'I've Never Seen Star Wars'. Actor Nigel Havers discusses The Smiths and Morrissey

[johnnyXsniper]

WHAT. how can u not HEARD of the smiths. fair enough not listened to them but not heard of them? im 19 now but iv listened to the smiths since i was maybe 10 and its mad to think someone who would have been around at the time hadnt heard of them

[1ring2rule3pigs]

It sounds to me like they BOTH don't quite get it. Kudos for trying to explain it though, and kudos to Nigel for his back-peddling as soon as he realized his upbringing was from an era long gone.

[wesmatron]

I always took This Charming Man as a story about a poor young man not understanding his place in the world, wondering when nature would make a man of him (ie when would he fancy women), when a charming man turns up and basically says 'Why make life complicated? Get in my car and we'll have fun'...you can read between the lines.

[dangeloso]

i fucking love this. and i love the smiths

[jazzandmint]

I love it when people wander out of their comfort zone and listen to music they normally wouldn't consider. Nigel has my respect not only as a great actor but as an open-minded guy.

[pfalky2k]

smiths + morrissey = a shotgun & two dogs. shotgun to blast the depressive whining shits in the hip to make it easier for the 2 dogs to pull down.

[mmyyppaarrttyy]

to me,"this charming man" is about the promise of a new relationship. the punctured bicycle represents old relationships, old emotions, and the charming man in the charming car represents something new, and fun. of course, morrissey realises that the new relationship will end in the same way.

[reballare]

@mmyyppaarrttyy Its actually being buggered in the back seat of a gay gentleman's car. Good try though. :-)

[mmyyppaarrttyy]

@reballare you just took my innocence!

[LondonNewyork1]

7/10? More like 11/10. The Smiths are amazing. Viva Moz!

[johnnyXsniper]

yay the smiths :D some girls are bigger than otherssss

[Reint25]

This is a nice video. A show for opn-minded people I guess? ;)

Thanks, stitchtowearcouk for the upload.

[henryyydarkkk]

Hes pushing his bike along cos it has a puncture and the 'charming man' pulls up in a car next to him.

How bloody hard can it be?

[HighburyGhost]

I was thinking 'Aaargh, don't disect the lyrics to This Charming Man!' Mainly because there are much better Smiths songs out there, and although it was my first Smiths song I got off itunes as it was catchy, to me, it's one of their least interesting. It doesn't speak to me like the majority of their other work.

Suffice to say, their song I'm least interested in now was the one that got me attracted to them and buy all their albums - proof as to how great they really are.

[PomBare]

I'm surprised anyone would turn their back on This Charming Man, I know their entire catalogue ir thoroughly brilliant, but this still remains for me right up there. I really urge you to check the video of Simon Armitage dissecting the lyrics, it's unbelievably profound, i think it might change your mind

[LamureXVII]

I've always thought the line about pampering life's complexities is simply beautiful-- no point ruminating over life's complexities when you're lonely, with nobody on the seat beside you rumpling the leather.

Actually, most of the very devoted Smiths/Morrissey fans I've met were of the alienated adolescent variety. I mean, they don't constitute the majority of fans, but it is a fact that The Smiths do strike a chord with many disenfranchised people.

Also-- More power to Marcus Brigstocke!

[teasymphony]

Even if Nigel may be looking at the lyrics at a very literal standpoint, I love the fact that he's willing to tap into a music genre that he isn't particularly fond of personally. I love The Smith's, but I can understand why some people find them a bit too obscure.

[lindadox]

this was funny.

i approve.

[PickledStone888]

But isn't it wonderful that Nigel is open and prepared to be informed and educated about an era that isn't his. What a great band and what a lovely man!

[cook119]

I disagree I think he's a prick. I don't think he has much too him bit shallow. He seems to trivialise the liyrics and looked to the audience to agree with him that pissed me off a bit.

[bertiethetoupee4]

I think Nigel, who I have a great respect for, is approaching the lyrics wrongly. Simon Armitage holds the lyrics in very high esteem. i think the point is that the punctured bicycle is a metaphor for the narrator who is left feeling punctured and stuck in stasis by life, and wonders if there is hope for him and it takes on this idea of being educated by an older man who faltters him and tells him not to worry - why pamper those complexities when there is sensuality in the present.

[cook119]

Well done to marcus birgstocke here representing for one of the most influential, beautifully written and meaningful music ever. It wasn't meant for the type of people who find it depressing it was meant for thoughtful people who's personality is more than skin deep

[HighburyGhost]

Couldn't of said it better myself.

[pythonbyte]

Good bit of TV this was. I don't buy into the Smiths = lonely 'disenfranchised' fan base nonsense either. I first heard them when This Charming Man was played at a college party not in a darkened room crying into my cocoa.

[foook111]

Great show + Great band.

[adambastard]

the smiths are from salford.

Picture is Fabrice Colette taken by Gilles Decroix

Morrissey is a cunt.

[clarkgwent]

"Get It" we do. Like it is what we don't. For exactly the reasons that Mr Havers articulates!

[milowent]

great concept for a show.

[LMTav]

Nigel Havers also got a tattoo 4 this show- does anyone have that?

[OrienteeringBoy]

Fascinating video. I think Marcus Brigstocke is the first person that I have ever seen on TV trying to explain Morrissey to a sceptic in a serious way. I guess most of us just give up as soon as it's apparent that someone 'doesn't get it'.

[qwerti666]

Very amusing :)

[smallandmumpy]

Morrissey is the punctured bicycle, sir.

[HuntersMoon73]

That was fantastic, thanks so much.

[RisforRockit]

seems like the concept for this show hasnt been sold to many countries yet - it should. that actor (sympathetic, but never heard of him) sounds like my father, he just doesnt understand what the fuzz's about.

[mozzery]

enjoyed that very much. thnx for posting!