Re: Has anybody ever noticed how Morrissey....on stage
I got a little emotional watching these too.
You guys will know if you ever see me at a gig- I'll be the one desperately trying to hide my tears during the sadder songs.
Anyway, I think it's really touching and wonderful that he still connects emotionally to these songs so much after 20+ years. I don't think it's an act- no-one but the best actor would be able to fake it that well, especially not while singing.
I do disagree with him when he says he's not a performer though. Even if the emotions and passions are real, if you go on stage and sing to an audience (or whatever it is you do) then you
are performing, at least in a small way. I think most of what Morrissey does on stage is completely sincere and from the heart, however there are obviously certain things that are practiced or a regular thing at every show- for example laying on the floor during HSIN/LIAPS. I know what he means when he says it- the whole thing about seeming to 'come alive' on stage and not 'faking it' as such- but I don't completely agree.
The dictionary definition of 'to perform':
Verb
to perform (third-person singular simple present performs, present participle performing, simple past and past participle performed)
To do something
The scientists performed several experiments.
It took him only twenty minutes to perform the task.
To do something in front of an audience in order to entertain it.
She will perform in the play
The magician performed badly - none of his tricks worked.
The string quartet performed three pieces by Haydn.
The second one seems pertinent for Morrissey- he does his thing up on stage (singing), at least partly to entertain the people who come to see him.
As with everything though, it all depends on your personal point of view and your definitions of word meanings.
