Questo album ancora dopo 10 anni mostra una veloce evoluzione di Chris Martin e soci nel giro di appena due anni. Lo stesso era successo per esempio ai Blur tra "Leisure" e "Modern life is rubbish", ma erano rimasti fisicamente pressoché gli stessi. Invece Chris e soci sono cambiati da tutti i punti di vista (fisico, musica ecc...).
"Parachutes" e "A rush of blood to the head" sono due album molto diversi da loro: pur avendo un sapore fortemente autunnale, "Parachutes" è tranquillo è placido, mentre questo è inquieto. Si ha un sapore di autunno, ma a volte ci tocca pure un gelido inverno (il vento che apre "Amsterdam" e lo chiude).
E in tutt'e due però c'è la classe di sapere scrivere delle belle canzoni. "A rush" è un capolavoro di 4 uomini che nel giro di due anni sono diventati adulti.
Pochi i casi nella musica mondiale di artisti che scrivono in poco tempo brani destinati a rimanere nel tempo. Non certamente i Blur che impiegano quattro-cinque anni per cominciare a lasciare qualcosa come "Girls And Boys", "Parklife", "The Universal" (e poi "Song 2", "Tender" ecc...) e gli Oasis che ci lasciano del loro primo periodo giusto "Wonderwall", e "Live Forever" (e poco altro, dopo il 2002).
I Coldplay lasciano "Trouble" (da "Parachutes"), "The Scientist" e "Clocks" come capolavori da conservare quale patrimonio della musica nazionale (inglese) e internazionale. E un album che a tutt'oggi gode (o sembra godere) di un'importanza capitale che la produzione successiva sembra non godere.
In quella tarda estate del 2002 uscì il video di "In My Place" una canzone che mi accese un piccolo interesse nei confronti del gruppo, tanto da comprare il numero di "Tutto" di Settembre dove compariva un articolo sui Coldplay e una foto dei quattro con Martin che morde un girasole.
Ero in un periodo di "esistenziale transizione": avevo avuto a sorpresa una bella estate in Calabria con "Stop crying your heart out" degli Oasis (quale colonna sonora) (che aveva esaurito la sua permanenza in classifica tutta l'estate! - leggete cio che ne è scritto sulla mia recensione di "Heathen Chemistry") e in virtù di questo entusiasmo speravo che in quinta superiore sarei riuscito a passare un anno per l'esistenza migliore di quello che lo aveva preceduto (non racconto i particolari).
La molla che mi fece scattare l'amore per i Coldplay lasciando un binomio Blur-Oasis che aveva tenuto banco l'anno (scolastico) precedente e l'acquisto dell'album fu "The Scientist": una canzone che ancor oggi, dopo dieci anni, è indefinibile talmente è bella, che gli aggettivi si sprecano. L'intro di piano, il cantato di Martin, il procedere di altri strumenti e della batteria nella seconda strofa del pezzo: il tutto a creare un brano di sofferenza e inquietudine interiore fino a un finale un pò più tranquillo. Ma non dico altro perché "The Scientist" bisogna scoprirla da soli e gustarla ogni singolo secondo.
E insieme a questo brano la futurista "Clocks", altro gioiello di tutta la produzione Coldplay con quel ritmo e in quella musica che ti genera grande agitazione. Una canzone che un Marinetti (e anche/o forse un surrealista) la approverebbe a grandi lettere (o un video mentale dove gli orologi a muro disegnati salgono verso l'alto mentre le lancette si muovono continuamente, come in un cartone). Due canzoni da brividi.
Ma il resto? Altra carne al fuoco:
"Politik", sembra venuta di getto a Martin dopo i fatti dell'11 settembre 2001, è una richiesta di comprensione per un mondo che non si riesce più a capire, ed un altro gioiello che non regge però il confronto con "The Scientist" e "Clocks".
"Amsterdam" è un brano "glaciale" (il "vento", ricordate?) che sembra tranquillo finché un intermezzo di piano annuncia una sequenza lunga e scatenata di batteria e chitarra (alla Coldplay) e poi il brano si chiude magicamente tranquillo come era iniziato.
(Due gioielli un pò meno pregiati questi, di cui del primo ne ho attaccato il testo a scuola nel marzo del 2003, nei giorni della guerra in Iraq, insieme a "La ballata dell'eroe" di De André e, recentemente, inserito in una specie di "raccolta della pace", un mp3 per degli amici di Sant'Egidio ("Gli altri siamo noi", recensione) contenente canzoni sulla pace, di protesta, morali ecc...).
Fin qui i pezzi di carne nobili. Ma altri tagli non sono da meno:
"Green Eyes" è un piacevole 3/4 (dedicato alla moglie di Martin, Gwineth Paltrow?); "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face" è un altro pezzo piacevole e interessante, ma ha un video che non amo (ma quello di "The Scientist" mi era piaciuto ai tempi); "Daylight" è un altro brano niente male, ma dove non necessita soffermarmi; "Warning Sign" è molto evocativa (ascoltare per credere) mentre la title-track, pur essendo bella, non mi colpisce tanto. Vedete, io giudico una canzone in base alle sensazioni del cuore: se una canzone mi colpisce presto o tardi al cuore e lì si fissa, io ne parlo bene. Invece, se non lo fa (anche se realizzata bene) il mio giudizio si limiterà alla sua estetica.
Mi scuso se qualche lettore avrà a questo punto la pazienza agli sgoccioli, ma devo aggiungere qualche altra cosa: se pure la nostalgia che a volte sento questi giorni non è forte rispetto ai miei sentimenti di allora, provò però ancora qualche brivido quando ripenso all'"inverno" dell'anima (mia) del 2002-2003 guidato da quest'album (dopo la falsa e gioiosa allegria dell'anno prima con Blur e Oasis) e il fatto che abbracciavo una ragazza di nome Elisa in una gita a Cracovia (in Polonia) nel 2003. Vorrei ancora essere a sentirli.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Politik (05:19)
Look at earth from outer space
Everyone must find a place
Give me time and give me space
Give me real don't give me fake
Give me strength, reserve control
Give me heart and give me soul
Give me time, give us a kiss
Tell me your own politik
And open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Give me one cause one is best
In confusion confidence
Give me peace of mind and trust
Don't forget the rest of us
Give me strength, reserve control
Give me heart and give me soul
Wounds that heal and cracks that fix
Tell me your own politik
And open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Just open up your eyes
But give me love over, love over, love over this
And give me love over, love over, love over this
02 In My Place (03:47)
In my place, in my place
Were lines that I couldn't change
I was lost
Oh yeah
I was lost, I was lost
Crossed lines I shouldn't have crossed
I was lost
Oh yeah
Yeah
How long must you wait for it?
Yeah
How long must you pay for it?
Yeah
How long must you wait for it?
Oh for it
I was scared, I was scared
Tired and under prepared
But I'll wait for it
If you go, if you go
Leave me down here on my own
Then I'll wait for you (yeah)
Yeah
How long must you wait for it?
Yeah
How long must you pay for it?
Yeah
How long must you wait for it?
Oh for it
Singing
Please, please, please
Come back and sing to me
To me, me
Come on and sing it out
Now, now
Come on and sing it out
To me, me
Come back and sing
In my place, in my place
Were lines that I couldn't change
I was lost, oh yeah
Oh yeah.......
03 God Put a Smile Upon Your Face (05:01)
Where do we go nobody knows
I've gotta say I'm on my way, down
God give me style and give me grace
God put a smile upon my face
Where do we go to draw the line
I've gotta say I wasted all your time, honey, honey
Where do I go to fall from grace
God put a smile upon your face
Yeah
Now when you work it out I'm worse than you
Yeah when you work it out I want it to
Now when you work out where to draw the line
Your guess is as good as mine
Where do we go nobody knows
Don't ever say you're on your way, down
When God gave you style and gave you grace
And put a smile upon your face
Oh yeah
Now when you work it out I'm worse than you
Yeah when you work it out I want it to
Now when you work out where to draw the line
Your guess is as good as mine
It's as good as mine
It's as good as mine
It's as good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine
Where do we go nobody knows
Don't ever say you're on your way, down
When God gave you style and gave you grace
And put a smile upon your face
04 The Scientist (05:13)
Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are
I had to find you, tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart
Tell me your secrets and ask me your questions
Oh, let's go back to the start
Running in circles,
Coming up tails
Heads only science apart
Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said that it would be this hard
Oh, take me back to the start
I was just guessing at numbers and figures
Pulling your puzzles apart
Questions of science, science and progress
Did not speak as loud as my heart
Tell me you love me, come back and haunt me
Oh, and I rush to the start
Running in circles, chasing our tails
Coming back as we are
Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
I'm goin' back to the start
05 Clocks (05:09)
Lights go out and I can't be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against
You've put me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing
Come out of things unsaid
Shoot an apple off my head
And a trouble that can't be named
Tigers waiting to be tamed, singing
You are
You are
Confusion never stops
Closing walls and ticking clocks, gonna
Come back and take you home
I could not stop that you now know, singing
Come out upon my seas
Curse missed opportunities
Am I a part of the cure
Or am I part of the disease, singing
You are, you are
You are, you are
You are, you are
Nothing else compares
Oh, no nothing else compares
Oh, no nothing else compares
You are
You are
Home, home where I wanted to go
Home, home where I wanted to go
Home, home where I wanted to go
Home, home where I wanted to go
06 Daylight (05:31)
To my sunk eyes
On my daylight
I saw a sunrise
I saw a sunlight
I have nothing
In the dark
And the clouds burst
To show the daylight
Oooh and the sunshine
Yeah on a starry night
Ooooh and I realized
Ooooh could I live without
Ooooh could I part without
On a hill top
On the sky rise
Like a first born
Child
On a full day
On a full flight
I feel darkness
In the daylight
Oooh and the sunshine
Yeah on a starry night
Ooooh and I realized
Ooooh could I live without
Ooooh could I part without
daylight
Slowly breaking through the daylight...
07 Green Eyes (03:43)
Honey you are a rock
Upon which I stand
And I come here to talk
I hope you understand
The green eyes, yeah the spotlight, shines upon you
And how could, anybody, deny you?
I came here with a load
And it feels so much lighter now I met you
And honey you should know
That I could never go on without you
Green eyes
Honey you are the sea
Upon which I float
And I came here to talk
I think you should know
The green eyes, you're the one that I wanted to find
And anyone who tried to deny you, must be out of their mind
Because I came here with a load
And it feels so much lighter since I met you
Honey you should know
That I could never go on without you
Green eyes, green eyes
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Honey you are a rock
Upon which I stand
08 Warning Sign (05:35)
A warning sign
I missed the good part then I realized
I started looking and the bubble burst
I started looking for excuses
Come on in, I've got to tell you what a state I'm in
I've got to tell you in my loudest tones
That I started looking for a warning sign
When the truth is
I miss you
Yeah the truth is
That I miss you so
A warning sign
You came back to haunt me and I realized
That you were an island and I passed you by
When you were an island to discover
Come on in, I've got to tell you what a state I'm in
I've got to tell you in my loudest tones
That I started looking for a warning sign
And the truth is
I miss you
Yeah the truth is
I miss you so
And I'm tired
I should not have let you go
So I crawl back into your open arms
Yes I crawl back into your open arms
And I crawl back into your open arms
Yes I crawl back into your open arms
09 A Whisper (03:58)
A whisper, a whisper, a whisper, a whisper
A whisper, a whisper, a whisper, a whisper
I hear the sound of the ticking of clocks
Remember your face and remember too
When you are wrong
I hear the sound of the ticking of clocks
Come back and look for me, look for me
When I am lost
Just a whisper, a whisper, a whisper, a whisper
Just a whisper, a whisper, a whisper, a whisper
Night turns to day
And I still have these questions
Please just refrain
Should I go forwards or backwards
Night turns to day
And I still can't go back to you
Just a whisper, a whisper, a whisper, a whisper
Just a whisper, a whisper, a whisper, a whisper
I hear the sound of the ticking of clocks
Remember your face and remember too
When you are wrong
I hear the sound of the ticking of clocks
Come back and look for me, look for me
When I am lost
Just a whisper, a whisper, a whisper, a whisper
just a whisper, a whisper, a whisper, a whisper
10 A Rush of Blood to the Head (05:55)
You said I'm gonna buy this place and burn it down
I'm gonna put it six feet underground
You said I'm gonna buy this place and watch it fall
Stand here beside me baby in the crumbling walls
Oh I'm gonna buy this place and start a fire
Stand here until I fill all your hearts desires
Because I'm gonna buy this place and see it burn
And do back the things it did to you in return
Huuuhhhh [x4]
You said I'm gonna buy a gun and start a war
If you can tell me something worth fighting for
Oh and I'm gonna buy this place is what I said
Blame it upon a rush of blood to the head
Honey, all the movements you're starting to make
See me crumble and fall on my face
And I know the mistakes that I've made
See it all disappear without a trace
And they call as they beckon you on
They say start as you mean to go on
Start as you mean to go on
Said I'm gonna buy this place and see it go
Stand here beside me baby, watch the orange glow
Some'll laugh and some just sit and cry
You just sit down there and you wonder why
So I'm gonna buy a gun and start a war
If you can tell me something worth fighting for
And I'm gonna buy this place is what I said
Blame it upon a rush of blood to the head
Oh to the head
Honey, all the movements you're starting to make
See me crumble and fall on my face
And I know the mistakes that I've made
See it all disappear without a trace
And they call as they beckon you on
They say start as you need to go on
As you mean to go on
As you mean to go on
So meet me by the bridge
Meet me by the lane
When am I gonna see that pretty face again?
Oh meet me on the road
Meet me where I said
Blame it all upon a rush of blood to the head
11 Amsterdam (05:21)
Come on, oh my star is fading
I swerve out of control
If I, If I'd only waited
I'd not be stuck here in this hole
Come here, oh my star is fading
And I swerve out of control
And I swear I waited and waited
I've got to get out of this hole
But time, is on your side
It's on your side, now
Not pushing you down
And all around
It's no cause for concern
Come on, oh my star is fading
And I see, no chance of release
And I'm dead on the surface
But I'm screaming underneath
And time is on your side
It's on your side, now
Not pushing you down
And all around
Oh, It's no cause for concern
Stuck on the end of this ball and chain
And I'm on my way back down again
Stood on the edge
Tied to a noose
Sick to the stomach
You can say what you mean
But it won't change a sin
I'm sick of the secrets
Stood on the edge, tied to a noose
And you came along but you cut me loose
You came along and you cut me loose
You came along and you cut me loose
12 Animals (05:28)
Animals we are
Animals we are
Disposable, collapsible, and raw
In you go, into some crowded room
And animals that climb
And they're climbing over you until you see
Off you go, off you go
Ooh, oh
An animal I am
And I'm looking for an answer just like you
But I should know which way to turn
An animal that runs
And I ran away from you
Because I'm scared
Now off you go, off you go
If you're gonna go, go now
But if you're gonna go, go now
I forgot to tell you how
So if you're gonna go, go now
An animal you are
Disposable, defenseless, yes and
Watch your mouth,
Boys, watch your mouth
An animal that runs
And I made all my excuses to you
And I missed my chance by a stone's throw
If you're gonna go, go now
If you're gonna go, go now
I forgot to tell you how
But if you're gonna go, go now
Now crumble
Crumble and fall
Crumble and fall like an animal
I crumble
Crumble and fall
Crumble and fall like an animal
Yes I crumble
Crumble and fall
Crumble and fall like an animal
Yes I crumble
Crumble and fall
Crumble and fall like an animal
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di Axelmoloko
Non sei nemmeno arrivato a metà disco e ti ritrovi con un bel sorriso stampato in pieno volto.
Una miscela di malinconia ed emozioni che non mancherà anche questa volta di avere un grande impatto sull’ascoltatore.
Di spino
Note pop-rock malinconiche, tristi, estremamente coinvolgenti, inconfondibili fin dai primi minuti di ascolto.
E' nell'ultima traccia "Amsterdam" dove troviamo il meglio dell'album, una canzone indimenticabile, una perfetta chiusura per questo cd.
Di marco materazzi1
"Memorabile è la traccia numero 4, 'The Scientist', autentico capolavoro."
"Dimostrano di essere maturati e di essersi scrollati di dosso la scomoda etichetta di eredi dei mitici Radiohead acquisendo uno stile loro."
