Rick Astley does a great job here. He really is good at singing Smiths songs. The band are great too. I dont know why people were critical of this. It gets the thumbs up from me. I think they did a great job.
My only question is...What prompted this? Was it a celebration? Tribute? I think folks who are critical might not be so much about his abilities but more about artistic integrity....it's kinda tacky in a way. But as a Smiths fan...I generally approve. Nice to hear renditions that are a bit closer to the original recorded versions. Morrisey strays but that's fine....it's his material.
I am not a fan of Rick Astley but him singing Smiths music I am really impressed. Great tone, hitting the notes perfectly. Wow, its really nothing I would have expected from him. I have to give him bigtime props for his efforts.
@Tommy-fh6bs - Rick might do better singing a different genre of music than what he is known for. Insurance commercials on US television years after his singing career being largely over doesn't likely speak well to his longevity. Perhaps doing Smith covers his career might do a little better than a song like "together forever."
@serenaym3974 - when did I ever state at any time in my reply that I was speaking for anyone else but myself? Stay in your lane, because clearly you are reading way too much into things. This being the case, especially since I never said anything derogatory about Rick Ashley in my response. Sorry, you are so hyper sensitive even if I never said anything negative about Rick Ashley.
Awesome. I don't feel bad it's rick astley, he's doing the songs justice. The smiths will always be my favourite band. Whoever thought this idea up is a genius.
It is really (so) strange to hear a kind of joyous version of 'Girlfriend in a Coma' but it is also strange to hear a genuine full band version of that song after so long.
What a strange world we live in 🤔one of the last people I would have thought could sing these magnificent works of art ♥️💔 well done Rick and the band, close your eyes and it is really blissful. Together forever and never to part 🤣⚽
As a life long Smiths fan who has seen them twice in my home town the Market Hall and the Sands, I thought this was brilliant who would have thought Rick Astley was so cool. Certainly not back in the 80s. Well done Rick and the Blossoms
Wow. I never thought I'd see The Smiths covered by Rick Astley[!] But this unusual combination works like magic. I wonder what Morrissey makes of this?!
Believe it or not, Morrissey and Rick have had a series of friendly interactions with each other over time. Maybe he approves of it, maybe not. Who knows for sure?
It's weird to be cynical about people playing music they clearly like to an audience clearly enjoying it. I guess it's a pretentious 'I actually went to arts-kool' sort of thing.
Why on earth would Morrissey be "jealous" of this? He wrote the songs lol, and he does a fantastic job singing them to this day. This is a very nice homage of course.
Rick has a phenomenal voice and the band and he are enjoyable in this. I could listen to this and be glad to have gone to the concert. Having said that, Morrissey's deep brooding vocals come from a different place.
the Smiths were one of my favorite bands when i was a teenager, but Morrissey's racist bullshit had turned me off. so thanks Rick Astley, for enabling me to listen to these songs i knew so well and loved so much so long ago and without all of that baggage.
