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L’uomo giusto al momento giusto.
Nei primi anni 90 si avvertiva la sensazione che il pubblico fosse in cerca di un nuovo eroe della musica black da incoronare; la promessa di Terence Trent D’Arby non era stata mantenuta, la carriera di Jackson cominciava ad essere affossata dai primi pesanti pettegolezzi e persino Prince pareva aver dimenticato la genialità negli anni 80 quando ecco arrivare sulle scene Lenny Kravitz, l’uomo che sembrava dovesse salvare il rock nero.
Lunghi dreadlocks, look glam, pose da star consumata, Kravitz sembrava fatto apposta per diventare una rockstar… citava Hendrix e Lennon tra i suoi maestri, incideva dischi utilizzando solo strumenti e apparecchiature vintage per ottenere un suono sincopato e sporco (che in piena era grunge non stonava) quasi arrivasse direttamente dagli anni 70.
Nel ’93 aveva all’attivo due bei dischi ('Let Love Rule' e 'Mama Said') che ottennero un buon successo di pubblico (e soprattutto di critica) e anche una controversa e chiacchierata collaborazione con Madonna per il brano Justify My Love, ma in quell’anno la sua carriera ebbe una svolta con la pubblicazione di 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' che lo trasformò in un divo.
L’album fu trainato al successo dalla rockeggiante e aggressiva title-track tutta costruita su un unico riff di chitarra potente e orecchiabilissimo, che è rimasta forse il suo brano più celebre… il resto dell’album, godibilissimo (seppur leggermente inferiore ai precedenti), vede Kravitz destreggiarsi, con non poca paraculaggine, tra diversi generi tutti contaminati dalla sua attitudine black. Eccolo dunque fare il verso (a suo modo) ai padri del soul in pezzi quali Black Girl e Sugar (quest’ultima sulla falsa riga del precedente hit It Ain’ t Over Till It’s Over) o tingere il suo rock con colori psichedelici (My Love), dare prova di abilità chitarristica in Sister (lunga ballata molto 70’s, un po’ soporifera) e flirtare col reggae (Eleutheria… non proprio riuscitissima). Altri due singoli furono estratti dall’album, la sentita ballata “spaziale” Believe e la delicata Heaven Help, che ne consolidarono il successo.
Successo e fama che saranno proprio il tallone d’Achille di Kravitz che, dopo il mezzo flop del successivo "Circus" (oscuro e sottovalutato), inseguirà (e otterrà nuovamente e maggiormente) scendendo a non pochi compromessi, levigando eccessivamente la sua musica, interessandosi troppo della sua immagine da sex-symbol perdendo completamente freschezza e soprattutto quella paradossale originalità nel riproporre vecchi stilemi musicali che l’aveva portato alla ribalta.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
01 Are You Gonna Go My Way (03:32)
I was born long ago
I am the chosen
I'm the one
I have come to save the day and I won't leave until I'm done
So that's why you've got to try
You got to breathe and have some fun
Though I'm not paid, I play this game and I won't stop until I'm done
But what I really want to know is are you gonna go my way?
And I got to... got to know
I don't know why we always cry
This we must leave and get undone
We must engage and rearrange and turn this planet back to one
So tell me why we got to die and kill each other one by one
We've got to hug and rub-a-dub
We've got to dance and be in love
But what I really want to know is are you gonna go my way?
And I got to... got to know
Are you gonna go my way?
'Cause baby I got to know
Yeah
02 Believe (04:55)
Where's the love we had ?
When did it go bad ?
Or am I just insecure ?
I give all I can
Baby I'm your man
Tell me what you're in this for
Remind me
I can't go on
I know not what to do
My heart is worn
I feel as If I'm through
Please believe in me
'Cause what I need is for you
To believe in me
Countless sleepless nights
Never ending fights
I'm trying to make your dreams come true
I will sacrifice to find paradise
But I need to know you're behind me
I can't go on
I know not what to do
My heart is worn
I feel as If I'm through
Please believe in me
'Cause what I need is for you
To believe in me
I can't go on
I know not what to do
My heart is worn
I feel as If I'm through
Please believe in me
'Cause what I need is for you
To believe in me
I can't go on
I know not what to do
My heart is worn
I feel as If I'm through
Please believe in me
'Cause what I need is for you
To believe in me
To believe in me
To believe in me
04 Heaven Help (03:11)
There comes a time to be free of the heart
I wanna be ready, ready to start
On a love journey, got places to go
Made up my mind and I have got to let you know
Heaven help the heart that lets me inside
Heaven help the one who comes in my life
Heaven help the fool that walks through my door
'Cause I decided right now
I'm ready for love
A funny feeling's coming over me
Now I'm inspired and open to being
In a love place but it's out of my hands
I'm telling you baby that you got to understand
Heaven help the heart that lets me inside
Heaven help the one who comes in my life
Heaven help the fool that walks through my door
'Cause I decided right now
I'm ready for love
I can't see what's out there for me
And I know love offers no guarantees
I'll take a chance and I'm telling you something babe
I got to let you know
Heaven help the heart that lets me inside
Heaven help the one who comes in my life
Heaven help the fool that walks through my door
'Cause I decided right now
I'm ready for love, ready for love
Take a chance, take the chance on love
09 Sugar (03:58)
I'm yours and you are here
Don't you really want to feel
That my love is turning on
And it feels so real
So tell me what's the deal yeah
I'm coming back for more and more
You do it to me 'till I can't take no more
And I know
That all of that real good lovin is oh so real
and I want all your time when I'm down here
Sugar dance for me
Sugar taste so sweet
Climb on and take the wheel
There's nothing here for you to fear
And my love won't lead you wrong
Let me make this clear
Sweeter and sweeter I'll always make you feel
I'm coming home, I'm oh so low
I need you baby, come on let's go
'Cause only you are my lover
And you're so sincere and fine, so divine
And you're all mine, sugar caramel
Sugar, and it tastes so sweet
Sugar, my fantasy
Sugar you were made for me
Hey sugar my fantasy
Sugar and it tastes so sweet
Sugar my fantasy
Oh my sugar baby lovin' is so sweet to me
Sugar and it tastes so sweet
Sugar you're my fantasy
Sugar on and on
Sugar say I want your baby
Want your lovin' say I want your baby
Want your loving' yeah
10 Sister (07:05)
Sister
Did you have to fall in love
With a man that was up to no good
He took your soul an he stole your only heart
Flipped your wig and left a permanent scar
Sister
Did you have to go away
You left your home
And the things you had to say
It didn't feel good to let you slide
I never got to say goodbye
I miss you girl I think I'm gonna cry
If they knock on your door you already gave
You don't need no more of what's ailing you
Just lean on your soul with all that it takes
May God bring back home to America
America
Sister
It's just a test of faith
Your heart is pure so the devil's in your face
I'll see you soon 'cause thy haven't got a case
You'll be free in a beautiful place
If the knock on your door you already gave
11 Eleutheria (04:50)
Written by: Lenny Kravitz
My life is perfect
Because I accept it as it is
The sunshine is shining
Because it is what it is
What a beautiful feeling it's bringing
All the birds in the sky are singing
Eleutheria the fire is burning
Eleutheria the tables are turning
A new day is dawning
Because it is time for a change
with new consciousness forming
There comes a new day
Oh we got to keep on trying
When the children are cold and alone and are crying
You got to understand
Eleutheria the bells are ringing
Eleutheria the people are singing
Eleutheria people are yearning
Eleutheria this world keeps on turning
Turning
What a beautiful feeling it's bringing
All the birds in the sky are singing
You got to understand
Eleutheris the fire is burning
Eleutheria the tables are turning
Eleutheria the bells are ringing
The people keep singing
The fire is burning
The tables are turning
Got to keep on
Keep on keeping on
12 Ascension (03:49)
Brothers and sisters,
Everythings gonna be alright
We gonna be together in the moonlight
No more pain or strife or sorrow
It's a brand new day
You don't need no money
'Cause everything's free
Come with me baby,
'Cause it's been such a long long time
It's time for ascension
To be free, to be wild
Hey look at that smile
On that pretty girl's face
She got no positions,
But she's poised and has grace
It's an inner beauty thing baby,
That shines and shines
It ain't about your appearance
But the soul, look inside
So come with me baby,
'Cause it's been such a long long time
It's time for ascension
To be free, to be wild
Rise up, rise up
Get up, get up
Come on, come on
Come with me baby,
'Cause it's been such a long long time
It's time for ascension
To be free, to be wild
Come with me baby,
'Cause it's been such a long long time
It's time for ascension
To be free, to be wild
To be wild, to be wild,
To be free to be wide
Free
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