American Reacts to "How Soon Is Now?" - The B-side That Defined The Smiths!

[@carolewilson551]

Hey. I've been subscribed and enjoying your content for some time., (don't often comment though - sorry). Have to say that these music business reactions are taking it to another level. You always bring your humour and amiable personality to your content but here we get your knowledge and experience too! I am amused , entertained and also educated - keep up the good work! x

[@scotmax8426]

loving these too! some i know or have known, but yip, learning a lot too and loving it :D lol

[@Urbane.guerrilla]

Loved the name dropping, Bo Diddley?!?! Wow! You lucky, lucky man. Much respect.

[@jimdiggs6959]

Great reaction! As a longtime fan of the band I would suggest doing more from The Smiths. There are many documentaries on the band if those are your preference.

[@afc358]

"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" was played at my mate's funeral a couple of months ago. We all cried. RIP N x

[@fayesouthall6604]

😢

[@dianakorz0730]

It's in the opening credits of Charmed! ❤

[@Paul_Bond.]

But performed by The psychedelic Furs, famous for Pretty in Pink

[@dianakorz0730]

@@Paul_Bond. Yes, i know who they are. Great band.

[@jennoscura2381]

I came here to say that very same thing. I think that's where I first heard the song.

[@Russ_Keith]

A version of "How soon Is now?" was used as the theme music for a 90s TV series called "Charmed" about a family of witches.

[@Zynthian_]

Don't apologise for having a cool and interesting career and sharing some of it. Love the vids, keep up the great work dude :)

[@jamesstridgen6320]

The Smith’s were voted the most influential band of all time and another great Manchester band

[@quogir1]

I guess in retrospect there are only two bands campout of britain namelyThe Smiths and The Housemartins

[@sallycostello8379]

One of my most favouritist ever bands! Takes me back to my youth. Music was so good then 😢

[@leowalless9328]

The name dropping is great! It's really engaging to get these little windows into your life and all the things that inform your commentary

[@Firepea]

I was completely obsessed with the album The Queen is Dead when I was 15. Still listen to it now actually.

[@sillysausage2244]

I'm old and British, and I have never heard 'plagiarism' pronounced with a hard 'g' - very odd!

[@Peejay1966]

Me neither. I really enjoy that lad's output, but some of his pronunciations are a little off.

[@nolaj114]

@@Peejay1966 The narrator of the original video (probably AI) said it with a hard "g", that's why JJ checked it.

[@bobbyjaybeaumont]

I think it’s because Morrissey pronounces it that way in the song - so he copied.

[@karenharper3814]

😂😂

[@jasoncrimp8938]

Morrissey mispronounces on the record and I think the narrator lost his nerve and assume the singer must be in the right. He isn't. Morrossey may have only known the word from reading.

[@lenaoxton8827]

The Smiths were so important to me as a teenager, much love for those guys!

[@KateSander22]

The Smiths is my husband’s favourite band of all time. He’s been wondering if and when you were going to discover them! 😁

[@twigletz7384]

OMG I was the biggest Smiths fan in the 80s! I saw them on numerous occasions. The Ritz and the Hacienda more than once. Bought all their albums. I was a student in Manchester at the best of times! Even saw Madonna in her earliest days at the Hacienda (not really my thing and had no idea how big she'd get). Oh how I miss those days.

[@Tass...]

The Smiths really were true musical artists in every sense.

[@ThornyLittleFlower]

I love these music videos. This one was amazing ❤ You're at your best. My older brother had tickets in 1986 but couldn't go, so at 11 years old, I got to go with my mate instead! It was my first concert. I became an instant fan! These quotes and references were well known. I read many things that I wouldn't have thought to read because of this. Keats, Yeats, Oscar Wilde, and 50s kitchen-sink dramas like "A Taste of Honey" by Shelagh Delaney. Which, by the way, inspired the Smiths song "Sheila Take a Bow." Us Smiths fans hung out in libraries and old record shops 😂

[@davidjb-750]

Their output in the five years they were together was just ridiculous.

[@trashandcheese3636]

When I finally got around to studying The Smiths I jumped in at the deep end somewhat - Louder Than Bombs which is actually a perfect entry point, a great swathe of (originally) non-album single-sides, even if they're not always the "correct" versions...including Half A Person, These Things Take Time, London etc etc

[@alisonrowlinson4139]

You probably remember it from the theme of charmed

[@BassistInATutu]

The Smiths were the most important and influential band that most people these days have never heard of. A catalogue of music and lyrics which are rarely surpassed. One of my all time favourite bands. You really should check out their music! Back in the day it felt like Morrissey was singing to you personally. The Smiths was your band. And as a teenager I felt like he was writing about my life. And everyone felt the same as me!

[@Peejay1966]

Great insights, as always. Firstly, I certainly pronounce plagiarism exactly the same as you. But, more importantly (and regrettably), The Smiths played my home city of Dundee in Scotland (even mentioned in 1986 single Panic) three times (March 3, 1984, Dundee University; June 5, 1984, Caird Hall; and the Caird Hall again on September 26, 1985)... and, while a fan and avid concertgoer, I didn't go to any of their gigs! I still can't believe it. I was 17 through to 19 by the last concert. What an eejit. Ah well. Hatful of Hollow is probably my favourite Smiths album. Also, incredibly, New Order's first eight singles weren't even on albums

[@sir_steveno]

Charmed..is where you have heard it :)

[@terminusaquo1980]

That version was a cover by Love Spit Love that was also used on the 1996 film The Craft as well.

[@stevesm4]

I'm surprised that the references to Morrissey's lyrical quotes didn't include one of the earliest (and one of my favourites) which was "I dreamt about you last night, and I fell out of bed twice". from Reel Around the Fountain. Apart from the "and" that's taken directly from the 1961 British film (and play) A Taste of Honey. I guess I should be pleased that they include some I didn't know about before though.

[@kenhobbs8565]

Had a night of drinks with Tony Hadley twice, 18 years apart.

[@eezZzee]

SHOW ME ON A MAP!

[@danellis-jones1591]

I worked on the Sean Hughes Show on what is now BBC Radio London. Morrissey had come back to the UK and gave only 2 interviews, and 1 was with Sean. And I met Morrissey, and even was his 'minder' for about 20 seconds as he got a bit mobbed by fans when he arrived!

[@Reani71]

You should really dive deeply into The Smiths, they're worth it. Sonically and lyrically. Morrissey is certainly one of the greatest lyricist out there. And speaking of Morrissey: his solo work is also worth a 2nd and 3rd look. I can strongly recommend his albums Viva Hate, Your Arsenal, You're the Quarry and Ringleader of the Tormentors.

[@FrogScotch19-q4y]

Ringleader is a personal favourite of mine that so few know of

[@juliusheart2667]

You might know How Soon is Now from the tv show Charmed

[@horatiomh]

Smiths wrote the soundtrack of my life

[@BassistInATutu]

Me too bro.

[@elizamarz7607]

Me too but then Morrissey’s political stance in recent years made me unable to listen 😢

[@annalouisa223]

Same. I even got married in Salford Lads Club 😂

[@ThornyLittleFlower]

@elizamarz7607 Then Rick Astley came along and blew us away at Glastonbury! If you haven't seen it, look it up. 😃 In the summer, I got to see Johnny Marr playing with James🌼

[@BassistInATutu]

@@elizamarz7607 I won't listen to his new stuff. But what someone becomes doesn't change what they previously made. I don't think his changing now tarnishes work from 40 years ago. So I will still listen to The Smiths. It was more than just Morrissey.

[@rainerzufall42]

I definitely know this song from the "Charmed" intro. Yes, I was frequent watcher of that show back in the days! And the title melody was strong!

[@Floyd1138]

JJLA should look into watching the story of New Order's Blue Monday

[@nickismith1390]

And the Donna Summer riff they took and made their own. Perfection

[@paulrobson7887]

The Faltering Fullback used to be my local pub. I lived over the road from it. Wonderful pub. Fullback is a rugby position.

[@Glyn75]

The Faltering Fullback is my local pub and it's magnificent (especially the Ewok Village outside) - well worth having a look at some photos. Weirdly it is named after the Rugby position despite being in a very Football area (Arsenal are down the road). The Smiths back catalogue is utterly incredible despite the band only being active between 82-87. They really did create an alternative world for their fans. Shame that Morrissey had to spoil it all in later years, but can confirm that Johnny Marr is still absolutely as sound as a pound.

[@eezZzee]

I love you , you easy thoughtful american!

[@sallycostello8379]

Listen to the Smiths albums. So much good stuff there.

[@BigAndyK]

Going back to albums of b-sides at the beginning, . On Barbed Wire Kisses by The Jesus and Marychain, they have a song called 'Bo Didley is Jesus', the b side to April Skies. Only named in the title .

[@markwilkie3677]

Hi from Scotland. That is a great track 👍

[@bryantonks5364]

The Faltering Fullback is a great pub with a great beer garden on many levels! With NO foreign tourists as it is not in central London. You should give it a visit when in the smoke! (From a Manc!)

[@Nige1146]

Oh man you said it at the end about a crush OMG! Trash Theory really do great documentaries! I love this song also!

[@nolaj114]

Spandau Ballet's "True" was sampled on PM Dawn Set Adrift On Memory Bliss. Smiths' "How Soon Is Now" was used for theme song for Charmed. Both 'borrowed' from the Brits.

[@Mr_Incognito113]

How soon is now was sampled by ‘Soho’ on their 90s one hit wonder ‘hippy chick’. It’s a good track!

[@MrJohnnyMel]

Spandau Ballet do not sound like The Human League .... well they both sing!

[@clueingforbeggs]

Oh, you are in for a treat discovering Spandau Ballet.

[@rickythompson8718]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@klaxoncow]

True. To cut the long story short and break through the barricades, there's gold to be found there.

[@nickismith1390]

​@@klaxoncowand Musclebound.

[@milton1969able]

Jonny Marr did a live version of How soon is now on (I think) KPIX? or sumet like that) in LA a few years ago (its on KZbin). Absolutley stunning version, well worth checking out.

[@petermercury]

Regularly danced to this in the eighties at the Pink Toothbrush Night Club in Rayleigh, Essex UK.

[@dmorgs07]

This is just one of THOSE songs that hits every beat, both musically and emotionally - and one of my favourite Smiths tracks, along with Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want.

[@FilterHQ]

On a good stereo played very loudly...this track is amazing

[@uppyraptor49]

There is a pub in LOUTH, LINCOLNSHIRE, ENGLAND, called MY FATHERS MOUSTACHE!

[@trashandcheese3636]

It was a 1940s song Your Father's Moustache - which in turn led to the childrens' insult "you mother's moustache" (i.e the one between the legs)

[@22seanmurphy]

I'd never heard of the Liberties until now so you have been on pause so i can listen to them and i totally see where you're coming from re talking the lyrics and i really enjoyed them so added to my music 🍻🍻

[@firstnamelastname-bu1xm]

my sister watched the show "charmed" alot, and "how soon is now" was the theme that where i came to hear of the smiths... also, the plagurism thing made me laugh!

[@VelvetVoice]

Trash Theory's 'New British Canon' series of videos is just superb, one of my fave YT subscriptions (along with JJLA Reacts, too, of course!) - so glad that you've chanced upon them, JJ! Just arrived here from watching your analysis of their 'Eurythmics/Sweet Dreams' video (and a most enjoyable discussion, as ever, dude).

[@RabidJohn]

'How soon is now?' is my favourite Smiths song - and it was a B side! You won't regret having a listen to more from them. They were a weird mix of insanely catchy, jangly pop with melancholic, introverted, and sometimes downright depressing lyrics. Btw, I'm from the UK and the 1st colour TV I ever saw was in a hotel in 1968. I didn't see one in my hometown until 1970, and they weren't common until the late 70s. The Smiths grew up in a monochrome world.

[@jameslewis2635]

One other place you might have heard 'How Soon Is Now?' is the intro for a sitcom called 'Charmed' which features a cover version.

[@copiousfool]

Jam studio is literally at the bottom of my garden in Finsbury Park, The Faultering Fullback is a pub more specifically it's a rugby pub.

[@gwaptiva]

How Soon is now was the theme tune (as a cover) for Charmed

[@benjames9158]

Yh the Tremelo bit isn’t the howling lick at the beginning but the chords. Kinda like trance before trance

[@benjames9158]

12:38 hah told ya

[@SAMANDY1]

I spent 6 weeks in my bedroom because my MOM thought I was naughty, it was just because I was and am autistic. It was abuse but now I am proud and proud of you too. For putting out great content in the mist of WW£, I appreciate and thank you so very much. I know it's not easy and you do a great job. LOL You all good American's, ESP the ones who do not appreciate genocide. I know a song about that? Peace and love, youall

[@flyyoufools12]

I've seen (and enjoy) pretty much all of your vids but this one man, it's the best! I love the Smiths!

[@alanhogg9939]

The Spandau Ballet is the 'dance' that a body makes when shot during the war. Spandau is a big gun. Sad but true. There's also a great band called Bauhaus. Smith is the most common surname in the UK and the USA. It all makes sense 🙂

[@trashandcheese3636]

They chose the Smiths because it was a normal name, yes, but there were also the resonances - Patti Smith, and the Smiths who helped convict the Moors Murderers.

[@MercurtioCor]

Wow awesome, you are better than any article in past 30 years

[@davewalker6760]

The faltering foldback would be a reference to the recording studio monitor speakers that let the musicians hear themselves

[@nataliar5656]

How soon is now is featured in The Wedding Singer. ❤

[@taffygeek]

Not plagiarism it's deliberate and wonderful intertextuality both in the music & the lyrics. In one song you got references to George Elliott, Bo Didley, the "angry young men" authors of the 1960s, proto Hip Hop . The song celebrates not steals from earlier artists, whilst creating a work of art that is still uniquely theirs.

[@jimdiggs6959]

Agree. Most writers are familiar with intertextuality, not sure how anyone would claim he's plagiarizing. I love spotting the references, it only adds to my admiration of already beloved songs.

[@martinyozzer1232]

when you were searching for where you had heard" how soon is now" I was shouting at the screen it's the music used to play out the program charmed ,you know the one about 3 witches

[@tonyhowell201]

I do love your name drop anecdotes. Loved the reaction to "True" by Spandau Ballet and "How Soon is Now". This was a fun watch. Thank you 😃🥰

[@taffygeek]

That opening bend defined a period for many Brits

[@eezZzee]

They are both crazy... it was him!

[@Sherdelune]

That guitar riff is iconic.

[@s.collintuck3227]

100% sullen teen life. this specifically is my psyche. I feel you. also trying to like you multiple times.

[@theblurredcrusade.2557]

Trash Theory and New British Cannon are amazing at doing deep dives into artists and certain songs and movements of music ect, I follow both channels 🤗❤️😘

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

Wow. My first boyfriend gave me a mixtape of Smith albums. I was such a synthpop disco soul guy in the eighties, but Morrisseys groove was so real and dark and - like a recitative in a musical or opera.

[@MrJohnnyMel]

Not aware of The Smiths, blimey blimey!

[@markwilkie3677]

Casually drops in Bo Diddley was a friend of my parents 😅

[@MrGrahawk]

You did see Spandau popping up in another video quite recently - it was when they were new romantics with kilts with To Cut Along Story Short. After that they became slick popsters and consistently horrible (and nothing at all like Human League!!!!!!!).

[@paulrhyslloyd1]

I’ve got a few friends, family members and ex girlfriends who were big fans of The Smiths but I’ve never really been much of a fan of theirs or Morrisey in general. There was an American band called Snake River Conspiracy who covered How Soon Is Now and that was a great version.

[@mrcoolsun3142]

"How soon is now" is definitely IMHO The Smiths best track - it also reminds me of Kevin Ayers - "Song From The Bottom Of A Well" from 1972

[@rosfow]

This song was the song on Charmed.

[@fletcher2311]

The vocal style is conversational.

[@AdeboFunkyVoodoo]

I wasn't into the Smiths initially. But, towards the end of their career I actually got to sit and listen to it properly. And they've been one of my favourite bands ever since.

[@PaulReardon-qh9fk]

Great video JJ 👍

[@ebbhead20]

I feel most people know How Soon Is Now ? From TATU. Their cover is amazing.

[@louvirago]

Journo: ‘They’re Russian lesbians’ Morrissey: ‘Well, aren’t we all?’

[@RichardFraser-y9t]

People of a certain age....

[@philljenner4045]

JJ, you need to go listen to every Smiths album right now, I mean it! 😁

[@Varksterable]

I knew I'd listened to The Smiths a lot decades ago. But I didn't actually know the song titles. It was the cassette mix tape era. I might even have had some mix tapes made for me. [Cough] But when that MMMMMUURAAWWWW! sound hit at around 10:00, about a gazillion emotions and memories and anxieties and hopes and dreams hit me. Luckily, I was lying in bed, listening on my phone (via a Bose BT speaker; I'm not a total barbarian) at the time. Else I'd have fallen off my chair. Or worse if I'd not even been sitting down. (Who watches KZbin while navigating stairs, or polishing windows on a skyscraper? But you've just got to be careful is what I'm saying.) Woah. What an emotive noise. MMMMMUURAAWWWW! And it instantly made me want to re-visit all the old Smith's songs of my youth. But do I really want to be an angsty 50+ year old teenager? Vote now! (Which will not make the slightest bit of difference, but that's how the internet works, right?) (The narrator chose his own pronunciation of 'plagiarism' because he didn't want to copy anyone else. In case of being accused of.. 😅)

[@tellmehowyoucrumble]

You may know the song intro from a song called Hippychick from the early 90's

[@vallejomach6721]

Theme tune from 'Charmed' - cover version though, not The Smiths.

[@robopecha]

my middle school dance memory is different. we didnt dance as couples. i was jumping around and headbanging to midlife crisis. i was wearing jeans overalls and a striped tshirt.

[@nickismith1390]

They're storytellers in song format. Like The The, Blue Nile or Squeeze (to name a few). Where the music, along with the lyrics, is channeled into your ear by a honey-tongued raconteur, whispering their tales of love, loss, isolation and redemption into your bones. The best bands have a storyteller.

[@chrismitchell7280]

I’ve been watching so many of your reactions cos you’re a very likeable chap. Your insights here, on a band I listened to solidly for years when I relied on taped copies of a copy of a copy, made me subscribe I dare say you don’t care, but I assure you, a subscribe from me is a compliment

[@benjames9158]

8:20 I believe you’re looking for the term spoken word

[@emcr1]

That song will always be the 'charmed' theme for me 😆 And lol 'lonely and criminally shy','wanting to put yourself out there but not knowing how'. Definitely me, but i vote for we all also need a song for 'i can go from not talking to anyone, to just jointly oversharing with randoms that are also trying to avoid the loud people, then never speaking again after the pub shuts' 🤣 Edit because I paused 5 minutes before the end and didn't realise... I never went to any middle school dance, so my memories of school dances/discos music kinda ends at 'startrekking', and 'I am the music man, and i can from far way' 😆😆 (uk people who remember those classics unite! 😆)

[@matt-fh6hb]

The first movie I think of when I hear the Smiths song you think you know from TV, is Adam Sandler’s Wedding Singer.

[@informedchoice2249]

It's been used on TV shows as well.

[@MrChasanDayve]

@18:54 You missed The Plimsoll below the Faltering Fullback.

[@adylevene4318]

F#, A, B add tremelo and go(for standard tuning).

[@nicw5574]

I felt myself start to get annoyed when the presenter called Stairway To Heaven clumpy, but he's right you don't play it in the middle of a set 😂 These videos are really interesting, thanks for sharing them, as someone who can't carry a tune in a bucket, it's fascinating to hear about the technical side of your job. On a totally different topic I would recommend the Olivier and Caine film Sleuth, it's really good.

[@AB-sy5hb]

Great reaction!

[@laurensmith485]

I’ve got to get some of The Smiths on vinyl

[@scotmax8426]

all this needed was you listening to the whole of how soon is now lol. my young teenage years. the smiths were... something.

[@stee6stee9]

Morrissey chose all these lines to advertise the books he read and loved. He was the fan's chief Librarian.

[@TertiaryScroat]

9:34 it was the theme from Charmed.