13 Problems Only The Smiths Fans Will Understand

12. Being Annoyed When People Say The Smiths Are "Miserable"

One of the most commonly irritating things about being a fan of The Smiths stems from the fact that people who aren't all that familiar with the band's music tend to think that they're an inherently depressing bad. There's a strange connotation that the uninitiated seem to rally around: Morrissey is sad, and lonely, and melancholic, and everything he sings about is sad, lonely and melancholic as a result. That simply isn't so. The music of The Smiths is, in fact - for the most part - hilarious. Sure, there are a few sad numbers ("I Know It's Over," to name one) - as you'd expect from any band - but there are nowhere near as many as the nay-sayers would have you believe. The majority of Smiths songs are ironic, snarky and jovial ("Frankly Mr. Shankly"/Girlfriend In A Coma"), whilst the rest are generally upbeat, cheerful and life-affirming.