Morrissey Named the Greatest Lyricist in British Pop History

[iamaerolls]

(compiled from wire reports)

Let the debate begin. Morrissey is the greatest lyricist in the history of British popular music, according to a new book by Scottish academic Dr. Gavin Hopps. In 'Morrissey: The Pageant of His Bleeding Heart,' Hopps compares the singer to literary giants like Philip Larkin and Oscar Wilde.

Moz, who gave us all such lyrical classics as 'Bengali in Platforms,' 'Barbarism Begins at Home,' 'Shoplifters of the World Unite and Take Over' and countless others with and without the Smiths, is heralded for his use of different writing techniques.

A Scots university academic claims Morrissey is the greatest song writer in British pop history in his new book about the iconic singer.


The book compares Manchester's most famous son to literary luminaries like Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde, as well as comedy greats Frankie Howerd and George Formby.

Dr Hopps is one of the few academic experts focusing on the work of former Smiths front man Morrissey, 50, who recently collapsed on stage needing hospital treatment.

In the past he has claimed the lyrics of Madonna, Elton John and George Michael are pointless and the artists are more interested in being celebrities than musicians.

He also believes there is no such thing in life as "normal".

"He's a bone in the throat of popular music, and is valuable precisely because he is disturbing," said Dr Hopps, a research fellow in the University's interdisciplinary Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts.

The book looks at the poetic qualities of Morrissey's writing, and discusses the idiosyncrasies of the singer's voice, his fondness for whimsy, innuendo and camp.

Hopps' book focuses on the singer's approaches to subjects like love and alienation. Dr. Hopps, who has previously scribed a number of papers on pop music and poetry, also draws parallels between Morrissey's lyrics and several comedy legends. That last point surely makes sense to anyone who has ever heard 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others' and 'The Headmaster Ritual.'

Any thoughts?

[SparkleBoy]

They forgot about Wang Chung.

[mcrickson]

...Howard Devoto.

Sorry Moz.