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Elder statesman turns into icon
22/12/2006
ALWAYS the more thoughtful of pop players, it's no real surprise
that Morrissey seems far more at ease - now aged 47 - with his role
as acerbic and often curmudgeonly pop elder statesman.
Ever since he emerged from the pop wilderness in 2004 on an
all-guns- ablaze comeback trail, it's been much of a case of the
music world asking themselves: ``How did we manage without this man
- this genius - for so long?''
It really is no wonder that a BBC Culture Show poll has placed him
third - behind Sir David Attenborough and Sir Paul McCartney- in a
contest to find Britain's Greatest Living Icon.
At the same time, it's almost as if Morrissey needed us, his
public, back too. The man has seriously missed his time away from
the spotlight.
If his finely-observed 2004 comeback album You Are The Quarry
announced his whole-hearted intent (big gigs at MEN Arena and Old
Trafford, even an interview on the Jonathan Ross show), then this
year's album Ringleader Of The Tormentors was Morrissey at his most
effusive yet.
Entering middle age seems to have brought out a whole new dimension
to him. After years of speculation about his sexuality, Morrissey
didn't exactly ``come out'' on his new album but we find him at his
most romantic and physical. One song even refers to ``his hand on
my knee'' and parting ``your legs with mine in between'' .
Morrissey talking about having sex? In carnal, explicit detail?
Middle age is obviously doing wonders for the man's libido, as well
as his songwriting.
Moreover, he was never the most partisan of pop players in his
Smiths days but that's changed, too.
Following four spectacular hometown gigs earlier in the year, this
weekend sees him cap his finest solo year yet with two Christmas
celebration shows at the G-MEX.
He's not exactly wearing a Santa hat and walking down Market Street
dispensing presents but this is as close to Mozzer shaking off his
``bah humbug'' reputation that we'll ever see.
Goodwill to all men, and indeed, goodwill to (in our biased
opinion) Britain's Greatest Living Icon.
DAVID SUE
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