Morrissey has recently released a new single titled 'Notre-Dame', which notably excludes a lyric that once sparked controversy due to its reference to terrorism.
This indie-rock piece, characterized by a distinctive oscillating synth melody, draws inspiration from the heartbreaking fire that engulfed the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. In the song, Morrissey poignantly declares, "Notre-Dame, we know who tried to kill you," followed by the resolute line, "Notre-Dame, we will not be silent."
The cathedral was closed for five years following the incident and underwent extensive renovations that cost over $700 million. An exhaustive investigation into the cause of the fire failed to identify any definitive reason behind its outbreak. As Paris’ chief prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated in April 2024, "Every avenue, including the hypothesis of a human role in the origin of this fire, has been explored since the beginning of the investigation. However, the closer we have come to understanding what happened, the more evidence suggests it was an accident."
Morrissey had been performing this song live since as early as 2023, where he included the line: "Before investigations/They said, ‘It’s not terrorism.’" In the newly released studio version, however, this particular line has been modified to repeat "Before investigations/They said, ‘There’s nothing to see here.’"
You can listen to 'Notre-Dame' below:
This track is the second single from Morrissey's upcoming album, 'Make-Up Is A Lie', which marks his first release in six years. He announced the album last month along with its title track.
Set to be released on March 6 through Sire Records, this new project comes after Morrissey opted to sever ties with Capitol Records, claiming he had "voluntarily withdrawn from any association" with them.
It's important to note that this album is distinct from his long-awaited project 'Bonfire Of Teenagers'. The controversy surrounding 'Bonfire Of Teenagers' continued into the following year when Morrissey expressed on his website his belief that Capitol Records had signed the album solely to sabotage it. He went further to claim that the CEO of Capitol was intent on derailing his career, alleging that he was being "gagged" regarding its release.
Miley Cyrus was initially set to collaborate on 'Bonfire Of Teenagers', contributing vocals to a track titled 'I Am Veronica'. Although she recorded her part in 2020, she later requested to remove her backing vocals, reportedly in response to Morrissey's political views and his support for the controversial far-right party For Britain.
Despite these allegations, Morrissey has maintained that he does not align himself with far-right ideologies. His former bandmate, guitarist Johnny Marr, has also commented on this situation, suggesting that it has "cast a shadow over The Smiths."
Morrissey has since confirmed that he has regained the rights to 'Bonfire Of Teenagers', although it remains uncertain when or if it will be released.
Morrissey is scheduled to embark on a series of shows across Europe starting February 13 in Denmark. Among these performances is a headline concert at The O2, marking his only UK show of the year. For those interested, tickets for the UK event can be found here, and international tickets are available here.
However, it's worth noting that Morrissey has already canceled five shows this year, including one in Florida. These cancellations, attributed to "artist illness," also included performances in San Diego, St. Louis, and Atlanta. Moreover, he postponed a California show after experiencing an "adverse reaction to a prescription medication."
