Paint a Vulgar Picture

The Smiths' song "Paint a Vulgar Picture" offers a scathing critique of the music industry, focusing on the exploitation and commodification of artists. The lyrics describe a record company meeting where executives discuss the fate of a 'dead star,' a metaphor for a once-popular artist who has either passed away or fallen out of favor. The song highlights the industry's greed and the way it repackages and reissues music to maximize profits, often at the expense of the artist's legacy. The repeated phrases like 'Re-issue! Re-package!' emphasize the relentless commercialization and lack of genuine respect for the artist's work.

The song also delves into the superficiality and sycophancy that pervade the music industry. At a record company party, people claim to have known the 'dead star' intimately, but their motivations are clearly self-serving. The lyrics 'I knew him first, and I knew him well' reveal the shallow nature of these relationships. The song criticizes the industry's focus on pleasing media outlets like BPI, MTV, and BBC, suggesting that the artist's true essence is often lost in the quest for commercial success. The line 'Sadly, this was your life' serves as a poignant reminder of the artist's compromised existence.

The personal narrative woven into the song adds another layer of depth. The narrator recounts moments of admiration and longing, such as touching the artist at a soundcheck and dancing alone in a bedroom. These moments contrast sharply with the industry's cold, calculated approach to the artist's career. The song ends on a melancholic note, with the narrator lamenting that they and their 'true love'—the artist—will never meet again. This final sentiment underscores the emotional toll that the industry's exploitation can take on both the artist and their genuine admirers.