Hall of Fame: 2
The second induction into my Hall of Fame, the kings of gothic whimsy, adorable love songs and perfect melodies, The Cure.
The Cure formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The Cure released their first album “Three Imaginary Boys” in 1979, and since 2010 are working on what will be their fourteenth studio album.
Robert Smith has been the constant front man of The Cure despite their many line up changes. Born in Blackpool in 1959, Smith was cited as being at the forefront of Goth and new-wave music, played guitar in Siouxsie and The Banshees and lists Joy Division, Bowie, Thin Lizzy and The Buzzcocks as some of his many influences.
Smith is also famous for his distinctive look, to quote Ricky Gervais “a big Goth panda” by paling his skin, wearing smudged red lipstick and black eyeliner. Many a young boy raided his Mothers make up bag and smeared her best Biba eyeliner all over his eyes, in honour of a hero of brooding teenage music.
I’m a little jumpy around people who don’t like The Cure, and take my fandom to the extremes by christening my friend “Charlotte Sometimes”, and squealing when “The Smoking Room” was on the BBC (incidentally, that is a hilarious show, you should watch it) as they used “Close to Me” as the title song.
The Cure experimented with styles over their years in the music industry and moved seamlessly from dark, mournful songs into the spritely love songs with which they found their fame in America.
1980’s Boy’s Don’t Cry gave us the title track, which I love and particularly so the video featuring small children playing The Cure.
The 1983 single “The Love Cats” is a must have for any feline fanatic (which I am) and never fails to have me leaping around with my hands as ears. I may even lower my arm occasionally to look like I have a tail…… This was released as a single and later appeared on the compilation album “Japanese Whispers” in late 1983.
1985’s The Head on the Door gave us the sweetest little song “Close to Me” with its happy little melody and trumpet solo. I love this song, perfect for describing anticipation “I’ve waited hours for this, I’ve made myself so sick, I wish I’d stayed, asleep today.” The album also featured “Inbetween Days”, which is the kind of song you’ll be humming under your breath for days afterwards. It sticks in your head like glue.
1989’s Disintegration is my personal favourite Cure album. “Pictures of You” is such a beautiful song with a haunting melody- twanging guitars overlaid and overlaid to create a full, lush sound, coupled with Smith’s undeniable talent for love songs. “Lullaby” and “Love Song” are equally as fantastic, the latter recently covered by Adele.
1992’s Wish gave us the most successful song for The Cure in the UK and America, “Friday I’m in Love”. This song is a work of art- it is the happiest, kindest, most beautiful song and you simply cannot be a in a bad mood if you listen. The melody is perfection but the lyrics will take your breath away “Throwing out your frown, and just smiling at the sound” has to be easily my favourite lyric of all time, and I really do start every Friday with this song, knowing it will keep me bouncing through the day.
I’m pretty strict about bands I like enough to own t-shirts of. The Cure could never not be in there, because they’re wonderful. Without them, I dread to think how music would be.
Robert Smith- you are an absolute genius, and your Wife has no idea how lucky she is to have so many amazing love songs written about her. I think we’d all like a big cuddly Goth panda to do the same for us. Thank you for always giving me a reason to smile.
