I Red Hot Chili Peppers non sono più una band di rock alternativo almeno da Californication. Questo va detto perché recensire un disco continuando a ripetere “dove sono i vecchi RHCP ?” non ha senso.
I Chilis hanno cambiato stile, o meglio, hanno cambiato la finalità per cui fanno musica.
Se prima la musica era un modo per liberarli dai loro problemi e incubi (Hillel Slovak morto nel ’88), adesso non è nient’altro che un lavoro. Ma questa non è una novità. È dal ’91 che i RHCP non fanno più funk come si deve e che hanno una forte attitudine commerciale. Chi parla di "By the Way" come la loro svolta commerciale si dimostra incompetente e disinformato. Ora, arrivati a "Stadium Arcadium", non si può negare che i Peppers abbiano messo tanta carne sul fuoco. Se "Californication" era un altalena tra pezzi gradevoli e altri un po’ artificiosi e forzati, "Stadium Arcadium" ("By the Way" non lo prendo nemmeno in considerazione perché musicalmente irrilevante) si presenta come una grande giostra in cui non si scende mai troppo in basso, ma non si tocca nemmeno il cielo.
È una sorta di breviario dei Red Hot. Non mancano certo le ballate pop come “Strip My Mind”, “Hey”, “Desecration Smile” e “She Looks To Me”. Si denota comunque il fatto che in questo disco anche le canzoni più banali sono risollevate, almeno in parte dalla splendida chitarra di John Frusciante. Infatti nel disco precedente molti brani, oltre che noiosi, erano musicalmente monotoni. In questo lavoro invece la chitarra riesce sempre o quasi a vivacizzare il tutto e, in ogni caso, non ci sono canzoni del tutto inutili. Altri esempi meno riusciti sono “If”, “We Believe” e “Animal Bar” davvero troppo zuccherine e ridondanti. A fianco di queste canzoni tipiche dell’ ultimo corso del gruppo ci sono altri pezzi in stile funk, assolutamente ripulito e poco sincero, ma comunque funk dai ritmi irresistibili.
“Hump De Bump” è una delle migliori canzoni funk del loro ultimo decennio, con il suo ritmo allegro e deciso e l’intermezzo percussivo davvero forte; “She’s Only 18” si fregia della chitarra superba di John nel wah-ha; “Warlocks” è semplicemente un buon pezzo, non male ma nemmeno troppo originale; “So Much I” è forse un po’ forzata, ma anche trascinante e abbastanza adrenalinica, “21st Century” è un bel pezzo convincente, ennesimo punto d’incontro tra le ritmiche trascinanti del passato e la dolcezza del presente; “Turn It Again” è l’ennesimo pezzo impreziosito dalla chitarra, qui morbida e veloce, fino a diventare tagliente e molto dinamica. Si nota qui un maggiore impegno nel riproporre (soprattutto per i fans di vecchia data) il loro tipico stile. Non sono certo canzoni sincere come era quelle dei primi cinque cd, ma comunque davvero pregevoli e anche orecchiabili.
Ma non è finita; i Peppers non si fanno mancare niente, sia esso segno di auto indulgenza o di creatività, e infarciscono il doppio di pezzi rock-pop, abbastanza semplici e per niente eccellenti; il primo singolo “Dani California” accenna solo il loro stile, “Tell Me Baby” è praticamente l’up-date di “Can’t Stop”, “Make You Feel Better” è davvero troppo ingenua. Penso che questo sia il loro lato peggiore, un pop-rock abbastanza insignificante. Incredibile ma vero, ci sono anche canzoni ispirate al rock duro; “Torture Me” è una bella canzone, abbastanza veloce, ottimo giro di basso e batteria incalzante, con i fiati che danno un tocco di originalità e ironia; “Readymade” ha un giro di basso poderoso e un assolo ai limiti del metal, esplosiva, ma distesa nel ritornello; “Storm in a Teacup”, uno dei pezzi più riusciti, assomiglia molto all’hard-rock di "One Hot Minute", divertente e auto ironico, con la chitarra irresistibile come al solito.
Non manca qualche esperimento, le ballate scanzonate come “Slow Cheetah” e “Hard To Concentrate” sono un inedito o quasi. Delicate, ma decise, con un forte retrogusto amaro, si differenziano dalle altre per la loro intimità e portano con loro emozioni personali. C’è la forte influenza di Frusciante, con il suo rock vagamente psichico (non psichedelico); “Stadium Arcadium” e “Especially In Michigan” ne sono l’esempio; la prima molto ariosa ed evocatrice con suoni delicati e echi soffusi, senza perdere in ritmo, è un buonissimo risultato, la seconda densa e ricca di intarsi di chitarra elettrica (con l’aiuto di Omar Rodriguez).
Ma le canzoni più belle le troviamo quando i RHCP non ci pensano a ciò che stanno facendo e suonano per come sono ispirati. “Snow” è una canzonetta pop, con un arpeggio di chitarra veloce che ti conquista dopo pochi ascolti. Perfetta nel crescendo e nel cambiare tono in modo discreto. “Charlie” è un pezzo che viaggia parallelo a qualsiasi genere musicale. Indefinibile e bellissima. È un pezzo di assoluta pregevolezza. Ben ritmato, divertente ma anche languido. “Wet Sand” è forse il miglior pezzo del doppio. Una ballata, dolce come la brezza, ma anche scottante come il sole d’estate. E’ un manifesto per il gruppo; il punto di arrivo di una ricerca partita nel ’99. La perfetta sintesi del nuovo corso Frusciantesco; la sua chitarra nel solo finale, pare che gridi, disperata e felice, sotto una pioggia estiva. “Death Of a Martian” è un piccolo requiem; ha un suono doloroso e rabbioso, nella sua dolcezza. Con i suoi cambi di tempo e il discorso finale è la conclusione perfetta per il cd.
In conclusione, un discreto lavoro. Il gruppo ha deciso di intraprendere una nuova strada nel ’99, questo disco ne è la semplice conseguenza. Non ci sono pezzi orrendi, ma sono pochi anche i pezzi davvero stupendi. Piuttosto si opta per uno standard medio, in cui la chitarra regna sovrana, i refrain sono sempre orecchiabili (anche troppo a volte) e non si rischia mai di infastidire o rompere gli equilibri, cosa che in passato il gruppo faceva molto spesso. Ma un disco va valutato nel suo contesto. Io lo valuto come un disco più che sufficiente, anzi discreto. Certo, se volete sentire un loro capolavoro, cercate altrove, ma resta il fatto che "Stadium Arcadium" è un disco che suona bene e che dimostra l’impegno del gruppo e per una band di quarantenni non è affatto un cattivo risultato. voto: 6,5/10
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Dani California (04:42)
Getting born in the state of Mississippi
Papa was a copper
And Mama was a hippie
In Alabama she would swing a hammer
Price you gotta pay when you break the panorama
She never knew that there was
Anything more than poor
What in the world does your
Company take me for
Black bandanna, sweet Louisiana
Robbin' on a bank in the state of Indiana
She's a runner, rebel and a stunner
On her merry way sayin', "Baby watcha gonna"
Looking down the barrel of a hot metal .45
Just another way to survive
California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess; I'm your priest
She's a lover, baby and a fighter
Shoulda seen it comin' when it got a little brighter
With a name like Dani California
The day was gonna come when I was gonna mourn ya
A little loaded she was stealin' another breath
I love my baby to death
California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess; I'm your priest
Who knew the other side of you?
Who knew what others died to prove?
Too true to say goodbye to you
Too true to say say say
Push the fader, gifted animator
One for the now and eleven for the later
Never made it up to Minnesota
North Dakota man was a gunnin' for the quota
Down in the Badlands, she was savin' the best for last
It only hurts when I laugh
Gone too fast
California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess; I'm your priest
California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess; I'm your priest
02 Snow ((Hey Oh)) (05:34)
Come to decide that
The things that I tried
Were in my life
Just to get high on
When I sit alone
Come get a little known
But I need more
Than myself this time
Step from the road
To the sea to the sky
And I do believe
That we rely on
When I lay it on
Come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice
Hey oh
Listen what I say oh
I got your hey oh
Now listen what I say oh
When will I know
That I really can't go
To the well once more
Time to decide on
When it's killing me
When will I really see
All that I need to look inside
Come to believe
That I better not leave
Before I get my chance to ride
When it's killing me
What do I really need
All that I need to look inside
Hey oh
Listen what I say oh
Come back and hey oh
Look at what I say oh
The more I see, the less I know
The more I like to let it go
Hey oh, woah
Deep beneath the cover
Of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided
By a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
In between the cover
Of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Running through the field
Where all my tracks
Will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go
When to descend
To amend for a friend
All the channels
That have broken down
Now you bring it up
I'm gonna ring it up
Just to hear you sing it out
Step from the road
To the sea to the sky
And I do believe
What we rely on
When I lay it on
Come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice
Hey oh
Listen what I say oh
I got your hey oh
Listen what I say oh
The more I see the less I know
The more I like to let it go
Hey oh
Deep beneath the cover
Of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided
By a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
In between the cover
Of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Running through the field
Where all my tracks
Will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go
I said hey, hey, yeah
Oh yeah, tell my love now
Hey, hey, yeah
Oh yeah, tell my love now
Deep beneath the cover
Of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided
By a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
Deep beneath the cover
Of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Running through the field
Where all my tracks
Will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go
I said hey, oh yeah
Oh yeah, tell my love now
Hey, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
03 Charlie (04:37)
All aboard... stitch in time
Get yours... got mine
In a minute... I'll be there
Sit tight... get square
You can do it at the hippodrome
Slide back, trombone
Anybody got a TV tome?
That's right, unknown
When I pick up on that smell
Pick it up and run like hell
Little woman save me some
Better get up on your run
So much more than Charlie's wakin' me
To my core and Charlie's shakin' me
Tell my story and Charlie's making me
And Charlie's making me smile
Everybody... do the twist
Get the the message... on Flea's fist
Move around like a scientist
Lay down... get kissed
Big picture and it never lies
Big daddy will advise
Eveready in disguise
Sunset... sunrise
When I pick up on that smell
Pick it up and run like hell
Little woman save me some
Better get up on your run
So much more than Charlie's wakin' me
To my core and Charlie's shakin' me
Tell my story and Charlie's making me
And Charlie's making me smile
My heart, your skin, this love I'm in
We don't arrive without a suprise
You're right, I'm wrong, be free, belong
Intimate sight has come in to light
When I pick up on that smell
Pick it up and run like hell
Little woman save me some
Better get up on your run
All I ever wanted to
Was pick it up and run with you
Slip it into a summer spell
Double up and run like hell, ooh
So much more than Charlie's wakin' me
To my core and Charlie's shakin' me
Tell my story and Charlie's making me
And Charlie's making me smile, woah now
My heart, your skin, this love I'm in
We don't arrive without a suprise
You're right, I'm wrong, be free, belong
Intimate sight has come in to light
My heart, your skin, this love I'm in
We don't arrive without a suprise
You're right, I'm wrong, be free, belong
Intimate sight has come in to light
04 Stadium Arcadium (05:15)
Bells around St. Petersburg
When I saw you
I hope I get what you deserve
And this is where I find
Smoke surrounds your perfect face
And I'm falling
Pushing a broom out into space
And this is where I found a way
The stadium arcadium
A mirror to the moon (mirror to the moon)
Well I'm forming and I'm warming (to you)
State of the art until the clouds come crashing
Stranger things have happened both
Before and after noon (before and after noon)
Well I'm forming and I'm warming (to you)
Pushing myself, and no, I don't mind asking now
Alone inside in my forest room
And it's storming
I never thought I'd be in bloom
But this is where I start
(Derelict days and the stereo plays
For the all night crowd that it cannot phase)
And I'm calling
(Tedious weeds that the media breeds
But the animal gets what the animal needs)
And I'm sorry
The stadium arcadium
A mirror to the moon (mirror to the moon)
And I'm forming and I'm warming (to you)
State of the art until the clouds come crashing
Stranger things have happened both
Before and after noon (before and after noon)
Well I'm forming and I'm warming (to you)
Pushing myself, and no, I don't mind asking now
And this is where I find
Rays of dust that wrap around
Your Citizen
Kind enough to disavow
This is where I stand
The stadium arcadium
A mirror to the moon (mirror to the moon)
Well I'm forming and I'm warming (to you)
A state of the art until the clouds come crashing
Stranger things have happened both
Before and after noon (before and after noon)
And I'm forming and I'm warming (to you)
I'm pushing myself, and no, I don't mind asking
The stadium arcadium
A mirror to the moon (mirror to the moon)
Well I'm forming and I'm warming (to you)
State of the art until the clouds come crashing
Stranger things have happened both
Before and after noon (before and after noon)
And I'm forming and I'm warming to you
05 Hump de Bump (03:33)
40 detectives this week
40 detectives strong
Takin' a stroll down Love Street
Strollin' is that so wrong
Can I get my co-dependent
Hump de bump doop bodu
Bump de hump doop bap
Hump de bump doop bodu
Oh no!
Bump de hump doop bodu
Hump de bump doop bap
Bump de hump doop bodu
Bump bump
Must have been a hundred miles
Any of a hundred styles
It's not about the smile you wear but
the way we make out
When I was another loner
Nothin' but a two beach comber
Anybody seen the sky? I'm
I'm wide awake now
Workin' the beat as we speak
Working the "belle du monde"*
Believe in the havoc we wreak
Believin', is that so wrong
Can I get my co-dependant
Hump de bump doop bodu
Bump de hump doop bap
Hump de bump doop bodu
Bump de hump doop bodu
Hump de bump doop bap
Bump de hump doop bodu
Bump bump
C'mon!
Must have been a hundred miles
Any of a hundred styles
It's not about the smile you wear but
the way we make out
When I was another loner
Nothin' but a two beach comber
Anybody seen the sky? I'm,
I'm wide awake now
Hump de bump doop bodu
Bump de hump doop bap
Hump de bump doop bodu
Oh no!
Bump de hump doop bodu
Hump de bump doop bap
Bump de hump doop bodu
Bump bump
Listen to me what I said
Try to get it through your head
A little bit of circumstance and
A chance to make out
Livin' in a citadel
It's hard enough to be yourself
Waiting for the bell to toll and
I am wide awake now
Must have been a hundred miles
Any of a hundred styles
It's not about the smile you wear but
the way we make out
When I was another loner
Nothin' but a two beach comber
Anybody seen the sky? I'm
I'm wide awake now
06 She's Only 18 (03:25)
She's only 18
Don't like the Rolling Stones
She took a short cut
To being fully grown
She's got that mood ring
A little sister rose
The smell of Springsteen
A pair of pantyhose
This talking picture show
Is leaking from a silhouette
She said my man you know
It's time to get your fingers wet
Your hustle's busted when
You can't afford a cigarette
The last I heard from you
You were screaming "handle it"
Knock the world right off its feet
And straight onto its head
The book of love will
Long be laughing after you are dead
Fascinated by the look of you
And what was said
Make a play for all the
Brightest minds and light will shed
I heard some P-Funk
Out on the road again
To get your head shrunk
Is what I recommend
It's in your bloodline
A perfect Frankenstein
Out on that lone pine
I'm gonna make you mine
It's understood you wrap
Your voodoo right around my neck
You've got some glitter on your
Kitty at the discotheque
I put my lovin' in your oven
Not a head to check
The last I heard from you
You were screaming "resurrect"
Knock the world right off its feet
And straight onto its head
The book of love will
Long be laughing after you are dead
Fascinated by the look of you
And what was said
Make a play for all the
Brightest minds and light will shed
Knock the world right off its feet
And straight onto its head
The book of love will
Long be laughing after you are dead
Fascinated by the look of you
And what was said
Make a play for all the
Brightest minds and light will shed
07 Slow Cheetah (05:19)
1-2-3-4
Waking up dead inside of my head
Will never never do, there is no med
No medicine to take
I've had a chance to be insane
Asylum from the falling rain
I've had a chance to break
It's so bad, it's got to be good
Mysterious girl, misunderstood
Dressed like a wedding cake
Any other day and I might play
A funeral march for Bonnie Brae
Why try and run away
Slow cheetah come before for my forest
Looks like it's on today
Slow cheetah come it's so euphoric
No matter what they say
I know a girl she worked in a store
She knew not what her life was for
She barely knew her name
They tried to tell her she would never be
As happy as a girl in a magazine
She bought it with her pay
Slow cheetah come before for my forest
Looks like it's on today
Slow cheetah come it's so euphoric
No matter what they say
Everyone has so much to say
They talk, talk, talk, their lives away
Don't even hesitate
Walking on down to the burial ground
It's a very old dance with a merry old sound
Looks like it's on today
Slow cheetah come before for my forest
Looks like it's on today
Slow cheetah come it's so euphoric
No matter what they say
Slow cheetah come before for my forest
Looks like it's on today
Slow cheetah come it's so euphoric
No matter what they say
10 Especially in Michigan (04:00)
Life is my friend
Rake it up to take it in
Wrap me in your cinnamon
Especially in Michigan
...Well I could be your friend
White clouds I'm in
A mitten full of fisherman
C'mon huckleberry finn
Show me how to make her grin
...Well I'm in Michigan
Cry me a future
Where the revelations run amok
Ladies and gentlemen
Lions and tigers come running
Just to steal your luck
A rainy Lithuanian
Who's dancing as an Indian
Painted in my tiger skin
(Especially in Michigan)
Double chins and bowling pins
Unholy presbyterians
Land is full of medicine
I find it when I'm slipping in
...Into Michigan
The tainted new librarian
Who fainted when she tucked you in
Let's float away like zeppelins
(On stoic gusts of northern wind)
Out on the farm we'll be
Swimming with the mother duck
Deep in the mitten where
Lions and tigers come running
Just to steal your luck
Life is my friend
Underwater violins
Order now from ho chi min
A porcelain that comes in twins
...When I'm in Michigan
Throw me in the looney bin
Cause I can take it on the chin
The cleavage of your pillow skin
(Is moving like a violin)
11 Warlocks (03:25)
Warlocks in wonderland
I've got a megatropolis in my hand
And a subterranean marching band
Making noise for the boys in the Vatican
A little package and off we go
Oh, ticky ticky tackety tic tac toe
I know everybody's Eskimo
We've got another thing coming and that's our show
Every night I go looking for you
Everyone in the world adores you
A little packet of something kind
To find your reason
Coming up on it everyday for
Look at me and it's what I stay for
A little locket of fantasy
That we believe in
Lilacs and contraband
I've got Santa Monica in my hand
A little Beatlemania when I can
I've got two big bags of old Japan
Ring side and blow-by-blow
Another main event at the old rainbow
We're comin' right on top of the tupelo
When she looks just like Bridgette Bardot
Every night I go looking for you
Everyone in the world adores you
A little packet of something kind
To find your reason
Coming up on it everyday for
Look at me and it's what I stay for
A little locket of fantasy
That we believe in
Make a deal with Uncle Weezer
Sign your name to claim
China Chow will try to please her
Sweetness come from Jane
Warlocks in wonderland
I've got a rockapotamus in my hand
With a happy ending that's made of sand
With a little bit of loving is all I plan
Every night I go looking for you
Everyone in the world adores you
A little packet of something kind
To find your reason
Coming up on it everyday for
Look at me and it's what I stay for
A little locket of fantasy
That we believe in
Every night I go looking for you
Everyone in the world adores you
A little packet of something kind
To find your reason
Coming up on it everyday for
Look at me and it's what I stay for
A little locket of fantasy
That we believe in now
13 Wet Sand (05:09)
My shadow side, so amplified
Keeps coming back dissatisfied
Elementary, son, but it's so...
My love affair with everywhere was innocent
Why do you care?
Someone start the car, time to go...
You're the best I know
My sunny side has up and died
I'm betting that when we collide
The universe will shift into a low
The travesties that we have seen
Are treating me like Benzedrine
Automatic laughter from a pro
My, what a good day for a, walk outside
I'd like to get to know you a little better, baby
God knows that I really tried
My, what a good day for a, take out bride
I'd like to say we did it for the better of...
I saw you there so unaware
Those hummingbirds all in your hair
Elementary, son, but it's so...
The disrepair of Norma Jean
Could not compare to your routine
Balarama beauty goin' toe to toe
My, what a good day for a, let it slide
I'd like to say we did it for the better of...
I thought about it and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter, yeah
Right on the verge, just one more dose
I'm traveling from coast to coast
My theory isn't perfect, but it's close
I'm almost there, why should I care?
My heart is hurting when I share
Someone open up, let it show
My, what a good day for a walk outside
I'd like to think we did it for the better of...
I thought about it and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated, but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter
Oh, you don't form in the wet sand
You don't form at all
Woah, you don't form in the wet sand
I do, yeah
You don't form in the wet sand
You don't form at all
Woah, you don't form in the wet sand
I do, yeah
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di Vito Alberto
Non ringrazierò mai abbastanza la rete per questa possibilità: certo, ero in astinenza da Red Hot Chili Peppers ma il singolo in radio aveva edulcorato l'astinenza, non parliamo del video: in un sol termine, geniale!!
"Stadium Arcadium" rappresenta pienamente la genialità e la sregolatezza di un gruppo di quarantenni che non saranno più Hard come un tempo, ma la loro droga adesso è solo la musica.
Di Jack_85
Un album da evitare, da scongiurare (come direbbero i Flaminio Mapphia).
Non è un disco che fa ballare, ma una ripetizione che rischia di addormentare.
Di JohnFrusciante
Finalmente i Peppers si sono risvegliati!!!
Ci sono canzoni in Stadium Arcadium in cui i Peppers ci danno veramente dentro!
Di zago
Probabilmente proprio questo voler accontentare tutti ha portato alla realizzazione di un doppio cd da ben 28 canzoni.
Non si poteva pretendere 28 capolavori, ma sicuramente un po' di energia in più e un Anthony meno concentrato sul canto e più sull'esplosività non poteva che rendere l'album più interessante.
Di GrantNicholas
Il lavoro più ambizioso di una carriera ormai ventennale.
La qualità di scrittura è incredibilmente alta, pur rimanendo in un genere mainstream.
