ask me.

[kissmyshades]

that's an interesting way of seeing it. although i never really heard any implications in the lyrics of the fan killing off his beloved idol.

[Adriansh3r0]

Fan gets brutally rejected by idol.

Followed by:

"I walked a pace behind you at the sound check. [...] What makes most people feel happy leads us headlong into harm." Can be seen as a stalking scene.

"So in my bedroom [...] but me and my true love will never meet again." He is still alive at "harm", dead at the following sentence.

And then "they cannot touch you now". It feels to me as if he killed him so he couldn't become more of a disgraced media whore. But they very are open lyrics.

[kissmyshades]

you're over analyzing/over dramatizing what's meant to be a more simplistic message. A fan devoted enough to attend all the idol's shows and even the artist's soundchecks is essentially "stalking" the band but there's really no real evidence of malice intent.

[Adriansh3r0]

I said "can", "feels". I never said anything about a "final" interpretation. Ofcourse there is no evidence, Morrissey never leaves a trace of evidence, that's his genius. I said he had very open lyrics, period. The text is just there, open for various interpretations: brand of good poets or text smiths. You can either agree or you can stick to a single interpretation, your choice.

[grobbledonk]

Whatever it is, it aint poetry

[kissmyshades]

"what makes most ppl feel happy, leads us headlong into harm" possibly only suggests the pursuit of fame and how once you obtain fame to a certain degree, it's not the glamorous, carefree lifestyle that one anticipated but something detrimental to one's mental health.

[kissmyshades]

"they cannot touch you now"

"they" is refering to the music industry, The artist had to die to escape the music industry and the fame that came along with it.

[Adriansh3r0]

Indeed they are the industry but like I said the formulation feels to me as if the fan 'saved' the idol.

Bu t I agree on your interpretation, that's what it's originally supposed to mean, but if you look at enough of his lyrics, you must admit that he often leaves and blank spot that can be filled in with often scandalous interpretations. Just like he does with 'abuse inside marriage' on his latest album. Just look at 'One day goodbye will be farewell' and 'It's not your birthday anymore'.

[darkspeedhero]

@kissmyshades My favourite Smiths quote on this subject - "But still, I'd rather be famous than righteous or holy; any day, any day, any day."

[jacknickelsack420]

this is my favorite song from strangeways. Damn those were the days. It was all about the smiths, the cure, depeche mode, and joy division.

[clemzzz]

i think marr copied the byrds a bit too much on strangeways , this is clearly "5th dimension" i think he was more original earlier on.... i think last night... is my fave off strangeways

[kissmyshades]

and kajagoogoo!!

just kidding.

[xXLuxAeternaXx]

One of my favourite Smiths songs - thanks for the upload. Great pictures as well.

[jeffydiablo]

Truely, truely, truely, lovely! Nice collage, Kissmyshades. Thanks for posting.

[MrChevyrock]

wonderful vid of one of the best songs ever-