"We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" | ||||
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Single by Morrissey | ||||
from the album Your Arsenal | ||||
Released | 27 April 1992 | |||
Studio | Utopia (North London) | |||
Length | 2:29 | |||
Label | HMV | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Mick Ronson | |||
Morrissey singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" on YouTube |
"We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey from his third studio album, Your Arsenal (1992). It was released as the lead single from the album on 27 April 1992 by His Master's Voice (HMV). It was the first Morrissey single to be co-written with guitarist Alain Whyte and produced by glam rock guitarist Mick Ronson, known for his work with David Bowie as one of the Spiders from Mars. The song peaked at No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 9 in Ireland.
Morrissey said that the lyrics were about the music scene in Manchester, with bands contesting for success. James lead singer Tim Booth has claimed the song is about the success James had as a fellow Manchester band, once performing it at a festival in place of Morrissey. [1] [2] Morrissey, however, states that the song is not about James. [3] On hating when his friends became successful, Morrissey said: "When my old friend Simon Topping (the frontman of Manchester band A Certain Ratio) appeared on the cover of the NME , I died a thousand deaths of sorrow and lay down in the woods to die."[ citation needed ]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Andrew Collins in NME gave a very negative review of the single, writing that "this is by far and away the ex-Smith's WORST single" and described the music as "the sound of five men bashing around in the darkness in search of a tune" before finishing the review by announcing "Moz is history, and we'd all do well to learn it."[ citation needed ] In a retrospective review, Ned Raggett of AllMusic wrote "It may be a mouthful, but as delivered it becomes a wonderfully funny, intentionally bitchy sentiment for this EP's lead track." [4]
Morrissey debuted the song during the second US leg of his tour promoting the Kill Uncle album. The first half of the song was performed during the aborted gig at Pauley Pavilion in 1991, in which 48 people were injured as the crowd rushed the stage. [5] It then was performed in concert for the duration of his tour in 1992 promoting Your Arsenal. Fellow Manchester band James performed it as a set opener when standing in for Morrissey at Glastonbury, with frontman Tim Booth's stating "this is our Morrissey impression".
7-inch vinyl and cassette
12-inch vinyl (UK)
CD (UK)
12-inch vinyl and CD (US)
Region | Record label | Format | Catalogue number |
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UK | HMV | 7-inch vinyl | POP1629 |
UK | HMV | 12-inch vinyl | 12POP1629 |
UK | HMV | Compact disc | CDPOP1629 |
UK | HMV | Cassette | TCPOP1629 |
Chart (1992) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA) [6] | 55 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [7] | 63 |
Ireland (IRMA) [8] | 9 |
UK Singles (OCC) [9] | 17 |
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [10] | 2 |
Region | Date | Formats | Label | Ref. |
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United Kingdom | 27 April 1992 | CD | [11] |
The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982, composed of Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass) and Mike Joyce (drums). Morrissey and Marr formed the band’s songwriting partnership. The Smiths are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerge from 1980s British independent music.
James are an English rock band from Manchester, formed in 1982. They achieved popularity during the 1990s, with four top-10 hits on the UK Singles Chart and nine top-10 placings on the UK Albums Chart. The band's best-known singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", "She's a Star" and "Laid". "Laid" also became a hit on American college radio. Following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth in 2001, the band became inactive, but members reunited in January 2007 and have since released a further seven albums. Live performance has continually remained a central part of the band's output. As of 2010, the band had sold more than 25 million albums worldwide.
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