• Voto:
Poteva mancare nella mia carriera recensistica un album come Thriller? Come il miglior Marzullo mi do una risposta secca: NO! Come disse il grande RingoStarFish, Thriller è un album più facile dare per scontato che affrontare. Per il semplice fatto che è un fenomeno musicale talmente raro da non avere precedenti (eccetto il mitico Sergeant Pepper Lovely ecc. ecc., il quale fra l'altro ha compiuto di recente i 40 o i 50 anni. Auguri e complimenti ai Beatles). Ora, diciamo che ormai di Thriller è stato detto di tutto, su DeBaser, inizialmente RingoStarFish mise la prima traccia sfornando la più bella e completa recensione che abbia mai letto. Tommythebest poi aggiunse qualche concetto in più confermando un ottimo esordio. Quindi le recensioni su questo album non mancano però fa sempre piacere al recensore parlare e dare la sua interpretazione su un album.
Si dice che Michael Jackson da bambino aveva un sogno: creare l'album più venduto di tutti i tempi. Forse sarà la sua forza di volontà e la sua esperienza che lo porteranno a realizzare l'album più bello, venduto e premiato di sempre. Introdusse il concetto di video musicale come lo intendiamo noi oggi. Cioè un vero film a scopo promozionale. Il budget fu però superato di molto. Quindi per recuperare le spese, si realizzò "The Making of Thriller", ovvero i trucchi per realizzarlo, i dietro le quinte e i commenti dei protagonisti. Ovviamente ebbe un successo strepitoso anche perchè Mike era, secondo la mia opinione, al suo massimo splendore, cioè figo con la testa sulle spalle a differenza di gente che dice che il suo momento migliore è stato la "Dangerous Era" ma sono solo opinioni e congetture personali. Comunque se oltre allo status da superstar linda e tutto il resto si aggiungono 9 tracce bellissime degne di iniettarsi nel patrimonio di chi abbia almeno acceso una radio negli ultimi 25 anni, allora si può sicuramente pensare che questo sia un fenomeno non raro, unico. Se pensiamo che è entrato di recente a far parte nel Guinness dei Primati come album più venduto e premiato al mondo... bé fate i vostri conti.
Gli altri due video che vennero girati per le altre canzoni furono più "normali" ma non per questo privi di originalità. La famosa camminata di Michael sulle piastrelle che si illuminano ad ogni suo passo nel video di "Billie Jean", può essere benissimo paragonata alle scene dei più famosi film come il ballo di John Travolta ne "La febbre Del Sabato Sera" oppure la frase "Siete una manica di cogl***i" pronunciata da Al Pacino nel film "Scarface" oppure ancora l'urlo di Rocky Balboa "ADRIANAAAAAAA" nel primo film...
Thriller contiene 9 canzoni tutte di grande successo. Esaminiamole:
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" è un ottimo inizio per l'album per via di quel ritmo dance-afro-funk rallentato ma comunque vivace e sostenuto che sembra invitarti a ballare;
"Baby Be Mine" rappresenta la "Rock With You" degli anni '80 per via di quella voce hot e sensuale che fa innamorare e\o eccitare tutte le donne che incontra;
Ricordate quando, nella recensione di Off The Wall parlavo degli di alcuni aiutini da parte di altri artisti? Ovviamente stavo parlando di "The Girl Is Mine", l'ottimo duetto fra MJ e Paul McCartney infatti "lancerà" una manciata di stelle sulla del suddetto Mike. Ma i carichi pesanti arriveranno fra poco...
OK, ci siamo gustati un ottimo aperitivo ma che ne dite di passare alle portate principali? Che dire di "Thriller"? Il perfetto bilanciamento fra Pop\R&B\Dance\Rock, la canzone che, come ho gia detto, ha rivoluzionato il modo di fare videoclip per il suo stile horror e magico. Ciliegina sulla torta, il rap finale di Vincent Price che gela il sangue e rende "Thriller" (forse) la prima canzone ad avere una guest star. E poi, siamo sinceri, poteva un album chiamarsi "Billie Jean"?
Altra canzone, altro genere. Qui si passa quasi al Rock, e al primo ascolto sembra. Ma non lasciamoci ingannare. Qui il rock si lega alle finezze Pop da sembrare quasi indistinguibile. Occorre un certo talento per fare una cosa del genere (qui più bravo Quincy che Michael). Perciò ecco un'altra perla. Le avete contate? Io si. Siamo a 5.
Arriviamo a "Billie Jean". La leggenda narra che durante il tour con i fratelli, Michael incontrò una ragazza, probabilmente pazza (o forse no) che reclamava a MJ stesso la paternità di due gemelli (non conosciamo la vita notturna di Mike, quindi si può pensare che di notte si dia alla pazza gioia). La cosa strana fu che ogni ragazza faceva lo stesso con gli altri membri dei Jacksons. Fattostà che Mike sfornò una canzone da antologia che scalò ogni classifica mondiale e che era destinata a diventare una delle canzoni più rappresentative dei freaky '80. Oggi chi non conosce "Billie Jean"? E 6...
Approdiamo a "Human Nature", il viaggio nella mente umana e nei suoi interrogativi, spiegato in maniera eccelsa con un ottimo testo e accompagnato da una splendida musica. Altro capolavoro. Siamo a 7.
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" che almeno dal titolo non appare nulla di buono (sembra la sigla di un distretto di polizia), in realtà si dimostra un ottima canzone R&B, la ragazza tanto desiderata ridotta ad una semplice sigla. Da sottolineare la presenza delle sorelline di Michael, LaToia e Janet, nel coro. Ci avviciniamo alla fine, nel frattempo, 8.
L'album si conclude benissimo con la rilassante "The Lady In My Life", una delle più belle canzoni d'amore di Michael, classe infinita, perfetta per concludere un album come Thriller. Un'altra perla sottovalutata. Siamo a 9.
Come vedete di Thriller non si butta via niente. Anche le canzoni meno famose come "Baby Be Mine" o "The Lady In My Life" sono e probabilmente saranno destinate a rimanere nella storia della musica. Thriller è, quindi, uno degli album più rappresentativi degli anni '80 e uno dei più belli della storia, oltre ad avere il titolo di album più venduto... ma probabilmente lo saprete già.
P.S.=da non perdere la special edition che racchiude oltre a canzoni inedite, interviste e la demo di "Billie Jean", dato per capire come è nato e come si è evoluto il mito.
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)
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
Carico i commenti... con calma
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 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."
Di jif09
Thriller è riuscito ad abbattere tutte le barriere etniche nel mondo della musica.
La vera grandezza di Thriller la si avverte dalla title-track, un vero capolavoro jacksoniano senza tempo.
