Article "Five ways Morrissey has been ahead of his time" by Fiona Dodwell - Music-News.com

Written by Dodwell, I believe
Morrissey. Say the name to ten different people and you will get ten vastly different reactions; he is an artist that defies our expectations with his decades-spanning career and constant refusal to be an easy player for the mainstream press.

While many other public figures pander to the latest trends and seem happy to offer their easily digestible platitudes to audiences, Morrissey stands firm: he is completely and unequivocally true to himself. This strength of character has not made his life easy; in fact, it appears to be quite the opposite when one considers the relentless backlashes he has faced as a result.

Yet buried beneath the blanket of the press and the carousel of online stories which attempt to target and undermine him (to the point of caricaturisation) exists a very human Morrissey that has proven himself far ahead of his time in this so-called era of the “woke.”

With the moral panic of the social media age at the forefront of our daily lives, there are few artists out there who have been as transparent and honest as Morrissey has, whether it's pointing out the hypocrisy of the elite or offering a voice to the voiceless.

Here are just five ways that the legendary artist has proven himself to be way ahead of his time...


1/ Animal Rights and the Environment

Morrissey slayed the music world with his release of Meat is Murder (with The Smiths) back in 1985. Never had a public figure made such a bold statement in regards to the meat industry. His passion for animal rights has been evident throughout his life (with Morrissey himself having refrained from eating meat since childhood).

Since the early days of his career, he has been an outspoken proponent of the vegetarian/vegan diet, eagerly promoting the lifestyle in both lyrics and interviews, even when the topic was not met with warm reception. With the Quorn meat-alternative company only starting in the mid 80s, and the Linda McCartney vegetarian food range available only from the early 90s, Morrissey was way ahead of his time through famously promoting a diet that diminished animal cruelty and offered an alternative lifestyle. He made it okay to point out the violence of the meat industry in the public forum, instead of placating audiences who were perhaps too comfortable with their dietary choices.

In today's world of environmental issues and climate protestors, it is interesting to note the media regularly report that the meat industry is one of the main contributing factors and now promote meat-free diets as a way to help our environment.

“Serving meat and dairy at an event to combat climate change,” Morrissey once said, “is like selling pistols at a gun-control rally.”


2/ No Gender Stereotyping

It's an important thing, in 2019, to not feel hemmed in by society's outdated expectations of what it actually is to be a man or a woman. Just how much gender stereotypes effect people has become more evident over time, with more and more awareness being raised of how damaging it can be to individuals and society as a whole when we push people into tiny boxes according to our expectations. Morrissey has never appeared comfortable with the idea that he has to do certain things to be considered a so-called “real man” and has used his music career to challenge gender perceptions.

From the early days with The Smiths when Morrissey would stand, slender and beautiful, clutching onto flowers whilst taking centre stage, to the frank lyrics contained in I Am Not a Man (from the World Peace is None of Your Business album) he has not been held captive to any gender archetype:

“Don Juan, picaresque
Wife-beater vest
Cold hand, ice man
Warring caveman
Well if this is what it takes to describe
I'm not a man

Wheeler, dealer
Mover, shaker
Casanova
Beefaroni, but lonely
Well if this what it takes to describe
I'm not a man, I'm not a man....”

Looking at those lyrics and beyond, to the human Morrissey, who refused to live up to the archetype of the alpha male rockstar, promoting a lifestyle of excess, groupies, sex, drugs and rock n' roll, it is evident without much digging that Morrissey has not ever aligned himself with the expected, and has instead walked a path of individuality, not strangled by societies idea of “male bravado.”


3/ Standing up to Bullies: The Hell of Education

It's not a secret to anyone that bullying happens, and for some, the school years are the hardest. At a time in our world when people are encouraged to be themselves and to speak up when they are being targeted, bullied or mistreated, Morrissey has been far-ahead of the game. Outspoken about his hellish years at school at the hands of certain teachers (he explores this in his book, Autobiography) and comfortable with being honest about how bullying and mistreatment at school effected him, he even went on to pen a song rumoured to be about his early years – You Have Killed Me, which is seen as an anthem by many fans who also experienced hard times at school.

Even in adulthood, when the media seem to slander anyone who does not fit the dot-to-dot prerequisite for palatable reading, Morrissey faces demeaning headline after demeaning headline, yet he remains strong. Bullying has not silenced the real Morrissey, not then and not now. Instead it has birthed in him a view of life that is alien to some, but exquisite to those who have experienced similar suffering in their youth – there is healing in art and solace to be found.


4/ Women's Liberties

It's 2019. The world seems full to the brim of ideas about how women should (rightfully so) be treated as absolute equals in the world, yet there seems a discord in regards to what aspects of this topic can be tackled. When Morrissey spoke about his support of UK political party For Britain, many were up in arms. But what did they truly know about his support, beyond controversial snippets from the mainstream press?

The ill-treatment of many women in Islam is well-known, but receives little exposure in a climate overly concerned with political correctness. The plight of the female in the name of religion includes (but is not limited to) arranged marriage, genital mutilation, being forced to cover-up with head scarves and child marriage, yet Morrissey merely having an opinion is seen as extreme? It is surprising that not more people share the same concerns that Morrissey does.

Of course it seems obvious to many that Morrissey's big draw to the party stems from the fact that they are hugely active within animal rights, but one of the other main tenets of For Britain is the mistreatment of women due to religion. If this isn't an issue to be raised and analysed in 2019 (even if one doesn't agree with all policies of the party) then something must be going very wrong. Morrissey was ready for this conversation a long time ago – why does everyone else appear frightened to discuss it?


5/ Never Sell-Out: The Cost of Morals

A veteran in the music industry since the early 80s, Morrissey remains a creative force to be reckoned with to this day. In most ways, he has been – and continues to be – an artist like no other. His constant refusal to pander to the press and the music industry in general is a rarity amongst artists of his calibre. Many years ago, Morrissey said he would never attend the Brit Awards, which is an unheard of rebellion for any artist, and he has spent his entire career unsettling the status quo, rather than courting the media.

Whilst most public figures rely on these institutions (media, journalists and award ceremonies) to survive, Morrissey has frankly spun around and driven the other way. He simply doesn't believe in it. Ever the contrarian, it seems Morrissey does not want to be there simply as a “people pleaser.” He instead wants to be bold and have something worthy to say: if he merely wanted to please the press, he would not have produced the body of work he has today, for it would be lacking the truth and insight to which all of his output is heavily flavoured by.

Morrissey has become the remarkable figure he has because of his determination to walk the hard road - the rewards for him are much greater and more gratifying when he is true to himself. It's a concept we are only just beginning to appreciate in society – sticking to our guns, not selling out on our beliefs and morals, despite the hardships that may come with it, or the missed, quick-gained glories afforded by cheap compromise.

Morrissey's new single, "It's Over" is scheduled for release in the second week of November on the label BMG.
http://www.music-news.com/news/UK/125374/Read


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I don't think this Fiona Dodwell person exists. That's the real story here. Morrissey probably dictates these articles while he's sitting in the bath drinking champagne.

spot on. I genuinely think it’s Sam. Fiona makes the same grammatical mistakes (we know Sam is thick - look at his photoshops and recent album art), and the questions ‘she’ has asked in the past are far too pointed towards what Morrissey would ask himself to be from someone else’s mind, and even the name Fiona Dodwell seems made up...

I suppose it’s the only way he can be seen to have positive press these days. Desperate and desperately ODD man indeed.
 
"Fiona - I'm getting some really bad press. Here's a few quid. Go get my name on the Google roster.

Cheers!

Moz."

Best friend on the payroll folks. Don't fall for it.

In commenting before the stink from a fart can dissipate.
 
You forgot to use the word “sheeple”; I was so close to being able to cross off all the boxes on my “Things An Arsehole Would Say” bingo card, too.

It’s toe-curlingly embarrassing that he relies on this sub-literate tosh, this piss-stream of mixed metaphors and flattery, to try to boost his hopelessly-sullied image. Mhm, sure, misogyny, that’s Morrissey’s problem with Islam; nothing to do with him being a big ol’ racist cockwomble. Plenty of evidence of gynophobia in Morrissey’s lyrics, of course. It really is a cottage industry for Mozzolini these days, isn’t it? His nephew churning out the pixelated sleeve “art” in Microsoft Paint, this ageing goth fanfic writer (assuming she’s not a sockpuppet) delivering the ego wanks. You could probably fit his UK fanbase inside an actual cottage, too.

If this was written by Fiona Dodwell then she certainly knows her stuff.

"Sticking to your guns and not selling out on your beliefs and morals" is becoming a lot harder as the establishment try to mould us into a new-fangled globalist mindset, brainlessly satisfied customers who have happily dropped everything previously held dear (including their own countries). A people policed and threatened by the gullible (establishment tools) on social media if we dare to question a single thing.

In the coming years as more people wake up to certain realities Morrissey will be hailed for his so-called controversial comments and celebrated as the only person in the public eye to have spoken the truth.

For 'walking the hard road' he will be amply rewarded.
 
You forgot to use the word “sheeple”; I was so close to being able to cross off all the boxes on my “Things An Arsehole Would Say” bingo card, too.

It’s toe-curlingly embarrassing that he relies on this sub-literate tosh, this piss-stream of mixed metaphors and flattery, to try to boost his hopelessly-sullied image. Mhm, sure, misogyny, that’s Morrissey’s problem with Islam; nothing to do with him being a big ol’ racist cockwomble. Plenty of evidence of gynophobia in Morrissey’s lyrics, of course. It really is a cottage industry for Mozzolini these days, isn’t it? His nephew churning out the pixelated sleeve “art” in Microsoft Paint, this ageing goth fanfic writer (assuming she’s not a sockpuppet) delivering the ego wanks. You could probably fit his UK fanbase inside an actual cottage, too.
Islam is a religion, not a race. If you don't like a religion that subjugates women, it doesn't make you racist.
 
I don't think this Fiona Dodwell person exists. That's the real story here. Morrissey probably dictates these articles while he's sitting in the bath drinking champagne.

What makes you think that?
If true, it would be quite disgusting imo.
 
You forgot to use the word “sheeple”; I was so close to being able to cross off all the boxes on my “Things An Arsehole Would Say” bingo card, too.

It’s toe-curlingly embarrassing that he relies on this sub-literate tosh, this piss-stream of mixed metaphors and flattery, to try to boost his hopelessly-sullied image. Mhm, sure, misogyny, that’s Morrissey’s problem with Islam; nothing to do with him being a big ol’ racist cockwomble. Plenty of evidence of gynophobia in Morrissey’s lyrics, of course. It really is a cottage industry for Mozzolini these days, isn’t it? His nephew churning out the pixelated sleeve “art” in Microsoft Paint, this ageing goth fanfic writer (assuming she’s not a sockpuppet) delivering the ego wanks. You could probably fit his UK fanbase inside an actual cottage, too.
Morrissey aired anti-immigration opinions and announced his support for the For Britain party.

In your book (not mine) that makes him a racist.

So ask yourself this - why do you persist in hanging out on a website devoted to a racist?
 
Morrissey aired anti-immigration opinions and announced his support for the For Britain party.

In your book (not mine) that makes him a racist.

So ask yourself this - why do you persist in hanging out on a website devoted to a racist?

Skinny sees himself as some 'caped crusader'; more 'twatman' than 'batman', however.

Problem is, no one is interested in what he has to say, no matter how loudly, or how frequent, he shouts.

Man's an idiot; laughable really, he's just wasting his life on here, when he could be out there doing something constructive with his time, like helping build social housing, or cleaning the bogs at the mosques in Bradford.
 
Moz better keep selling those discount tees! To keep the tour going and keep Fiona on the payroll
 
I don't think this Fiona Dodwell person exists. That's the real story here. Morrissey probably dictates these articles while he's sitting in the bath drinking champagne.

Someone should have TMZ, Yashar, or Ronan Farrow look into this! Lmao I’m sure they could find out in a second if Fiona exists and if so if she is on the payroll. I wouldn’t put it past them thinking they could pull it off. Shame this is how it’s turning out
 
Skinny sees himself as some 'caped crusader'; more 'twatman' than 'batman', however.

Problem is, no one is interested in what he has to say, no matter how loudly, or how frequent, he shouts.

Man's an idiot; laughable really, he's just wasting his life on here, when he could be out there doing something constructive with his time, like helping build social housing, or cleaning the bogs at the mosques in Bradford.
I believe his entire life is fake. Every time he made a comment on science or anything like that it was like a child throwing a fit not backing it up with anything real or important.

But people in that field are hopelessly void of humour and life and a soul. Joyless is the best way to describe them as they compete with other people like themselves and success is something that few will experience.
 
Someone should have TMZ, Yashar, or Ronan Farrow look into this! Lmao I’m sure they could find out in a second if Fiona exists and if so if she is on the payroll. I wouldn’t put it past them thinking they could pull it off. Shame this is how it’s turning out
No, I think Russia or China should investigate the truth about radical left media conspiracy against artists who speak their mind and defiantly hold on to their values.
 
Wow. So much breathless bilge it's hard to pick a highlight, although this is one of my favourites: 'Many years ago, Morrissey said he would never attend the Brit Awards, which is an unheard of rebellion for any artist'. Right on, Moz.

Not forgetting the weird assertion that You Have Killed Me is about his schooldays, and the way she seems to have accredited Morrissey with Meat is Murder in its entirety (with the rest of The Smiths as his backing band).

My favourite Morrissey interview of recent-ish times is the Michael Deacon one from The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture...eaven-knows-hes-a-bit-less-miserable-now.html Here's someone who is a passionate, committed fan who actually knows his back catalogue but still manages to remain objective enough to call him 'surly and sour' in another interview and ask him cheeky questions about misguided trousers. He draws interesting stuff out of him on sex and religion, makes insightful observations and is properly funny, while still conveying the utmost respect. It's a masterclass in journalistic fan worship. That's how it's done, Fiona, love.
 
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Not sure where else to put this, but Michael Deacon also wrote this more recent piece which (I may be wrong) didn't get picked up here - not specifically about Morrissey, but he gets lots of amusing mentions. Perhaps mods can move if needed.

Michael Deacon reviews Ceremony, London: 'Morrissey would probably hate it, and that’s the highest compliment I can pay'


Ceremony-restaurant-London-CREDIT-JASPER-FRY_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqeo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpg

11 JANUARY 2018 • 6:00AM

It’s the most shocking thing Morrissey has ever said in an interview. And I don’t make that claim lightly. In the past, after all, the former Smiths frontman has denounced the Chinese as ‘a subspecies’ for their record on animal rights, lamented the failure of the Brighton bombers to kill Margaret Thatcher, and insisted that the Queen ‘wouldn’t hesitate to turn her tanks on the British people’ because she’s ‘the ultimate dictator’. Two months ago, however, he issued his most extraordinary pronouncement yet.

In his entire life, Morrissey declared, he has never eaten an onion.

Never eaten an onion. Seriously. In 58 years on this planet, Morrissey has never eaten an onion. Not a single silvery sliver. His palate, he informed an interviewer, was simply too delicate to countenance a flavour so vulgarly pungent. Not only that, but he never eats mushrooms (‘Oh, they are horrific’), truffles (‘Truffles shock me. And the smell. Ewwww’) or garlic (‘Also horrific’). His diet, in fact, is ‘strictly bread and potatoes… I’m very, very bland, as far as food is concerned.’

Bear in mind: this is someone who has spent the past 35 years urging the public to renounce meat. In other words: Morrissey is a vegetarian who doesn’t like vegetables.

Of course, the great man is free to pursue as tedious a diet as he chooses. By admitting it, though, I’m not sure he’s helping the vegetarian cause. Certainly not when it comes to restaurants. Because, in my 18 months of reviewing, I’ve come to suspect something. Most chefs think all vegetarians are like Morrissey.

They must do. It would explain so much. My wife’s a vegetarian, and when we eat out she’s all too used to finding only one vegetarian dish listed under the starters, and only one listed under the mains. And nine times out of 10, both that starter and that main will be almost mockingly unimaginative.

Oh look, yet another bog-standard risotto. Oh yes, and another bang-average salad. The chef, quite nakedly, has made next to no effort for her. But then, why would he? She’s a vegetarian, and vegetarians don’t really like food. He knows they don’t. He read an interview with that Morrissey bloke.

Personally, I love meat. As a matter of fact, I once interviewed Morrissey, and spent the whole time fretting that at any moment he would halt mid-sentence, sniff my breath, detect a lingering whiff of the chicken sandwich I’d had for lunch, and sweep from the room in wordless disgust. But, unspeakable carnivore though I am, I do care about the vegetarian options in restaurants, because they’re the best gauge of a chef’s talent. If he can make vegetables interesting, he must be good.

And it can be done – as this week’s restaurant shows. Ceremony, in London, is a vegetarian place that opened in autumn and has been getting enthusiastic reviews ever since. For meat-eaters, January should be the perfect time to visit, overcome as we are with post-Christmas self-loathing, and temporarily determined to be healthier.

I went with my wife. If you didn’t know in advance that Ceremony was vegetarian, you’d guess as soon as you walked in. It’s a spartan little cell of a place, with cramped metal tables and bare walls. Everything looks modest, frugal, nobly self-denying. The napkins are the size and, frankly, texture of a facecloth. The door opens straight on to the street, which for me meant a blast of winter air down my collar every 10 minutes.

Still, the food took my mind off it. To start we had the charred leek rarebit and the crispy duck egg, polenta and wild mushrooms. Both were outstanding, in particular the duck egg, oozing beautifully into the gorgeous polenta. There wasn’t enough of it, but then, if there had been, I might not have liked it so much. It’s like the golden rule of writing a great pop single: make it too short. Never satisfy.

For my main I had the pappardelle: delicious thick waggly streamers of pasta with Jerusalem artichoke, watercress and salsify (a root vegetable with a mysteriously oyster-like taste).

I also had a pair of mildly eccentric sides. First, the grilled baby gem. Why anyone would even think to grill a lettuce, I didn’t know, and having eaten it, I was none the wiser. It was lettuce, but hot and black. I’m afraid I’m more of a ‘cold and green’ man. I also had the orzo, which was good, even if did essentially taste like a cheesy rice pudding.

For dessert I had an actual rice pudding. At least, I think it was a rice pudding. It was black. Not, in this instance, because the chef had grilled it, but because it was made from black rice. I wouldn’t have minded the colour if the taste had been sweeter, but instead it was grimly wholesome – even, somehow, disapproving: I felt as if my dessert were judging me for wishing it had more sugar in.

My wife’s fondant brownie was great, though. Order it with a dollop of peanut butter ice cream. They go perfectly.

On the whole, we liked Ceremony a lot. Vegetarian food that, for the most part, a meat-eater can enjoy too. Morrissey would probably hate it, and that’s the highest compliment I can pay.
 
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Wow. So much breathless bilge it's hard to pick a highlight, although this is one of my favourites: 'Many years ago, Morrissey said he would never attend the Brit Awards, which is an unheard of rebellion for any artist'. Right on, Moz.

Not forgetting the weird assertion that You Have Killed Me is about his schooldays, and the way she seems to have accredited Morrissey with Meat is Murder in its entirety (with the rest of The Smiths as his backing band).

My favourite Morrissey interview of recent-ish times is the Michael Deacon one from The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture...eaven-knows-hes-a-bit-less-miserable-now.html Here's someone who is a passionate, committed fan who actually knows his back catalogue but still manages to remain objective enough to call him 'surly and sour' in another interview and ask him cheeky questions about misguided trousers. He draws interesting stuff out of him on sex and religion, makes insightful observations and is properly funny, while still conveying the utmost respect. It's a masterclass in fan worship. That's how it's done, Fiona, love.

Thanks for that, first time I've read that particular interview.

An interesting observation insofar as:

"when he says them [referring to certain statements he's made previously], he doesn’t sound at all aggressive or ill-tempered: his voice is calm and matter-of-fact"

"But in print his views look splenetic"


Sometimes it's important to consider 'what' is said, versus 'how' it's said; it sometimes makes a whole lot of difference.

I've never heard Moz talk maliciously, or aggressively about anything; always in a calm & considered manner, & I like that about him. Plus he remains consistent in more or less everything he says, & I like that about him too.

 
'Many years ago, Morrissey said he would never attend the Brit Awards, which is an unheard of rebellion for any artist'.

It's true he did say this, or something very much along these lines.
I listened to a radio interview the other day (not sure which rad station) it's on YTube anyway.
 
<snip>

My favourite Morrissey interview of recent-ish times is the Michael Deacon one from The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture...eaven-knows-hes-a-bit-less-miserable-now.html Here's someone who is a passionate, committed fan who actually knows his back catalogue but still manages to remain objective enough to call him 'surly and sour' in another interview and ask him cheeky questions about misguided trousers. He draws interesting stuff out of him on sex and religion, makes insightful observations and is properly funny, while still conveying the utmost respect. It's a masterclass in fan worship. That's how it's done, Fiona, love.

Good interview...the one from the Telegraph I mean. Ta.
 
In 58 years on this planet, Morrissey has never eaten an onion. Not a single silvery sliver. His palate, he informed an interviewer, was simply too delicate to countenance a flavour so vulgarly pungent.

I think this must be a mis-quote, or a missed chance at a quote; I'm sure Moz really would have described it as being 'of a flavour that is criminally vulgar'
 
It's true he did say this, or something very much along these lines.
I listened to a radio interview the other day (not sure which rad station) it's on YTube anyway.
My point was not whether or not he said it, but the way it was painted as the ultimate artistic rebellion. Which seems to be stretching credulity, at best.
 
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