Recensione album Thriller di Michael Jackson

Il 1 Dicembre del 1982 viene pubblicato l’album Thriller di un giovane Michael Jackson che da qualche anno aveva stretto un ottimo rapporto di collaborazione musicale con il famoso produttore Quincy Jones. L’opera scaturita da questa collaborazione ha avuto una risonanza e un impatto tale da risollevare le sorti del mercato discografico mondiale che in quei tempi era in crisi. Thriller è ad oggi l’album più venduto di sempre, si contano circa 110 milioni di copie vendute ma il numero aumenta ogni anno. La peculiarità di Thriller è che questo album, grazie alla sua semplicità e alle sue melodie senza tempo, è riuscito ad abbattere tutte le barriere etniche nel mondo della musica. L’opera di Jackson ha permesso alla musica nera di inserirsi nelle case della gente bianca da sempre legata al rock e ad altri generi diversi. Il pop di Thriller è davvero vario perché in esso sono presenti rimanenze della disco anni 70’, miste a r’n b e hard rock e funky.

L’album si apre con la famosa apripista “Wanna be starting something”, pezzo molto energico dalle forti influenze Funky, i cui ritmi serrati hanno riscosso molto successo specie nei live del cantante. Il pezzo parla delle paranoie di Jackson nei confronti dei mass media, tema affrontato in tutti i suoi lavori successivi. Un vero cult sono i cori finali che campionano un brano del sassofonista Manu Dibango. La seconda traccia, “Baby be mine” riprende i ritmi e le sonorità del precedente album “Off the wall” di Jackson, il pezzo è molto raffinato per via della ricercatezza dei suoni usati. Il terzo brano ,”The girl is mine” è frutto della collaborazione con Paul McCartney e si notano molto le influenze dell’artista britannico in questo pezzo molto leggero e dai toni rilassati, anche questo è un vero classico. La vera grandezza di Thriller la si avverte dalla quarta traccia. la title-track è un vero capolavoro jacksoniano senza tempo, dalle ritmiche accattivanti rese tali dalle chitarre funky e dalla linea di basso energica. Il brano è arricchito da rumori di porte che scricchiolano e dagli ululati di lupi che enfatizzano le tematiche horror trattate nella canzone.

L’album prosegue con il pezzo hard rock funky “Beat it”che vede la partecipazione del noto chitarrista Eddie Van Hallen nell’assolo del bridge. Il brano è anch’esso un classico anni 80’ e ad esso va il merito di aver avvicinato la musica di Jackson ai gusti dei bianchi decretandone così il successo internazionale. Il brano tratta il complesso tema delle lotte tra bande nelle strade. A questo punto siamo arrivati al fulcro centrale dell’album, parliamo del pezzo forse più famoso del catalogo del cantante, “Billy Jean” è una mid-tempo dalle sonorità dance miste all’r’n b ed è tutt’oggi vista come una delle canzoni che hanno ridefinito il genere pop moderno, grazie al giro di basso sincopato e dal ritmo della batteria, capolavoro. La settima traccia è la melodiosa “Human nature” le cui sonorità sono state curate dalla band Toto. Le musiche evocative associate alla voce melodica del cantante e al testo molto introspettivo hanno reso il brano molto celebre e soggetto a varie covers. La penultima traccia è un’ennesima prodezza pop dai ritmi funky, si parla di “Pretty young thing” le cui melodie sono scandite dal ritmo del bongo e dai cori femminili molto coinvolgenti. L’ultima traccia dell’album è la sofisticata ballata romantica “The lady in my life”, altro ever green le cui melodie soft sono accompagnate da una voce quasi sussurrata del cantante.

Così si conclude Thriller, un album davvero unico che rimarrà sempre un vero mezzo di paragone per qualunque opera pop contemporanea. Un’opera che segna in modo indelebile la musica popolare.

Elenco tracce testi samples e video

01   Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (06:02)

Chorus
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
1St Verse
I took my baby to the doctor
With a fever, but nothing he found
By the time this hit the street
They said she had a breakdown
Someone's always tryin' to start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', lyin'
Sayin' you just wanna be startin' somethin'

Chorus
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)

2Nd Verse
You love to pretend that you're good
When you're always up to no good
You really can't make him hate her
So your tongue became a razor
Someone's always tryin' to keep my baby cryin'
Treacherous, cunnin', declinin'
You got my baby cryin'

Chorus
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
You're a vegetable, you're a vegetable
Still they hate you, you're a vegetable
You're just a buffet, you're a vegetable
They eat off of you, you're a vegetable

3Rd Verse
Billie Jean is always talkin'
When nobody else is talkin'
Tellin' lies and rubbin' shoulders
So they called her mouth a motor
Someone's always tryin' to start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', spyin'
Sayin' you just wanna be startin' somethin'
Chorus
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
You're a vegetable, you're a vegetable
Still they hate you, you're a vegetable
You're just a buffet, you're a vegetable
They eat off of you, you're a vegetable

Ad-lib
If you cant feed your baby (yeah, yeah)
Then don't have a baby (yeah, yeah)
And don't think maybe (yeah, yeah)
If you can't feed your baby (yeah, yeah)
You'll be always tryin'
To stop that child from cryin'
Hustlin', stealin', lyin'
Now baby's slowly dyin'

Chorus
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)

Ad-lib
Lift your head up high
And scream out to the world
I know I am someone
And let the truth unfurl
No one can hurt you now
Because you know what's true
Yes, I believe in me
So you believe in you
Help me sing it, ma ma se
Ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa
Ma ma coo sa
(Repeat/fade-out)

02   Baby Be Mine (04:20)

03   The Girl Is Mine (03:42)

04   Thriller (05:57)

It's close to midnight
And something evil's lurkin' in the dark
Under the moonlight
You see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream
But terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze
As horror looks you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed

'Cause this is thriller
Thriller night
And no one's gonna save you
From the beast about to strike
You know it's thriller
Thriller night
You're fighting for your life
Inside a killer
Thriller tonight, yeah

You hear the door slam
And realize there's nowhere left to run
You feel the cold hand
And wonder if you'll ever see the sun
You close your eyes
And hope that this is just imagination
Girl, but all the while
You hear a creature creepin' up behind
You're outta time

'Cause this is thriller
Thriller night
There ain't no second chance
Against the thing with the forty eyes, girl
(Thriller)
(Thriller night)
You're fighting for your life
Inside a killer
Thriller tonight

Night creatures call
And the dead start to walk in their masquerade
There's no escaping the jaws of the alien this time
(They're open wide)
This is the end of your life

They're out to get you
There's demons closing in on every side
They will possess you
Unless you change that number on your dial
Now is the time
For you and I to cuddle close together, yeah
All through the night
I'll save you from the terror on the screen
I'll make you see

That this is thriller
Thriller night
'Cause I can thrill you more
Than any ghost would ever dare try
(Thriller)
(Thriller night)
So let me hold you tight
And share a
(killer, diller, chiller)
(Thriller here tonight)

'Cause this is thriller
Thriller night
Girl, I can thrill you more
Than any ghost would ever dare try
(Thriller)
(Thriller night)
So let me hold you tight
And share a
(killer, thriller)

I'm gonna thrill you tonight

[Rap]
Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize y'awl's neighborhood
And whosoever shall be found
Without the soul for getting down
Must stand and face the hounds of hell
And rot inside a corpse's shell

I'm gonna thrill you tonight
(Thriller, thriller)
I'm gonna thrill you tonight
(Thriller night, thriller))
I'm gonna thrill you tonight
Ooh, babe, I'm gonna thrill you tonight
Thriller night, babe

[Rap]
The foulest stench is in the air
The funk of forty thousand years
And grizzly ghouls from every tomb
Are closing in to seal your doom
And though you fight to stay alive
Your body starts to shiver
for no mortal can resist
the evil of the thriller

05   Beat It (04:18)

They told him don't you ever come around here
Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear
The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear
So beat it, just beat it

You better run, you better do what you can
Don't wanna see no blood, don't be a macho man (Uh)
You wanna be tough, better do what you can
So beat it, but you wanna be bad

Just beat it, (beat it), beat it, (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky strong it's your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it

Uh!

They're out to get you, better leave while you can
Don't wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man
You wanna stay alive, better do what you can
So beat it, just beat it (Uh)

You have to show them that you're really not scared (Uuh)
You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare (Uh!)
They'll kick you, then they beat you,
Then they'll tell you it's fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad

Just beat it, (beat it), beat it, (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky strong it's your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Chorus
Just beat it, (beat it), beat it, (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky strong it's your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it (x 12)

(Guitar solo)

Beat it, (beat it), beat it, (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky strong it's your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
(Oooh, right!)
(wooohooo)

Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated (Oh, lord)
Showin' how funky (Eeh, eeh) strong it's your fight (Eeh, eeh)
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it, (beat it), beat it, (beat it), beat it
No one wants to be defeated (Oh, no)
Showin' how funky (Eeh, eeh)strong it's your fight(Eeh, eeh)
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it, (beat it), beat it, (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky strong it's your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right (Who’s wrong)
Just beat it, (beat it) (Wooohooo)
Beat it, beat it, beat it

06   Billie Jean (04:54)

She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene
I said don't mind, but what do you mean I am the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round
She said I am the one, who will dance on the floor in the round

She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene
Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round

People always told me,
"Be careful of what you do,
And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts."
And mother always told me,
"Be careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do 'cause the lie becomes the truth."

Now Billie Jean is not my lover
She's just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one
But the kid is not my son
No, no.

For forty days and for forty nights
The law was on her side
But who can stand when she's in demand
Her schemes and plans
'Cause we danced on the floor in the round
So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice
(Do think twice)

She told my baby we'd danced till three, then she looked at me
Then showed a photo my baby cried his eyes were like mine (oh, no!)
'Cause we danced on the floor in the round, baby

People always told me,
"Be careful of what you do,
And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts."
(don't break no hearts!)
But she came and stood right by me
Then the smell of sweet perfume
This happened much too soon
She called me to her room

Billie Jean is not my lover
She's just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son

Billie Jean is not my lover
She's just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son (No, no)
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son

She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
Billie Jean is not my lover
She's just a girl who claims that I am the one (ad lib)
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son

She says I am the one
She says He is my son
She says I am the one

Billie Jean is not my lover...

07   Human Nature (04:06)

Written & Composed by Steve Porcaro & John Bettis


Looking out
Across the night-time
The city winks a sleepless eye
Hear her voice
Shake my window
Sweet seducing sighs

Get me out
Into the night-time
Four walls won't hold me tonight
If this town
Is just an apple
Then let me take a bite

Chorus
If they say -
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say -
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way


Reaching out
To touch a stranger
Electric eyes are ev'rywhere
See that girl
She knows I'm watching
She likes the way I stare

Chorus
If they say -
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say -
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
I like livin' this way
I like lovin' this way
(Instrumental section)

Looking out
Across the morning
The city's heart begins to beat
Reaching out
I touch her shoulder
I'm dreaming of the street

Chorus
If they say -
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say -
Why, why, tell 'em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
I like livin' this way

(Repeat Chorus - Ad-lib/fade-out)

08   P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (03:59)

Where did you come from lady
And ooh won't you take me there
Right away won't you baby
Tendoroni you've got to be
Spark my nature
Sugar fly with me
Don't you know now
Is the perfect time
We can make it right
Hit the city lights
Then tonight ease the lovin' pain
Let me take you to the max

I want to love you (P. Y. T.)
Pretty Young Thing
You need some lovin' (T. L. C.)
Tender lovin' care
And I'll take you there
I want to love you (P. Y. T.)
Pretty Young Thing
You need some lovin' (T. L. C.)
Tender lovin' care
And I'll shake you there

Anywhere you wanna go

Nothin' can stop this burnin'
Desire to be with you
Gotta get to you baby
Won't you come, it's emergency
Cool my fire yearnin'
Honey, come set me free
Don't you know now is the perfect time
We can dim the lights
Just to make it right
In the night
Hit the lovin' spot
I'll give you all that I've got

I want to love you (P. Y. T.)
Pretty Young Thing
You need some lovin' (T. L. C.)
Tender lovin' care
And I'll take you there
I want to love you (P. Y. T.)
Pretty Young Thing
You need some lovin' (T. L. C.)
Tender lovin' care
I'll take you there
Breakdown
Pretty young things, repeat after me
(Michael) Sing na na na
(P. Y. T.'s) na na na
(Michael) na na na na
(P. Y. T.'s) na na na na
(Michael) Sing na na na
(P. Y. T.'s) na na na
(Michael) na na na na na
(P. Y. T.'s) na na na na na
(Michael) I'll take you there

I want to love you (P. Y. T.)
Pretty Young Thing
You need some lovin' (T. L. C.)
Tender lovin' care
And I'll take you there
I want to love you (P. Y. T.)
Pretty Young Thing
You need some lovin' (T. L. C.)
Tender lovin' care
I'll take you there

I want to love you (P. Y. T.)
Pretty Young Thing
You need some lovin' (T. L. C.)
Tender lovin' care
And I'll take you there
I want to love you (P. Y. T.)
Pretty Young Thing
You need some lovin' (T. L. C.)
Tender lovin' care
I'll take you there

09   The Lady in My Life (04:59)

10   Voice-Over Session from "Thriller" (00:24)

11   The Girl Is Mine 2008 (03:12)

12   P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008 (04:21)

13   Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 (04:14)

14   Beat It 2008 (04:12)

15   Billie Jean 2008 (Kanye West mix) (04:38)

16   For All Time (04:04)

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Altre recensioni

Di  RingoStarfish

 Thriller rappresenta un caso a sè in assoluto, sicuramente il più accreditato candidato al competitivo ruolo di album-simbolo culturale di un decennio.

 Michael Jackson è un fenomeno così singolare che si potrebbe aver ascoltato tutta la sua discografia senza capire cosa questo disco ha da offrire.


Di  tommithebest

 Questo qua, signori è l'album più venduto nella storia della musica.

 Secondo la mia opinione questo non è un semplice album, è una vera opera d’arte, è semplicemente perfetto nella sua varietà, senza però mai esagerare.


Di  lucumine74

 Thriller è la storia della musica pop raccolta in un 33 giri.

 Billie Jean, il pezzo simbolo degli anni 80, da solo vale il prezzo del disco.


Di  ronnie92

 Thriller è un fenomeno musicale talmente raro da non avere precedenti.

 Se pensiamo che è entrato di recente a far parte nel Guinness dei Primati come album più venduto e premiato al mondo... bè fate i vostri conti.


Di  andrew1992

 "Thriller è uno di quei pochi album che riesce ad unire la musica 'nera', allegra e danzereccia, a quella 'bianca' più moderata e rockettara."

 "Billie Jean è una di quelle canzoni che verrà ricordata finché la musica esisterà. Immortale."