"And I dream I'm an eagle
And I dream I can spread my wings
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
Over mountains and forests and seas"
"Eagle"
"The Album" segue di un anno il fortunatissimo "Arrival" ma ha una genesi molto diversa rispetto al lavoro del '76. Si tratta infatti di un'idea iniziale di musical del duo Andersson-Ulvaeus che viene rapidamente abbandonata e alcune delle canzoni scritte vengono poi recuperate per dare il via all'ossatura di "The Album". Con questo disco il gruppo svedese dimostra ancora una volta che ha a disposizione un'immensa miniera di idee che fornisce la materia prima per confenzionare l'ennesimo gioiellino pop; la loro musica incredibilmente orecchiabile, nonostante la complessità degli arrangiamenti e le citazioni imprevedibili, s'impone al pubblico di tutto il mondo, in particolare in Europa dove l'album arriva primo nel mercato inglese con estrema facilità.
Con il brano d'apertura, "Eagle", il suono vira verso quello della West-Coast con un'anima rock granitica che definisce la potenza di una canzone libera ispirata nel testo a "Il Gabbiano Jonathan Livingston" di Richard Bach, il canto è in coppia di Frida e Agnetha, un brano molto bello con ottime parte di chitarra elettrica e qualche richiamo a Ennio Morricone. "Take A Chance On Me" è manuale del pop, ovvero come scrivere la canzone perfetta. Si parte con il canto a cappella di Frida, Agnetha e Bjorn a scandire il titolo che nella sequenza di suoni ha già una incredibile musicalità (il ruolo importante del significante, McCartney insegna), il brano poi ha nella voce di Agnetha la guida principale e muta verso una dinamica allegra e progressiva con divagazioni disco sottolineate da Frida, una canzone fresca molto frizzante. Il terzo brano in successione, "One Man, One Woman" è una ballata che tratta di problemi di coppia cantata da Frida, apertura ariosa nel refrain su cui si inserisce la Faltskog, orchestrazione sublime al servizio di una perfezione del suono che lascia senza fiato. Ma ecco che arriva una delle canzoni più interessanti del repertorio dei quattro, "The Name Of The Game" è un omaggio ai Beatles nel ritornello, la tromba acuta proprio quella di "Penny Laine" viene recuperata nel suo suono alto per fare da sfondo al canto di Agnetha, la parte melodica principale si districa tra ritmiche funk e trame di chitarra acustica e quel "too too too" finale riporta alla mente "The Long And Winding Road" dei quattro di Liverpool. "Move On" è un pezzo molto interessante, si apre con la parte parlata di Bjorn dopo un'apertura ariosa con flauti e un giro di note al piano delizioso, il mugulato di background di Frida e Agnetha crea un effetto bellissimo che poi porta alla apertura folk della canzone. Altri toni per "Hole In Your Soul", un rock'n'roll tirato cantato da Agnetha e Benny, brano vivace e trascinante. Si chiude con la ciò che rimane del vecchio musical "The Girl With The Golden Hair". "Thank You For The Music" cantata da Agnetha, con un tono che si rifà a Doris Day, è una canzone che si inserisce sulla vecchia trama del musical che vedeva protagonista una ragazza e la sua aspirazione di diventare una cantante. Frida canta "I Wonder (Departure)", canzone complessa nell'arrangiamento per orchestra, qui ci si trova di fronte ad una parte per musical vera e propria in cui il brano viene interpretato con intensità e emozione, si chiude con "I'm A Marionette", gioiellino multiforme di bellissima fattura.
"The Album" è una sorpresa continua, mostra che il gruppo stava prendendo sempre più coscienza delle proprie potenzialità e i successivi lavori confermeranno i continui progressi. Gli ABBA sono stati un grande gruppo di successo, ma sono anche tra i più coverizzati per non parlare poi dei più citati più o meno legalmente nelle composizioni altrui, meritano di essere conosciuti e ascoltati perché il loro era POP colto di pregevole fattura.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Eagle (05:53)
They came flying from far away
Now I'm under their spell
I love hearing the stories that they tell
They've seen places beyond my land
And they've found new horizons
They speak strangely but I understand
And I dream, I'm an eagle
And I dream, I can spread my wings
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please
As all good friends, we talk all night
And we fly wing to wing
I have questions and they know everything
There's no limit to what I feel
We climb higher and higher
Am I dreaming or is it all real?
Is it true, I'm an eagle?
Is it true, I can spread my wings?
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
(I'm an eagle)
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze
High, high, what a feeling to fly
(What a feeling)
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please
02 Take a Chance on Me (04:03)
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
Take a chance on me
(that's all I ask of you honey)
Take a chance on me
We can go dancing, we can go walking, as long as we're together
Listen to some music, maybe just talking, get to know you better
'cos you know I've got
So much that I wanna do, when I dream I'm alone with you
It's magic
You want me to leave it there, afraid of a love affair
But I think you know
That I can't let go
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
Take a chance on me
(come on, give me a break will you? )
Take a chance on me
Oh you can take your time baby, I'm in no hurry, know I'm gonna get you
You don't wanna hurt me, baby don't worry, I ain't gonna let you
Let me tell you now
My love is strong enough to last when things are rough
It's magic
You say that I waste my time but I can't get you off my mind
No I can't let go
'cos I love you so
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
(take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)
Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
(take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)
Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa ba-ba
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me (fade)
04 The Name of the Game (04:54)
I've seen you twice
in a short time
only a week since we started
it seems to be
for every time
I'm getting more open-hearted
I was an impossible case
no one ever could reach me
but I think I can see in your face
there's a lot you can teach me
so I wanna know
what's the name of the game
does it mean anything to you
what's the name of the game
can you feel it the way I do
tell me please
cause I have to know
I'm a bashful child
beginning to grow
and you make me talk
and you make me feel
and you make me show
what I'm trying to conceal
if I trust in you
would you let me down
would you laugh at me
if I said I cared for you
could you feel the same way too
I wanna know
the name of the game
(your smile and the sound of your voice)
does it mean anything to you
(doesn't mean any pivotal choice
but it means a lot)
what's the name of the game
(your smile and the sound of your voice)
can you feel it the way I do
tell me please
cause I have to know
I'm a bashful child
beginning to grow
and you make me talk
and you make me feel
and you make me show
what I'm trying to conceal
if I trust in you
would you let me down
would you laugh at me
if I said I cared for you
would you feel the same way too
I wanna know
oh yes I wanna know
the name of the game
(I was an impossible case)
does it mean anything to you
(but I think I can see in your face
that it means a lot)
what's the name of the game
(your smile and the sound of your voice)
can you feel it the way I do
(doesn't mean any pivotal choice
but it means a lot)
what's the name of the game
(I was an impossible case)
does it mean anything to you
(but I think I can see in your face
that it means a lot)
what's the name of the game
(your smile and the sound of your voice)...
05 Move On (04:45)
"They say a restless body can hide a peaceful soul.
A voyager, ad a settler, they both have a distant goal.
If I explore the heavens, or if I search inside.
Well, it really doesn't matter as long as I can tell myself
I've always tried."
Like a roller in the ocean
Life is motion
Move on
Like a wind that's always blowing
Life is flowing
Move on
Like the sunrise in the morning
Life is dawning
Move on
How I treasure every minute
Being part of it, being in it
With the urge to move on
I've travelled every country
I've travelled in my mind
It seems we're on a journey
A trip through space and time
And somewhere lies the answer
To all the questions why
What really makes the difference
Between all dead and living things
The will to stay alive
Like a roller in the ocean (la la la la la la-la)
Life is motion (la la la la la la-la)
Move on (la la la la-la)
Like a wind that's always blowing (la la la la la la-la)
Life is flowing (la la la la la la-la)
Move on (la la la la-la)
Like the sunrise in the morning (la la la la la la-la)
Life is dawning (la la la la la la-la)
Move on (la la la la-la)
How I treasure every minute (la la la la)
Being part of it (la la la la)
Being in it (la la la la)
With the urge to move on
The morning breeze that ripples the surface of the sea
The crying of the seagulls that hover over me
I see it and I hear it
But how can I explain
The wonder of the moment
To be alive, to feel the sun that follows every rain
Like a roller in the ocean (la la la la la la-la)
Life is motion (la la la la la la-la)
Move on (la la la la-la)
Like a wind that's always blowing (la la la la la la-la)
Life is flowing (la la la la la la-la)
Move on (la la la la-la)
Like the sunrise in the morning (la la la la la la-la)
Life is dawning (la la la la la la-la)
Move on (la la la la-la)
How I treasure every minute (la la la la)
Being part of it (la la la la-ah)
Being in it
With the urge to move on
La la la la la la-la, la la la la la la-la, la la la la-la
Like a wind that's always blowing
La la la la la la-la
La la la la la la-la (life is flowing)
La la la la-la (move on)
Like the sunrise in the morning
La la la la la la-la
La la la la la la-la (life is dawning)
La la la la-la (move on)
How I treasure every minute (la la la la)
Being part of it (la la la la-ah)
Being in it
With the urge to move on
La la la la la la-la, la la la la la la-la, la la la la-la
Like a wind that's always blowing...
06 Hole in Your Soul (03:43)
You feel bad, let me tell you, we all get the blues
Sometimes life is a burden, weighed down in your shoes
When it's bad, worse, worst
(And when you're feeling so bad)
And you think you're cursed
(And you've got it sad)
Well, if there's one thing for the better that can turn you loose
It's gotta be rock'n roll
To fill the hole in your soul
There's gotta be rock'n roll
To fill the hole in your soul
My friend Sam is a chauffeur, Annie goes to school
Jerry works at the office, Sue lies by the pool
But on all weekends
(Together again)
When I meet my friends
(I'm gonna see them now)
And we're lookin' round for the action we sure play it cool
It's gotta be rock'n roll
To fill the hole in your soul
There's gotta be rock'n roll
To fill the hole in your soul
Ah-haa (ah-haa, ah-haa)
You paint your world and use all colours
Ah-haa (ah-haa)
And then you find it all comes out too bright
You know it's only a lie
Ah-haa (ah-haa, ah-haa)
The songs you sing are too romantic
Ah-haa (ah-haa)
And when you want the truth
They only spit in your eye
Oh yeah, they're only telling you lies
Oh yeah, there's gotta be rock'n roll
To fill the hole in your soul
You feel bad, let me tell you, we all get the blues
Sometimes life is a burden, weighed down in your shoes
When it's bad, worse, worst
(You know you're feeling so bad)
And you think you're cursed
(And you've got it sad)
Well, if there's one thing for the better that can turn you loose
It's gotta be rock'n roll
To fill the hole in your soul
There's gotta be rock'n roll
To fill the hole in your soul
There's gotta be rock'n roll...
To fill the hole in your soul
There's gotta be rock'n roll...
To fill the hole in your soul
There's gotta be rock'n roll...
To fill the hole in your soul
There's gotta be rock'n roll...
To fill the hole in your soul
There's gotta be rock'n roll...
To fill the hole in your soul
07 Thank You for the Music (03:51)
I'm nothing special
in fact, I'm a bit of a bore
if I tell a joke
you've probably heard it before
but I have a talent
a wonderful thing
cause everyone listens when I start to sing
I'm so grateful and proud
all I want is to sing it out loud
so I say
thank you for the music
the songs I'm singing
thanks for all the joy they're bringing
who can live without it
I ask in all honesty
what would life be
without a song or a dance what are we
so I say thank you for the music
for giving it to me
Mother says I was a dancer before I could walk
mmhmm, she says I began
to sing long before I could talk
and I've often wondered
how did it all start
who found out that nothing
can capture a heart
like a memory can
well, whoever it was
I'm a fan
so I say
thank you for the music
the songs I'm singing
thanks for all the joy they're bringing
who can live without it
I ask in all honesty
what would life be
without a song or a dance what are we
so I say thank you for the music
for giving it to me
I've been so lucky
I am the girl with golden hair
I wanna sing it out to everybody
what a joy
what a life
what a chance!
so I say
thank you for the music
the songs I'm singing
thanks for all the joy they're bringing
who can live without it
I ask in all honesty
what would life be
without a song or a dance what are we
so I say thank you for the music
for giving it
to me
08 I Wonder (Departure) (04:34)
I wonder
Playing with those memories again
And just when I thought time had set me free
Those thoughts of you keep taunting me
Holding you
A feeling I never outgrew
Though each and every part of me has tried
Only you can fill that space inside
So there's no sense pretending
My heart it's not mending
** Just when I thought I was over you
And just when I thought I
could stand on my own
Oh baby those memories come crashing through
And I just can't go on without you
( And I just can't go on without
Go on without
It's just no good without you )
On my own
I've tried to make the best of it alone
I've done everything I can to ease the pain
But only you can stop the rain
I just can't live without you
I miss everything about you
Repeat ** ....... fade
09 I'm a Marionette (04:04)
You're so free
That's what everybody's telling me
Yet I feel I'm like an outward-bound
Pushed around refugee
Something's wrong
Got a feeling that I don't belong
As if I have come from outer space
Out of place like King Kong
I'm a marionette
Just a marionette
Pull the string
I'm a marionette
Everybody's pet
Just as long as I sing
I'm a marionette
See my pirouette
'Round and 'round
I'm a marionette
I'm a marionette
Just a silly old clown
Like a doll
Like a puppet with no will at all
And somebody taught me how to talk
How to walk, how to fall
Can't complain
I've got no-one but myself to blame
Something's happening I can't control
Lost my hold, it's insane
I'm a marionette
Just a marionette
Pull the string
I'm a marionette
Everybody's pet
Just as long as I sing
I'm a marionette
See my pirouette
'Round and 'round
I'm a marionette
I'm a marionette
Just a silly old clown
Look this way
Just a little smile
Is what they say
You look better on the photograph
If you laugh, that's okay!!
I'm a marionette
Just a marionette
Pull the string
I'm a marionette
Everybody's pet
Just as long as I sing
I'm a marionette
See my pirouette
'Round and 'round
I'm a marionette
I'm a marionette
Just a silly old clown
You're so free
That's what everybody's telling me
Yet I feel I'm like an outward-bound
Pushed around refugee
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