• Voto:
Passano cinque lunghi anni tra Invisible Touch e il disco successivo, è un tempo notevole per i Genesis che devono riscattare la loro credibilità artistica dopo gli '80 che li hanno visti alfieri di grande successo, con tutti i dischi al numero 1, ma di scarsa vena musicale.
We Can't Dance viene pubblicato il 21 Novembre 1991 su doppio vinile, il risultato degli anni di meditazione si ascolta subito fin dalle prime note di No Son Of Mine, il famoso "barrito" di Banks apre infatti una splendida canzone caratterizzata da una ritmica crescente fatta di colpi secchi di batteria in cui il canto di Collins domina con energia mentre racconta la triste storia del bambino protagonista, un ottimo avvio.
La traccia succesiva, Jesus he knows me, può sembrare banale nella sua struttura musicale, quasi un ritorno al triste passato, invece tutto è diverso più curato e in equilibrio nella sua ritmica sbarazzina. Il testo è una condanna dei santoni tv made in USA, strepitoso il video con Collins nella parte del predicatore e gli altri dei suoi collaboratori.
Driving The Last Spike è il pezzo più bello del disco, 10 minuti in cui i Genesis raccontano la storia degli operai che costruirono le ferrovie inglesi, anche se dura molto non ha niente a che fare con il vecchio Prog, è una divagazione sonora moderna e affascinante, una grande prova che evidenzia la ritrovata vena stilistica della band.
Canzoni abbastanza nella norma sono I can't dance, con lo straordinario effetto al synth di Tony, Never a Time e Living forever.
Notevoli le prove di Dreaming While You Sleep e Fading Lights, tipicamente collinsiana invece la detestabile Hold On MY Heart.
Da ricordare anche la splendida Tell Me Why, canzone pacifista e il suo video che mostra le atrocità di un secolo.
Alla fine il giudizio complessivo è ottimo, un bell'album il più bello dai tempi di Duke, un passo avanti di qualità notevole che ricorda quello tra From Genesis... e Trespass.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 No Son of Mine (06:42)
Well the key to my survival
Was never in much doubt
The question was how I could keep sane
Trying to find the way out
Things were never easy for me
Peace of mind was hard to find
And I needed a place where I could hide
Somewhere I could call mine
I didn't think much about it
'Til it started happening all the time
Soon I was living with the fear every day
Of what might happen that night
I couldn't stand to hear the crying
Of my mother, and I remember when
I swore that, that would be the last they'd see of me
And I never went home again
They say that time is a healer
And now my wounds are not the same
I rang the bell with my heart in my mouth
I had to hear what he'd say
Well, he sat me down to talk to me
He looked me straight in the eyes
He said, you're no son, you're no son of mine
You're no son, you're no son of mine
You walked out, you left us behind
And you're no son, you're no son of mine
Oh, his words how they hurt, I'll never forget it
And as the time, it went by, I lived to regret it
You're no son, you're no son of mine
But where should I go, and what should I do
You're no son, you're no son of mine
But I came here for help, oh I came here for you
Well the years, they passed so slowly
I thought about him every day
What would I do if we passed on the street
Would I keep running away
In and out of hiding places
Soon I'd have to face the facts
We'd have to sit down and talk it over
And that would mean going back
They say that time is a healer
And now my wounds are not the same
But I rang the bell with my heart in my mouth
I had to hear what he'd say
He sat me down to talk to me
And he looked me straight in the eyes
He said, you're no son, you're no son of mine
You're no son, you're no son of mine
When you walked out, you left us behind
And you're no son, you're no son of mine
Oh, his words how they hurt, I'll never forget it
And as the time, it went by, I lived to regret it
You're no son, you're no son of mine
But where should I go, and what should I do
You're no son, you're no son of mine
But I came here for help, oh I was looking for you
You're no son, you're no son of mine, no
02 Jesus He Knows Me (04:18)
D'you see the face on the TV screen
Coming at you every Sunday
See the face on the billboard
That man is me
On the cover of the magazine
There's no question why I'm smiling
You buy a piece of paradise
You buy a piece of me
I'll get you everything you wanted
I'll get you everything you need
You don't need to believe in hereafter
Just believe in me
Cause Jesus, he knows me
And he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
Oh yes, he knows me
And he knows I'm right
And he's been telling me
Everything is alright
I believe in the family
With my ever loving wife beside me
But she don't know about my girlfriend
Or the man I met last night
Do you believe in God
Cause that is what I'm selling
And if you wanna get to heaven
I'll see you right
You won't even have to leave your house
Or get out of your chair
You don't even have to touch that dial
Cause I'm everywhere
And Jesus he knows me
And he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
Oh yes, he knows me
And he knows I'm right
Well, he's been telling me
Everything's gonna be alright
Won't find me practising what I'm preaching
Won't find me making no sacrifice
But I can get you a pocketful of miracles
If you promise to be good, try to be nice
God will take good care of you
Just do as I say, don't do as I do
I'm counting my blessings,
Cause I've found true happiness
Cause I'm getting richer, day by day
You can find me in the phone book
Just call my toll-free number
You can do it anyway you want
Just do it right away
There'll be no doubt in your mind
You'll believe everything I'm saying
If wanna get closer to Him
Get on your knees and start paying
Cause Jesus, he knows me
And he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
Oh yes, he knows me
And he knows I'm right
Well, he's been telling me
Everything's gonna be alright
Cause Jesus
And he knows I'm right
Ooh yes, he knows me
And he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
And he's been telling me
Everything's gonna be alright
04 I Can't Dance (04:02)
hot sun beating down
burning my feet just walking around
hot sun making me sweat
gators getting close, hasn't got me yet
I can't dance, I can't talk.
only thing about me is the way I walk
I can't dance, I can't sing
I m just standing here selling
everything.
blue jeans sitting on the beach,
her dogs talking to me, but she's
out of reach.
she's got a body under that shirt,
but all she wants to do is rub my face in the dirt.
'cos, I can't dance, I can't talk,
only thing about me is the way I walk.
I can't dance, I can't sing,
I'm just standing here selling.
oh i'm checking everything is in place,
you never know who's looking on.
young punk spilling beer on my shoes,
fat guy's talking to me trying to steal my blues.
thick smoke, see her smiling through;
I never thought so much could happen just shooting pool.
but I can't dance, I can't talk
the only thing about me is the way that I walk
I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling,
oh i'm checking everything is in place
you never know who's looking on
the perfect body with a perfect face
no, I can't dance, I can't talk
the only thing about me is the way I walk
no, I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling everything
but i can walk
no, I can't dance
no, no, no I can't dance
no, I said I can't sing
but i... (fades)
07 Tell Me Why (05:00)
Mothers crying in the street
Children dying at their feet, tell me why
People starving everywhere there's too much food but none to spare, tell me why
Can you see that shaft of sunlight
can you see it in my eyes
I can feel the fire that's burning
anger and hope so deep
so deep within my heart
before my eyes
for some it seems to late
it seems there's no-one listening
People sleeping in the streets
no roof above no food to eat, tell me why
see the questions in their eyes
listen to their childrens cries
tell me why
If there's a God, is he watching
can he give a ray of hope
so much pain so much sorrow
tell me what does he see
when he looks at you
when he looks at me
what would he say
it seems there's no-one listening
Who would think it still could happen
even in this time and place
politicians, they may save themselves
but they won't save their face
just hope against hope
it's not to late
You say there's nothing you can do
is there one rule for them and one for you,
tell me why
listen can you see that shaft of sunlight
can you see it in my eyes
I can feel the fire that's burning
anger and hope so deep
so deep within my heart
before my eyes
for some it's to late
it seems there's no-one listening
hurry for me, hurry for me, they cry
08 Living Forever (05:42)
I'm feeling so confused today,
It seems they've changed the rules again,
Cos in my life I'm trying hard,
To do it all so I can remain,
Healthy and sane.
I'll live forever,
Always one more tomorrow,
Living forever,
Always one more tomorrow.
I heard it on the radio,
Too much of what they said wasn't so,
And now we've got to do those things,
That they brought before were so wrong,
To be healthy and strong.
And live forever,
Always one more tomorrow,
Living forever,
Always one more tomorrow.
I know we don't need you,
I know we don't believe you,
You don't really have the answer,
You think you know better,
You think it really matters,
You just want to rule over everybody's lives.
I think I'll change my life today,
Gone are the times of taking care,
And I don't need a reason why,
All I need is all in a day survive in a way.
Or just till tomorrow,
Always one more tomorrow,
Living forever,
Do you really want to live forever.
09 Hold On My Heart (04:39)
Hold on my heart
Just hold on to that feeling
We both know we've been here before
We both know what can happen
Hold on my heart
'Cause I'm looking over your shoulder
Ooh please don't rush in this time
Don't show her how you feel
Hold on my heart
Throw me a lifeline
I'll keep a place for you
Somewhere deep inside
So hold on my heart
Please tell her to be patient
'Cause there has never been a time
That I wanted something more
If I can recall this feeling
And I know there's a chance
Oh I will be there
Yes I will be there
Be there for you
Whenever you want me to
Whenever you call
Oh I will be there
Yes I will be there
Hold on my heart
Don't let her see you crying
No matter where I go
She'll always be with me
So hold on my heart
Just hold on to that feeling
We both know we've been here before
We both know what can happen
So hold on my heart
Just hold on my heart
Hold on my heart...
10 Way of the World (05:40)
If you take the tears from crying eyes,
Will the hurt just disappear,
Put a weapon in the hand of a frightened man,
Will he show no fear,
So we stand and we watch while the city lights go out one by one,
Mother Nature sits on the other side with a loaded gun.
Why is there blue sky,
Why is there red sky,
Now's the time to ask the reason,
Should the blue sky,
Meet the red sky,
Should the rules have to change at all,
We all know whatever they say,
Time is on our side,
This world has been here before just going round and round and round.
We all agree as far as we can see,
It's just the way of the world,
That's how it's meant to be,
There's right and there's wrong,
There's weak and there's strong,
It's just the way of the world,
And that's how it's meant to be.
Take the motion from a spinning wheel and watch it stop,
Take the danger out of a naked flame and what have you got,
If you take the anger out of a broken heart, you feel no pain,
Could you swear if you had that second chance you wouldn't do it again.
Why is there blue sky,
Why is there red sky,
Now's the time to ask the reason,
Should the blue sky,
Meet the red sky,
Should the rules have to change at all,
We all know whatever they say,
Time is on our side,
This world has been here before just going round and round and round.
We all agree as far as we can see,
It's just the way of the world,
That's how it's meant to be,
There's right and there's wrong,
There's weak and there's strong,
It's just the way of the world,
And that's how it's meant to be,
11 Since I Lost You (04:11)
It seems in a moment, your whole world can shatter
like morning dreams they just disappear
like dust in your hand falling to the floor
cos my heart is broken in pieces
yes my heart in broken in pieces
since you've been gone
it's all to easy to take so much for granted
but it's so hard to find the words to say
like a castle in the sand the water takes away
how can life ever be the same
cos my heart is broken in pieces
yes my heart is broken in pieces
since I've lost you
ooh now you'll never see
ooh now you'll never know
all the things I planned for you
things for you and me
I held your hand so tightly
that I couldn't let it go
Now how can life ever be the same
cos my heart is broken in pieces
yes my heart is broken in pieces
since you've been gone
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di Hetzer
'We Can’t Dance è tra gli album di gran pregio della svolta pop dei Genesis degli anni '90.'
'Fading Lights, a mio avviso il brano migliore dell’album, condensa un po’ tutta l’arte recente dei Genesis.'
Di paolo1968
Il suono è meno sintetico e artificioso, si riaffaccia il gusto per composizioni più articolate.
Coniugare efficacemente qualità e successo non è impresa da poco.
Di GenesisForEver
Phil da una straordinaria prova alla voce.
"We can't dance" è un pezzo ironico nei confronti dei modelli e della pubblicità.
