Manchester University Press
2 'Has the world changed or have I changed?'
Abstract
The Smiths' recording career roughly corresponded to Margaret Thatcher's second term in office. The 1980s in Britain were politically dominated by Thatcher's three Conservative administrations, elected in 1979, 1983 and 1987. Thatcherism commenced with economic recession. 'The entire history of Margaret Thatcher', Morrissey announced in mid-1984, 'is one of violence and oppression and horror. I think that we must not lie back and cry about it'. Some of their most explicitly oppositional gestures were benefit concerts which demonstrated their affiliation to a cause. Several of Morrissey's songs brought their own soap-boxes. Some were direct, practising the finger-pointing that he would physically demonstrate on the South Bank Show: 'Meat Is Murder', 'The Headmaster Ritual'. The local result was 'a Thatcherite vision of classless, "popular capitalism", of a Britain that would be more like America'.
Abstract
The Smiths' recording career roughly corresponded to Margaret Thatcher's second term in office. The 1980s in Britain were politically dominated by Thatcher's three Conservative administrations, elected in 1979, 1983 and 1987. Thatcherism commenced with economic recession. 'The entire history of Margaret Thatcher', Morrissey announced in mid-1984, 'is one of violence and oppression and horror. I think that we must not lie back and cry about it'. Some of their most explicitly oppositional gestures were benefit concerts which demonstrated their affiliation to a cause. Several of Morrissey's songs brought their own soap-boxes. Some were direct, practising the finger-pointing that he would physically demonstrate on the South Bank Show: 'Meat Is Murder', 'The Headmaster Ritual'. The local result was 'a Thatcherite vision of classless, "popular capitalism", of a Britain that would be more like America'.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- 1 'Why pamper life's complexities?' 1
- 2 'Has the world changed or have I changed?' 22
- 3 'Irish blood, English heart' 43
- 4 'Heaven knows we'll soon be dust' 65
- 5 'Sing me to sleep' 81
- 6 'A boy in the bush' 104
- 7 'This way and that way' 121
- 8 'I don't owe you anything' 135
- 9 'A double bed and a stalwart lover for sure' 156
- 10 Last night we dreamt that somebody loved us 179
- 11 'When we're in your scholarly room' 195
- 12 'So much to answer for' 205
- 13 'Take me back to dear old Blighty' 225
- 14 Guantánamo, here we come 241
- Index 256
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- 1 'Why pamper life's complexities?' 1
- 2 'Has the world changed or have I changed?' 22
- 3 'Irish blood, English heart' 43
- 4 'Heaven knows we'll soon be dust' 65
- 5 'Sing me to sleep' 81
- 6 'A boy in the bush' 104
- 7 'This way and that way' 121
- 8 'I don't owe you anything' 135
- 9 'A double bed and a stalwart lover for sure' 156
- 10 Last night we dreamt that somebody loved us 179
- 11 'When we're in your scholarly room' 195
- 12 'So much to answer for' 205
- 13 'Take me back to dear old Blighty' 225
- 14 Guantánamo, here we come 241
- Index 256
