Ouija Board, Ouija Board

"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 solo 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".
The song is about the protagonist using a Ouija board to contact a dead friend, who tells him to "push off" ("push oof" in some renditions). 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, the British actress best known for her appearances in the "Carry On" film series. 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 on the sleeve was shot by Anton Corbijn.
Critical 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 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."
Etchings on vinyl.
British 7" and 12": "ART, ANY ROAD"/none
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.