Correva l'anno 1989, e la Warner Bros. dava carta bianca a uno come Tim Burton per portare sugli schermi Batman, il film che avrebbe rivoluzionato completamente l'immaginario collettivo dei supereroi hollywoodiani. Basta calzamaglie attillate ma robuste armature modellate su un corpo umano sempre più cyberpunk. Basta città solari ed eroi buoni, bisognava fare i conti con una Gotham City che sembrava uscita direttamente dalla matita di Frank Miller, e soprattutto con un supereroe che poteva essere tutto tranne che buono. E poi basta cattivi così così, quei cattivi che sotto sotto sono anche buoni. No grazie, non ci interessa. Noi abbiamo Joker. Ci teniamo stretto il ghigno di Jack Nicholson e la sua cattiveria totale, senza macchia (di bontà sia chiaro).
Adesso provate a riflettere un attimino: siete la Warner Bros, e avete per le mani un film del genere. Sapete che state per dare vita ad un'icona pop. Avete molto chiaro in testa che intaserete il mercato di gadget, dato che state per scatenare una delle più grandi campagne marketing della storia. Avete visto il film e non ci avete capito un cazzo, ma sapete che spaccherà perchè vi tremava la pancia ad ogni risata del Joker. Non parliamo poi dei capelli e delle labbra di Vicky Vale (mamma mia quanto bella era Kim Basinger prima di siliconarsi?). Insomma, altro che patata bollente, avete per le mani un groviglio intricatissimo di genio, estetica pop, visionarietà, marketing, ultracommercialità. Chi chiamate per fare la colonna sonora? Siamo nel 1989. Beh, potete chiamare soltanto una persona, Prince.
E per fortuna la Warner ha chiamato proprio lui! Il disco sfornato dal nostro Joker in miniatura è un vero e proprio gioiello. Il nanetto di Minneapolis è in gran forma, e il ritmo essenziale e meccanico di "The Future" che apre l'album la dice lunga su quello che ci aspetta. Un pizzico di chitarra distorta in "Electric Chair" ci ricorda che è Prince a dettare le regole del gioco, prima del duettone con Sheena Easton per "The Arms Of Orion". "Partyman" è Prince al 100%: suoni ultrapop, voce sensuale, qualche coretto appena accennato qua e là, incursioni volanti di una chitarra impazzita. Una libidine. Tutto l'album è di altissimo livello, e a pensare che è l'ultimo di una serie che comprende "Purple Rain", "Around The World In A Day", Parade", "Sign 'O' The Times", "The Black Album" e "Love Sexy" c'è da restare senza parole. L'intera struttura sonora dei pezzi è retta dai ritmi duri e spigolosi che scandiscono in maniera fredda ogni singola canzone, ritmi che sembrano quasi disturbati dalla voce sorniona di Prince, che sembra indeciso se portare al limite la sua voglia di essenzialità o se strabordare con suoni e rumori di ogni tipo.
Ci siamo, ora avete girato il vostro vinile e sta per arrivare l'ultima traccia, "Batdance": dentro a questo strabiliante pezzo c'è tutto quello che avete sempre desiderato e che non avete mai avuto il coraggio di chiedere. Una chitarra che esplode distorta su tre note per restare silenziosa, un groove dal suono ipnotico, invenzioni sonore a ripetizione, coretti trashpop che citano l'indimenticabile duo formato da Adam West - Burt Ward, un assolo gridato da una chitarra che si sente fuori posto, voci che si incalzano e si sovrappongono, un break che ti taglia le gambe e ti fa pensare "cosa cazzo si è inventato ancora questo pazzo scatenato?" poi si accelera di nuovo? non ce la si fa proprio a stargli dietro, è un Prince vittima del suo stesso genio. Una canzone che da sola vale un album. La follia di Joker e le tenebre di Batman racchiuse in 6 minuti e 13'' memorabili, non c'è altro da dire. Le cose sono due: o vi leggete "Il Ritorno del Cavaliere Oscuro" di Miller o vi ascoltate "Batdance". Non ce n'è, Batman nasce e muore qui dentro. Il film di Tim Burton ci sta giusto giusto in mezzo, gomito a gomito con "Batman: Killing Joke" di Alan Moore.
Le folli risate del Joker che aprono e chiudono il brano sono le stesse del genio di Minneapolis? Forse sì, ma non è importante saperlo. Del resto avete mai ballato con il demonio nel pallido plenilunio?
Elenco tracce e testi
01 The Future (04:07)
"I'm not gonna kill U
I want U 2 do me a favor
I want U 2 tell all your friends about me"
"What are U?"
"I'm Batman!"
CHORUS:
I've seen the future and it will be
I've seen the future and it works
If there's life after, we will see
So I can't go like a jerk
Systematic overthrow of the underclass
Hollywood conjures images of the past
New world needs spirituality that will last
I've seen the future and it will be
CHORUS
Yellow Smiley offers me X
Like he's drinkin' 7-Up
I would rather drink 6 razor blades
Razor blades from a paper cup
He can't understand, I say 2 tough
It's just that I've seen the future and, boy, it's rough
I... I've seen the future and it will be
I've seen the future and it works
If there's life after, we will see
So U can't go like a jerk - no, no
I've seen the future and it will be
Wait a minute
Pretty pony standin' on the avenue
Flashin' loaded pistol, 2 dumb 2 be true
Somebody told him playin' cops and robbers was cool
Would our rap have been different if we only knew?
I've seen the future and it will be
I've seen the future and it works
And if there's life after, we will see
Don't go out like a jerk
Systematic overthrow of the underclass
Hollywood conjures images of the past
New world needs spirituality that will last
I've seen the future and it will be, alright
I've seen the future and it will be {x2}
Oh!
I've seen the future and it will be {x3}
"Think about the future!"
02 Electric Chair (04:08)
I saw your friend first
That's who I danced with
All the time I was watchin' U
The music rocked us
Our eyes locked thus
Makin' us see a trippy picture shoo
CHORUS:
Oh, if a man is considered guilty 4 what goes on in his mind
Then give me the electric chair 4 all my future crimes, oh!
U whispered something
It took my mind out
Like a G (G flat) major with the E in the bass
Your face looked so good
I wanted 2 touch your mouth
My brain is jackin' all over the place
CHORUS
Yeah, yeah {x2}
Let's take a drive, love
So we can make up our minds, love
2 commit the crimes of passion that sets us free
Me lovin' U, U lovin' me
Ow!
The electric chair!
I saw your friend first
That's who I danced with
All the time I was watchin' U (I was watchin' U)
The music rocked us
Our lives shocked us
Makin' us see a trippy picture shoo
I've got 2 have it! (Said I've got 2... yeah!)
If a man is considered guilty 4 what goes on in his mind (Guilty)
Then give me the electric chair 4 all my future crimes, oh!
U know I'm guilty, yeah? (4 all my future crimes, oh!)
I'm guilty, yeah! (4 all my future crimes, oh!)
And if U don't really love me! (Then give me the electric chair)
Ow!
The electric chair
04 Partyman (03:11)
"Gentlemen, let's broaden our minds! Lawrence!"
Oh, yeah yeah!
All hail the new king in town
Young and old, gather 'round (Yeah)
Black and white, red and green (Yeah, funky)
The funkiest man U've ever seen
Tell U what his name is
Partyman, Partyman
Rock a party like nobody can
Rules and regulations, no place in this nation
Partyman, Partyman
Party people say it now (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Somebody holla if U wanna party {crowd noise}
"Ladies and gentlemen, no pictures please"
Get it up, oh yeah!
Partyman, P-Partyman
Get it up, g-get it up, yeah
"Ohh, I love purple!"
I rock the party, I rock the house
I rock the whole world north, east and south
In the west, 17 horns blowin'
Partyman, Partyman [Lose me old boy]
Get it up, sing!
"All hail the new king in town!"
Ain't nuthin but a muffin
We got a lotta butter 2 go (Say I oughta knock U in, but don't come no)=
If it break when it bend
U better not put it in
Get it up (Ride 'em, boy)
Partyman, P-Partyman (P-P-Partyman, Partyman)
Partyman, Partyman
Young and old gather 'round
Everybody hail the new king in town!
06 Trust (04:24)
(W, X, Y, Z)
"Hey, it's the man!"
"Yeah, let's see what's going on!"
Hey, hey
CHORUS:
Trust - who do ya?
Trust - what makes U a real lover?
Trust - I put this question 2 ya cuz I want U 2 be with me
Love - U cannot imagine
How much I wanna give 2 U
Hot - I get so excited
Just thinkin' about all we could do
Dig it now
Another world awaits us
Another power 2 see
Close - don't worry about nobody else
From now on U'll be here with me
CHORUS
Money - how much'll make U happy?
U can have it all if it'll suit U right
Nothin', I said nothin' can take the place
Of U and me kickin' it tight, tight
Come - it's easy
Just let yourself go, don't put up a fight
Sex - it's not that type of party (Higher, higher, higher)
Girl, we're gettin' higher 2 night (Oh Lord)
CHORUS
Yeah, ooh
Come on
Alright
Sho'nuff tell it everybody
"Get 'em! Take the pictures!"
"Gotham's greed"
Ooh!
Yeah
Trust
Hot and close, dig it now
Ooh, that feels good
Ha, ha, ha
CHORUS
Oh yeah
Ow! My Lord! (Trust)
When I'm on, I feel good (Trust)
Good Lord
When I'm, when I'm on, I feel good (Trust)
Who do ya trust if U can't trust God?
Who can U trust - who can ya?
Who do ya trust if U can't trust God?
Who can U trust - who can ya?
Come and see
Trust - who do ya?
Trust - what makes U a real lover?
Trust - I put this question 2 ya cuz I want U 2 be.... wait
Want cha with me, ooh
{Repeat 2 fade}
(Trust)
Who do ya trust if U can't trust God?
Who can U trust - who can ya?
07 Lemon Crush (04:15)
Ready 4 the crush {repeat throughout song}
CHORUS:
Ah, ah, every time U kiss me - lemon crush
Nay, I can't resist thee - lemon crush
Every time U do me - such a rush
Ooh, it goes right through me - lemon crush
All it takes, a little bitty
Of your, ooh - pretty, pretty
I'm the wildest in the city
Ooh - pretty, pretty one!
Come on, come on
I'm ready 4 the crush
CHORUS
(Ah yeah)
(Such a rush)
If I'm workin' at my jobba
I'm the victim, U're the robba
No matter how much I try 2 stoppa
I can't help thinkin' about cha
Lemon crush - I'm ready 4 the crush
CHORUS
(Everytime)
(Such a rush)
(Oh)
Every time we, ooh baby, I get such a rush (Such a rush)
Lemon crush
(Lemon crush)
(Oh)
I'm running out of things 2 call your... (Lemon crush)
Don't wanna do without your...
Ain't no doubt about your... (Lemon crush)
Let's scream and shout your... {'Crush' repeated in BG}
I said, let's scream and shout your... (Lemon crush)
I'm ready
Ready 4 the crush (Lemon crush)
I'm ready
(Ready 4 the crush) (Lemon crush)
Girl, I like it, I like it
Baby I'm ready, ready, ready
Oh, every time U do me - do me baby!
(Lemon crush)
Ah, that's her
I'm in the crush
{'Crush' and 'Ready 4 the crush' repeated in BG}
Naw!
CHORUS {x2}
Ready 4 the crush
08 Scandalous (06:15)
Come closer
Feel what U been dyin' 4
Don't be afraid, baby
Touch it and explode
Understand, understand that I love U
Ah, but more than that - I want U
Everybody always told me good things come 2 those who wait
But I've got so much on the menu
I just can't, I just can't, I can't wait, baby
I can't wait, baby
Till I can wrap my legs all around U girl
Cuz sugar, U know U're just the kind of lover
That I've been lookin' 4
2night why don't we skip all the foreplay, mama
And just get down here on the floor
CHORUS:
Scandalous - I'm talkin' 'bout U and me
Marvelous - baby, baby, can't U see?
Anything U ever dreamed of, I'm willing 2 be
2night is gonna be scandalous
Cuz 2night I'm gonna be your fantasy
(Dear, my, my)
My dearest, my dearest
(Whisper) Whisper a question
With my body (body), I'll scream a reply
Anything's acceptable
Just ask me and I'll try it
2 hell with hesitations
2 hell with the reasons why
CHORUS
Baby, baby, baby
Oh girl, the things U make me do
Genius is the only way 2 describe U
Anything U ever dreamed of, baby
Just ask me - I'll do, I'll do, I'll do it 4 U, baby
Anything at all
Spirits rise and spirits fall
Anything U ever dreamed of, I'm willing 2 be
2night is gonna be scandalous
Cuz 2night I'm, 2night I'm gonna be your fantasy!
CHORUS
Scandalous
Marvelous
09 Batdance (06:13)
"Oh, I got a live one here! Ha, ha, ha..."
Get the funk up! - Batman
Get the funk up! - Batman
Get the funk up!
"Go, go, go with a smile"
Batdance!
Do it
Keep bustin'
(Do it) {Repeat in BG}
I've seen the future and it will be
I've seen the future and it will be
Batman, Batman
I've seen the future and it will be
Batman (House, house)
"And where, and where is the Batman?"
(Do it) {repeat}
Let's do it {x2}
"Stop the press"
"Stop the press, who is that?"
"Vicky Vale"
"Vicky Vale"
"I like..." Batman, Batman, Batman
"Oh, bats"
"Hi, Bruce Wayne"
"I tried 2 avoid all this, but I can't"
"I just gotta know - are we gonna try 2 love each other?"
"Stop the press, who is that?"
"Vicky Vale"
"She is great, isn't she?"
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
I wanna bust that body
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
I wanna bust that body right ("I'd like 2")
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah ("But he's out there right now")
I wanna bust that body
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
2night
"Well, Miss Vale"
"U ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?"
"I always ask that of all my prey"
"I just like the sound of it"
"I've gotta go 2 work" – Batman
"I've gotta go 2 work" – Batman
("Work') {Repeat in BG}
If a man is considered guilty 4 what goes on in his mind
Then gimme the electric chair 4 all my future crimes – oh!
Electric chair
Hey Ducky, let me stick this 7-inch in the computer
Ha, ha, ha...
Hey, we got the power
Oh, we got the soul
Hey, we got 2 sho'nuff get off
Make the devil go, go
"This town needs an enema!"
(Let's do it) {sampled in BG}
"I'm gonna kill U" - Power
"I'm not gonna kill U" - Soul
"I'm gonna kill U" - Power
"I'm not gonna kill U" - Soul
"I'm Batman" - Batman
Don't stop dancin'!
"I'm Batman" - Batman
Don't stop dancin'!
Batman {x3}
Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop dancin'!
Batman {x2}
Don't stop dancin'! {x2}
No, damn it!
Turn the music back up!
Oh, son of a bitch!
"Have U ever heard of the healing power of laughter?"
Who's gonna stop 200 balloons? Nobody!
"Ha, ha, ha..." {looped}
"Batman" - Stop!
Carico i commenti... con calma
