Ouija Board, Ouija Board

"Ouija Board, Ouija Board" was a single released by Morrissey in November 1989. The single was poorly received by the music press and the public: its highest chart position was No. 18, making it the first solo Morrissey single not to reach the British top 10.[2] It appeared along with its B-side "Yes, I Am Blind" on the compilation album Bona Drag. A shorter edit, omitting a verse, appeared on the 2010 reissue of Bona Drag.

"Ouija Board, Ouija Board"
Single by Morrissey
from the album Bona Drag (compilation)
Released13 November 1989
Length4:25
LabelHMV - POP 1622
Songwriter(s)Morrissey/Street
Producer(s)Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley
Morrissey singles chronology
"Interesting Drug"
(1989)		 "Ouija Board, Ouija Board"
(1989)		 "November Spawned a Monster"
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

The song is about the protagonist using a Ouija board to contact a dead friend, who tells him to "push off" ("push oof" in some renditions). It caused some debate in the press at the time over claims it promoted occult dabbling or devil worship. Morrissey replied to these claims by retorting: "The only contact I ever made with the dead was when I spoke to a journalist from The Sun."[3]

The video for the song, directed by Tim Broad, features Morrissey being led into the woods by some children who take him to see a spirit medium, played by Joan Sims, the British actress best known for her appearances in the Carry On film series. The video also features an early appearance by Kathy Burke. It was filmed on location in and around the Elizabethan house Hook End Manor in Checkendon, Oxfordshire, the residential studio where the song was also recorded.[4]

The video ranked third on Pulp Magazine's "Most Tweaked Music Videos of All Time" list.[5]

The music of the B-side "Yes, I Am Blind" was composed by his ex-Smiths partner Andy Rourke.

The picture on the sleeve was shot by Anton Corbijn.

Critical reception

Ian McCann in NME gave the single a poor review, describing the record as a "dull, fey whine that would never see release unless the singer had a track record".[6] In a retrospective review, Ned Raggett of Allmusic described the lead track as "a weird semi-anthem that almost works" but praised its b-side "Yes, I Am Blind", calling it "a restrained but sharp performance, while the tearjerker-into-glam music is quite lovely."[1]

Track listings

7", HMV / POP 1622 (UK)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ouija Board, Ouija Board"Morrissey, Stephen Street4:25
2."Yes, I Am Blind"Morrissey, Andy Rourke3:30

12", HMV / 12 POP 1622 (UK)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ouija Board, Ouija Board" 4:25
2."Yes, I Am Blind" 3:30
3."East, West"Graham Gouldman2:35
  • "East, West" is a cover of a Herman's Hermits song
  • also released on CD (HMV / CD POP 1622)

Etchings on vinyl

British 7" and 12": "ART, ANY ROAD"/none

Musicians

Live performances

The song was performed live by Morrissey on the 1999/2000 ¡Oye Esteban! tour. The song's distinctive introduction and end sequence had been used to bookend performances of "November Spawned a Monster" during the 1992 tour.

References
  1. Raggett, Ned. "Ouija Board, Ouija Board Review". Allmusic. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  2. "Morrissey UK chart". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  3. Rogan, Johnny Morrissey - The Album, p. 157
  4. Goddard, Simon (2012). Mozipedia : the encyclopedia of Morrissey and The Smiths. London: Ebury. p. 314. ISBN 978-0091927103.
  5. PULP Magazine
  6. NME Ouija Board Review
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