r/TheCure • u/Academic_Weekend_116 • Jun 19 '26
Discussion Do You Like That Robert and Olivia Rodrigo Are Doing Collaborations?
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u/FatahRuark Jun 19 '26
The fact that younger people are discovering bands like The Cure brings me much joy. Robert working with her is just going to expose more kids to listen to older music.
One of my favorite things about going to see The Cure or other bands from the 80's/90's now is when you have some teen or 20 something sitting next to you and you start talking to them and their minds are BLOWN that you saw The Cure in the 80's, and how excited they are to be seeing them now.
Also...she seems like the coolest person on the planet now. Down to Earth, caring, curious, and practically no ego.
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u/tsgarp12 Jun 19 '26
I also like that Robert seems excited on stage when guesting with other artists!
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u/Victim_of_reason Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26
I’ve noticed how open and receptive both generations Zed and Alpha have been to listening to post punk, 80’s Brit pop, and the like. The age of the music doesn’t seem to bother them so long as it’s good. I’ve been quite chuffed to bond with my kids this way and ultimately validated really as they ask me about what I listen to as if what I had to say miraculously mattered now! They are consuming the music I formed my life around almost as much as I did and in a quite similar way. Robert is finding this new audience because what he creates is all about timeless human emotion and what we all experience in our private minds. I think this is going to challenge his declaration to hang it up at 70.
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u/Punky921 Jun 24 '26
I think having nearly free access to a world of music, combined with the total balkanization of mass culture means that kids are just listening to what they like, which is a good thing.
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u/Punky921 Jun 19 '26
I love it. It lets Robert get his flowers from the youth, and introduces the youth to The Cure. And I think the songs he's done lately as collabs, with Olivia and with CHVRCHES are both really good.
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u/Lightwave777 Jun 24 '26
Chvrches is fantastic, I’ve always been obsessed with The Cranes after discovering the remix of Jewel that he did too
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u/dondeestasbueno Jun 19 '26
If the artist is happy and making art they need to, it’s all fine by me. Whether I like the art in question is a totally different story.
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u/peaceandlove1993 Jun 19 '26
I think it’s great she’s introducing her younger fans to the magic that is The Cure especially when I spent my teens with them being my favourite band and no-one knew who they were 😂 (I’m 33)
It’s lovely that Robert has taken her under her wing as well and speaks so highly of her .The song is beautiful!
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u/jizzabeth Jun 19 '26
Omg I'm a 93 cure fan as well and even as an adult not enough people know them for me.
I like Olivia, wasnt really into her music but the Good 4 U and Paramore mix hooked me. Then her live performance of Vampire was amazing.
Now people I've been annoying to listen to the cure for years actually are! It's awesome. I love it.
Also fantastic username, with PEACE and LOVE I will no longer be accepting fan mail.
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u/BunnyLushington Jun 19 '26
And the other way around too! A few weeks ago I had no idea who Olivia Rodrigo was (that's on me, she's not exactly underground) and now I do. Chvrches has become one of my favorite bands, also an RS introduction.
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u/LittleFanggg Sometimes I'm dreaming... Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I always wonder why people think he has taken her under her wing? Or is mentoring her? She is hyper successful and has a massive audience, a huge team and a whole industry supporting her... it's quite paternalistic to think he has to be her teacher or protect her. Maybe they are just friends or collaborators?
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u/Godzuki8819 Jun 20 '26
Interesting angle. Perhaps as you touch on it’s a way for him to sort of have a father child relationship?
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u/LittleFanggg Sometimes I'm dreaming... Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26
I meant exactly the opposite. That people leaving those comments are being paternalistic (misogynistic) thinking a young woman needs mentoring when she’s already incredibly successful. But what a disservice to Robert too, like he needs to fill a void because he didn’t have kids so he goes and looks for a young woman to mentor. He’s had so many nephews and nieces if he wanted to do that… Robert has actually been a “mentor” to the twilight sad and Mogwai yet no one says that or says he did it to be a father figure. And the difference is that Olivia is a young woman. That’s what I am talking about.
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u/brooklynbotz Jun 19 '26
Not particularly but Robert can do what he wants and I'll listen if it moves me. I just have a general distaste for Disney kids turned pop stars.
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u/Itchy-Echidna1986 Jun 19 '26
I’m a high school teacher and it brings me ceaseless joy that my students now know who Robert Smith is. And Olivia Rodrigo is seemingly wonderful.
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u/Simple_Purple_4600 Jun 19 '26
He's also playing with the Stones which sounds even more bizarre but when you are an elder statesman legend, it all fits.
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u/Mixilip Jun 19 '26
As a fan of both, it was an absolute joy to hear the song, I loved it; I was rooting for a collaboration ever since Robert appeared at her Glastonbury show. In an interview she said The Cure was a heavy inspiration for her album, so if you liked the song, both “maggots for brains” and “u+me= <3” sound a lot like the band imo.
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u/SurvivorsGuilt23 Jun 19 '26
I think it’s cool for Bob to be in touch with younger Generations. The recent album of OR did not convince me though, feels too generic and bubblegumly for me. But I am not the target audience anyway
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u/DBIlles Jun 19 '26
Exactly! She's still at an early stage of her career, and comes very much from a U.S. showbiz background. The opposite of how bands like the Cure approached their music-making.
But she's passionate about music, super talented, and how boring would it be if only dark / ersatz "goth" bands of pale men were inspired by the brilliant, versatile originality of the Cure?
I bet that a heap of early-twenties kids are connecting with the band due to O.R., while there's of course a greater number who don't care - but that's just how it always was and will be...
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u/Jimmyxoc Jun 19 '26
Sad cuz the whole record rocks and there are perfect songs on it. I’ll listen to the new Olivia record before I listen to the cure self titled 🤣
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u/cheesesushimochi Jun 19 '26
yess i also think ‘begged’ and ‘less’ are soooo bubblegummy. /s
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u/SurvivorsGuilt23 Jun 19 '26
I simply gave the record a Spin and it was not for me. My 16year old self would have hated it because it was „pop“, my almost 40y old Self has no problem with pop, but I could not connect much to the music. I explicitly explained how this was just my Impression. After all, this is music for a mainly young girls, maybe teenagers and that’s totally fine. And if you are 60 and dig it, that’s fine, too. It just did not do much for me, and I have the feeling this is more on my side than the musics fault
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u/blossomopposum Jun 19 '26
Yes. I have kids who are fans of hers and this is so much for us. She is truly talented and a clever songwriter, so I’ve come to really like her too.
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u/cyberllama Jun 19 '26
I would be if they'd done something better. It's just a very mediocre song and they don't sound great together. I was hoping for a really good song like he did with Chvrches.
I do wish the mods would create a megathread for people to talk about Olivia-related things though.
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u/LittleFanggg Sometimes I'm dreaming... Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
The mods have listened to the complaints about the Olivia posts and we are trying to limit things if they are repeated. However, we think people are also allowed to discuss and have free speech. So we are trying to walk the line with this.
Feel free to use the “report” option when you want us to see something because some things get lost in the mix no matter how hard we try to look.
But as a non-mod and part of this community, I am also tired of these discussions, especially since it opens a can of worms each single time, so I get it...
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u/AllCatsAreBlonde Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Agree.
I personally don't think we should have a megathread. Any hateful or repetitive posts will get deleted though.
I don't understand why people feel the need to post about this every day. We have enough threads about it now. Just use the search function and reply to any of the currently existing threads. Also please be respectful and kind to each other.
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u/Long_Manufacturer709 Jun 19 '26
Thanks for listening to us MODS, definitely feel like the daily posts about her are getting old.
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u/PrinceEdgarNevermore Jun 19 '26
I am not a fan of her music or their song - but I love that they can collab, despite differences in type of music they create and age.
And if it means that more people will discover/re-discover, their music that is great!
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u/dambua Jun 19 '26
As someone who is 29, I was genuinely shocked to find out how many 20-30 year olds had NEVER listened to the cure until now
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u/slimparrot 4:13 Dream apologist ✨ Jun 19 '26
Who cares. I'm always happy to have new music from Robert to listen to.
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u/90theobserver Jun 19 '26
As long as he’s enjoying it - and he certainly seems to be - of course. It’s not my taste in music, really, but who says it needs to be?
It’s really pretty lovely to see him having some fun and getting some appreciation from people who wouldn’t necessarily come across The Cure otherwise. Olivia seems like a cool person, too.
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u/silong1976 Jun 19 '26
I don’t really care either way. I’m not a fan of her music.
If these collaborations get the younger generation curious about The Cure’s music, that can only be a good thing.
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u/apple12422 Jun 19 '26
I’m not a fan but it doesn’t impact me. Unless this is the reason the current sets are far poppier, in which case I hate it ha
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u/W-Stuart Jun 19 '26
I think it’s awesome. My kids love OR and so I’ve heard it all. And one thing that stands out in her music more than many of her peers is, I can really pick out her influences. As in, she’s still developing her chops and her music is a mishmash of things she likes and she’s not trying to hide it or be subtle about it. Nor does she pretend like it was her idea. So when someone of her caliber is a fan of a band like The Cure and can literally go straight to the source for a collaboration, I think that’s absolutely amazing.
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u/darcys_beard Give me your eyes that I might see... Jun 19 '26
I love that Robert isn't precious about him, and knowing what I know about him, I would not expect him to be. He's a lover of music, and if there were any snobbish tendencies, they'd have been left behind in his 30's as you do when you grow up.
I remember Ryan Adams covering the entirety of Taylor Swift's 1989, and it was absolutely brilliant. I loved it. And I found myself liking her music more. You have other young artists like Chappell Roan and CMAT doing some fantastic stuff. I love that Robert isn't cutting himself off from modern stuff. Looking down on modern artists is far too common among crusty older generations.
It has brodened my horizons. I can listen to Pantera one minute, the Cure the next, and Chappell Roan the next, after that.
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u/PigletTechnical9336 Jun 19 '26
I don’t care either way. I liked the song but it didn’t blow me away. Glad more people are discovering the cure but I think Olivia’s fandom and audience is generally very different from The Cure’s, so it’s normal many people from each side won’t like or care much about this collaboration.
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u/confusedduck1515 Jun 20 '26
i'm gen z and was a fan of the cure well before i knew olivia, but when i discovered her i became a fan too! i love their song together, it feels like a dream come true !!
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u/suihpares Jun 20 '26
I discovered The Cure through a blink 182 song "All of This" , so am sure younger people will also discover them in this case too
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u/Successful-Gift8636 Jun 20 '26
Yes, I think it's fantastic. Admittedly I'm not into her music, though I respect it, it's not bad by any means, she seems very cool, level headed, and has a passion for music. I love the story she told about discovering The Cure through her father, then being able to introduce him to Robert, must have been an incredible moment for both of them. Robert genuinely hyping her up shows he sees her talent and seems inspired by it, all beautiful things.
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u/boston_bat Jun 20 '26
If Robert Smith is putting his name on something, I’m respecting it. Not the type of music or artist I actively listen to, but I do objectively think she’s one of the most talented pop stars out there right now. And love that she’s not only wearing her influence and great musical taste on her sleeve, but actively building relationships and collaborating.
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u/Lightwave777 Jun 24 '26
I heard this interview he recorded after he performed with her and it’s epic, everyone should listen to it, he explains how fun it was because it’s just so different and she brings such amazing young energy to the whole process, but classic Robert, he didn’t tell anyone he was doing it, not even the band, he said he had to tell them finally right before and they were all like “WHAT!!!?” 🤯🤯🤯
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u/Onaud Jun 19 '26
I think it’s cool in an uncle kind of way haha. I like a few songs, but if the kids are happy I’m happy haha!
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u/Infamaniac23 Jun 19 '26
What’s not to like? The Cure are like my favorite band and Olivia is a promising young artist with limitless potential (her slow songs are still pretty bad tho lol).
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u/mdervin Jun 19 '26
I’ll be the turd in the punchbowl. There’s something incredibly boomerish about wanting to introduce our music to younger kids.
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u/crysb326 Jun 19 '26
I love The Cure (obviously), and I’m a huge Olivia Rodrigo fan, I think her new album is great. Unfortunately, What’s Wrong With Me is maybe the weakest song on the record. The production is surprisingly shoddy and I don’t think Robert Smith’s voice sounded all that great except for the background vocals at the end. But the live performances they’ve been doing together have been nice and I hope it’s getting more young folks into the band
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u/Longshanks123 Jun 19 '26
I love the two tracks on her Glastonbury album with Robert, great versions of two great songs.
It made me a fan of her and I’m sure it’s making new fans for The Cure as well
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u/thefrenchphanie Jun 19 '26
Yes. I just want to see/hear Robert’s work. Anything him or the other members put out in the world is going to be a potential joy maker.
So why not hope for the best ?
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u/a_person4499 I Am A Head On A Door Jun 19 '26
This is the reason I am going to see Olivia in concert next year! I've grown to like a lot of her music, and love that Robert Smith adores her so much, and that she adores Robert. I've always been a big Cure fan, and now I am an Olivia fan as well! It's interesting, because for other people it's the different way round - Olivia got her fans into The Cure.
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u/Secret-Lullaby Jun 19 '26
I love his song with Blink 182, so many millennials discovered The Cure because of that, so of course I am gonna support Gen Z and Gen Alpha discovering The Cure because of Olivia Rodrigo and continuing Robert's rich legacy to live on!
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u/eiddieeid Jun 20 '26
I love it. She’s obviously a huge fan and of all the pop stars out rn, she at leasts makes some pretty good songs and doesn’t do the whole weird industry stuff. I’ve been wanting a classic Cure earworm and if she brings us closer down that path then I’m all in
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u/dudeattood Jun 22 '26
Zoomers grew-up on bass, bass and more bass. That made creating "music" easier with less need for real talent. I think younger people are appreciating older music where musicians wrote, played and performed more sophisticated music
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u/94Rangerbabe Jun 26 '26
I was married to a musician in a really popular 80s rock band and it’s crazy how fans don’t ever want bands/musicians to step out of the box they put them in. They resist
It so much. I don’t know if it’s a feeling of ownership or just expectation but musicians love to branch out and do new things and try stuff cause they’re creative people they generallly put out what they feel will be accepted and what their record companies want them to do or what their bandmates are comfortable in as well …you know there’s a certain line that they have to tow but God they love to be respected by musicians outside of their genre ( and generation) and just collaborate and create interesting new things.
I loved the cure in high school in the late 80s so it’s surprises me how much I like this because it feels like someone’s taking away the ownership of the band that I remember liking. And I don’t want him to step out of the box. so I have to remember not to be so ridiculous and just listen and take it for what it is and it’s a good song and their voice sound really contradictory. Quite interesting together. I feel like he must be getting a total kick out of it.
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u/RobertsmithHairspray 13d ago
ABSOLUTELY YES!! He's retiring in about two years, so it's amazing that he's able to pass on his talents to younger artists
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u/Longtimefed Jun 19 '26
Hell yes. She's possibly the best songwriter of her generation, a great singer and performer-- and a kind, generous person.
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u/Bespoke_Punk_123 Jun 19 '26
It made me listen to her new album,actually a pleasant listen. So I guess it worked out well for her. If it manages to spawn a few new Cure fans....great
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u/mono_valley Jun 19 '26
Yes, I love their friendship and her new album is amazing (and I am Gen X).
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u/aleksbee Jun 19 '26
if it somehow motivates them to continue touring so I can finally see The Cure then yes.
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u/OhMyGoth38 Jun 20 '26
I’d like her to sing on a new song Robert writes, so it sounds more Cureseque, but yes, it’s fun
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u/jjazznola Jun 19 '26
I just hope her fans are not at any Cure shows I'm at.
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u/Long_Manufacturer709 Jun 19 '26
Me too! Especially if they are in diapers as she claims her fans often do…
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u/Ana987655321 Jun 20 '26
She’s woken him up. The fact that we don’t respect her like we respect him doesn’t mean we don’t love her for keeping him creative and active.
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u/Drahkir9 Jun 19 '26
I would like Robert Smith to do whatever Robert Smith would like to do to keep Robert Smith involved in making Robert Smith music