posted by davidt on Thursday July 17 2003, @09:00AM
Ezra sends the link to the article / interview at The Black Table with Jose Maldonado of the cover band Sweet And Tender Hooligans:

November Spawned A Mexican. --Rachel Elder 07.16.03

What do you think the Mexicans in L.A. identify with most about Morrissey or the Smiths? I guess I'd say that growing up Irish in Northern England isn't much different from growing up Mexican in Southern California. Maybe that's how we identify with him as a person. All I can say is that I got into his music because it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. He could have been from Uganda for all I cared. I just knew I liked it.
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  • I can't help but dislike Jose. I used to think his band was pretty good in the beginning when they played the first Morrissey convention back in 1991 (?) but since then he has become very cocky calling himself "the mexican morrissey". I guess it doesn't help when girls throw themselves at him acting as if he is Morrissey. I think I dislike those girls more than I dislike him.
    Pencil Skirt <[email protected]> -- Thursday July 17 2003, @09:28AM (#69117)
    (User #8173 Info)
    Life is hard enough when you belong here
  • I just don't like the way he got bumped to the head of the line at the Kilborn show. Who the fuck does he think he is?! Wait, now I'm mad again.
    fut -- Thursday July 17 2003, @10:35AM (#69131)
    (User #401 Info | http://www.omgmyblog.com/)
    • Re:he's okay by Anonymous (Score:0) Friday July 18 2003, @08:40PM
      • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • I mean when you consider he has traded HIS identity for Morrissey's, how can you not afford him the special treatment he deserves. He is also entitled to state provided medication all mental patients are entitled to; jello on thursdays as well. He is clearly unstable, if he is going to parade around in front of his tribute band pretending to be a person he is not. How do you say "loco" in spanish. Si.
    Mannix -- Thursday July 17 2003, @12:48PM (#69147)
    (User #1379 Info)
  • Oh, geez. Jose is actually a very nice, down-to-earth person, blah blah blah. We've all heard the anti-SATH/Jose and the pro-SATH/Jose arguments. Let's not go there again. What I think is more interesting is to discuss the underlying point of the article: the seemingly strange composition of Morrissey fans in L.A. Although quite a bit has been written about it, I have yet to read a convincing account of why there has been such an upsurge of Latino fans of Morrissey's music. I don't buy the "immigrant" hypothesis of Jose at all. For one thing, before "Irish Blood, English Heart" does Morrissey ever really mention being the son of immigrants in any of his songs? I was a Morrissey fan for a long time before I ever knew of his origins. One only discovers that after reading fairly deeply about his background, etc. It's not at all evident in his songs. I'd say he identifies himself very clearly as an Englishman, not as part of the displaced Irish population. I believe that the phenomenon is more attributable to fashion and the rockabilly culture. Sure, there were plenty of Latino fans BEFORE Moz became rockabilly-fied, but the droves emerged around this time period. An increased interest in greaser culture among Latinos around this time probably led them to Morrissey. Of course, once one actually LISTENS to Morrissey, regardless of the actual reason they picked up his CD in the first place, it's bound to make an impression. Sure, it's deeper than fashion now, but that's probably where it started.

    Yeah, whatever.

    P.s. Yeah, Jose is so deranged. Sure. That's why in every interview he gives, he constantly reiterates that what he does is for fun, he doesn't make any money off of it, and he has immense respect for Morrissey's music.
    Anonymous -- Thursday July 17 2003, @04:21PM (#69185)
    • Re:Please please please not again by Anonymous (Score:0) Friday July 18 2003, @10:47AM
    • Re:Please please please not again by irving (Score:1) Friday July 18 2003, @06:36PM
      • Well, as an Irish fan (at least I started out that way), I always thought Morrissey's lyrics were truthful and autobiographical too. And I believe that most of them are. He himself has often hinted that they are.

        Obviously this leaves out songs like "What She Said," but even those sort of songs are filled with Morrissey's own anger and frustration, I think.

        Anyway, I liked your post. I think people who harp on about the humor in Morrissey's music are actually a little bit uncomfortable with the depth of emotion in the songs. Sure, there's humor and wit, but I would think that passion and longing are the predominant emotions.

        And I think it's great that Morrissey has a Mexican fanbase.
        Gabriella -- Saturday July 19 2003, @10:49AM (#69340)
        (User #7960 Info)
        And me and my heart, we knew...we just knew...forevermore...
    • Re:Please please please not again by Anonymous (Score:0) Sunday July 20 2003, @06:51PM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • What Jose and the band get my thanks for is indirectly promoting Morrissey, especially to other Mexican fans (in terms of stirring interest). I think SATH are a compliment to Moz and the Smiths and I thank them for all of their efforts. Why are Morrissey's fans so negative lately. In Morrisseys music the underlying emotion is passion...and longing. Misery is not negativity or hatred or snobbiness or being judgemental. I would love to see some more compassion from the posters on this site. What have you contributed?
    MOZ IS GOD -- Thursday July 17 2003, @04:52PM (#69187)
    (User #3249 Info | http://www.myspace.com/coldwarspies)
  • Great Article!

    They used 5 out of 6 of my pictures. :o)

    *~*~*Monique*~*~*
    Anonymous -- Thursday July 17 2003, @11:02PM (#69223)
  • "I guess I'd say that growing up Irish in Northern England isn't much different from growing up Mexican in Southern California"

    How the hell would you know if you have not done either, yeah you may guess but that's all it is.
    Anonymous -- Saturday July 19 2003, @12:02PM (#69341)
  • "I guess I'd say that growing up Irish in Northern England isn't much different from growing up Mexican in Southern California."

    Er, what in the bloody fuck are you on about? Growing up Irish in Northern England is so different from growing up el Mexicano Taco in fucking America that you couldn't even POSSIBLY be using even a FIFTH of the meagre 10% of your brain if you pompously dare to make such a idiotic comparison. You fool. Go trip over your own feet and accidentally blacken an eye and knock out a few teeth; you're already doing that to yourself verbally quite competently.
    Anonymous -- Monday July 21 2003, @09:27PM (#69415)
  • i feel like i'm at a MEChA meeting... is this when we clap?
    alero -- Tuesday July 22 2003, @10:37AM (#69452)
    (User #925 Info | http://www.myspace.com/xino)
    the youngest was the most loved...
  • 'cuz i knew you goofballs would be having a row about jose-- 'yea' or 'nay'.
    thirsty fists <[email protected]> -- Tuesday July 22 2003, @10:00PM (#69496)
    (User #149 Info)
    "world's ugliest boy"
  • It is great that latinos get into Moz's music, even more when taking into account their so different music roots. However, Moz could have said something else than " yes, they've got lovely hair" when asked about the upcoming latino passion for his music at the "The importance of being Morrissey" on Channel 4. I think that was demeaning.
    Gorbi <[email protected]> -- Monday July 28 2003, @05:03AM (#69858)
    (User #8880 Info)


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