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"All that she wants is another baby she's gone tomorrow boy". Non so voi, ma chi vi scrive, nella lontana estate del 1993, ne ebbe le scatole piene già al secondo ascolto coatto: già, perché radio e tv commerciali te la sparavano a ciclo continuo randomizzandola con "What Is Love" di Haddaway.
"All That She Wants" esplose con un fragore stupefacente. Trascinò l'album di riferimento, "Happy Nation" (1992/93), a vendere venti milioni di copie in tutto il mondo. Non solo: l'album ebbe ben tre incarnazioni perché, innescata "All That She Wants", ogni singolo andava dritto al numero uno, e (quasi) ogni singolo generava una nuova ristampa dell'album: "Happy Nation - European Edition", "Happy Nation - US Edition", "The Sign". Cose mai viste. L'album, in sé, non era male: una manciata di brani dance discretamente prodotti e suonati, con, concediamolo, l'innovativa sezione ritmica del celeberrimo singolo che diventerà il trademark del gruppo negli anni a venire. Insomma: un buon prodotto, non c'è dubbio, ma non tale da giustificarne la portata che catapultò i gemelli Berggreen (Jonas "Joker", Linn e Jenny) e l'amico Ulf "Buddah" Ekberg sul tetto del mondo. Boom! Il livello di celebrità fu totale, incondizionato. Una fan tedesca si introdusse in casa Berggreen mentre la famiglia cenava e minacciò Jenny con un coltello. Per dire.
L'etichetta discografica, a ragion veduta, iniziò ad esercitare un pressione pazzesca sulla band per dare alle stampe il prima possibile il nuovo album. E chi ha tempo ? Tour, interviste, promo video, ospitate, aggressioni lunchtime.
Dicono che con la pressione addosso, con il fiato sul collo, si lavori male. Beh, loro lavorarono bene. Si divisero i compiti, e la fretta fu buona consigliera. Tutti al lavoro: Joker, la vera pietra angolare del gruppo, le di lui sorelle, ed il buon Buddah, che prima di sfondare con gli Ace suonava in una band svedese punk a tematiche razziste (il nostro, poi, messo alle strette dalla stampa, rinnegherà quel frangente, 'Ero giovane e stupido'. Vabbè). Dicevo: "The Bridge" (1995) ebbe una genesi ed una stesura relativamente brevi. Non replicò, giammai, i venti milioni di copie del predecessore, ma si assestò su un sette milioni di tutto rispetto. Tre singoli vennero piazzati per introdurre il nuovo corso: le simpatiche e colorate "Lucky Love" e "Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry" (al cui ascolto: toh, gli Ace Of Base! ) in Europa e la potente, danzereccia ed estiva "Beautiful Life" negli States, brano che apre anche il disco.
Ne consegue un disco variegato, con abbondanza di accordi e armonie in chiave minore, per dare un tono triste, ombroso, ma anche orecchiabile, alle 18 piccole perle che compongono la collana. Detto dei tre singoli apripista, ottimamente confezionate e denge di nota sono "The Edge Of Heaven", brano pop condito dalla sensualità tipica di Sade, "Whispers in Blindness", creatura di Linn, che si fa apprezzare per l'impatto e la semplicità stilistica, "My Deja Vu" perchè valorizza il loro passato rendendolo più credibile, "Wave Wet Sand" con la pesantezza del synth bass ammorbidita dalla melodia dolce e spersa, "Just 'N' Image" perché dovete fidarvi di me. Per chi ama i lenti, "Angel Eyes" vi accarezzerà senza arrecare danno alcuno, mentre se vi piace ballare o semplicemente abbassare i finestrini con l'arrivo della bella stagione, "Strange Ways", "You And I" e "Blooming 18" difficilmente disilluderanno le attese.
Dice: eh, ma sono quelli di "All That She Wants", dai. Sì: l'album di debutto, a parer di chi vi scrive, aveva poche difese. Ne cito una : "Waiting For Magic", che ad "All That She Wants" dà antipasto, primo e secondo. Con il terzo ed il quarto album, "Flowers" (1998) e "Da Capo" (2002) (quest'ultimo passato quasi in osservato anche perché figlio di una soft release, ndr) i quattro dell'Ave Maria tornano a sposare il sole, evviva la vita e giù di lì. "The Golden Ratio" del 2010, realizzato con due coriste al posto di Jenny e Linn, non merita menzione.
"The Bridge", ad oggi, resta il loro lavoro migliore: cupo il giusto, frenetico ma equilibrato, esauriente e accattivante, stacca il resto della discografia sotto ogni aspetto. Ma molte persone non lo sapranno mai. Perché "All That She Wants" ha fatto da spartiacque troppo presto intaccando coscienza e pazienza dell'ascoltatore, che potrebbe non avere voglia di dare una chance al secondo lavoro di questo gruppetto di (ex) ragazzotti svedesi.
Questo, pensavate. E vi è lecito. Ma adesso che sapete, insomma.
Elenco tracce e testi
01 Ravine (04:39)
Have you heard
Have you heard
'Bout this girl who was ripped up by her roots
All alone what she learned
Like humility you win when you lose
I have learned
I have learned
The most horrifying nights have an end
I was hurt
I was lost
In the dark I found my way to a friend
CHORUS
I am standing here in my ravine
Once again I see a piece of the sky
And my joy will never be denied
Cause I was meant to be here
The only place on earth
Where you are near
Where you are near
Was a flower
So frail
And I let the trees grow wild around me
Grew so high
Hit the sky
Shaded everything I needed to see
Then one night
Someone came
Took a knife and ripped me up by my roots
Tossed astray
Far away
In my darkest night I started to pray
CHORUS
I am standing here in my ravine
Once again I see a piece of the sky
And my joy will never be denied
Cause I was meant to be here
The only place on earth
Where you are near
Where you are near
Why do you
Why do you ask
Why I'm not blaming my God (Blaming my God)
I tell you
I tell you once
He was the only one there
CHORUS
I am standing here in my ravine
Once again I see a piece of the sky
And my joy never will be denied
Cause I was meant to be here
The only place on earth
Where you are near
Where you are near
CHORUS
I am standing here in my ravine
Once again I see a piece of the sky
And my joy will never be denied
Cause I was meant to be here
The only place on earth
Where you are near
Where you are near
02 Wave Wet Sand (03:18)
You are reliable as a painting in wave wet sand
I look in your eyes and I can't see a thing
That usually means attraction to me
I've read all the books about love I could find
And I've found not one, no, not one word 'bout mine
'Cause you are reliable as a painting in wave wet sand
You're coming and you're going: like the water you never end
'Cause you are reliable as a painting in wave wet sand
And I am just another piece of an island in reach for your hands
...feel my doubts when you are in my arms
Darling: if you know that it's love and not charm
You must tell me so or go elsewhere to hunt
'Cause you are reliable...
Your love...
I am just another piece of an island
I can't close my ears when I hear that you call
I don't want to fear every tear that could fall
I'll go on my own, and pass people with doubts
My goal is to find a piece of your love
Your love is - your love is like the water
You are like the water
You are like the water
You, you are my shore, and you know you are my shore
03 Whispers in Blindness (04:10)
Darling you were looking good
When you came to me
And asked for a dance
And I said,"We can dance."
Felt like a queen
Sweedish summer nights are hot
And the trees can talk
We lay on the grass
So easily, so blessed
Whispers in blindness
And I did'nt hold you back
I'm talking about it (babe)
'Cause you've been teasing me
I'm talking about it
'Cause you are bad right through
Stay with me and I shall want no other love
Stay with me another love another lie
Stay with me and I shall want no other love
You were talking so sweet
But you were touching and teasing
I can hear the soft bells ring
Through a thousand years
They call out to me
They say it's only once in a life we love
Now I've had that honor too
You were holding my hand
You were kissing my skin
Stay with me
Trees are whispering
Only once my dear
04 Beautiful Life (03:39)
You can do what you want just seize the day
What you're doing tomorrow's gonna come your way
Don't you ever consider givin' up, you will find, oooh
It's a beautiful life, oh oh ooo
It's a beautiful life, oh oh ooo
It's a beautiful life, oh oh ooo
I just wanna be here beside you
And stay until the break of dawn
Take a walk in the park when you feel down
There's so many things there
that's gonna lift you up
See the nature in bloom a laughing child
Such a dream, oooh
It's a beautiful life, oh oh ooo
It's a beautiful life, oh oh ooo
It's a beautiful life, oh oh ooo
I just wanna be here beside you
I just wanna be here beside you
and stay until the break of dawn
You're looking for somewhere to belong
You're standing all alone
for someone to guide you on your way
Now and Forever
It's a beautiful life, oh oh ooo
It's a beautiful life, oh oh ooo
It's a beautiful life, oh oh ooo
I just wanna be anybody
Living in different ways
It's a beautiful life
I'm gonna take you to a place I've never been
before oh yeah
It's a beautiful life
I'm gonna take you in my arms and fly away
with you tonight
It's a beautiful life, oooh
It's a beautiful life, oooh
It's a beautiful life, oooh
It's a beautiful life, oooh
It's a beautiful life, oooh
It's a beautiful life
[x2]
05 Strange Ways (04:15)
Ive got strange ways
But it won't take long my friend
I'm telling you someday baby
I'll be gone
Ive got strange ways
But it won't take long my friend
I'm telling you someday baby
I'll be back
Again I've got no one
But it won't take long my friend
I'm telling you someday baby
I'll be gone
(I'm telling you someday I'll be gone)
God bless you for being
by my side when I fell through
You could hear me you've got
Internet gateways through my world
God bless you I'm feeliing all the
Force you're closing in
Take it easy
You dock at my side when
I'm on fire
I've got strange ways..
Sometimes, I lose it (I lose)
Don't know where I'm going (don't know)
But I do hope ypu follow
All the way
God bless you for being
by my side when I fell through
You could hear me you've got
Internet gateways through my world
You don't know it
You're turning all this stone into a heart
I can see you
As you fight the fire
When I burn
I've got (I'm telling you someday baby I'll be gone/back)
06 Lucky Love (02:53)
Life is a paradise
Woah, whoa ya
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven
I know, I know, cause I've been there with you tonight
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven
I know, I know, cause I've been there with you tonight
I believe life could be paradise once again (again)
And the love we thought we lost is sleeping within
Close your eyes, it's something for you
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven
I know, I know, cause I've been there with you tonight
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven
I know, I know, I'm a prisoner of hope alone
We are young and we are old
We're falling like leaves (like leaves, like leaves)
And your heart's so full of soul it makes me believe
Once again, it's something for you
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven
I know, I know, cause I've been there with you tonight
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven
I know, I know, cause I've been there with you tonight
A bridge over time is what you need
To see the light
To see the light
Woah yeah
Lucky love, lucky love...
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven
Lucky love, lucky love...
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven
Woah, woah, yeah (I know I know)
Lucky love belong in teenage heaven
I know I know, cause I've been there with you tonight (I've been there with you)
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven
I know, I know, I'm a prisoner of hope alone
07 My Déjà Vu (03:21)
My déjà vu...you're my obsession
My déjà vu everything is up to you
If you do want me you know where to search
We'll get the magic back again
My déjà vu everything is up to you
If you do want me you know where to search
I wanna see you dancing naked
I wanna see you touch the moon
But when I try to reach your fingers
You just vanish into air
I wanna feel you with my senses
'Cause I'm almost sure the texture of your skin
Is gonna tell me who you are
My déjà vu you're my obsession
My déjà vu it's always you
My Déjà Vu...
I wanna hold you like I used to
I wanna feel you in my blood
I wonder why I do confess this
To myself all the time
I know the time is working against us
But I'll long for you the rest of my whole life
Like a prisoner of hope
My déjà vu you're my obsession
My déjà vu it's always you
I have tried to get to know you
To get you off my mind
It feels like going back in time
And snap, I see your finger once again
My déjà vu everything is up to you
If you do want me you know where to search
My déjà vu you're my obsession
My déjà vu it's always you
My déjà vu you're my obsession
09 Edge of Heaven (03:49)
Fire! I can see it burning so brightly
Fire! I can feel it calling out to me
And as the sun goes down
It starts to paint a picture
Of an ancient town
So far away, arcoss the endless sea
Lead me to the light
And take me to the edge of heaven
I am standing in the night
Looking for the edge of heaven
We'll be touching the edge of heaven
Time
Close your eyes, see dreams of tomarrow
Time
The wheels are turning 'till eternity
And as the darkness comes
I start to see a picture
Of a lonely man
So clearly now reaching out for me
Lead me to the light...
And sail the endless sea
So lead me to the light
And take me to the edge of heaven
The edge of heaven is near
We'll sail the endless sea
10 Blooming 18 (03:37)
Reality reality reality is always
You tattoo yourself like a piece of art
You've already broken your mother's heart
When I was your age, working my ass off
Your generation's soft
Reality is always such a drag
For barely blooming eighteens
The barely blooming eighteen
Wants to know
What's keeping her from searching
You cannot pierce that and
You're dressed too tight
Got a lot to learn about wrong and right
So dye your hair, dad's gonna wash it out
Come on wash your mouth
Reality is always...
What's hiding in the shadow
Reality reality reality is always
Reality is always...
14 Experience Pearls (03:57)
Give me all your tears. Let me turn them to pearls
Let me turn all the tears
That you have cried into pearls
Hand them over to me
I'm gonna keep, keep them for you
I want to hold you
I want to kiss you
I want to mend what is broken
Love me the way that you loved her - please
'Cause now I'm giving it all
And so I've made up my mind
I'm gonna be yours this time
I'm gonna give all I've got
And get your love in return
And so I've made up my mind
I'm gonna be yours this time
I'm gonna teach you to trust
And learn how to burn
Experience pearls
(Pearls of experience)
When sand strikes up in your eyes
I will cover your face
I'll plant your desert with roses
And I'm gonna keep, keep them for you
And so I've made up my mind...
I'll wear your pearls more precious than silver
I'll wear your pearls so close to my skin
I'll tear myself apart just to get you
And so I've made up my mind...
15 Angel Eyes (03:13)
I know that I'm not the first one
You had love in your path before me
But when your lips touched my lips,
it felt like I was kissing destiny
Angel eyes with your angel eyes
Will you always be there to hold me
Angel eyes I'm satisfied
I don't want to hear your story
'Cause I can see the things
I really want to see
I'm in love
I believe in what I'm feeling
I'd give everything up just for you
Love is devoted to those who see,
that the last dance, you dance with the truth
Angel eyes with your angel eyes
Will you always be there to hold me
Angel eyes I'm satisfied
I don't want to hear your story
'Cause I can see the things
I really want to see
In your eyes
Angel eyes just want you here to hold me
Angel eyes...
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