Folha de Sao Paulo (Brazil)

 

Title: Boys, Don´t Cry

Story: Against the famous propaganda, Robert Smith´s voice and hair, symbol of the greatest pop “dark” culture
of the 80´s and today a 43 years old man, are still the same.

The voice is a little more enhanced by the bunch of new bands that sound like if in the microphone there was a 20
years old Smith. And the hair? “It is always in the same way, pointing up”, said to the Folha, by phone, from
London, the black coats black prince himself, that marked pop with some dense, somber music and others so
happy like being in love in Fridays.

Not that the today rock scene is sick, but anyway, the cure is here. The Cure, one of the greatest hymns makers
on the British scene of the 80´s and crossing newer presences in today´s young music, even after 20 albuns and a
career of 25 years, prepares a pompous live DVD launching. And announces thet the next CD, to hit the stores in
the end of the year, will be “almost nu-metal”.

The double DVD that will have a Brazilian edition by the end of the month is baptized “Trilogy”. The Cure has
used to advantage two very concurred Berlin concerts last year to play three full albums that Robert Smith
considers to have a introspective connection in the sound and a thematic correspondence (the melancholy) in the
lyrics.

In its presentations, already meant for the DVD that is coming to the stores, Robert Smith re-created the
beautiful, yet dark climate of the most melancholic phase of The Cure, of his three favorite albums:
“Pornography”, from 1982, “Disintegration”, from 1989 and “Bloodflowers”, from 2000.

The most arduous Cure fans may not find any reasons to spend in two DVDs that does not contains hits like
“Boys Don´t Cry”, “Friday I´m In Love” and “Lovecats”, that even today hit the brazilian rock FMs. But the
goth phase is very well represented with 223 minutes of excellent registers of great songs like “The Hanging
Garden”, “Pictures of You” e “Fascination Street”.

The old Cure is among us. One of the classic hits of the band, “The Walk” has come back to life in British’s rock
nightclubs last year. This year, Robert Smith´s stretched voice can be recognized when who is actually playing
are emerging bands like the Canadian “Hot Hot Heat” and the New Yorker “Rapture”.

The taste for black and the “pointed up” hair can be seen in any pictures of the heavy band “AFI” and the
somber indie of “Black Rebel Motorcycle Club”. And the blues punker Jack White, from “White Stripes” says
that The Cure helped to push him to the musical career.

The Cure prepares, according to its vocalist, guitarist, composer and creator, a next CD to be released by the
end of the year. And manufactured by Ross Robinson, pope of the Nu-Metal and/or American rap metal. Then,
if that comes to a confirmation, the inevitable question come: Will there be a cure for The Cure?

Story by Lúcio Ribeiro, Translation by Rafael Tschope

Interview: Folha – How is your hair this exact moment? “Pointed Up”?

Robert Smith – Yes, it is. It is always the same way, pointed up. After years, it stays this way by itself.

Folha – What is the idea behind this “Trilogy” DVD? Why this 3 albums in particular?

Smith – There are 2 main reasons for this DVD to happen. There has been 9 years since The Cure plays with its
present formation and we never recorded anything live, or even filmed any of our shows. The other reason is that,
personally, I consider the albums “Pornography”, “Disintegration” and “Bloodflowers” linked somehow. They are
tied in a very special way both in the climate of the songs and the density of the lyrics in a unique way in all these
Cure years. If it was for me to make an analysis of the 25 year career of the band I would say that these 3 albums
in particular are the strongest in my memory. And, for them to be strong in the people’s memory, I decided to put
them on film.

Folha – After this revisionist launch, what can we expect from The Cure in the future?

Smith – We just signed a contract with a new record label and delivered the production of our next album to Ross
Robinson, a famous American for producing albums for Korn, Slipknot, Amen and At the Drive-In. Yes, I am a fan
of nu-metal [laughter]. Among the reasons for us to work with Ross is that he is a long time fan of The Cure and
because I thought it would be interesting for a guy like him to touch The Cure sound. May the people not be
surprised if the next album becomes almost… nu-metal.

Folha – After more than 20 years, what do you see when you remember the post-punk times at the end of the
70´s / beginning of the 80´s, playing with Siouxsie & The Banshees and forming The Cure?

Smith – I feel myself a very different guy than that Robert Smith, even if the hair is the same. But the essence, I
believe, is still the same.

Folha – How the most remarkable songs from The Cure past changed to you in the passing of years?

Smith – Today I feel less connected to the songs of the beginning of my carrer. It seems like before
“Disintegration” (89) I lived another life. Maybe because until this record I was very young. When I listen to
previous albums songs, with the exception of the “Pornography” (82) ones, I almost don´t understand what I was
singing about.

Folha – Do you still have a fascination for the gothic theme, melancholy and darkness? Do you think it still makes
sense in Pop?

Smith – I don´t believe that The Cure at anytime paid attention to the pop culture. We created our own world.
Sometimes you create a music in a sunny day, but that doesn´t mean that inside you are raining without a stop.
What The Cure did best these years was to play emotional songs, with a strong moody feeling, tending to the
melancholic, that it is how I always felt even in the sunniest days. Still today I like songs that people consider
“dark”. I don´t hear Strauss.

Folha – Do you like pop music produced nowadays in England?

Smith – I like some things. There are always people doing interesting music. But the pop of the United Kingdom
today is very diversified, diluted. It ha been a while since nothing with a “movement” face appears here. There
are people who try to make a tendency, a movement, like they did with Britpop in the past. But there are many
different styles inside in what is called here pop music. So it is hard to tie this in a single package for selling.

Folha – Do you know a Canadian band named Hot Hot Heat, that is making some success in London now? Their
lead singer sings a lot like you used to sing in the 80´s, don’t you think?

Smith – I know the band. It is really similar. I don’t know what happens, but there are a large number of bands
that mention The Cure in someway, be it in the way of singing, be it on the inspiration. I feel flattered. Recently I
spoke with that girl from the American band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Karen O., and she told me that The Cure inspired
her band a lot. I feel honored, because her band is very good.

Folha – What do you remember of the two concerts The Cure made in Brazil, one in 1987 and the other in 1996?

Smith – When we played in 1987 it was an hysteria to witch I wasn’t ready. I would say it was even creepy. I
don’t remember very well of the two concerts, but I recall that the attention caused by the presence of The Cure
in Brazil, in both times, were very intense. I felt quite weird because of that. Satisfied by one side. But wondering
why the people of such a happy country liked so much of melancholic music and dressing up in black, like me. It
was scheduled for us to go to Brazil in 2000, with the “Bloodflowers” tour, but it didn’t work out. But we will go to
South America with the new album next year, it is already planned.

(Thanks Rafael)
 

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