Morrissey returns to Brazil in November for a single show in São Paulo – tickets on sale. Smiths vocalist 1986 The Queen is Dead, this Monday, June 16th
Chosen by NME as the best album of all time, it remained on the UK album chart for 22 weeks, reaching number two, and earned a gold certification from the RIAA . Furthermore, it features some of the biggest hits of The Smiths' entire career: "Bigmouth Strikes Again," "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out," and "The Boy With the Thorn In His Side."
Relive some interesting facts about The Queen is Dead , one of the greatest albums in rock history:
The most listened-to song after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Following the confirmation of Queen Elizabeth II's death on September 8, 2022, songs about the British monarchy saw a surge in streaming. The album's title track was the most streamed, with a growth of 1,689%. "The Queen is Dead" went from an average of 6,000 plays in the United States to 114,000 in just one day, according to Billboard [via NME ].
Feuds between Morrissey and Johnny Marr
The album was produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr , but it also marked a period where the feuds between them only intensified. After the release of The Queen is Dead , the atmosphere of contention intensified. The following year, Marr left the band after the release of Strangeways, Here We Come . Years later, Morrissey decided to separate the rest of the band to pursue a solo career. Currently, Morrissey has said [via NME ] that he had agreed to a "lucrative" tour with The Smiths in 2025 – but claimed that Marr "ignored" the offer.
Criticism of the British monarchy in the 1980s
Clearly, the album title is a cruel and ironic critique of the British monarchy and society at the time. The lyrics of "The Queen is Dead," written by Morrissey, question the relevance of the monarchy, social alienation, and the media's fascination with the royal family. Years later, the critique remains relevant, showcasing its intelligent, sarcastic lyrics with an aggressive sound. According to Morrissey, however, the idea was never to attack the monarchy. According to Far Out Magazine , the vocalist said at the time of the track's release [via Rolling Stone ]: "The very idea of the monarchy and the Queen of England is being reinforced and made to seem more useful than it actually is."
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