The song "Killing An Arab" was the band's first single but was not included on the album. It would be included in the band's 1st US album "Boys Don't Cry". That song played endlessly on KROQ (LA) in 1979.
"The song's title and lyrics reference Albert Camus's 1942 novella The Stranger. Because of the title, the song has drawn controversy for what critics have described as promoting violence against Arabs, which songwriter Robert Smith pinned on the public's lack of knowledge regarding the novel. Shortly after its release, Smith said, "It just happened that the main character in the book had actually killed an Arab, but it could have been a Scandinavian or an English bloke." In 2003, Smith acknowledged that, "If I knew it before, I would have called it 'Standing on the Beach'. It would have avoided many troubles."
Comments
100%! legend!
Isa (she/her)
PCGS Marketing
You make me feel like I am young again.
I bought this album when released.
The song "Killing An Arab" was the band's first single but was not included on the album. It would be included in the band's 1st US album "Boys Don't Cry". That song played endlessly on KROQ (LA) in 1979.
"The song's title and lyrics reference Albert Camus's 1942 novella The Stranger. Because of the title, the song has drawn controversy for what critics have described as promoting violence against Arabs, which songwriter Robert Smith pinned on the public's lack of knowledge regarding the novel. Shortly after its release, Smith said, "It just happened that the main character in the book had actually killed an Arab, but it could have been a Scandinavian or an English bloke." In 2003, Smith acknowledged that, "If I knew it before, I would have called it 'Standing on the Beach'. It would have avoided many troubles."
fka renman95, Sep 2005, 7,000 posts
I know someone who saw the Cure at Buffalo State College in the mid-80s I'm from Buffalo but at the time I was living in Thailand. I'm so envious .
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
Just Like Heaven
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
Why Can't I Be You?
Saw them in Chapel Hill in 1992, they were great live.