”He will never die as long as his music is heard”: this isn’t about a famous artist like Michael Jackson or Kurt Cobain. It’s actually about Andy Rourke of The Smiths. Andy Rourke passed away May 19, 2023, from pancreatic cancer.
The Smiths is an English rock band formed in 1982 in Manchester. Although The Smiths were formed in the 80s, they are still very well-known and popular with various age groups. The band lasted 4 years but made a lasting impact with their unique music. They gained popularity in 1986 with the album “The Queen Is Dead.” This album has many different music styles and genres which makes it so different from any of the other albums that they, or other bands, have ever made.
The Smiths isn’t your “normal” band. This band infuses genuine emotion into the lead singer’s voice, allowing listeners to truly connect with the meaning behind their songs. In contrast to other bands where the lyrics can feel detached or hard to decipher, their vocal delivery makes every word resonate with depth and clarity. With The Smiths, you can see/hear their message in their 
songs.
The song “I Know It’s Over” is about being depressed and heartbroken, and what it’s like seeing your lover go on with life without you. For example, the lyrics say, “ Oh, mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head, And as I climb into an empty bed, Oh well, enough said I know it’s over, still I cling I don’t know where else I can go.” The whole song is a process of heartbreak and about seeing your ex-lover move on to do greater things with their life without you in it.
The cycle keeps repeating, keeping the band alive with their popularity. They are mainly known for their extraordinary guitar and distinctive lyrics. The guitarist, Johnny Marr, plays all of the melodies that you hear in every song by them.
In their album “The Queen Is Dead,” which came out in 1986, one particular song called “I Know It’s Over” is about what it’s like to be lonely and want something you cannot have. But, in reality, it sounds like a song that you would slow dance to with your partner in a living room late at night. The vocals in the song are unmatched, and the background music sways with the vocals perfectly. The best part is that it sounds like a true 1980s song that people still love and listen to, to this day.
