FLASHBACK: The Cure

Back when I was in school, I was listening to CRYSTAL CASTLES. Their album II had just been released and I was listening to it, on replay, for hours on end. ‘Not In Love’ the stand out track and it wasn’t until later that I learnt that the guest vocalist was none other than Robert Smith.

With his incredibly tousled hair, and bright red lips that burst from a pale, solemn face, Robert Smith fronted one of the most loved alternative bands in history. I felt stupid when I realized that I hadn’t started listening to them until I was sixteen, but when I did, by god they were amazing!

Here I’m going to show you some of my favourite tracks and hopefully, you’ll love them as much as I do (unless you actually loved them long before I did making you far superior and just all round better than me).

Released in 1986, ‘The Lovecats’ was THE CURE’s first top ten hit in the United Kingdom. Over there it reached number seven, and in Australia it hit number six. The song opens with a few bottles being hit, and then drops into a smooth bass line played with a double bass rather than a bass guitar, giving it a sort of sly, jazzy touch.

This is of course one of the weirdest songs you’ll ever hear, but with lyrics saying you’re, “so wonderfully, wonderfully, wonderfully, wonderfully pretty”, who wouldn’t love ‘The Lovecats’? Considering its weirdness, ‘The Lovecats’ actually featured on a British television show that was equally as weird called The Mighty Boosh. At the end of an episode entitled ‘Nanagedon’, ‘The Lovecats’ is sung by the Moon. I never fail to sing along as this is one of my favorite songs released by THE CURE, and it’s lyrics are just so, well, singable.

Opening with light guitars, as a signature 80s sound, ‘Friday I’m in Love’ is a very uplifting track. Released on the 1992 album Wish, ‘Friday I’m in Love’ won the European Viewer’s Choice Award for Best Music Video at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. It’s clear to see why it won, with bubbles floating freely above the bands heads whilst the backdrop constantly changes from garage doors, to pristine beaches and overcast city-scapes.

This music video for ‘Friday I’m In Love’ is just a happy scene with the entire band smiling and bouncing around the studio whilst glitter falls from the roof above them. The song may just be about how good Fridays are, but with a music video as fun as this, and a tune this catchy, THE CURE make the most of a song that may have otherwise been terribly dull.

Opening the music video with a 12 year old version of THE CURE playing the track, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ would seem like it would be an uplifting track. The guitars are slightly twangy, but play a chirpy tune with the drums have a beat that would be wonderful to walk along with, but with lyrics such as “I tried to laugh about it, hiding the tears in my eyes” you then realize that ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ is a miserable track hidden behind a curtain of true 80s indie pop.

Robert Smith has a knack for songwriting, putting together meaningful lyrics that you probably wouldn’t notice until you listened to the song a second time. But that’s why I love THE CURE, they can find something depressing and make it into a memorable track that will always stay with you years after its initial release.

By now you’ve probably figured out that THE CURE write music that you whistle while walking down the street. ‘Close To Me’ is no exception. With a video that can only be described as incredibly cute, accompanying the track, ‘Close To Me’ uses simple drum beats and a suave bass line that when played together, created one of THE CURE’s most successful tracks.

I particularly love this track because it has the power to turn my mood completely on its head. When I’m feeling a little depressed and sorry for myself, ‘Close To Me’ picks me back up and says “snap out of it! Life’s great and you know it!”

Words by Lauren Payne, check out her street on POSSE.COM

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