| "November Spawned a Monster" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Morrissey | ||||
| from the album Bona Drag (compilation) | ||||
| Released | 23 April 1990 | |||
| Format | 7", 12", CD, cassette | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 5:25 | |||
| Label | HMV (UK) | |||
| Writer(s) | Morrissey, Clive Langer | |||
| Producer | Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley | |||
| Morrissey singles chronology | ||||
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"November Spawned a Monster" is a song by Morrissey. It was released as a single in 1990. It was written by Morrissey and Clive Langer. It also features one of Morrissey's former colleagues from The Smiths, Andy Rourke. In reaching number 12 in the British chart it was a marked improvement over Morrissey's previous single, "Ouija Board, Ouija Board", but still failed to chart as high as the singer's first four releases. The track is one of Morrissey's personal favourites, something shown in the high number of times it has been played live by the singer. It along with its b-side "He Knows I'd Love to See Him" appears on the compilation album Bona Drag.
The song tackles the plight of the disabled, a remarkable subject matter for a pop single. As ever with Morrissey the tone and sentiments are riddled with ambiguity. His use of words such as 'monster' and 'twisted' creates a strange mix of revulsion, sympathy and black comedy, all used to enlighten, and disturb, the audience. By forcing the ambivalent persona of tormentor and saviour, Morrissey forces the listener to confront their own prejudices head on."[1] The song is quoting Les Chants de Maldoror (Chant 2, verse 7), in which a hermaphrodite perceives himself as a monster and dreams of love.
Contents |
| Country | Record label | Format | Catalogue number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | HMV | 7" vinyl | POP1623 | |
| UK | HMV | 12" vinyl | 12POP1623 | |
| UK | HMV | Compact disc | CDPOP1623 | |
| UK | HMV | Cassette | TCPOP1623 |
Steven Wells in NME gave the single a very bad review, saying that "Morrissey repeats his one tune endlessly" and that the single showed a "drying up of the old creative gastrics".[2]
The song was performed live by Morrissey on his 1991, 1992, 1999/2000, 2002 and 2004 tours.