Week 10 - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths

 

(If you liked this song I definitely recommend "I Won't Share You")

Finally! We're in the 80s! This means I get to talk about one of my favorite bands: The Smiths. I've been listening to The Smiths since I was little and this 80s band has forever held a special place in my heart. The Rock/Alternative Rock genre is one of my favorites and they are just one of the many groups who reside within it but to me, they are a special band within the genre. Their music is one of a kind and when you listen to their music with the lead singer Morrissey on vocals and Johnny Marr on guitar, I don't know how you're not expected to fall in love. The Smiths are considered one of the most important bands to come from the British music scene and many Americans who were listening to music at that time know who they are. One of the most iconic and unique characteristics of the band is the way many of their songs have very upbeat musical instrumentation while the lyrics themselves are sort of dark and even depressing at times. Songs like "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Know," "What She Said," "Nowhere Fast," and "Unhappy Birthday" have some depressing and dark lyrics while the overall key is upbeat and sort of happy. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" is sort of a song like that but its music isn't as upbeat as the others. I'd say it's more mellow than anything else but the lyrics are talking about someone who wants to go out with the person he loves and just be with them without going home, and if they were to get into a crash and die he would be glad to die by their side. The lyrics are amazing and I love singing along to them but my favorite part is the music of this song. The drums, guitar, sweeping violins, and flutes(?) are really what makes this song so great and make you want to listen to it over and over again. Like seriously, that fade-to-black ending with the violins just playing in the background? Overall, The Smiths in general as a rock band in the 80s must have been an experience and this song is definitely one of their best.