• Voto:
Vorrei, prima di aprire ufficialmente questa recensione, dire che in quanto persona con (un minimo) di cervello sono assolutamente contro i greatest hits. Dettò ciò vorrei anche aggiungere che, quando si parla di un' artista del calibro di Lisa Stansfield, il mio poco cervello va a farsi friggere e accetto di tutto, anche un greatest hits: ed è proprio di "Biography", raccolta delle più grandi hits della nostra grandissima interprete, che vi parlerò.
Il disco propone le più celebri e belle canzoni di questa splendida artista britannica: l'album si apre con la "celeberrima" "Change", canzone influenzata dall'ondata pop/dance degli anni 80; la song si presenta come pezzo raffinatissimo, nel quale la voce di Lisa detta regola. La seconda traccia è secondo il mio parere una delle più belle canzoni in ambito pop: "Someday" ci fa meglio conoscere le varie influenze musicali della Stansfield: è proprio qui che sentiamo nell'interpretazione una forte impostazione data dal suo "maestro" Barry White: la voce si fa ora più tonda e profonda, più SOUL. Eccellente la base musicale che si divide tra tonalità pop ed altre più soul. Ancora sonorità dance con la bellissima "This Is The Right Time", canzone d' amore che si distacca di molto dalle solite sdolcinate musichette che imperversano ora nelle radio. L'allegria che pervade questa canzone la fa distaccare dunque dai soliti clichè delle più classiche canzoni d'amore. Si passa così ad una delle più note canzoni della nostra interprete: "The Real Thing", splendida canzone pop che getta le basi al pop dei 90, anche se in questo caso, un'ottima voce ed anche una buona melodia fanno si che non si scada nel trash odierno. Il duetto con Coldcut "People Hold On", rappresenta invece uno dei punti più bassi dell'album: la canzone iper-cervellotica, non trova una ragione di esistere in un album composto da alcune delle più belle canzoni della Stansfield. La base si presenta troppo vicina alla spazzatura dance/plasticosa degli anni '80. Si ritorna invece ad ottimi livelli con la successiva "In All The Right Places", pezzo tanto delicato quanto dolce: la voce di Lisa in questo caso si adatta dunque ad un soul/pop che mi ha ricordato per alcuni versi la bellissima "No More I Love Yous" di Annie Lennox. "So Natural", rappresenta un altro "gol" segnato dalla nostra, che raccogliendo la migliore tradizione del già citato Barry White, si presenta come canzone in bilico tra soul e pop.
"Only You In My Dreams.." sono le parole di apertura del vero capolavoro di questo disco (assieme ad "All Woman"): "Time To Make You Mine" canzone bellissima basata su un cantato sussurrato. È un vero piacere poter ascoltare oggi una canzone del genere, tanto risulta essere bella. Ottimo tra l'altro il testo che vi consiglio di leggere. "Live Together" e "Little Bit Of Heaven", sono due buonissime canzoni dance/pop, che fanno da "preludio" ad un altro capolavoro estremo di questa artista: "Set Your Loving Free", fantastico pezzo soul/dance, nel quale la voce di Lisa detta assolutamente regola, trasportandoci con un ritornello veramente unico in quanto a bellezza. "Let's Just Call It Love" rappresenta l'ultimo grande successo (in ordine cronologico) rilasciato dall' artista: la canzone si muove su territori dance pop, che pur non brillando particolarmente in quanto originalità si fa comunque lodare per i "virtuosismi" vocali di questa fantastica cantante. Le due canzoni successive sono due cover di canzoni tanto belle quanto famose: la prima è "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up", grandissimo successo firmato White, che non risulta essere alterato grazie alla grande interpretazione della Stansfield; l'altro è invece "These Are The Days Of Our Life", mitica canzone interpretata al live commemorativo a Freddy Mercury, nella quale troviamo protangonisti oltre alla Stansfield anche un grandissimo George Michael ed i Queen: questo perfetto connubbio musicale pur non raggiungendo la perfezione (specialmente vocale) di Mercury, risulta essere abbastanza bello e compie alla perfezione il suo compito, ossia quello di ricordare un grande della musica. Bellissimo il finale con un vocalizio davvero delizioso. "Down It Depths" si divide tra sonorità soul ed altre jazz, con un' interpretazione molto vicina a quelle delle grandi dei tempi che furono (mi riferisco ad Aretha Franklin o Dionne Warwick). Ed eccoci ora ad un altro punto fondamentale dell' album: "All Woman", bellissima canzone d'amore condotta alla grande dalla voce della Stansfield, che accompagnata da una base musicale veramente commovente, va a comporre veramente un capolavoro. Si conclude il disco con un'altra cover, sempre di Barry White: "Around The World" canzone accompagnata da un'eccellente base musicale e da un bellissimo testo d'amore.
Bhè abbiamo così finito l'ascolto di un greatest veramente fantastico, una delle poche raccolte che mi abbia veramante colpito. Aggiungo fra l'altro che trovo veramente scandaloso lo "snobismo" italiano nei confronti di questa grandiosa artista, sicuramente molto più dotata rispetto alle migliaia di pseudo-cantanti che infestano ora il mercato discografico.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Change (04:33)
If I could change the way I live my life today
I wouldn't change a single thing
'Cos if I change my world into another place
I wouldn't see your smiling face
Honey don't you worry, there's nothin' to worry for
'Cos if I didn't love you I wouldn't be here now
And if I didn't want you I would have turned around by now
You've got to believe me babe, believe that I love you so
'Cos if I didn't love you I would have turned around
And if I didn't want you, then I would want you out
This love, this love has filled me up
Ooh my love I'll never give you up
'Cos I'll always want your love
If I could change the way I live my life today
I wouldn't change a single thing
'Cos if I change my world into another place
I wouldn't see your smiling face
Believing is the answer, the answer to all your fears
When I first said I loved you, I went in for the kill
Now when I say I love you, I mean I always will
This love, this love has filled me up
Ooh my love I'll never give you up
'Cos I'll always want your love
If I could change the way I live my life today
I wouldn't change a single thing
'Cos if I change my world into another place
I wouldn't see your smiling face
This love, this love has filled me up
Ooh my love I'll never give you up
'Cos I'll always want your love
If I could change the way I live my life today
I wouldn't change a single thing
'Cos if I change my world into another place
I wouldn't see your smiling face
02 Someday (I'm Coming Back) (04:56)
Someday I'm coming back, and it won't be long
Before you call me and tell me to come home
Someday I'm coming back, and it won't be long
Before I'm home, home and in your arms
What did I do my darling ? That made you send me running
Told you to cast me down and throw me out
What can I tell you honey, If I don't know what I've done
All I can hope is that you ask me to come back home
Someday I'm coming back, and it won't be long
Before you call me and tell me to come home
Someday I'm coming back, and it won't be long
Before I'm home, home and in your arms
Even in stormy weather, we always stick together
You always kept me near, we're so sincere
So why so sudden the change of heart
Why do I feel like I've done wrong ?
When all that I want is that you ask me to come back home
Someday I'm coming back, and it won't be long
Before you call me and tell me to come home
Someday I'm coming back, and it won't be long
Before I'm home, home and in your arms
Someday, someway (I never wanted anyone so much)
Someday, someway
What did I do my darling ? That made you send me running
Told you to cast me down and throw me out
What can I tell you honey, If I don't know what I've done
All I can hope is that you ask me to come back home
So why so sudden the change of heart
Why do I feel like I've done wrong ?
When all that I want is that you ask me to come back home
Someday I'm coming back, and it won't be long
Before you call me and tell me to come home
Someday I'm coming back, and it won't be long
Before I'm home, home and in your arms
04 The Real Thing (04:18)
Never mind the stars in the sky
Never mind the when and the why
Got a feeling higher than high
This is the real thing
No more living in shame
And I'm not gonna run or gonna hide away
No more telling all those lies
It's been too long
No more living in chains
No, I don't give a damn whet the people say
There's no use holding back desire
We've burnt our fingers now lets jump into the flames
Never mind the stars in the sky
Never mind the when and the why
Got a feeling higher than high
This is the real thing
Never mind the rain and the storm
We'll keep each other warm
We got something stronger than strong
This is the real thing
Gonna walk out hand in hand
So let them criticise 'cos they don't understand
We've got nothing to hide
It's just love
I've had enough of shy
So let's go out and show them what we have inside
There's no use holding back desire
We've burnt our fingers now let's jump into tho fire
Never mind the stars in the sky
Never mind the when and the why
Got a feeling higher than high
This is the real thing
Never mind the rain and the storm
We'll keep each other warm
We got something stronger than strong
This is the real thing
Never mind the stars in the sky baby
Never mind the when and the why baby
Never mind the stars in the sky baby
'Cos I've got a feeling that's higher than high
Oh, what you do to me, baby
Oh, what you do to me, baby
This is the real thing
Never mind the stars in the sky
Never mind the when and the why
Got a feeling higher than high
This is the real thing
Never mind the rain and the storm
We'll keep each other warm
We got something stronger than strong
This is the real thing
Never mind the stars in the sky baby
Never mind the when and the why baby
Never mind the stars in the sky baby
'Cos I've got a feeling that's higher than high
Never mind the stars in the sky
Never mind the when and the why
Got a feeling higher than high
This is the real thing
Never mind the rain and the storm
We'll keep each other warm
We got something stronger than strong
This is the real thing
07 So Natural (05:05)
It's so natural the way you touch me
So natural the way you run your fingers through my hair
It's so natural the way you make me feel like I'm a lady
It's so natural the way you care
It's so natural
When I feel low. you pull me higher
You warm me up, set me on fire
Well there's no way in this world
I could ever be without you
You come home, and I am waiting for you
To come over and give me hungry kisses
of love, of love, so true
And there's no way in this world
I could ever be without you
It's so natural the way you touch me
So natural the way you run your fingers through my hair
It's so natural the way you make me feel like I'm a lady
It's so natural the way you care
It's so natural
With hands so warm, you touch my very soul
You pull me closer, so I won't feel the cold
Just love, love, Your love, so true
And there's no way in this world
I could ever be without you
Swimming in the love you give me
It's so natural
08 Time to Make You Mine (04:10)
Only in my dreams
I've seen the way it's gonna be
I've waited for this moment
The moment when we share ourselves
This moment can't be thought about
It has to be felt
We're closer to each other
Closer than we've ever been
Seeing things we've never seen before
I've dreamed your fingers touch me a thousand times
Dreamed the warm skin of your body burning next to mine
Kissed your sugar lips, caressed your hips
Now we're together baby now it's time
Time to make you mine
Time to make you mine
The sweet anticipation of hands I know will touch me soon
Two fascinating shadows move in time
I've dreamed your fingers touch me a thousand times
Dreamed the warm skin of your body burning next to mine
Kissed your sugar lips, caressed your hips
Now we're together baby now it's time
Time to make you mine
Time to make you mine
I know what it's gonna be
Me and you, you and me
I thought that it would never be
I only knew it in my dreams
Even though you're here with me
I never thought I'd feel such ecstasy
We're closer to each other
Closer than we've ever been
Seeing things we've never seen before
I've dreamed your fingers touch me a thousand times
Dreamed the warm skin of your body burning next to mine
Kissed your sugar lips, caressed your hips
Now we're together baby now it's time
Time to make you mine
Time to make you mine
I've dreamed your fingers touch me a thousand times
Dreamed the warm skin of your body burning next to mine
Kissed your sugar lips, caressed your hips
Now we're together baby now it's time
Time to make you mine
Time to make you mine
13 Never, Never Gonna Give You Up (03:51)
(Barry White)
Spoken:
Oh baby, you know I've waited, waited so long
To sing...to sing this song
Whatever, whatever, babe I'll do it
Forever and ever, yeah. yeah, yeah, yeah,
I'll see you through it
I've got to keep you pleased in every way I can
Gonna give you all of me, as much or you can stand
Make love to you right now, that's all I want to do
I know you need it boy and you know
I need it too, cause
I've found what the world is searchin' for
Here, right here my dear I don't have to look no more
And all of my days I hoped and I prayed
For someone just like you to makes me feel the way you do
Chorus:
Never Never gonna give you up,
I'm never ever gonna stop
Not the way I feel about you babe
I just can't live without you
I'm never ever gonna quit 'cause quiting just ain't my schtick
I'm gonna lay right here with you and do all the
things you want me to
Whatever you want, boy you got it
And whatever you need
I don't want to see you without it
You've given me much more than words could ever say
Oh my dear I'II be right here until my dying day
i don't know just how to say all the things I feel
I just know that I love you so and it gives me
such a thrill 'cause
I've found what the world is lookin' for
Here, right here my dear I don't have to search no more
And all of my days I hoped and I prayed
For someone just like you to makes me feel the way you do
Chorus x 2
16 All Woman (05:16)
He's home again from another day
She smiles at him as he walks through the door
She wonders if it will be okay
It's hard for her when he doesn't respond
He says babe you look a mess
You look dowdy in that dress
It's just not like it used to be
Then she says...
I may not be a lady
But I'm all woman
From monday to sunday I work harder than you know
I'm no classy lady
But I'm all woman
And this woman needs a little love to make her strong
You're not the only one
She stands there and lets the tears flow
Tears that she's been holding back so long
She wonders where did all the loving go
The love they used to share when they were strong
She says yes I look a mess
But I don't love you any less
I thought you always thought enough of me to always be impressed
I may not be a lady
But I'm all woman
From monday to sunday I work harder than you know
I'm no classy lady
But I'm all woman
And this woman needs a little love to make her strong
You're not the only one
He holds her and hangs his head in shame
He doesn't see her like he used to do
He's too wrapped up in working for his pay
He hasn't seen the pain he's put her through
Attention that he paid
Just vanished in the haze
He remembers how it used to be
When he used to say
You'll always be a lady
'Cos you're all woman
From monday to sunday I love you much more than you know
You're a classy lady
'Cos you're all woman
This woman needs a loving man to keep her warm
You're the only one
You're a classy lady
'Cos you're all woman
So sweet the love that used to be
So sweet the love that used to be
We can be sweet again...
17 All Around the World (04:21)
I don't know where my baby is
but I'll find him, somewhere, somehow
I've got to let him know how much I care
I'll never give up looking for my baby
Been around the world and I, I, I
I can't find my baby
I don't know when, I don't know why
Why he's gone away
And I don't know where he can be, my baby
But I'm gonna find him
We had a quarrel and I let myself go
I said so many things, things he didn't know
And I was oh oh so bad
And I don't think he's comin' back, mm mm
He gave the reason, the reasons he should go
And he said so many things he never said before
And he was oh oh so mad
And I don't think he's comin', comin' back
I did too much lyin', wasted too much time,
Now I'm here a'cryin', I, I, I
Been around the world and I, I, I
I can't find my baby
I don't know when, I don't know why
Why he's gone away
And I don't know where he can be, my baby
But I'm gonna find him
So open hearted, he never did me wrong
I was the one, the weakest one of all
And now I'm oh oh so sad
And I don't think he's comin' back, comin' back
I did too much lyin', wasted too much time,
Now I'm here a'cryin', I, I, I
Been around the world and I, I, I
I can't find my baby
I don't know when, I don't know why
Why he's gone away
And I don't know where he can be, my baby
But I'm gonna find him
Been around the world and I, I, I
I can't find my baby
I don't know when, I don't know why
Why he's gone away
And I don't know where he can be, my baby
But I'm gonna find him
I'm gonna find him, my baby
I did too much lyin', wasted too much time,
Now I'm here a'cryin', I, I, I
Been around the world and I, I, I
I can't find my baby
I don't know when, I don't know why
Why he's gone away
And I don't know where he can be, my baby
But I'm gonna find him
I've been around the world, lookin' from my baby
Been around the world, and I'm gonna
Gonna find him
Been around the world and I, I, I
I can't find my baby
I don't know when, I don't know why
Why he's gone away
And I don't know where he can be, my baby
But I'm gonna find him
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