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Non c'è nulla di progressive a proposi di "In Color", il secondo album dei Cheap Trick. Ma anche parlare di Power pop è piuttosto rischioso; i Chap Trick sono sempre stati una band detestata/venerata, cosa che il look quasi pacchiano da parvenu arricchiti e il titolo completo del disco "In color and in black and white", non faceva che accentuare.
Ben Carlos, il batterista, sembra essere nato dall'incrocio di un bancario e di un nightporter di Sydney, Rick Nielsen, chitarra e leader, un autentico fan di baseball con occhi da pesce lesso, Robin Zander, chitarra e voce, e Tom Petersson, basso, sono imprescindibili prototipi del rocker '70, molto aitanti e tendenti al super macho. Ma se da questo punto il gruppo si distingue in maniera vistosa, sul piano musicale i Cheap Trick sono, tanto anomali quanto devoti, fans dei Beatles. Ma non nel senso dei Raspberries o di Elton John oppure dei Bay City Rollers. Ciò che sorprende è che questi quattro nipoti dello zio Sam, ritenessero che il repertorio più importante dei Fab Four fossero i pezzi hard rock della loro ultima produzione, nella fattispecie "Back In The USSR", "Helter Skelter", "Yer Blues", "I Want You" e "Come Together".
Usando una frase che potrebbe sconvolgere qualcuno: "In Color" suona come se il Divino Duo si fosse innamorato di chitarre aggressive e atmosfere glam. Se Lennon e McCartney fossero sopravvissuti fino al '77, perché non abbandonarsi a questa possibilità, date le intenzioni molto rocchettare dell'ultimo John? Abbandonando queste utopie temporali (tutti sono liberi di riflettervi, dato che i Beatles si sono dimostrati capaci di praticare una vasta gamma di generi musicali), i dieci pezzi che animano l'album sono sensazioni palpabili di un successo irresistibile e di un'evoluzione sonora davvero notevole, ma bisogna premettere che nell'analisi, tutti i punti cardinali e di riferimento, usati in questo campo, sono inutilizzabili. "Hello There" richiama a sé le antiche vestigia del rock sporco di "Birthday"; "Big Eyes" si apre con un esplicito riferimento a quel labirinto sonoro sconnesso, unito solo dai versi minimalisti di Lennon, che è "I Want You". "Oh Caroline" ha il medesimo effetto tenuemente incantato del miglior rock di Abbey Road. Nielsen e Zander pagano un grande debito sia a George che a John, uno per la grande inventiva nel far cinguettare le corde e l'altro per le indubbie dotti vocali, ma i Trick non sono meramente derivativi, come poteva essere per i Boston, perché costituiscono ben più della somma delle note che manipolavano, soprattutto se lo facevano con grande perizia.
Una lista degli ascendenti sul gruppo sorprende per ciò che include ma anche per ciò che esclude: ovviamente, gli Yardbirds e gli Who occupano un posto importante, ma è anche totalmente assente ogni riflesso dei Cream e della Jimi Hendrix Experience. Ma queste omissioni concernano un disegno più vasto: Nielsen scrive le sue canzoni con molta attenzione e le coriacee armonie di Zander sono usate strumetalmente, piuttosto che verbalmente. Qualcosa di simile si potrebbe dire per gli Steely Dan, ma i Cheap Trick hanno il vantaggio aggiunto dell'accessibilità. Quello che bisogna dire è che i Cheap Trick avevano così già vinto la battaglia contro la convenzione che il punk rock stava per ingaggiare, corroborata da una caratteristica mai troppo cinica: il senso dell'umorismo. Dunque un album che si presenta come un banchetto molto sostanzioso, la cui esistenza è sempre stata molto ignorata.
Se per caso Robinson Crusoe vi dovesse chiedere di andare a passare con lui qualche tempo sull'isola deserta, mettete subito i valigia questo disco, che ha un sapore enciclopedico ma mai borioso, con quel retrogusto di puro piacere che mai sconfina nella stupidità o nell'esibizionismo.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Hello There (01:39)
Hello there ladies and gentlemen
Hello there ladies and gents
Are you ready to rock
Are you ready or no
Hello there ladies and gentlemen
Hello there ladies and gents
Are you ready to rock
Are you ready or no
Would you like to do a number with me
Would you like to do a number with me
Would you like to do a number with me
Would you like to do a number with me
Hello there ladies and gentlemen
Hello there ladies and gents
Are you ready to rock
Are you ready or no
Would you like to do a number with me
Would you like to do a number with me
Would you like to
Would you like to
Well come on
02 Big Eyes (03:05)
Words and Music by Rick Nielsen
It's not the way you look, no.
It's not the way you walk.
Your eyes are so very good.
You know they're clear and bright,
It's not the color of your hair.
Big eyes
I keep fallin' for those big eyes.
They keep calling my name, big eyes.
I keep fallin' for those big eyes.
They keep calling my name.
You're such a losing cause.
Why don't you go get lost?
Who says you write the laws?
You're such a losing cause,
Go on and get out of here.
Big eyes
I keep fallin' for those big eyes.
They keep calling my name.
You're such a losing cause.
Why don't you go get lost?
Who says you write the laws?
You're such a losing cause,
Go on and get out of here.
It's not the way you look, no.
It's not the way you walk.
Your eyes are so very good.
You know they're clear and bright,
It's not the color of your hair.
Big eyes
I keep fallin' for those big eyes.
(Repeat alternate endings)
They keep calling my name.
(Repeat 4X)
Big eyes, I keep falling for those big eyes.
They keep calling my name.
Big eyes, I keep falling for those big eyes.
I keep calling your name.
Big Eyes.
03 Downed (04:00)
Downed, downed out of my head
'Round, 'round out of my head
I'm gonna live on a mountain
Way down under in Australia
It's either that or suicide
It's such a strange strain on you
Ooh, I got a mind
Over you it's not the first time
Ooh, I got a mind
Rainbow's crawling on a midday sun
But I've been lucky you're the only one
Sunday's calling, you'll be number one
It's such a strange strain on you
Ooh, you think of Jesus Christ
You walk on water but don't bet your life, oh no
All you walk is a fine line
It's such a strange strain on you
Downed, downed out of my head
'Round, 'round out of my head
Too many people want to save the world
Another problem is it a boy or girl
Some say the weekend is the only world
It's such a strange strain on you
Ooh, I've got a mind
Over you it's not the first time
All you walk is a fine line
It's such a strange strain on you
Downed, downed out of my head
'Round, 'round out of my head
Downed, downed out of my head
'Round, 'round out of my head
07 Clock Strikes Ten (02:56)
(1)
Clock strikes ten it's a Saturday night
Got money in my pocket and it feels allright
Not stayin' home gonna stay out late
Gotta hear some rockin' music and it feels just great
(2)
Clock strikes twelve on a Saturday night
All the creeps are sleepin' all the cools in sight
All the kings and queens, they're out tonight
Lookin' for some action 'til I feel allright
(3)
Imagine what we're doin' tonight
You really got me goin' tonight
Imagine what we're doin' tonight
I'm crazy for some action tonight
(4)
Clock strikes two out all night
All my money's spent but that's allright
Not goin' home gonna stay out late
Get ready for some action want some action tonight
(Repeat 3)
(5)
Clock stikes four I want some more
Everybody's layin' on the floor
Not goin' home gonna stay out late
Gotta hear that rockin' music it feels allright
(Repeat 3)
(6)
Gonna get down
Gonna get on down
Gonna get down
Gonna get on down
(Repeat 6 three times)
(drum solo)
(Repeat 6 four times)
08 Southern Girls (03:41)
Words and music by rick nielsen and tom petersson
I've been north,
I've been east to the california beach
There's only one place i know where to find you
And all you southern girls got a way with your words
And you show it
You say hump and i'll jump
You say go and i'll know
Waste no time getting
So close to you
And you'll never run way
When you find out why i wanted to find you
Ooh baby need some brand new shoes
Get out on the street
You got nothing to lose
You rock me and your crazy
And everyone says it, yeah yeah
Southern girls, you got nothing to lose
Southern girls, you got nothing to lose
I've been up i've been down
I've been weak i've been strong
But i never met someone like you
And you'll never run away
When you find why i wanted to find you
You say hump and i'll jump
You say go and i'll know
Waste no time getting
So close to you
All you southern girls
Got a way with your words
And you show it
Ooh baby need some brand new shoes
Get out on the street
You got nothing to lose
You rock me and your crazy
And everyone says it, yeah yeah
Southern girls, you got nothing to lose
Southern girls, you got nothing to lose
You think this boy, he loves you
Southern girls
You make it hard oh, so hard
I've been north, i've been east to the california beach
There's only one place i know where to find you
And all you southern girls got a way with your words
And you show it
Ooh baby need some brand new shoes
Get out on the street
You got nothing to lose
You rock me and your crazy
And everyone says it, yeah yeah
Southern girls, you got nothing to lose
Southern girls, you got nothing to lose
Southern girls
Southern girls
Southern girls
10 So Good to See You (03:34)
Ooh, it's so good to see you
I couldn't wait another day
Ooh, I hope everyone missed you
You know they want you to stay
Home in one month
Couldn't feel better if I tried
Won't even write
It's better that'll be a surprise
I can't expect to be a household word
I don't mind, just let me inside
I don't expect to be seen or heard
I won't mind, I've nothin' to hide
Ooh, it's so good to see you
I couldn't wait another day
So good to see you
Ooh, I hope everyone missed you
You know they want you to stay
Home in one week
Gettin' so much closer all the time
Seems like overnight
It's better that'll be a surprise
We shouldn't get to be too close friends
I don't mind, I've nothin' to hide
We couldn't get to be too close friends
You won't mind if you've nothin' to hide
Ooh, it's so good to see you
I couldn't wait another day
So good to see you
Oo, I hope everyone missed you
You know they want you to stay
Don't stop to think what you're doin'
I'll surprise you anytime
Don't stop to do what you're thinkin'
You're just wastin' your time
Ooh, it's so good to see you
I couldn't wait another day
So good to see you
Oo, I hope everyone missed you
I really want you to stay
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