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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

Posted by: In: Other 04 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


167-Smiths-What Difference Does It Make?


1984-Number 12 single.


Best Bit-At 2.41. Of course Morrissey performs a wonderful falsetto, one that even the Bee Gees would have been proud of.


‘What Difference Does It Make?’ was the first single released from the Smiths (see also best songs (673-222 and 42) self titled debut Album from 1984, and their third single release overall to that point. As usual the lyrics were written and performed by Morrissey, (see also best songs 940 and 72) with the music written by Johnny Marr, who also played guitar on the track. This track, and the Album were produced by John Porter, who was born on September 11th, 1947, in Leeds, England, and he would go on to work with the Smiths through until 1986.


‘What Difference Does It Make?’ is a song about being rejected by a close friend after they find out a secret about you. Although he has never confirmed it, the rumours are that Morrissey is singing about how he was snubbed by a friend, after revealing that he was gay. The line ‘What Difference Does It Make?’ was taken by Morrissey from the Jack Kerouac (1922-1969) 1958 novel ‘The Dharma Bums,’ where the character Ray Smith repeatedly says ‘What Difference Does It Make?’ Another line also from the novel repeatedly said by Smith is ‘Pretty Girls Make Graves,’ which is the title of track 4 side 1 on the Smiths debut Album. Morrissey has said that the lyrics to ‘What Difference Does It Make?’ are not amongst his favourite works, he has said,’What Difference Does It Make?’ is musically interesting, but lyrically it is very Simon Le Bon, I find the lyrics facile and mildly embarrassing. Otherwise it’s a majestic Pop melody by Johnny and, ironically, had the lyrics indeed been penned by Simon Le Bon, I would probably cover it! As it is I’d feel too ashamed.’


Johnny Marr was born John Martin Maher on October 31st, 1963, in Manchester, England, he is considered to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time, having been described by Phil Alexander, the editor of ‘Mojo’ magazine as ‘Arguably Britain’s last great guitar stylist.’ In 2013 the ‘NME’ magazine honoured Marr with it’s ‘Godlike Genius’ award, and saying,’Not content with rewriting the history of music with one of the world’s greatest ever bands, the Smiths, he’s continued to push boundaries and evolve throughout his career, working with some of the best and most exciting artists on the planet.’ After the Smiths parted ways in 1987, Marr went on to record five solo studio Albums between 2003-2022, he has also released 20 singles between 2001-2022. Immediately after leaving the Smiths he briefly joined ‘The Pretenders’ in August 1987, and then recorded and toured with ‘The The’ from 1988 to 1994, he also formed ‘Electronic’ with Bernard Sumner (see also best songs 885 and 619) in 1988, and they remained active until 2001. Marr has also performed and recorded with several other acts since the demise of the Smiths, and continues to do so to this day.


‘All men have secrets and here is mine, so let it be known. We have been through hell and high tide, I think I can rely on you, and yet you start to recoil. Heavy words are so lightly thrown, but still, I’d leap in front of a flying bullet for you.’