IL FUNK-ROCK CHE NACQUE ALL'OMBRA DELL'ARC DE TRIOMPH E FECE IL GIRO DEL MONDO.
Quattro ragazzi parigini si affacciano all'alba del nuovo millennio sul panorama della musica pop-rock... Rispondono ai nomi di: Thomas Mars (voce), Laurent Brancowitz (chitarra), Deck D'Arcy (basso) e Christian Mazzalai (seconda chitarra).
2000: Primo album dei Phoenix, ottimo lavoro con canzoni semplici ed immediate che arrivano subito al cuore dell'ascoltatore. Le 10 tracce sono quasi sempre solari ed hanno una sonorità che ricorda vagamente i 'Police' e nelle note più funky i 'Jamiroquai'. Notevole la bravura dei singoli musicisti, che si esibiscono in maniera molto riuscita in alcuni pezzi esclusivamente strumentali: "School's Rules" la traccia di apertura del disco, rapida e ritmata; la più lenta e soffice "Embuscade", con tanto di archi e fiati di accompagnamento è l'unica traccia che si discosta completamente dallo stile funk-rock che pervade il resto dell'album; "Definitive Breaks" è la terza strumentale posta a chiusura dell'album, un'atmosfera notturna avvolge la più malinconica traccia dell'album.
Il singolo trainante di questo album è certamente "If I Ever Feel Better" che ha avuto un discreto successo nelle radio internazionali, pezzo con un ritornello che cattura l'orecchio di tutti, una melodia che scivola soffice come il velluto. A nostro parere la canzone più bella dell'album è "Too Young" la seconda traccia dell'album che come la sopracitata conta di un ritornello estremamente trascinante (ciò è indubbiamente uno dei punti di forza della band). Da segnalare è la singolare ed interessante "Funky Squaredance" 9 minuti abbondanti di musica mutevole e bizzarra, melodie che si susseguono e si rincorrono a ritmo incalzante, con un sottofondo musicale che nella primissima parte della canzone rientra nei normali canoni dell'album ma che verso il terzo minuto prende completamente un'altra piega e arriva a sonorità ancora più funky. A centro album con "Party Time" il gruppo abbandona per due minuti la funky-influence e sterza a tutta velocità in una sterrata strada di rock energico ed elettrico, il risultato è abbastanza deludente. Molto meglio le seguenti "On Fire" e "Summer Days" due pezzi molto più nelle loro corde, rientrano pienamente nel loro stile e si sente dalla semplicità con cui scivolano via accarezzando dolcemente ed allegramente l'ascoltatore.
Per i 'Phoenix' trattasi di un esordio senza dubbio azzeccato che ha come punto di forza quello di non avere troppe pretese, e di offrire melodie semplici ma estremamente coinvolgenti. Per i momenti di relax e di 'nullafacenza' non c'è colonna sonora più azzeccata.
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02 Too Young (03:19)
Baby when I saw you turning at the end of the street
I knew a time was gone and it took me like ages
Just to understand that I was afraid to be a simple guy
I tried my best to smile but deep inside my heart
I felt it was shouting like a crowd dancing
I guess I couldn't live without the things that made my life what it is
Can't you hear it calling oh yeah
Everybody's dancin' oh yeah
Tonight everything is over
I feel too young
I can't lie on my bed without thinking I was wrong
But when this feeling calls this world becomes another
Nighttime won't hold me in your arms again
I got a very good friend who says he can't believe the love I give
Is not enough to end your fears
I guess I couldn't live without the things that made my life what it is
Can't you hear it calling oh yeah
Everybody's shakin' oh yeah
Tonight everything is over
I feel too young
Oh rainfalls and hard times coming they won't leave me tonight
I wish I knew what I was doing
Just do let this spirit survive
Everybody's dancing oh yeah
I guess I couldn't live without the things that made my life what it is
Can't you hear it calling oh yeah
Everybody's dancing oh yeah
Tonight everything is over
I feel too young
03 Honeymoon (05:00)
Every Sunday
I go to Hollywood
I buy my ticket
To see the midnight show
And every Sunday
I live my honeymoon
You rule my body
I just feel how it's good
My mind aches
You bust my real thoughts
When you're with me
Till the night's awayI am sittin'
I watch the fireworks
It's no matter of time
I feel the midnight crush
Feelin' without knowing the other
Tonight, let me handle this affair
Let me handle this affair
There's no ending
Light fades in my eyes
I don't want nobody
To burn my Hollywood
Every Sunday
I go to Hollywood
It's worth waitin
'To see the midnight show
And every Sunday
I live my honeymoon
You rule my body
I just feel how it's good
Feelin' without knowing the other
Tonight, let me handle this affair
Let me handle this affair
04 If I Ever Feel Better (04:26)
They say an end can be a start
Feels like I've been buried yet I'm still alive
It's like a bad day that never ends
I feel the chaos around me
A thing I don't try to deny
I'd better learn to accept that
There are things in my life I can't control
They say love ain't nothing but a sore
I don't even know what love is
Too many tears have had to fall
Don't you know I'm so tired of it all
I have known terror dizzy spells
Finding out the secrets words won't tell
Whatever it is it can't be named
There's a part of my world that's fading away
You know I don't want to be clever
To be brilliant or superior
True like ice, true like fire
Now I know that a breeze can blow me away
Now I know there's much more dignity
In defeat than in the brightest victory
I'm losing my balance on the tight rope
Tell me please, tell me please, tell me please...
If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know
Hang on to the good days
I can lean on my friends
They help me going through hard times
But I'm feeding the enemy
I'm in league with the foe
Blame me for what's happening
I can't try, I can't try, I can't try...
No one knows the hard times I went through
If happiness came I miss the call
The stormy days ain't over
I've tried and lost know I think that I pay the cost
Now I've watched all my castles fall
They were made of dust, after all
Someday all this mess will make me laugh
I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait...
If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know
If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know
It's like somebody took my place
I ain't even playing my own game
The rules have changed well I didn't know
There are things in my life I can't control
I feel the chaos around me
A thing I don't try to deny
I'd better learn to accept that
There's a part of my life that will go away
Dark is the night, cold is the ground
In the circular solitude of my heart
As one who strives a hill to climb
I am sure I'll come through I don't know how
They say an end can be a start
Feels like I've been buried yet I'm still alive
I'm losing my balance on the tight rope
Tell me please, tell me please, tell me please...
If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know
If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know
If I ever feel better
Remind me to spend some good time with you
You can give me your number
When it's all over I'll let you know
05 Party Time (02:14)
Summertime is gone
And I don't wanna lose you
I don't wanna see you any more
Forget about the sun
I want my city
I want what's pretty too
Party time Party time
Party time Party time
Take me to the place
That makes me happy
I think I'm ready too
Don'tcha know my name
I knew it yesterday
We don't have much to say
Party time Party time
Party time Party time
Summertime is gone
And I don't wanna lose you
I don't wanna see you any more
Forget about the sun
I want my city
I want what's pretty, too
Party time Party time
Party time Party time
06 On Fire (02:49)
Baby, our city's on fire
Don't you know it's going to be alright
Alright, alright, alright
Lately, running through the bombs
Don't you know it's going to last all night
Alright, alright, alright Alright, alright.
Baby, revolution is over
You and me it's going to be alright
Alright, alright, alright
Hard times won't last forever
Don't you know we've got some real good time
Alright, alright, alright
There was a time
She called me sweet, my hero, my cute thing
I gave her all the love I got
Baby, for you I'm a man
This is how I got to prove my love (I love that)
Baby, left me for another
Don't you know it's going to be alright
Alright, alright, alright
Alright, alright
There was a time
She called me sweet, my hero, my cute thing
I gave her all the love I got
Baby, our city's on fire
Don't you know it's going to be alright
Alright, alright, alright
Hard times won't last forever
Don't you know we've got some real good time
Alright, alright, alright
08 Summer Days (03:15)
I've spent all summer days driving
I'm tired of holidays ruined
No more take-away's, expired food
I need a real day
Time runs faster when you're loaded
Bright lights blind me all weak
Living in the city, I'm a high-speed drill
I need a full day diving
Tons of heavyweight food
Roosters from the sister islands too
I'd better get working
I'm bored with all that brainwashing
Let's break all separate rooms
Changing's no fun if you don't want to
I need a good day sailing
To tell the sun and the moon
That I am turning for no reasons too
And I keep waiting
Driving to the gas station
Caught by a traffic jam blues
Life is nonsense, I don't have a clue
I need a cool day riding
Feeding all the horses at dawn
Searching for the truffles, going through the woods
Then I'll be waiting
I've passed all summer days driving
I'm tired of holidays ruined
No more take-away's, expired food
I need a full day diving
Tons of heavyweight food
Roosters from the sister islands too
I'd better get working
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