A strange but endearing number from the final studio LP:-mp3 : The Smiths - Unhappy Birthday
The story behind this track is that Johnny Marr brought the music to the studio in advance of the sessions - one of the few that worked out that way on Strangeways, Here We Come. It was one that was further improved by a contribution from Andy Rourke, although as ever, the track would only be attributed to the singer and guitarist.
However, what stops it being a contender for a classic isn't the tune but the lyric that was added later. Whether it was autobiographical and aimed specifically at someone who had slighted Morrissey has never been revealed, but somehow the subject matter and vindictive nature of the lyric seems rather at odds with what Marr had come up with, nor is the delivery anything special.
The song was never performed live by The Smiths, and to the best of my knowledge, hasnt yet been butchered by Moz's merry band of session men.
Happy Listening.
2 comments:
I remember someone putting Unhappy Birthday on a compliation tape somewhen in the mid nineties....brilliant song when you've just broken up with somebody...helped me enormously..lol
When I first heard it I blew it off as a novelty, but it really grew on me. I really like the juxtaposition of the sound and lyric.
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