• Voto:
Joa Armatrading è una donna schiva e silenziosa tanto da passare inosservata al grande pubblico per parecchi anni.
Ancora oggi a trentasei anni dall'uscita del suo primo lp c'è chi non la conosce e l'assenza di una sua qualsiasi recensione su questo sito non fa che confermare quanto detto. E' un peccato perchè Joan è stata il prototipo della cantautrice strumentista e da lei molte colleghe prenderanno qualcosa. La prima a venirmi in mente è Tracy Chapman.
Nata nel 1950 ai Caraibi si sposta giovanissima in Inghilterra e dai lì inizierà la sua carriera come musicista. I primi album sono di chiara impronta folk.
E' solo dopo questo sesto album, datato 1980, che il suo nome inizierà a circolare portandole il successo da anni inseguito. Per ottenerlo deve spostare il suono verso il pop, senza tradire pero' le sue influenze soul, blues, rock e reggae.
"Me myself i" è un album caleidoscopico.La Armatrading passa con disinvoltura da atmosfere rock della title track al rock-reggae di "Ma-me-O-beach"e "Simon", al soul pianistico di "Friends" dove mette in risalto la sua voce profonda. In "Is it tomorrow Yet?" si respirano atmosfere tra il funky e la dance di gran voga in quegli anni. I suoi testi spesso introspettivi non sono mai sopra le righe e la voce ora profonda e greve altre volte più sofisticata e ricercata come nella quasi jazzata "When you kisses me" accompagnano l'ascolto in modo piacevole e mai noioso. C'e ancora tempo per la mia preferita "Turn out the light", per il ritorno al folk di "All the way from America" e per la conclusiva"I need you" con i suoi arrangiamenti orchestrali.
Da menzionare anche la presenza tra i musicisti del compianto Danny Federici all'organo e Clarence Clemmons al sax in vacanza dalla E-street band del Boss e di Anton Fig (innumerevoli le sue collaborazioni) alla batteria.
La Armatrading si godrà per qualche anno il successo che gli porterà questo disco, continuando a produrre lavori in grande quantità, per poi ritornare nell'anonimato massmediatico. Oggi continua a scrivere musica (è di due anni fa il suo ultimo album) e portarla in giro in corcerti fatti di passione e buona musica. Dategli un ascolto.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
04 Is It Tomorrow Yet? (03:33)
My baby say that the time is a
Coming soon
But did not say if it was in the morning or the
Afternoon
If we don't meet today
I think tomorrow may
Bring a surprise
Before my eyes
Is it tomorrow yet
I've got to do my best
For my baby
I've been losing time
Has the clock spun 'round
Did I sleep too late
Have I missed too much
Have I missed much
Have I missed much
I wanna see my baby
I wanna see my baby
Is it tomorrow yet
Can't count the times we've met and we've been going our
Different ways
Tomorrow I know we'll be going
The same way
Don't know 'bout yesterday
And we may not meet today
Under this sky
But I'd like a surprise
Is it tomorrow yet
I've got to look my best
For my baby
This time I'm keeping track
There'll be no looking back
No more maybe
Must be tomorrow today
Must be tomorrow today
Here's my baby
07 All the Way From America (04:52)
You called all the way from America
And said hang on to love girl
But the weeks and the months and the tears
Passed by
And my eyes couldn't stand the strain
Of that promised love
All the way from America
You called all the way from America
And said I'll soon be home girl
But the years and the tears and the fears
Passed by
And my heart couldn't stand the pain
Of that promised love
All the way from America
All the way from America
I stayed all alone and I waited 'round
For you to knock at my door
But the knock never came and no ring
At all
And now I sit and wonder why
You made that first call
All the way from America
I don't believe I'll stay here
I don't think I wanna wait here any more
And if you search for me baby
Better bring some more love than you declared
All the way from America
09 Simon (03:42)
He's from Ohio
Lives with his mother
He loves the woman
Who loves his brother
What can he do now
As she walks across the floor
Here comes his brother
Walking sideways through the door
Was the same at school
He played the fool
Or took a back seat
While Simon ruled
He played by himself a lot
And people called him shy
His mother said be more friendly
And he would ask her why
Has Simon got to be more friendly
And do I have to be like him
And mother said
No son
Gotta be yourself
Be more like I tell you
Be like me
Be like I tell you
Be like me
Now when Kathleen
Came on the scene
He saw her first
And then Simon spoke
He took her to places
That completely turned her head
Gave her practical things
Like diamonds for her neck
Has Simon got to be so friendly
Sometimes he makes me want to kill
Look at 'em dancing
While he's standing by the wall
There's gonna be trouble
When the time to leave is called
And Simon won't be feeling friendly
He'll be lying too close to the floor
And mother said
Oh son
That's not like you
You gotta be more like I tell you
Be like me
Be like I tell you
Be like me
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