Rebels Without Applause (2022) – Morrissey

As nice a nod Rebels Without Applause is to that of Rebel Without a Cause, the James Dean-led feature from the 1950s, that is where the similarities start and end. One a piece of rebellious redemption, another a track from a yet-to-be-released album from Morrissey. Controversy or not, the man can still sing, and his placement on this latest track ahead of his upcoming album Bonfire of Teenagers, is as solid a late-game piece from the former frontman of The Smiths. If anything, it is vaguely reminiscent of that period, with floaty guitars and wistful lyrical opportunities.
– Rebels Without Applause (Cult Following)

Rebels Without Applause is the first song by The Smiths or Morrissey to appear here in nearly a year after the previous entry I Won’t Share you. Today’s featured track is a standard Morrissey song which includes the familiar Johnny Marr-esque jangly metallic guitar we’ve become accustomed (but more sedated for better or worse) and Morrissey’s signature swooning voice. Having said that; there is ‘nothing by numbers’ with the outro of this song when he sings: Generation X and X-Ray Spex. That line and his delivery is (as they say) is worth the price of admission alone.

When I was younger I was reluctant to embrace The Smiths because I found Morrissey’s voice whiny and somehow off putting, but ever since a friend recommended a few years ago some of their music I have become a big fan. In fact I am yet to hear a bad song by them. In some ways Morrissey as a solo artist has carried the torch from whence The Smiths parted ways, but it could be argued his output are just mere flickers from the bright flame that was The Smiths. I get that. But this song seems proof that Morrissey is not completely spent just yet.

I didn’t know what to think of Rebels Without Applause, which is the same way I have thought about nearly all his music after first listen. I realise I have to dive into it again to grasp it. For me, that’s what great music does for me. I listen to it, but I have to hear it again to inculcate its significance and adapt my ears. After hearing ‘maybe’ 90% of songs in general I get a sudden realisation of ‘yeh I get it‘, but with The Smiths and Morrissey I need to hear their music again and again. Typically it resonates more on repeated listens.

[Verse 1]
The gang’s all gone and I smolder on
I, who saw them leave, I cry bereaved
One by one, I saw them stall
Rebels without applause

[Verse 2]
The gang’s all gone and now I am the only one
No more to give, too late to live
Last on the bill, I see them still
Rebels without applause

[Chorus]
Bawdy boys of song and girls all gone wrong
I loved them all
Bawdy boys of song and girls all gone wrong
I loved them all (Read the remainder here)

Rebels Without Applause was the first song released from Morrissey’s ‘unreleased’ studio album Bonfire of Teenagers. He described it as “the best album of [his] life“. It features a number of guest appearances from various musicians, such as Iggy Pop, Jesse Tobias, Chad Smith, Flea and Josh Klinghoffer. The album’s title track is about the 2017 Manchester Arena bombings, which Morrissey described as “England’s 9/11“.

Rebels Without Applause seems to originate from Morrissey’s reflections on unsung heroes and the often unnoticed acts of rebellion that shape our world. As he mentioned in an interview, the song is a homage to “those who fight the good fight in silence, without the grandstanding or recognition they deserve“. This theme of quiet resistance and the lack of acknowledgement resonates deeply in today’s social media-driven culture where visibility often overshadows substance.

References:
1. Morrissey – Rebels Without Applause Review – Cult Following
2. Bonfire of Teenagers – Wikipedia

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“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand