My Cure – My personal choice of songs by The Cure

First of all, this was written under heavily influence of boringness, alcohol, Tetris and, of course, music made by The Cure.

From time to time, you come along music that is going to change your life forever. When the band’s music becomes a drug for you. An addiction. An obsession. In my case, this ‘drug’ was The Cure. With every song I heard, I began to like them more and more. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a psychopath or something like this. But, to my mind, there’s no band in the world that can compare to The Cure, not at all. After several years of listening to this wonderful band, I created a list with songs that I can always listen to. Those which never get boring, which attended me since I first heard them. Songs I can listen to whenever I feel sad or happy, when I’m depressed or fond of life, when I’m thoughtful or don’t care about anything. And now, I want to share my thoughts, feelings and expressions of those Cure-songs I can listen to anytime in my life.

So, here we go …

1. Boys Don’t Cry (first appeared on “Boys Don’t Cry“, 1980)
The first song I ever heard of The Cure. This brings back so many memories. It caught my attention from the very beginning, because at that time, I fell in love with someone, which wasn’t returned. I pretty much found myself in the situation Robert described in this song, about pushing someone’s limit, when you want more than just a friendship.
Favourite part: I try to laugh about it // Cover it all up with lies // I try and laugh about it // Hiding the tears in my eyes

2.  From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea (first appeared on “Wish”, 1992)
A very depressive song, which can be interpreted in so many ways. I remember Robert saying this song is about drugs. In this case, ‘drugs’ doesn’t have to mean the illegal substance you buy from weird strangers, but merely something you don’t want in your reach. For me, I think this ‘drug’ can be a person, too. If you want to break up a relationship, but just can’t overcome the inhibition to do so. Playing the happy one outside, but inside you could cry for the sake of it.
Favourite part: It’s always the same // Wake up in the rain // Head in pain // Hung in shame // A different name // Same old game // Love in vain

3. Cut Here (first appeared on “Greatest Hits”, 2001)
This song reminds me of myself. There were so many situations at which I am thinking now “If only …” Making decisions can sometimes end very tragically. As explained in this song, it might happen you’re never going to see a person again just because you made a wrong decision. This can wear you down your whole life long.
Favourite part: I wish “if only… ” // But “if only… ” // Is a wish too late…

4. Burn (first appeared on “The Crow”, the movies music sampler, 1994)
Unlike many others, I first heard the song on the “Join The Dots”-Box and then saw “The Crow”. The lyrics itself doesn’t make much sense until you watch the movie which represents the thoughts of the protagonist, at least, I think so. “Burn” caught my attention the first time I heard it. It’s a dark, but still aggressive song, not that typically for The Cure.
Favourite part: Don’t talk of worlds that never were // The end is all that’s ever true // There’s nothing you can ever say // Nothing you can ever do…

5. Hot Hot Hot!!! (first appeared on “Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me”, 1987)
A very outstanding song by The Cure. I can’t really say why I like this song so much. The lyrics are just … well, let’s say ‘uncommon’ for Robert. But still, they fit with the rest; the funky sound and the video are pretty funny. I like The Cures funnier side, although I’m glad they don’t exaggerate it.
Favourite part: Yes I’m jumping like a jumping jack // Dancing screaming itching squealing fevered // Feeling hot hot hot!!!

6. The Hungry Ghost (first appeared on “4:13 Dream”, 2008)
One of those songs which are wide opened for personal interpretations. It really made me think about the inner “hungry ghost” in us all. The desire to buy things we don’t need just to make us feel better. And after a while, we get bored from those things and we continue to buy more, more or less, useless junk, the search for some quick moments of happiness. We don’t want to admit it, but it’s the truth.
Favourite part: And all of this // We know we never need // Well it’s the price // We pay for happiness

7. Why Can’t I Be You? (first appeared on “Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me”, 1987)
This song really explains how you feel when you’re in love with someone. and you want to do anything for this person. The feelings explode like bonfire! Maybe you’re so much in love you’re blind of it and only want to see positive things about this person you like. This song is also one of their happier songs and it makes me feel better, every time I listen to it.
Favourite part: You’re so gorgeous I’ll do anything! // I’ll kiss you from your feet //To where your head begins!

8. Jumping Someone Else’s Train (first appeared on “Boys Don’t Cry”, 1980)
The song that describes my mind and personality perfect. I live by my own word, I have my opinion about everything and I’ll never ever let someone ruin them. In return, I just dislike those people who don’t have an own opinion about something and who, literally, are jumping everybody else’s train. I hate this mainstream garbage and I hate getting judged because of what I look like or how much money I have. Personality is sometimes just worthless in this modern world …
Favourite part: Everyone’s happy // They’re finally all the same // Because everyone’s jumping // Everybody else’s train

9. Pictures Of You (first appeared on “Disintegration”, 1989)
A very beautiful song, one of which I say “Cure at its best!” I once was in the situation presented in this song. When you really like a person, but are too shy to talk with her/him. All what is left are the pictures of this person. It doesn’t have to be pictures in a physically way. It can also be these pictures in your head and you dream of being with the person. So near and yet so far …
Favourite part: If only I’d thought of the right words // I could have held on to your heart // If only I’d thought of the right words // I wouldn’t be breaking apart // All my pictures of you

10. A Letter To Elise (first appeared on “Wish”, 1992)
Pictures Of You Part II, in my opinion. The melody is very similar to that song, so they had to be in this list! I really like these sad lyrics. I once listened to this song all day long because it really helped me to endure this situation, just like in this song. You know, hurting you partner (both mentally or physically) and all you can say is … “Sorry of what you’ve done …”
Favourite part: Elise believe I never wanted this // I thought this time I’d keep all of my promises // I thought you were the girl I always dreamed about // But I let the dream go // And the promises broke // And the make-believe ran out…

11. Signal To Noise (first appeared on the B-Side of “Cut Here”, 2001)
Ah, yes, this is what I call a typical Cure-song. A bit of rock, fantastic but bittersweet lyrics. It really expresses my feelings some time ago, when a friend of mine and I broke up our friendship, because we grew up to different and we both lost sight of each other. It’s a pity, yes. But that’s just how life goes …
Favourite part: When more or less, the yes and no // Is all for show it isn’t really so… // Look high and low where did we go? //You moved too fast or maybe I just moved too slow?

12. A Foolish Arrangement (first appeared on the B-Side of “A Letter To Elise”, 1992)
Another B-Side song. Interesting, isn’t it? It really shows me that Robert and his crew are working on B-Sides with the same effort like they’re doing it for the A-Sides. Well, there isn’t much I can say about this song. While reading the lyrics, one part caught my attention: “Catching a cold is quick this time
But fish?… Fish may take a while… “ I had to think a long time about this metaphor. And my conclusion is the following: It’s easy to get something you don’t ever want (a cold) – but it’s difficult to get something you really want (the fish). I don’t know if this fits with the rest of the song. But these two lines really remind of everyday life, love, money etc. …
Favourite part: “Catching a cold is quick this time // But fish?… // Fish may take a while… “

13. A Strange Day (first appeared on “Pornography”, 1982)
Yeah … there had to be at least one Pornography-song in this list. And surprisingly, it is “A Strange Day”. This one, well … it’s like the first beams of light after a heavy windstorm and rain. The song that pulls you out of your lethargy you’re in when listening to this record. A song that smiles at you and gives you a sign “Yep, I’m alive.”
Favourite part: And I laugh as I drift in the wind //  Blind //  Dancing on a beach of stone

14. Spilt Milk (first appeared on … uh, I don’t know, to be honestly)
Along with “Cut Here” and “Signal To Noise”, a song with fantastic lyrics, perfect and bittersweet. Sometimes I just sit in front of my computer asking myself “What the hell am I doing here?” Just like “Cut Here”, this is a “What If …”-song. Thinking of what could have been better, if it is alright what I’m doing or if I’m wasting all my time.
Favourite part: And with every day that I let go // It’s one day less I ever know // If it’s always // Always too late…

15. Just Like Heaven (first appeared on “Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me”, 1987)
The last for the best. I can’t even say how much I adore this song. I share so many happy moments with that song; I feel a lot better the moment I hear it and it just doesn’t get boring or annoying, it is THE Cure song for me. I like every version that exists. The normal record, the Dizzy Mix (can be found on “Join The Dots”), Katie Melua once did a great acoustic version and AFI gave the song even more power when they played it at the “MTV Icon: The Cure” concert. Everyone who says something else is a … oh well, let’s just skip this part.
Favourite part: You, Soft and only // You, Lost and lonely // You, Just like heaven

Well, we finally made it to the end. That’s my list of my favourite cure songs. My Cure, if you want. I hope you enjoyed reading this article and I may even give you a new idea of those songs.