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Quando ci si ritrova tra le mani un disco dei Duran Duran si hanno solamente due possibilità: storcere la bocca e gettarlo in qualche oscuro antro della casa, oppure, più diplomaticamente, ascoltarlo e sbottare "Bhè insomma, ho ascoltato di peggio...". Chi ha un cuore e una trentina d'anni su per giù sicuramente avrà acquistato, o almeno ascoltato, nel 1982 "Rio", quello che io considero il capolavoro dei Duran Duran, quello in cui si ballicchiava sulle note di "Hungry Like The Wolf" o si sognava con "The Chauffeur", per non parlare delle traduzioni che ci si passava di nascosto a scuola quando, in "Save A Prayer", Simon LeBon cantava "Qualcuno potrebbe chiamarla una sveltina, ma io e te potremmo chiamarlo paradiso". Ci si emozionava, oggi ci si vergognerebbe, ma non bisogna mai ripudiare il proprio passato, per cui "Rio" non si può ripudiare.
Dopo sono venuti una serie di lavori piuttosto anonimi (in verità ne conosco sì e no due o tre, ma non saprei parlarne compiutamente), tranne forse il bel momento di "The Wild Boys". Passato il decennio magico, gli anni Ottanta, ecco arrivare d'improvviso i Novanta: dischi senza nerbo, improvvisi bagliori di gloria ("Ordinary World" vende a tonnellate, ma questa volta non produce effetti sociologici devastanti) e un sostanziale appiattimento musicale che fa pensare all'ormai prematura fine di un gruppo 'cult' di inizio anni Ottanta.
Curiosamente invece, si affacciano al mercato discografico a fine millennio, precisamente nel 1999. Già a vederli viene la depressione: ex sex-symbol (o almeno così dicevano le ragazzine) oggi moderni Trimalcioni, grassi e grossi, obesi e, permettetemi, pure un pò bruttarelli. Vabbè, mi si può obiettare, ma che c'entra l'aspetto fisico? Allora pure Mick Jagger è brutto, però ha sfornato almeno una cinquina di capolavori. Concordo: l'aspetto fisico non c'entra. Ma il disco, per Dio, quello c'entra.
"Pop Trash", questo il titolo dell'album. Fiutato l'odore di revival e rivalutazione generale sul mondo musicale degli anni Ottanta (ogni tanto in Italia si è soliti rivalutare qualcosa: adesso tocca alle pellicole di Lino Banfi e Alvaro Vitali, domani chissà, forse rivaluteremo Iva Zanicchi e Pupo), e visto che i giovincelli di un tempo oggi sono pressochè tutti cresciuti e che i paninari e il Drive In sono morti e sepolti, i Duran Duran decidono di rispolverarli con un colpo d'ingegno (in senso ironico, naturalmente) che lascia perplessi. "Pop Trash" è in realtà un insieme di brani senza nerbo né spina dorsale imperniati tutti sul concetto di "questo è pop spazzatura, trash appunto, che un giorno verrà rivalutato ampiamente". Non so se fra qualche anno rivaluteremo questo disco, sta di fatto che oggi viene la malinconia a ascoltare roba come "Hallucinating Elvis". Perchè sì, in effetti ci troviamo di fronte ad un classico disco pop (semplice, diretto, orecchiabile), ma si tratta di un pop melenso, svuotato completamente del suo significato originale, decadente, quasi ridicolo.
Pasticcioni e sciuponi, si perdono in brani stranamente lenti e pomposi, privi di una sola idea originale, e non riescono a distaccarsi dalle atmosfere e dalle citazioni fantascientifiche (il solito vizietto di LeBon). Lo scopo è chiaro: riavvicinarsi ai vecchi fans e portare al proprio altare le giovani generazioni. Non c'entrano nessun bersaglio. I vecchi fans ripudiano una pattumiera così ridicola e oscena, le nuove generazioni invece, virano i loro gusti verso tutt'altri gruppi o cantautori (la popolarità, eccessiva, di gente come Justin Timberlake o Jesse MacCartney, tanto per dire due nomi). E nemmeno qualche timido accenno rock riesce a salvare questo disastroso album.
"Pop Trash" è un fallimento, oltre che di critica, anche commerciale. Il disco vende pochissimo e il singolo trainante "Someone Else Not Me" viene trasmesso nelle radio giusto il tempo di un week-end. Un flop bello e buono, un flop, possiamo dire, più che meritato. E se "Rio" per me era (e continua ad essere) un capolavoro, candido "Pop Trash" come uno dei dischi più osceni dell'intera storia della musica. Ma forse questo sarebbe troppo: anche perchè i Duran Duran nel 2004 hanno fatto uscire "Astronaut" che, pur non essendo un capolavoro, presenta qualità senza dubbio superiori rispetto a questo pasticcio discografico. Poi per carità, loro sono sempre vecchi e bolsi, e farebbero bene a ritirarsi. Ma si sà, soldo chiama soldo...
Elenco tracce testi e samples
01 Someone Else Not Me (04:48)
Now while the beat is slow
here in your arms I sway
now that the light is low
something I want to say
I guess you've known it for a while
that I mean trouble
I only want to see you smile
and I burst this bubble
the hardest thing is to let go
when love is real
like a flower loves a bee
but I know you're meant
to give yourself
to someone else not me
and I could carry on with you
...does that sound crazy?
I think you feel the same way too
and you can't face it
the hardest thing is to let go
but it's not defeat
when you set somebody free
and I know you're meant
to be yourself
to someone else not me
(bridge)
can you let go?
'coz it's love that's real
like a flower loves a bee
and you know you're meant
to give yourself
to someone else not me
somebody else not me
meant for somebody else not me
(repeat)
02 Lava Lamp (03:54)
In the half light of the evening
I can almost see you glow
Can tell by the way you're moving
Time may be right to let you know
You got many coloured halo,
The body of Venus, a babe rainbow
And if I come any closer I might fall into your silhouette
But the shape of things to come is constantly changing
So let it, so let it, so let it flow
La la la la lava lamp
La la la la lava lamp
Indigo, violet and blue
Can we meet where the edges blur?
Because I am coming at you
Like a bug eye heading for the burn
Truth is I can't stay away
No, I wanna let you light my volcano
And maybe it's just in my imagination
But you never know
Because the shape of things to come is constantly changing
So let it, so let it, so let it flow
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
So let it, so let it, so let it...
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
La la la la lava lamp (I'd love to turn you on)
03 Playing With Uranium (03:51)
In for an evening
Of light entertainment
And who would believe you
Could worry the neighbours?
Come on over to my place
Playing with uranium
If it blows up in your face
See you on the other side
Come on over to my place
Playing with uranium
Reinvent the human race
You just got the invitation
We go undiscovered
'Cause people are careless
One way or another
They'll never forget us
Come on over to my place
Playing with uranium
And if it blows up in your face
See you on the other side
Come on over to my place
Never be the same again
Reinvent the human race
You just got the invitation
Playing with uranium
Playing with uranium
Never be the same again
Because we're playing with uranium
04 Hallucinating Elvis (05:26)
(I was hallucinating, I was hallucinating)
I was hallucinating Elvis
Hawaii to Las Vegas
Special treatment all the way
Hallucinating Elvis
Missing 18 hours
Losing oxygen to the brain
Lying on the floor
There's a limit how much more I can take
Rhinestone inside my shoe
Because I'm turning into you
I was hallucinating, I was hallucinating, I was hallucinating...Elvis
FBI tapping the King's phone
74, he's trapped in his home
Hidden cameras, 2-way mirror walls
Walkie-talkie, kung-fu
Then the president calls
I was hallucinating Elvis
Hawaii to Las Vegas
Special treatment all the way
Hallucinating Elvis
Missing 18 hours
Losing oxygen to the brain
Whoever has to know
Tune in to my show
What you see ain't what you get
I'm shooting movies and the TV set...
Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis
I was hallucinating Elvis
Hawaii to Las Vegas
Special treatment all the way
Hallucinating Elvis
Missing 18 hours
Losing oxygen to the brain
I was hallucinating, I was hallucinating, I was hallucinating...Elvis
Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis
Hallucinating, hallucinating, hallucinating
05 Starting to Remember (02:38)
How to begin do I shed a skin?
Now that I am starting to remember
It takes a while
But you find a way to open up the door
Let demons walk
Now that I am starting to remember
Can't change my world
I was happy ever after
Was it only yesterday?
That I bought the dream?
But I don't sleep no more
Counting the hours
'Til the dawn
Now that I am starting to remember
How to love
How to learn draw like a child
Run for miles and miles
Now that I am starting to remember
Who I am
Another lonely night ahead for me now
Buried in the darkening day
That lingers on
And drags me down
But you've got to believe
Time will heal.
06 Pop Trash Movie (04:55)
Saw a close up of your pretty face
overnight sensation
smiling for cameras
all around the world
If I rewind back to yeasterday
and stop the tape there
noone knew who you werebut now they're at your door
I'm living in a pop trash movie
we star together in every scene
we'll all be famous for just a few minutes
part of a celluloid dream
Watching slow-mo going frame by frame
might have blurred my vision
your life went flashing by
where did it all go wrong?
I'm living in a pop trash movie
we star together in every scene
we'll all be famous for fifteen minutes
part of a celluloid dream
I'll wait in the wings for you
I'll read your lines to you
but now the script is final
you know,
it's time to go
so we'll have to say goodbye
I'm living in a pop trash movie
we star together in every scene
we'll all be famous for those fifteen minutes
part of a celluloid dream
we star in every scene
and it's never quite what it seems
never
I'm living in a pop trash movie
I know we'll make it to the pop trash - yeah
we'll all be famous for those fifteen minutes
part of a celluloid dream, yeah
09 Lady Xanax (04:55)
Here comes the morning light you can't face
Lie on your bed staring into space
Watch the time slip gently by
Don't ask why
So many friends but nobody calls
Can't be alone when the darkness falls
Got to make it to the party
Socialise, break the ice
Oh, Lady Xanax where were you last night?
All the cracks in your make-up are starting to show
Don't think that you realise how far away you go now
Look into the future and don't be afraid...afraid
Of what is on your mind
There, in the emptiness deep inside
You are the one that's been left behind
So you paint with your mascara
Social eyes, don't look twice
Oh, Lady Xanax where were you last night?
All the cracks in your make-up are starting to show
Don't think that you realise how far away you go now
Look into the future and don't be afraid...afraid
Lady Xanax, you're out tonight
Lady Xanax, you're, oh, so tired
Lady Xanax, sleep well tonight
Lady Xanax (Lady Xanax)
10 The Sun Doesn't Shine Forever (04:51)
At the end of the rainbow
Found each other there
Strange, we never thought the colours would fade
Be easy to walk
But it's much harder to stay
Why, oh why, are we reckless today?
You and I
Got to hold on together
Because in this life
Maybe the sun doesn't shine forever
Could say that I'm sorry
But there's no one to blame
Anger seems to dissolve into tears
Been so many good times
Not only despair
Somehow we'll find the love we can share
You and I
Got to hold on together
Because in this life
Maybe the sun doesn't shine forever
You and I
Make this life for each other
Because I believe
We've got enough for when the sun doesn't shine
You and I
Got to hold on together
Because in this life
Maybe the sun doesn't shine forever
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