Ouija Board, Ouija Board

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“Ouija Board, Ouija Board”
“Ouija Board, Ouija Board” cover
Single by Morrissey
from the album Bona Drag (compilation)
Released 13 November 1989 (UK), 8 December 1989 (USA, Canada)
Format 7", 12", CD, cassette
Length 4:25
Label HMV - POP 1622
Writer(s) Morrissey/Stephen Street
Producer Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley
Morrissey singles chronology
"Interesting Drug"
(1989)
"Ouija Board, Ouija Board"
(1989)
"November Spawned A Monster"
(1990)

"Ouija Board, Ouija Board" was a single released by Morrissey in November 1989, catalogue number HMV POP 1622. The single was poorly received by the music press and the public as it only reached a chart position of 18 and became the first Morrissey single not to reach the British top 10.

The song is about the protagonist using a ouija board to contact a dead friend. It caused some debate in the press at the time over claims it promoted occult dabbling or devil worship. Morrissey replied to these claims by retorting "The only contact I ever made with the dead was when I spoke to a journalist from The Sun."[1]

The lyric "It spells: S.T.E.V.E.N" is often cited when journalists incorrectly spell Morrissey's first name as S-T-E-P-H-E-N.

The video for the song features Morrissey being led into the woods by some children who take him to see a Spirit medium.

Contents

[edit] Track listings

[edit] 7": HMV / POP 1622 (UK)

  1. "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" - 4:25 (Morrissey, Stephen Street)
  2. "Yes, I am Blind" - 3:30 (Morrissey, Andy Rourke)

[edit] 12": HMV / 12 POP 1622 (UK)

  1. "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" - 4:25
  2. "Yes, I am Blind" - 3:30
  3. "East, West" - 2:35 (Graham Gouldman)
  • also released on CD (HMV / CD POP 1622)

[edit] Reviews

Ian McCann in the NME gave the single a poor review, describing the record as a "dull, fey whine that would never see release unless the singer had a track record".[2]

[edit] Musicians

[edit] Live Performances

The song was performed live by Morrissey on 1999/2000 ¡Oye Estaban! tour. The songs distinctive introduction and end sequence though had been used to bookend performances of November Spawned A Monster during the 1992 tour.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rogan, Johnny Morrissey - The Album, p. 157
  2. ^ NME Ouija Board Review [1]