Friday I'm in Love

There's something about the way Friday I'm in Love unfolds that grabs you from the very first moment. It's not just a catchy melody, but a feeling of pure joy encapsulated in just over three minutes. Robert Smith, the main architect of this piece, described it at the time as something to "throw your hands in the air, a record for making us happy," and it is precisely that energy that makes it so special. The recording, in fact, had a curious detail: although it was registered in D major, the version we hear sounds a quarter tone higher. This was because Smith forgot to turn off the vari-speed function on the recorder after experimenting with it just before the final mix. When they play it live, however, they return to the original key.

This song was the second single released from The Cure's ninth studio album, titled Wish, and it came out in May 1992. David M. Allen and the band themselves were responsible for the production. The songwriting process also had its moments of doubt; Smith even thought he had stolen the chord progression from somewhere else, falling into a paranoia that led him to call everyone to make sure the melody was his. In the end, he confirmed that yes, it was original. It's interesting how this song, so associated with The Cure's public image as a cheerful pop band, contrasts with darker facets of their discography. The music video, directed by Tim Pope, evokes French silent cinema from Georges Méliès, with the band performing in a studio surrounded by sets and characters reminiscent of his films.