Released 13 November 1989 Length 4:25 Writer(s) Morrissey/Street | Format 7", 12", CD, cassette Label HMV - POP 1622 | |
Producer(s) Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley | ||
"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 Morrissey single not to reach the British top 10. 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.
Contents
The song is about the protagonist using a Ouija board to contact a dead friend, who tells him to "push off". 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."
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, an actress famous for the Carry On films. 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.
The video ranked third on PULP Magazine's "Most Tweaked Music Videos of All Time" list.
The music of the B-side "Yes, I Am Blind" was composed by his ex-Smiths' partner Andy Rourke.
The picture of the sleeve was shot by Anton Corbijn.
Criticial 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". In a retrospective review, Ned Raggett of Allmusic described the lead track itself 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."
12", HMV / 12 POP 1622 (UK)
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.