The Cure, Pictures Of You - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

#virginrock #thecure #picturesofyou
Not an easy thing to do — taking such a slow pace with such repetitive and simple material, and drawing the listener in to give such an intense experience. But it was highly effective!

Here’s the link to the original song:

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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.

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Credits: Music written and performed by The Cure

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[wn]

Brilliant! Always one of my top ten songs of all time! My wife of 46 years passed away recently. I am heartbroken and lost. Thank goodness for the "Pictures of Her." For the rest of my life I will live in my memories.

[avogrid]

The Cure's specialty is crafting a mood and immersing you in it. Then Robert Smith brings in the poetic, expressive lyrics and his very HUMAN voice. They are amazing live, even all these years later!

[giamartube]

It’s 2024 and I still have tears in my eyes every time I hear it, just like when I heard it for the first time in 1989. One of the songs that have always accompanied me.

[jbunte]

"If only I'd thought of the right words
I could have held on to your heart..."

One of my favorite lines ever.

[Ammttai]

this whole album is a masterpiece. moody, poetic, dreamy

[luciengrondin]

I'm amazed that she immediately made the connection between the first verse and the long intro. Makes me feel dumb for never ever making it myself, tbh.

[pippin]

Robert Smith of The Cure is an immensely talented songwriter and story-teller

[nicolashall]

Every time I hear it, it’s like a time machine, thirty five years flown by in a heartbeat. It takes me back to a place and time where the words - this song - meant everything.

[PowderedToastMan]

The Cure was a gift from the 80's. ✌️

[alexanaya]

No mandolin, it's perfect the way it is. The entire Album is a Masterpiece

[NuttyDaveMadeThis]

Once you’re a widower this song takes a different path through your memories ….

[EdgarFraustro]

Dear Miss VIRGIN ROCK: you listened to the extended version of the song. I strongly invite you to listen to the album version, not the short radio edit but the original album version, it's not so repetitive and long but pure magic!! You will feel the sadness, the joy, the timeless love inside. I have been a Cure evangelist since I was a teenager and I will be to my end. Thanks for your review, peace!

[FogLittleFog]

During my teenage years, I didn't care about this slow song.

During my 20's, it made me cry. Everytime.

During my 30's, it got me watering eyes and a lump throat.

In my early 40's, it made me laid back and wonder "if".

Now, as I'm about to reach my 50's, it makes me smile and feel that I've made friends with time.

This was my trip with this masterpiece, Amy. Thank you for your deep and beautiful analysis.

[Zundfolge]

Much of The Cure's music is more about creating a mood than making some deep musical statement.

[andrewbenson]

My God this is such a great song. In fact so many of The Cure’s songs are mini-masterpieces. I am so lucky to have been a teenager when this band was at its peak. And The Smiths. Both the soundtrack to my youth.

[rbailey]

It was Sept. 7th 1989. I was 18. I could not get tickets for the Disintegration Tour stop in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 8th. so I went to Disneyland instead. We left Disneyland to go to dinner and as we were walking out I told my friends, "Dude, that looked like Robert Smith and Boris Williams riding on that trolley." We came back after dinner and immediately rode Star Tours. When I walked out of the ride, it emptied into a gift shop, there were both of them just shopping through the Star Wars gift shop. No handlers, managers, groupies, I politely asked for an autograph and they both obliged. I couldn't believe it. There weren't many hotter bands in the summer of 1989 in Southern California and no one was bothering them. They were all dressed up was no doubt these guys were bonafide rock stars and that day they were just a couple of Disney fan boys. Great memory. Thanks for popping up on my algorithm.

[Ehud]

God, I love this band so much. I hope you do more of them. Just Like Heaven and Plainsong are my favorites.

[PrinceTahra]

Yes. The Cure does that to you :) They have lots of beautiful and impactful songs!

[donkfail]

This makes me so sentimental. It takes me back to when I was a teen and hopelessly in love, skipping class and sneaking into my girlfriend's school. We used to sit on the stairs there, shoulder to shoulder sharing headphones, just listening to (mostly) The Cure and just being together for a while.
Thanks for the trip! <3

[janossoos]

Get the original song from the 1989 album, put up your headphones, turn the volume way up and listen close how Robert sings this song. Like a man hardly catching his breath. Such a credible performance, what a masterpiece.