Songs that Changed Music: The Smiths - How Soon Is Now

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“How Soon is Now?” was written by The Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr and singer Morrissey. Marr’s haunting, tremolo and sliding guitar part prepares the perfect sonic atmosphere for Morrissey’s angst-ridden lyrics. “I am the song and the heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar,” the singer croons to his listeners. Upon the band’s break-up, writer Simon Reynolds named this dark tone as the key element that made the band so appealing:
“Why were The Smiths ‘important’? Because of their misery….The Smiths finest moments - ‘Hand in Glove,’ ‘How Soon is Now?’, ‘Still Ill’, ‘I Know Its Over’ - were moments of reproachful, avenging misery, naked desperation, unbearable reverence - free from the ‘saving grace’ of quips and camp self-consciousness. If there was laughter it was black, scornful scathing….they were like those gauche youths who turn up to house parties only to cling to the dark corners in chaste disdain, driven by the naive, vaguely inhuman conviction that all merriment is a lie.”
Morrissey’s melody lingers and falls. With the lyrics, it mourns the paralysis of social anxiety and fear, with a deep conviction of worth. “I am human and I need to be loved. Just like everybody else does,” he reminds us. It is the tragedy of knowing what is needed, but unable to achieve it all the same - of losing hope and knowing “soon”, is never soon enough.
Marr’s guitar part relishes in that ambiguity. Its complexity comes from effect, while the riff is really quite simple. Inspired by Bo Diddley's guitar strum around an F# chord, Marr and producer John Porter began experimenting with a tremolo effect. While Marr and Porter have told slight variations on the details of how they accomplished it, the result was a mystical sounding tremolo resembling the opening of Rolling Stone’s cover of Bo Diddley’s “Mona (I Need You Baby)”, but with a modern twist. Pairing this ambience with the siren of the slide guitar, The Smiths created their iconic song opening.
If the tremolo guitar found its origins in the world of Bo Diddley and the Rolling Stones, the slide guitar turned to another legendary British group of the sixties - The Beatles. Morrissey wasn’t interested in backing vocals on any Smith songs, but Porter felt the track needed another addition: "I started thinking, well, if The Beatles had done this, they would have done some 'oohs' and 'aahs' or something at that point in the song, so I would get Johnny to do a guitar part that would be the equivalent of having a backing vocalist.” The harmonizer effect on the guitar’s wailing slide only adds to its captivating color.
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[@Producelikeapro]

R.I.P Andy Rourke. Thank you for the amazing music you gave us. You will be sorely missed.

[@plasteredbastard]

listening right now to a precociously-skilled andy rourke off the first album 💔

[@Producelikeapro]

@@plasteredbastardwell said. He was the man

[@purplewoodencustard]

Andy Rourke legend R. I. P 🎼💐

[@dalelane1948]

word

[@Thomasmemoryscentral]

@@dalelane1948 There can never be a Smiths reunion now. You were great Andy

[@ClosetoHumanMusic]

When I was a teenager I would sleep with the radio on because I hate the sound of silence. One night I woke up around 1am and KROQ in Los Angeles was playing this ethereal, haunting song that I had never heard before. Somewhere between sleep and waking life, I laid in my bed and let the sounds wash over me. I became obsessed, I had to find out what this song was. This was the mid 90's, long before the internet. So I listened to KROQ incessantly in the hope of hearing that magical song again. One night, the fates smiled on me and the DJ played it again, and was even kind enough to say the band name and the title of the song. I'd never heard of The Smiths before, but the next day I went to Best Buy and purchased The Best of album and discovered a whole new musical world. Nearly 30 years later, whenever I hear this song I'm transported back to my childhood bedroom, and relive the experience of hearing "How Soon is Now?" for the very first time.

[@aafgahfah]

Buy the album “The Stone Roses”, turn off the light, get into bed and hit play. It wouldn’t hurt if you’re a bit stoned, if that’s your thing. Play the whole thing in one go - the version without Elephant Stone at the end, so it ends with I Am The Resurrection.

[@LeviBulger]

Neat!

[@warrenpchi]

The late Eighties and early Nineties were a magical time for the World Famous 106.7 KROQ.

[@mariepanimdim4303]

ME TOO !

[@zeropointfool]

what's so wrong about the sound of silence? it's honestly not their best song but it's alright. i definitely prefer songs like Bridge over troubled water, Homeward Bound and Only living boy in new York however, their songwriting had developed a lot more by then.

[@Fan_Made_Videos]

the slide guitar to me always created a vision of passing cars honking at a lonesome person on a highway walking home alone after going to a club.

[@apathyintheuk265]

Yes, I get that!

[@kiufkhgdiyrsiytgf2785]

Definitely a song to walk down a rainy sidewalk to lol

[@moirfan7926]

Fits with the part "there's a club if you'd like to go..."

[@shaunminahan9921]

I had been studying the Doppler effect at University when this song was released. I played it to my lecturer. He was my age now at the time. Have to laugh about that. He used to go to the opera LOL.

[@Neenerella333]

100 percent.

[@garryabbott3474]

It is without a shadow of a doubt one of the greatest songs of all time.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@heavyearly2232]

This song manged to escape me until a few years ago - so powerful, yet familiar...Immigrant song, Led Zeppelin. I wonder if they were fans.

[@TheInfamousLegend27]

@@heavyearly2232 i hate to burst your bubble but Immigrant Song and How Soon Is Now really ain't that similar chief lmao

[@heavyearly2232]

@@TheInfamousLegend27 They're in the same key. The howling notes sound similar to the first power chords of I.S. My two cents.

[@TheInfamousLegend27]

@@heavyearly2232 i guess, that’s a fair point :)

[@2bteachable2]

When I heard this lyric stanza: "There's a club if you'd like to go You could meet somebody who really loves you So you go and you stand on your own And you leave on your own And you go home and you cry And you want to die" I said, you just explained my entire high school experience in one lyric stanza. I will never forget this song.

[@Producelikeapro]

Morrissey’s lyrics are so powerful! Every kid who felt like we did resonated with his lyrics!!

[@clairecarlia-jones5979]

All of those people who rejected you are losers and weren't worthy of you. You're a Smith's fan, so you're the superior of virtually anyone, in my opinion 💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@skypekai]

@@clairecarlia-jones5979 no, you're not superior to anyone just because you like a certain band. Maybe you stood alone because nobody liked you if this is what you believe.

[@clairecarlia-jones5979]

@@skypekai I was making a joke! Sorry that you took it seriously 😺 And I didn't stand alone when I went to clubs. I was dancing with my friends. All the best XX 😽

[@foto21]

Everyone had that reaction. I'd say the visual of going out to a club expecting to have an incredible time, feeling self-conscious and leaving was 100% universal, at least for fans of the underground. It has as much to do with why this song hit as that incredible guitar (and great beat and bass work I might addI) It's why underground music in the 80s had to happen. I don't know what kids do today. They don't have great artists to relate to.

[@frankmachin5438]

Used to have this as my ringtone - my phone went off one day in court and the judge told me to get out and switch my phone off, but added with a grin: “...at least it’s a good song!”

[@apathyintheuk265]

As a consequence did that lessen the sentence he handed down to you?

[@jeanettegant4945]

@@apathyintheuk265 ha ha my husband made my ringtone Ziggy Stardust and would deliberately phone me when I was in the middle of teaching so my students would think I was "cool".

[@jeanettegant4945]

@@apathyintheuk265 ha ha my husband made my ringtone Ziggy Stardust and would deliberately phone me when I was in the middle of teaching so my students would think I was "cool".

[@moy_moy85]

Ok, now we need to know. What were you in court for?

[@apathyintheuk265]

@@moy_moy85 Why do we need to know?

[@zacharycollins6548]

The song is almost 40 and still sounds like it was made today. Great production.

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed 100%! Thanks ever so much Zachary!

[@AARDFD]

FAR better than 99% of stuff “today”

[@hamelyn06]

I did a senior boffee fart .eat it fart g sharp poo

[@moy_moy85]

This dude is a class act man. Instead of shoehorning his personal anecdote about seeing the Smiths live throughout the video like some other KZbinrs, he left it till the end until everything was said and done and kept it short and sharp.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! I really appreciate it.

[@mr1zog]

Warren's the man 👍 The way he can breakdown and analyse a piece of music so perfectly, he actually adds to rather than suck all the passion and soul from the song😊🤘

[@Producelikeapro]

@@mr1zog wow! Thanks ever so much!

[@slickrockcreek1]

Totally agree! There's more song reviews on KZbin than you could watch in two lifetimes, but they don't get any better than this.

[@jnny7182]

Agree!

[@AronSilberwasser]

These things take time, but we finally got a smiths episode :)

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha YES!! HUGE fan of The Smiths, Johnny Marr, Morrissey and in particular this song!

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Aron Silberwasser -- I see what you did there!

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha indeed

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, it is ‘Now’ after all

[@michaelweinstein3056]

Nice one!

[@ClayAsbury122]

I helped my millennial daughter understand the unlikely success of the Smiths recently by explaining to her that in the early 80s, there were absolutely zero record companies looking for a band fronted by a pale, celibate, well-read vegan who wore glasses. She got it. And loves them almost as much as I do.

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha that’s a fantastic analogy! Thanks for sharing

[@michaelhawkins7389]

@@Producelikeapro I saw that you have worked with James Blunt , which album or song , did you work with him on?

[@kidkique]

To be fair the NewWave thing was going strong in the early eighties and what you described was sought out by a lot of record companies.. hence the success of bands like REM in the B-52's etc etc I think you're letting nostalgic Cloud your actual memories

[@cancel1913]

I am at a lost for words to describe how musically satisfying and transcendental this song is. The fact that it is a studio masterpiece that NOBODY can reproduce again speaks wonders to it's uniqueness indeed. Bravo to The Smiths!

[@westerling8436]

Average song

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@UnforgivenIV]

To me, 'How Soon Is Now' sounds other-worldly in the same way as Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love' does. They are both songs that have never sounded dated since the day I first heard them.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much R T!

[@BassByTheBay]

Wow, I've never thought of the two together, but you're right! There is some kind of other-worldly feel. I wonder if it has to do with the pulsing undercurrent in both songs. "I Feel Love" has that relentless stereo-ized synth bass, and of course HSIN has that iconic trem guitar part.

[@jamesanderson348]

AMEN!! You hit it right on the head. Both songs were both unique and ahead of their times. The sounds and the atmospheres just immediately grab your attention and leaves you wanting for more.

[@cmjones83]

Great comparison.

[@evanfmc]

definitely agree, they both hold up incredibly well

[@giantballoon]

The first time I heard “How Soon is Now?” I was waiting in line for Psychedelic Furs tickets to go on sale at Kent State University, the concert was on 10/2/84. I remember thinking “What is this? It’s amazing, unlike anything I had heard before.”

[@robertesensee3494]

The Smiths should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were influential and produced some amazing music. Even though they have not performed together in years, they still have a huge fanbase. They accomplished quite a lot in there somewhat short history as a band and this one song is legendary. Great video!

[@Producelikeapro]

Very well said Robert

[@tomebasic2843]

Nah, man. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a joke. It's cooler to be out than in the hall of fame considering that the people who actually chose who get into it and who doesn't are a bunch of self important wankers, especially Jann Wenner.

[@tombassman]

I don’t understand why there are so many comments like thus about

[@glennhubbard5008]

I think Flock of Seagulls and Buck Owens are taking their spot.

[@coolnamebro]

The Smiths are way too cool for the crappy Rock n Roll Hall of Cheese.

[@umbluegray1]

My daughter and I just returned from Vegas today. We saw Morrissey Sunday night at Caesar's Palace and he opened with How Soon is Now! Incredible show!

[@Producelikeapro]

Amazing! That’s so cool

[@Britpop938]

So jealous! Moz cancelled our DC show and my son and I would’ve loved to have seen him perform this😢

[@maicocpa]

"The Smiths rarely played the song live." They played "How Soon is Now" live at the Hollywood Palladium in June 1985. I was there.

[@Producelikeapro]

Amazing! That would have been incredible to hear!

[@jesmathang]

I, too, saw them perform this. 1985 at the Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. I recall Johnny Marr using two guitars and some kind of effect pedal, like a looping kinda effect...

[@cclark3905]

Yep...I saw them 1st Row at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas Sept of 86 and they played it... (Not very well either) Later, Married the Girl who went with me...33 yrs later she and I happen to mention the show in front of our 25 yr old son...he exclaimed, "YOU SAW THE SMITHS???" and suddenly we were finally cool in his eyes 😎 lol...

[@Brittle_buddha]

Same

[@sloppysecondssunak5920]

I saw the Smiths twice: Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool; G-MEX, Manchester ... and they played How Soon is Now both times. Guess I was lucky 🙂

[@goldenkoi23]

I guess I was one of the lucky ones hearing it Iive as I was at the London Palladium 26/10/86, I was only 12. Three stories you may be interested in. 1) if you watch the footage of this gig on KZbin, during The boy with the thorn in his side, my brother lifted me up so I was standing on top of the chair in front floor level and I was swaying & waving. Johnny saw me and looked back to Mike gesturing with his head to look then he smiles. 2). When we came out our parents were waiting and we all went to the stage door but Morrissey had already left. A lady asked my sister if she wanted her poster signed by the others as they were still there. My sister asked her how? to which she replied, “I’m Andy’s Mum”. So we have the signed poster of Andy, Johnny, Mike, Craig & someone also wrote Morrissey on it too?? 3) when we got home my Mum said she needed to tell us something. She & my Dad waited for them to arrive after we’d gone in and when Morrissey got out the car, she pushed through some security and asked him if he could sign a picture. The security guy tried to move her back but Morrissey said No. He asked her her name & she said it wasn’t for her but for my Sister. Morrissey asked where my sister was & my Mum said how the 3 of us were inside. Morrissey smiled & asked my Mum why she wasn’t going in too to which my Mum replied that my Sister had come out to see the one she loved. Having signed the picture Morrissey asked my Mum her name, she replied Sheila!! In July 1987 my sister & I met Morrissey outside his house and my 15 year old sobbing sister said how he’d met our Mum at the Palladium. Morrissey straight away said Sheila!! We asked him if Sheila take a bow was written because of her and he simply smiled and shrugged his shoulders. It was the perfect response because if our Mum was an inspiration for the song then that’s awesome but if she wasn’t and it was written about Shelagh Delaney as many speculate, then Morrissey would never want to shatter the dream of a 12 & 15 year old standing in front of him. So who knows but when you think about the lyrics ‘Sheila take a Sheila take a bow boot the grime of this world in the crotch dear’ & don’t go home tonight come out and find the one that you love and who loves you,’ it still makes me wonder??

[@mastersupreme6126]

SURE WEIRDO SURE!

[@goldenkoi23]

@@mastersupreme6126 I have no reason to lie, you’re free to think that It is. I just wanted to share my story & treasured memories. God bless

[@therealmivaho]

Thnx for sharing

[@jameswright7375]

Cool story!

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! What an incredible story! It does not surprise me, even if it is not directly related it can still be an influence! You hear a name and it sparks a melody, a rhyme scheme, there could be a connection? Either way it’s a lovely story

[@michaelbanks2401]

Stairway to Heaven of the 80's, Love Will Tear Us Apart, How Soon is Now and Just Like Heaven..

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous! We’ve covered all three! Thanks ever so much

[@malacite1]

One of the best bands of all time.

[@Producelikeapro]

Huge fan!

[@KongKat]

THE best 😊

[@robdean704]

You mistakenly put one of at the beginning of your factual statement

[@geob3963]

A mega hit that I will never grow tired of listening to. Radio killed a lot of songs for me by overplaying them. This one, I’m glad every time I hear it.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!! Agreed 100%!

[@cnfuzz]

The killing moon from echo n the bunnymen has a similar afterlife

[@geob3963]

@@cnfuzz Train in Vain - The Clash, Rock n' Roll Hooch Coo - Rick Derringer, Wicked Game - Chris Issac, Do It Again - Steely Dan. I should be sick of all of them, but I'm not.

[@thisiknowwithjohnfield5067]

55 years young. Iconic forever sound. Brilliance.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@draganbalzic4493]

A sonic masterpiece. A cacophony of angst, sadness, sorrow and loneliness…

[@zimmejoc]

best song of the entire decade.

[@Producelikeapro]

You have impeccable taste my friend!

[@Gonzax]

Fantastsic track indeed but "There is a light that never goes out" is still my favorite song, nothing can come even close.

[@docsavage8640]

Nonsense, not even the best Smiths song

[@zimmejoc]

@@docsavage8640 that's the beauty of opinions. Yours doesn't have to match mine. What do you think their best song is?

[@stevemoserify]

I think so too. Bad by U2, End of the World by REM, and Bizzarre Love Triangle by New Order also had unique sounds and would rank highly in the best of the 80s.

[@grahamtaylor6883]

What a tune, no argument about it being unique. It gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. A bit like Bowie's 'Ashes to Ashes'.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Graham for sharing!

[@DaniloSilva-pl3sq]

How Soon Is Now and Ashes to Ashes are two of my top 10 favourite songs ever!

[@grahamtaylor6883]

@@DaniloSilva-pl3sq 100% with you on that one. The best version of Ashes to Ashes I've heard was when he did the BBC live recordings in 2000. Gail Ann Dorsey's bass is sublime on it. Both of these tracks just zone out everything round you and transport you to a parallel universe. The power of great music.......edit: actually I've just remembered, it was mark playing bass on that version, Gail was playing guitar. Still sublime though.

[@rickpiasecki9744]

@@DaniloSilva-pl3sq .

[@Producelikeapro]

@@DaniloSilva-pl3sq mine too!!

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

Now, imagine the jolt of pure energy in an 80s nightclub when this came on?! Indescribable. Just indescribable, every time. The 80s: _Lived ‘em. Loved ‘em. Miss ‘em._

[@jerrywestermann4435]

As a musician,I'm a guitarist/singer/songwriter,I was interested in how they made that riff,but the lyrics describe bitter loneliness probably better than any other song I've ever heard.I especially like the line "You shut your mouth".....It enrages me when people label sadness,depression,being lonely as "self pity".Morrissey is undoubtedly one of the greatest lyricists of all time,because he doesn't sugar coat life to make it easier for the masses to swallow.He simply describes it exactly as it is.

[@Producelikeapro]

Morrissey is one of my favourite lyricists

[@michaelhawkins7389]

@@Producelikeapro just like to say that How soon is Now , was made even more famous by the film The Craft and it use used in the TV show charmed ( although that version is a cover, there still alot of people that don't know that the original is by The Smiths

[@westerling8436]

Ok but not really

[@alansouthall8221]

Marr was a wizard. The way he layered parts pre digital is unreal. Heard stories of them striking open tuned guitars with kitchen knives to get the effects they need. Their writing process of Marr sending Morrissey the music and the band not knowing where he was going until he turned up to record gives me chills. The band thought he was singing about the elements when he started out on this. Imagine having the redlight bulbs, stoned, having layed down this ethereal music and then hearing Morrisseys contribution for the first time. The "there's a club if you'd like to go" lines are up there with his best Glorious band

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, Johnny is easily one of my favourite guitarists ever!!

[@alanconway94]

What do you mean was? He's still with us. :-)

[@alansouthall8221]

@@alanconway94 not sure his wizardry is though

[@matthewkeen3527]

Here in San Diego our alternative radio station in the 80s did a “Top songs of the decade on New Year’s Eve ‘89 and the winner was “How Soon is Now” as voted by listeners. It was a great moment!

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! Amazing!

[@spatulasnout]

Would that have been 91X ? (The vocalization of their XETRA call sign still pops into my head occasionally after all these years: "equis eh, te ere ah, efe emme, baja california, mehico!")

[@matthewkeen3527]

@@spatulasnout Yes! 91X! Broadcast from Mexico as you know. =)

[@D-R-Z]

I remember this! Was one of the voters and listeners.

[@fahrgast237]

I was stationed in San Diego in the 80's, right outta high school. I had never heard the Smiths before then. I heard them on 91X!. (Remember those stickers!) It changed my life somehow. I still love them. I am possibly addicted to Morrissey's music today at 54.

[@kingdhansak]

I totally agree with your comment of this being a headphone song. To me it is THE headphone song - the ultimate.

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed

[@christopherkotsopoulos701]

it's because it's so atmospheric

[@garydunn5797]

I know how you feel man. I saw The Smiths live at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley in the summer of 1986. It was magic. It was an outdoor amphitheater concert at night with the San Francisco Bay fog glowing up the atmosphere with eerie beauty as the real life backdrop to The Smiths magical music and presence. Everyone was in a trance.

[@Producelikeapro]

Absolutely fantastic! Thanks for sharing

[@Heathaze813]

I remember being in a club in late 80s dancing to this song- the whole place was shaking with the tremolo and bass. It was epic. I am trying to get my tribute band to play it- bucket list.

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous!

[@silent3135]

The Smith's helped me get through my depression filled teenage years. I will always be grateful to them.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing! RIP Andy Rourke

[@Mr2at]

That’s strange because back in the 80’s when I listened to the Smiths, they made me feel depressed. It’s only in my late middle age, do I now understand and like the Smiths. Better late than never. 😂

[@edalder2000]

I loved "alternative" English bands as a teen near DC. As I explored further I also had a love of Hendrix, Clapton, Santana, Rory Gallagher and Stevie Ray Vaughan. As expressive as they are, Johnny Marr always had this complete precision in his playing. So exact. Taking bright sunny chords and contrasting them with dark foreboding lyrics. I worked at Tower Records for almost 5 years. I joked that in order to work at Tower, you had to like The Smiths.

[@Producelikeapro]

That’s amazing to hear! Glad to hear Tower Records employees had such good taste!

[@widdershins1796]

I love how much This Riff Simply floats like a Psychadelic mist through your ears and carries the lyrics into your soul.

[@ccxdirt1142]

I'm an 80's kid from the U.S. This is one of my favorite 80's song. It's a classic!

[@fakshen1973]

If you've ever been the goofy looking kid in glasses at the middle school dance, this is your song.

[@Producelikeapro]

Busted!! Thanks ever so much

[@joshvalle5521]

I love this song for that very reason

[@shrimpflea]

I was a surfer in high school when this song came out. It was very popular with my group of surfer friends and we were not goofy kids...I guess the song is just that good.

[@fakshen1973]

@@shrimpflea I was. I saw a "Meat Is Murder" t-shirt when I was a senior in high school and then bought "The Queen Is Dead" and was hooked. I then bought both "Best" albums and found "How Soon Is Now". You stand on your own, you leave on your own, and you go home and you cry and you want to die. That pulled me back to middle school. I'd go to every dance. No one was even willing to just dance with me. So it really took me back to my own personal angst as a goofy looking tween.

[@shrimpflea]

@@fakshen1973 Understood. They were my favorite band in high school and now that I'm an old guy I think they might still be my favorite all time band.

[@higgaroc]

I GASPED when I saw this, YAYYY! I still remember seeing and hearing this song for the first time- a teenager, sitting in the dark in my parent’s living room, watching 120 Minutes on MTV. I was instantly mesmerized and astonished by the sound and still get tears in my eyes every single time I listen to it. It is so perfectly beautiful.

[@c.v.2840]

I don't think it was this song, I think it's their whole discography that changed the world and music altogether.

[@Producelikeapro]

Couldn't disagree with that! Thanks ever so much

[@c.v.2840]

@@Producelikeapro Keep up the great work! I'm a huge since watching the Joy Division episode. Great stuff brother love your hand pic bands and songs!

[@c.v.2840]

I remember seeing Morrissey for the 1st time in my life, it was March 1, 2013 at the Staples center in Los Angeles. When this song came on it was like a bomb 💣 had gone off. I saw so many girls take their shirts off, great fucking show! Morrissey played all the classics. Love the Smiths ❤

[@bluegreenglue6565]

Can't argue with that.

[@melvynobrien6193]

Changed fuck-all in Toronto. Most people never heard of them or their shite songs.

[@RegebroRepairs]

The friend of mine who introduced me to The Smiths didn't like How Soon Is Now, probably because it sounds so different. I told him I loved it, and a week later he said he gave it another chance, and I was right and that it's in fact genius. :-D

[@Producelikeapro]

That’s great to hear!!

[@jeremyroberts4760]

If I had to choose only one song from the 80s, this would be it. Amazing song, well done.

[@higgaroc]

I am GOBSMACKED at the connection with Bo Diddley. What the....!! Amazing, I love this channel. Thank you for explaining this iconic riff.

[@Producelikeapro]

You are so welcome! Thanks ever so much

[@larrymagee8758]

Agreed. I never would've thought for a moment that Marr would be influenced by BD. I didn't think he went back that far.

[@slaptree1]

Plus the hip-hop connection to Love Bug Starsky! Incredible!

[@TempleOfTheMartyrs]

this band is one of the reasons we started our band. you don't get much better than JOHNNY MARR

[@pixj7338]

The Smith is the one band I never got to see and regret not going. I have seen Morrissey live, but it was not the Smith. I had the pleasure to have tea with Mike Joyce and talk about the Smiths and Buzzcocks who he was playing with at the time. Rip Andy Rourke who passed away the same day I am posting here.

[@Producelikeapro]

RIP Andy Rourke. Thanks ever so much for your wonderful comment

[@APR944]

“One of The Greatest Songs of All Time”.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, indeed

[@melvynobrien6193]

In your room

[@MrKravmagadude]

Why can't this guy, and this content, be on the telly? Sky Arts? The best thing I've watched for ages. New subscriber.

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! Thanks ever so much!

[@billmiller9145]

Must admit, I don't have a single Smiths recording in my library. That being said this is hands down in my top 5 guitar riffs ever. I could listen to it on loop.

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic!! Agreed, great riff!

[@colin.m666]

Well its been 2 years. I'd like to think you have at least one Smiths album by now 🙂

[@RobinMarks1313]

When I was at the club, I used bug the DJ to play this song. Eventually he told me he'd only play it at the end of the night. It was a punk/new wave club, but on Friday nights it had the biggest crowds and they place was full. Dancing in the darkness, with this song pulsing and echoing, it was the only time I felt totally connected. I guess they call it teenaged angst. But it felt good.

[@evilvet]

same. when i visited the phillipines i paid a dj $100 to put it on a loop until people started to leave. it was a religious experience...

[@albondigas8270]

This song is amazing Morrissey & Marr are the Jagger / Richards of the 80’s Pure magic

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! Agreed 100%!

[@ronwhite8503]

Better than Jagger/Richards.......imo.

[@peternicholls6532]

My favourite Smith's song...Johnny Marr's guitar ...Morrissey's voice...Unique sound... say no more. :)

[@Producelikeapro]

Well said. R.I.P Andy Rourke

[@suemommie]

This song always gives me chills - brings back my ‘80s memories. Another great song is Bigmouth Strikes Again. Don’t know what it is about that song but I love it.

[@Producelikeapro]

Me too! Thanks ever so much

[@mightyV444]

"...as the flames rose to her Roman nose and her walkman started to melt" - How do you even come up with stuff like that?? x-))

[@bluegreenglue6565]

I've had my kids singing the chorus to this song for almost two decades!

[@stevenhartlaub4557]

@@mightyV444 Morrissey is undoubtedly one of the greatest lyricists of his generation.

[@mightyV444]

@@stevenhartlaub4557 - Yes, undoubtedly! I'm in awe of people with such a gift 😍 Me, I play several instruments and find it very easy to compose new Music, but coming up with good lyrics and vocal melodies sadly has never been my forté 😭 🙂

[@keeskapteyn314]

Never ever in my born days would I have ever thought that that sound came from a guitar being strummed through a tremelo. I always thought it was some kind of processed synth loop. My mind is blown.

[@carrieanderson132]

In a nutshell this song is way before it's time

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed!

[@stevemoserify]

90s music recorded in the 80s for sure

[@northernbrother1258]

"Life is what happens when you're making other plans." - John Lennon

[@Producelikeapro]

Great lyric!

[@FetishonyoutubeURL]

Man, has it been 40 yrs since he died? the world still misses him as december 8th is drawing near.

[@joshswainwright]

"Do you want to hold a penis" - John Lennon

[@FetishonyoutubeURL]

@@joshswainwright dude, that’s not cool.

[@joshswainwright]

@@FetishonyoutubeURL This is actually something he said jokingly whilst the beatles were having fun in the studio. It's good to remember people for the enjoyable times they had, even if they were silly. I love John Lennon.

[@adamsansom4822]

The guitar is hauntingly beautiful!

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed 100%!

[@demonweber666]

High School in the 80s, a friend dated a girl who's father was a DJ. She put this on a mix tape for me. I loved it instantly. Bought the single, it had William and Please Please on one side, and How Soon is Now on the other. It was a thick album, had the kinda melty, tie die colors in red, white, & pink. Like stretched taffy. I used to bring a milk crate of New Wave albums to parties, turn people on to my music.Got laid at one party, just cuz this girl Lisa thought i was so cool for bringing music. Great memories of a great tune!

[@Producelikeapro]

Great memories! Thanks ever so much! Happy New Year!

[@clickbaitcabaret8208]

I saw the Smiths on, The Queen Is Dead tour. They did How soon as now as an encore. I remember seeing Marr pounding a pedal every time he played the slide part. Great gig.

[@Producelikeapro]

That's amazing! Yes, I saw them at the GLC Free Festival in Jubilee Gardens, it was AMAZING!

[@Producelikeapro]

Plus I've seen Johnny Marr solo a bunch of times, huge fan!

[@NathanWind99]

@@Producelikeapro I saw Johnny solo a couple of years ago. No offense to Moz but we had much more fun at Johnny’s gig.

[@clickbaitcabaret8208]

@@Producelikeapro I saw Morrissey as well. I don't remember what LP he was touring for. I'm just grateful he didn't cancel the gig.

[@VladimirBarriere]

I vividly remember when hearing this song for the first time September 84 and how I was instantly blown away.

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed! Loved it the first time I heard it!

[@knuthamsun6106]

in 2003 i was in my late 20s & i had this 17yo gf who was so sweet and agreeable, she never complained about anything, she just loved to smoke cigarettes and smile to herself and let the wind flow through her blonde hair and enjoy the ride wherever i took her as she would come along with me & my friends on wilderness adventures. I was shuffling through songs on a gen 2 ipod in the car on the way to a waterfall. one of the songs was how soon is now? every time I hear it I think of how completely out of character and startling it was when she suddenly screamed her demand that I go back a couple songs, a look of extreme urgency on her face. I was fumbling with the iPod, which I had on shuffle. As I was searching she was snapping orders at me, losing patience as though it was an absolute emergency. She had heard the song only once before & it had haunted her for years has she moved in circles that listened only to rap, which she secretly hated. when I found the song and played it she had her mouth partly open and her brow furrowed and I could see her eyes darting left and right at nothing in particular as she studied it, amazed by the magic

[@rangerwhite5165]

"There's a club if you'd like to go You could meet somebody who really loves you So you go and you stand on your own And you leave on your own And you go home and you cry And you want to die" Wow. Did that sum up my life as a teenager at 80s discos...

[@daf827]

I remember the first time I heard this. It was 1984, and I was in LA involved with the production of a TV commercial. My art director and I were driving around Malibu and the song came on the radio. My reaction was a stunned, “What was THAT?” I became hooked on that song, so I bought the album. I have been a Smiths fan ever since.

[@chriskyme5767]

What was the commercial? Out of interest...

[@daf827]

@@chriskyme5767 It was a Duracell commercial from agency Ogilvy & Mather, where I worked as a copywriter from 1982-88.

[@victorsantiesteban2825]

To me The Smiths are the best band ever!! Glorious liricks and music!!! I never get tired to listening.

[@didier2124]

How Soon Is Now takes me away on a mental, emotional and physical journey to another place and then it's so bloody hard to come back and achieve anything else which at that moment just feels less important. It's a sensational trip!

[@BassByTheBay]

I remember hearing this on the radio for the first time -- I was *transfixed.* It didn't even register that the sound of the intro was a guitar. I thought it might've been a synth. Despite the weak performance in the pop chart, it must've been huge on the modern-rock chart because it was in heavy rotation on the station I used to listen to. In my top 3 fave Smiths songs. Thanks for this great analysis and all the info on the complications of tracking that iconic guitar part.

[@Producelikeapro]

It was such a huge song for all of us making music at the time! We also were transfixed!!

[@abelmontalvo4052]

I think it sounds more like an accordion than a synth

[@exerciserelax8719]

It's fascinating how The Smiths created their sound from rockabilly, early rock/rhythm & blues, funk, hip-hop, etc. but when they put it all together it's so different from any of those styles. They made it into something very personal, very much of their own time and place, yet also timeless.

[@Mike-ir9fx]

The smiths, when all your hope is gone, they are the songs that saved my life♥️♥️

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@jasonloader8149]

When this came out, I bought it as tape single. I house shared at the time and my fellow housemates got sick of hearing it looping over and over from my bedroom so I used to smoke a spliff, get in my shitty old Toyota Celica and drive around blasting it full volume from the car tape deck. It's easily my favourite tune of all time - and I was born in 1961 - and even now there's not a week that goes by when I don't give it a play. I must've listened to it thousands of times and I never, ever get tired of it. Goosebumps guaranteed. Also, I'm a big Bo Diddley fan and Marr was obviously heavily influenced by Mona on this track which makes it extra double extra special - to me anyway. I'll have it played at my funeral - that's what it means to me.

[@Wendish1971]

I'll never forget the night I got this album. It wasn't on the track listing for Meat is Murder, but the store ensured me it was on there (it was). Started high school the next day.

[@Producelikeapro]

That's wonderful. R.I.P Andy Rourke

[@mrkipling2201]

You lucky sod!! Getting to see the Smiths live in 1984!! I’m very jealous!! 😂😂

[@Producelikeapro]

It was absolutely amazing!!

[@mrkipling2201]

@@Producelikeapro I bet !!

[@richardwarfield7386]

Listened to this song thousands of times and it never fails to move me each and every time. Iconic then, Iconic now and Iconic forever

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@brunoteixeira5912]

My favourite Smiths song, that slide guitar part... is breathtaking! And your new guitar "that Ross gave" you is.. wow :-) beautiful machine!

[@Producelikeapro]

Mine too Bruno! Thanks ever so much

[@sarahferguson0]

One of my all-time favorites. Absolutely beautiful song. A few months ago my teenager lost one of his ear buds over the course of a few weeks i was privy to hear quite a lot of his preferred music. I can not tell you the pride i felt when walking past his room and hearing this song coming from behind his door. Proud mom moment indeed 🙂 Lord knows he heard it enough growing up but to know that he chooses to listen to it is really cool.

[@itheuserfirst3186]

Johnny said they used an eventide harmonizer for the lead parts. So, you were probably right in that it was pitched to a G, and an A pair on the harmonizer. It gives it that mettallic industrial sound

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic!! Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@troyg748]

Great vid. I saw them in Toronto the summer after this song came out. It was their encore ,blew the place apart. Everyone started leaving the outdoor venue, the house lights were on for almost 10 mins, I'd guess. Then, lights out and the guitar started. It was absolutely amazing, crazy loud and clean, the strobe lights, fantastic. Great memory that still gives me chills. This tune still gets massive play from me. A huge part of my teen yrs and even today. 🍻

[@middleclassic]

Living and growing up in Los Angeles I was working at Ralphs Supermarket (in Downey, next to 5 Fwy) and when the store closed for the night we immediately put on KROQ. This song had just come out that week and I remember this guy John who became a pretty good friend of mine came running over to where I was to talk to someone when he turned to me very excited and asked "Have you heard that new Smiths song How Soon is Now? Amazing, incredible, it sounds like no other song before it!" He wasn't wrong either. That song really carved out a niche of its own. It had what I'd describe as fairly typical lyrics for a Smiths song but sounded completely original. Why I remember John coming up to me to talk about How Soon is Now I have no idea. But I do remember that moment vividly which is fun for me to reflect on :-)

[@marcespo3723]

Good segment Warren. The Smiths catalog is arguably then strongest in rock history. Two careers in five years, their best work on b-sides, an instant rise to greatness, and magical songwriting that can never be replicated.

[@Producelikeapro]

Incredible catalog of amazing songs!

[@michaeldaniel1496]

What was I doing in the 80s where I totally missed hearing The Smiths music??? I absolutely love this band!

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic! Glad you love them now

[@ageofadversity]

same here.

[@richardstartin4656]

Yay, my suggestion from a few weeks back I feel like I've won the Internet.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! Yes, was a song in my Top Ten to do first! Glad we all agree!

[@Brandaniron]

That’s just gorgeous sounding not only chords but that freaking guitar.

[@s.jackson1960]

I was at University at the time the Smiths were starting out. How Soon is Now went to the top in no time. At school pubs would play every night sometimes 2 or 3 times. Requests kept comming. My salute

[@Yojimb001]

In 84 or 85 I was walking down High Street on the campus of Ohio State University and heard How Soon Is Now blasting out the doors of a record shop. I went in and bought the EP or LP took it home and played it like a hundred times really loud.

[@bobboberson2024]

So well done, Warren! Simply one of the greatest songs of the decade. And beyond. It must be mentioned what an impact Andy Rourke is in this song. It is an epic bass line and tone.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, Andy is a wonderful Bassplayer!

[@spencergroup]

When this came out I knew it was something special. It was like nothing ever before, innovative and of course, unique. What a time in music it was.

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed 100%! Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@marblox9300]

Among the Greats in musical history.

[@Producelikeapro]

Absolutely

[@MoggioMTB]

This song just stood out at the time and still does. Great choice and great video.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes! Masterpiece

[@fredball8240]

..never one of my Smiths favorites but after this video I gave it a few listens and find I'm liking it much better than I used to. Talk about shaping opinions!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! That’s great to hear!!

[@GrexKhusan]

Just an amazing band! And I don't think Johnny Marr gets all the credit he deserves for his brilliance as a guitar player.

[@Producelikeapro]

In my world he does!! In my top ten for sure!!

[@rolandrodriguez3854]

I fell in love with this song when i was 45 years old! Sill dig it at 67!

[@plasteredbastard]

marr's guitar work is like a rippling caterwaul from the ends of the earth. morrissey's lyrics describe a sentiment many of us can identify with, a feeling of unfulfillment and to a varying extent, dissatisfaction. bring these two sentient elements together and it delivers a soundscape that you don't believe you've ever heard before.

[@patkelly3966]

" We really should have signed The Smiths.." - Tony Wilson

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, very true indeed

[@andybyrd4107]

The Smiths dodged a bullet. They would have gone broke.

[@spaceorbison]

Great video editing Warren. Billy Corgan said this song blew his mind and his world when he first heard it and pretty much changed everything for him.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! I really appreciate it!

[@bob8776]

I've heard it a billion times and it still gives me goosebumps every time it comes on

[@sarahtonin4649]

Yeah, great song. There are certain songs that really evoke my general feeings of the decade I heard them. Like "For What It's Worth" brings back the '60s, "How Soon Is Now" brings back the excitement of the British "New Wave" '80s, just as The Police and XTC do.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Sarah!

[@louderthangod]

I was 10 when it came out but that slide part resonated some dark, loneliness in my soul the first time I heard it. There is a weight of real emotion and not the usual melodrama. I also have to admit I thought it was sun and air till one day I was thinking about my own father that abandoned my mother and I was I was just a year old and it immediately made sense that it was son/heir. There was briefly a teen club in my hometown but I was too young and shy to go but I’d hang out around the side and listen and then watch the older teens smoke and drink in the parking lot and of all the songs, this reminds me most of feeling lonely and not cool enough to fit in or best said said as being “the son an heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar”...and “nothing in particular”.

[@glennhall8665]

Lotta words there, dude, but I read them with great interest. Nicely written. I’ve always been more interested in lyrics than the music, & with the Smiths I got the best of both.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing your wonderful experiences!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Indeed and agreed, everything said I related to!

[@sschmidtevalue]

I love how the slide guitar riff sounds kind of like "bwa haa" in response to Morrisey's complaints. A bit like a child crying.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes! Very cool

[@kiufkhgdiyrsiytgf2785]

Hahaha legit tho

[@raserx63]

Back in the day , This was the listeners favorite song on WLIR radio here in NY. It would always finish #1 in any of their "Top 100" weekend countdowns. I finally got to see it played live by Johnny Marr at Irving Plaza NYC in 2018. The moment was so surreal I didn't want it to end.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing your experiences! Very cool

[@jomidiam]

Wow, LIR. I was a high school student in the early '80s, living on Staten Island, when I stumbled across WLIR on the dial. They were playing a song I'd never heard but was immediately sucked into (The Cure's "Lovecats"). After listening to a couple more songs, I made 92.7 a preset on my stereo's receiver. The station changed everything for me musically. I discovered The Cure, The Smiths and so many other bands through that station. The thing was I lived at a high elevation on the Island, which was the only reason I picked up the station's signal, so my friends couldn't share in what I discovered. They didn't live on the hill. Since Staten Island wasn't wired for cable TV until the late '80s, there was no MTV for us. New music was inaccessible, and classic rock ruled the island through WPLJ and WNEW. I'm very thankful that I lived on that hill and stumbled across WLIR and that I was a high school student from '81 to '85. Great music in those years.

[@ObsidianLife]

Of the many things to love here, its so cool to see people talk about INFLUENCE to get a great song instead of just ripping off what someone else did...

[@lpspinners8736]

Phenomenal song! One of my ALL-TIME favorites! It connects with people and touches the soul and in a way that is cathartic as you realize you're not the only person in the world to experience that type of rejection and feeling undesirable. Just pure masterpiece lyrics.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!!

[@crungefactory]

they actually played this song many, many times live. thank you for this great video!

[@Producelikeapro]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@paulandrews__]

I lived in a rural area of South Africa, growing up in the 80’s. We had the state propaganda radio stations and nothing else, but occasionally, with cloudy weather, we would also get one of 2 pirate AM stations - one in Mozambique and one in Johannesburg. It was one overcast Sunday night when I heard the iconic “How soon is now” for the first time. The song, and that rebellious, illicit feeling of discovering a song so special, is forever burned into my being in a very unique way.

[@Jesse615]

I still remember the first time I'd heard How Soon. I was already a big Smiths fan, but, from the first bar of the song, it just blew me away! I knew immediately that it was destined to be one of, if not the classic song of the 80's.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes! Me too! Thanks ever so much