We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful

Morrissey said that the lyrics were about the music scene in Manchester, with bands contesting for success. James lead singer Tim Booth has claimed the song is about the success James had as a fellow Manchester band, once performing it at a festival in place of Morrissey.{{Cite web|date=22 March 2016|title=1990s Indie Icons James Are Set To Topple Adele from The Number One Spot – We Spoke To Frontman Tim Booth {{!}} NME|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/1990s-indie-icons-james-are-set-to-topple-adele-from-number-1-we-spoke-to-frontman-tim-booth-769675|access-date=14 January 2021|website=NME {{!}} Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=8 July 2019|title=Tim Booth of James on 'Living in Extraordinary Times' ...and saving Batman|url=https://vanyaland.com/2019/07/08/tim-booth-of-james-on-living-in-extraordinary-times-and-saving-batman/|access-date=14 January 2021|website=Vanyaland|language=en-US}} Morrissey, however, states that the song is not about James.{{Cite web|title=Wikipedia - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - Wikipedia|url=https://www.morrisseycentral.com/messagesfrommorrissey/wikipedia|access-date=8 June 2021|website=MORRISSEY CENTRAL}} On hating when his friends became successful, Morrissey said: "When my old friend Simon Topping (the frontman of Manchester band A Certain Ratio) appeared on the cover of the NME, I died a thousand deaths of sorrow and lay down in the woods to die."{{cn|date=February 2025}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web | last = Raggett | first = Ned | title = We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful Review | publisher = AllMusic | access-date = 29 October 2012 | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000082861|pure_url=yes}}}}

}}

Andrew Collins in NME gave a very negative review of the single, writing that "this is by far and away the ex-Smith's WORST single" and described the music as "the sound of five men bashing around in the darkness in search of a tune" before finishing the review by announcing "Moz is history, and we'd all do well to learn it."{{cn|date=February 2025}} In a retrospective review, Ned Raggett of AllMusic wrote "It may be a mouthful, but as delivered it becomes a wonderfully funny, intentionally bitchy sentiment for this EP's lead track."

Morrissey debuted the song during the second US leg of his tour promoting the Kill Uncle album. The first half of the song was performed during the aborted gig at Pauley Pavilion in 1991, in which 48 people were injured as the crowd rushed the stage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-03-me-1598-story.html|title=Pop Singer Morrissey Blamed for Melee : Violence: UCLA and a promoter say he should not have urged the crowd to move in closer. The rush injured 48 people.|date=3 November 1991|website=Los Angeles Times}} It then was performed in concert for the duration of his tour in 1992 promoting Your Arsenal. Fellow Manchester band James performed it as a set opener when standing in for Morrissey at Glastonbury, with frontman Tim Booth's stating "this is our Morrissey impression".

7-inch vinyl and cassette

1. "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"
2. "Suedehead" (live London 4/10/91)

12-inch vinyl (UK)

1. "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"
2. "Suedehead" (live London 4/10/91)
3. "I've Changed My Plea to Guilty" (live London 4/10/91)
4. "Pregnant for the Last Time" (live London 4/10/91)

CD (UK)

1. "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"
2. "Suedehead" (live London 4/10/91)
3. "I've Changed My Plea to Guilty" (live London 4/10/91)
4. "Alsatian Cousin" (live London 4/10/91)

12-inch vinyl and CD (US)

1. "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"
2. "Suedehead" (live London 4/10/91)
3. "I've Changed My Plea to Guilty" (live London 4/10/91)
4. "Pregnant for the Last Time" (live London 4/10/91)
5. "Alsatian Cousin" (live London 4/10/91)

• Morrissey – voice
• Alain Whyte – guitar
• Boz Boorer – guitar
• Gary Day – bass guitar
• Spencer Cobrin – drums

{{Reflist}}

• [{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t2818408|pure_url=yes}} "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"] Review at AllMusic
• {{discogs master|type=single|5419}}

{{Morrissey singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1992 songs

Category:1992 singles

Category:Morrissey songs

Category:Songs written by Morrissey

Category:Songs written by Alain Whyte

Category:His Master's Voice singles