I feel lucky to live in a country that broadcasted a live show of The Cure on national television last night. From 10 to midnight, I sat in awe of this band who headlined Pinkpop for the fourth time in 40 years.
My protagonist Jill Needlemore is the same age as lead singer Robert Smith, 67, and a retired journo. I used to be a massive fan of The Cure and saw them live a few times. In 1981, when I was 19, I saw them for the first time in The Hague where they performed in a massive white tent. And they stayed with me for at least a decade or two. Why do you stop following bands you love? I can’t remember but I think, after their album Pornography, they lost me. It got too dark…
Back in time
If there is one song I, and Jill, would wish for it is A Forest. My God, I played that song so many times. Even if I haven’t heard it for about 20 years, I can sing along as if I am still dancing in ‘t Paard in The Hague. And so can Jill. But she has to mis-sing the words due to copyright. So she won’t sing Into the trees, she will sing Oh all the leaves. Or something like that. My chatGPT says that is fine. Is it?
I also secretly wish for Lovecats that I just read Robert Smith wrote when he was drunk. I have danced so many times to it in a similar state of mind, but also perfectly sober. Jill isn’t into that one so much as she is more of a dog person. Even though Jim and Jill do have a cat called Tux, who funnily enough is a lot like Max.
I was rewarded! In the encore, Lovecats was one of the presents The Cure offered us. The joy of that song formed a sharp contrast to The Ending, the last song on their playlist. It made me think of Bowie’s Black Star, but more depressing. I hope that this isn’t Smith’s true state of mind. It’s like he is saying that everything has been for nothing. Surely not! Robert Smith, you will always be my wizard of the 80s and your music was my medicine in so many uncertain times.
I am so happy I got to see this concert and I hope for the rest of the world that you either get to still see them live or you somehow get to watch last night’s performance! I would Google ‘The Cure on Pinkpop 20 June 2026’ — this concert will make history!
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