The Walrus Blog

Earlier this morning, Stacey May Fowles wrote about the singer Morrissey, in celebration of his fiftieth birthday today. Below, The Walrus‘s editors and bloggers pick their favourite tracks from The Smiths’ and Mozzer’s back catalogue.

10. Handsome Devil (from Hatful of Hollow, 1984).

Chosen by comic blogger Sean Rogers: “Most pop songs are propositions, but Morrissey’s not shy about letting you know it.”

9. Irish Blood, English Heart (from You are the Quarry, 2005).

Chosen by Jon Evans: “The contempt just oozes out of this one. And it’s catchy, too.”

8. Disappointed (from Bona Drag, 1990).

Chosen by Stacey May Fowles: “The absolute contempt for ‘people who are nice’ always cheers the misanthrope in me.”

7. Glamorous Glue (from Your Arsenal, 1992).

Chosen by Dave Morris (writer of the upcoming Buck 65 profile in the September 2009 issue of The Walrus).

6. How Soon is Now? (as covered by t.A.T.u. on 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane, 2003 ).

Chosen by online editor Paul Isaacs: “Because nothing says Manchester and misery like a Russian nymphet pop duo singing in falsetto. Best Morrissey cover ever.”

5. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (from The Queen is Dead, 1986).

Chosen by Walrus Senior Editor Jeremy Keehn: “Before there was ‘Baby Got Back,’ there was this equally infectious ode to BBWs. Or to girls with mother issues, whatever.”

4. Pregnant for the Last Time (single, 1991).

Chosen by Sean Rogers: “Moz-a-billy! That pompadour finally makes sense.”

3. The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get (from Vauxhall and I, 1994).

Chosen by Dave Morris.

2. Unhappy Birthday (from Strangeways, Here We Come, 1987).

Chosen by Stacey May Fowles: “Betrayal! Animal cruelty! Binge drinking!”

1. Please Please Please, Let Me Get What I Want (from Hatful of Hollow, 1984).

Chosen by Jeremy Keehn: “What would this list be without a good ‘life is so unfair’ song?”

More: Read Stacey May Fowles on Morrissey’s 50th birthday.

Posted in The Haulout

  • @enThrall

    I know my voice will only join the chorus of outraged overlooks, but how could you leave out Bigmouth Strikes Again? Makes me laugh every time…

  • http://www.walrusmagazine.com/blogs/2009/05/22/morrissey-is-fifty/ The Walrus Blogs » Unhappy 50th Birthday, Morrissey » The Haulout

    [...] Happy Birthday Morrissey. Tonight I’m going to find a boy with a pompadour and we can lie on our backs, listen to some rare B-sides, and talk about how the world doesn’t understand us. More: The Walrus picks its favourite Morrissey and Smiths tracks. [...]

  • andrew

    How could you miss Suedehead??????? The perfect Morissey solo song!

    It’s got that sort-of Smiths-ey guitar (clearly a fuck you to Johnny Marr), and those tortured “how could you treat me so bad?”-type lyrics, which get turned on their head by the fantastic kiss-off “it was a good lay, a good lay.” Viva hate indeed!


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