Interview in Spin 2000: Just Like Hell
They must've meant Robert himself, because the photo shows what the events from, say, 1993 onwards had done to him. Remember happy, smiling, beautiful Robert? Flirtatious, sweet, teasing, sometimes even sultry? Well, that bloke's gone, and this new shell-shocked looking trauma victim has taken his place. In virtually all the photos from 1996-97 onwards until 2002, Robert's eyes are like those of a wounded animal. Smiles don't come easily anymore, his good looks vanished (and have never really returned), and a very unhappy, strained looking man has taken his place. It's frankly appalling. I cringe sometimes looking at some of them, his misery is so apparent. Not sure how other fans miss it, or maybe they're just being polite. The content & the quality of the music was very different too. Bloodflowers was the rather painful sound of a man coming to terms with a great loss and a feeling of being inadequate and unsuccessful despite a series of great albums & songs.
In 2002 though, there was a distinct improvement: all of a sudden he'd lost a bit of weight, the make-up was back, and he was actually smiling and seemed a whole lot happier. What could have happened? I think we can say that the short summer tour that year had a lot to do with it, as well as delving into the back catalog & reviewing 20+ years of Cure history for the Trilogy shows. Perhaps that certain someone was reminded of the longevity of their partnership, the great music and the fact that Robert, despite his faults, was the reason all of that had happened. It's my guess that "Perfect Blue Sky" commemorates the togetherness of that short summer tour and their brief glimpse of what being a couple, unencumbered by spouses & families, could be like. All too short and ephemeral, of course. The song perfectly encapsulates the beauty, the longing, and the heartbreak.
You can read the Spin article at Birdmadgirl's site in the articles section. Just scroll down to 2000 and click on the link.
In 2002 though, there was a distinct improvement: all of a sudden he'd lost a bit of weight, the make-up was back, and he was actually smiling and seemed a whole lot happier. What could have happened? I think we can say that the short summer tour that year had a lot to do with it, as well as delving into the back catalog & reviewing 20+ years of Cure history for the Trilogy shows. Perhaps that certain someone was reminded of the longevity of their partnership, the great music and the fact that Robert, despite his faults, was the reason all of that had happened. It's my guess that "Perfect Blue Sky" commemorates the togetherness of that short summer tour and their brief glimpse of what being a couple, unencumbered by spouses & families, could be like. All too short and ephemeral, of course. The song perfectly encapsulates the beauty, the longing, and the heartbreak.
You can read the Spin article at Birdmadgirl's site in the articles section. Just scroll down to 2000 and click on the link.