"I could write songs as bad as Wham's if I really felt the urge to, but what's the point?"

In this quote, Robert Smith, the prima donna and primary songwriter of the gothic rock band The Treatment, offers a pointed critique of the 1980s pop band Wham!. To understand his remark, one need to think about both the musical landscape of the time and Smith's artistic approach.

Initially, Smith's words can be seen as a commentary on the division in between popular music and what some regard as more substantive artistic ventures. Wham!, known for their appealing and upbeat pop songs like "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", represented mainstream 1980s pop music. Their tunes were characterized by memorable hooks and uncomplicated, feel-good lyrics. This style often received criticism for lacking depth or complexity. In contrast, Smith's work with The Cure tended to be darker, more reflective, and layered with psychological and thematic complexity, reflecting his commitment to authenticity and artistic depth.

By saying he "could write songs as bad as Wham's", Smith seems to suggest that producing simple, commercially attractive music is an easy task, one that jeopardizes depth and creativity. His extra words, "if I really felt the urge to", recommend a conscious choice on his part to avoid such a course, enhancing his belief in pursuing music that lines up more carefully with his artistic worths.

Moreover, Smith's rhetorical question, "but what's the point?" highlights his hesitation about the value of creating music entirely for business success. It implies that real artistry isn't measured by appeal or sales however by the individual and creative stability of the work. This viewpoint reflects a wider critique within music circles: the tension in between creative expression and industrial pressures.

In amount, Robert Smith's quote illustrates his devotion to maintaining creative stability, emphasizing the value of developing music that resonates personally rather than succumbing to the lure of industrial success. His words use insight into the seasonal dispute in the music industry about the balance in between art and commerce.