Nothing Compares 2U
30 January 1990, Tuesday, Glasgow
Painting1
I could easily have become a painter — either a house painter or an artist or both, alternately.
While painting the room, for free, for the landlord, young-Toby borrows a radio from the man across the hall.
The number 1 record — which he loves and hears often, and which will always conjure this time — is Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2U’, up from number 3.
Kylie is sadly deposed, at number 2, with ‘Tears on my Pillow’ and New Kids are ‘Hangin’ Tough’ at number 7.
Also in the top 10 are ‘Got to Have Your Love’ by Mantronix ft. Wondress and Jimmy Somerville’s fine cover of Sylvester’s transcendent ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’.
The room is bigger than it looks at first. It will take the rest of today to finish.
Young-Toby is living cheaply, eating cheaply. He’s deep in bedsit land.
Around this time, he writes in blue biro, then crosses out in pencil —
The tin of mushroom soup cost 20p.
A bargain don’t you think? I poured it out,
into the pan, then stirred it while it cooked,
then ate it from the pan. I have no bowl,
I have to eat things from the pan.
The spoon I used to eat the above soup
I had inherited the previous day
from someone whom I had not even met.
The soup was dullish grey, as one expects
one’s mushroom soup to be. It’s texture not
unlike the bumpy wallpaper with which
this room I live in has been papered. Not
that I’ve ever eaten wallpaper,
ants, yes, earth maybe, wallpaper never.