Passata la febbre del sabato sera da disco diva di Read My Lips, Sophie decise di proseguire oltre. Il debutto era andato più che bene, il numero di copie vendute galoppava dignitosamente e il suo bel faccino veniva proclamato come uno dei più raffinati e maliziosi nel dance-biz. Ma la stagione ballerina 2001-2002, periodo in cui anche la collega e musicalmente dirimpettaia Kylie Minogue dominava le piste con Fever e relativi estratti, sembrava subito databile ed esauribile. E così fu, con il revival della disco che si apprestava a calare un po' il sipario e lasciare il palco all'ondata urban/R&B
Con il secondo lavoro in studio, Shoot From The Hip (2003), Mademoiselle EB, foriera degli ottimi consensi di Murder On The Dancefloor, Get Over You e Take Me Home e ormai determinata ad abbandonare definitivamente l'aura indie-rock della sua ex band degli esordi (The Audience), voltò pagina, ma neanche troppo: trait d'union fra la dance sbarazzina e frivola di Read My Lips e il fascino glitch-dance pop esploso con il mitico Trip The Light Fantastic, Shoot From The Hip è un album di transizione, un lavoro che né rinnega la recente brillantezza del debutto, né la replica beceramente. Pendolo fra le scarpette da ballo e guizzi di pop-rock con venature strumentali e classicheggianti, la prova del nove di Sophie regala all'ascoltatore un buon curriculum di brani perfettamente pop, tuttavia non riesce a raggiungere le vette dei singoli del predecessore. Un cambiamento di rotta neanche così drastico che purtroppo segna il primo declino commerciale dell'artista, almeno fuori dai patrii salotti britannici.
Con il primo singolo Mixed Up World si respira a pieni polmoni la ventata frizzante, solare, danzereccia e gioiosa di Murder On The Dancefloor miscelata ad un mood più funky e "naturale" del predecessore, mentre un ritmo conturbante e robotico plasma il brano d'apertura Making Music. La fiaba della disco-diva continua felicemente con il connubio di archi e synth in Another Day, con gli accenni trip-hop di Love It Is Love e con la maliziosa e birichina I Won't Dance With You.
Contraltare della classica Sophie, un buon gruppetto di brani più rock-oriented che aggiungono sapore ad una tracklist altrimenti scontata e ripetitiva. Significativi e piacevoli, dunque, la romanticissima ballata-nenia strappalacrime dal retrogusto soul-retrò I Am Not Good At Not Getting What I Want e la dolcezza pop-rock simil Natalie Imbruglia profusa da Hello, Hello. Da menzionare, infine, il bizzarro mix swing-electropop di The Walls Keep Saying Your Name e le forti sfumature dark disco-rock facilmente ballabili in You Get Yours.
Album di passaggio, a metà strada fra il florido debutto e la straordinaria creatività raffinata e sensuale sempre meno mainstream degli ultimi anni, Shoot From The Hip è probabilmente l'album meno apprezzabile e riconoscibile come "bextoriano" purosangue in tutta la carriera della bella Sophie. Non è la Murder On The Dancefloor dei bextoriani dell'ultima ora, né la Catch You dei fans più accaniti e acculturati. Siamo comunque di fronte ad un buon album pop, semplice, non raffazzonato, perfetto per approfondire a 360° la discografia di un'artista emblema della commercialità valida e curata, nonché di un orizzonte mainstream mai trash e aberrante.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Shoot From The Hip
Making Music - Mixed Up World - I Won't Change You - Nowhere Without You - Another Day - Party In My Head - Love It Is Love - You Get Yours - The Walls Keep Saying Your Name - I Won't Dance With You - I Am Not Good At Not Getting What I Want - Hello, Hello.
Elenco tracce testi e video
02 Mixed Up World (03:46)
I'm feeling all messed up
I have a voice inside my head it says turn to the left then it says turn to the right
Don't want to bring you down
But I am really needing guidance now
What would you do within my shoes
(don't cry) I'm going crazy
(stay high) I've never felt so low
(don't hide) I want to turn and run
we've got to find a place to go
so when you're feeling kind of mixed up
just remember it's a mixed up world
and when you're feeing life is just too tough
just remember you're a real tough girl
I look around my life
And all I see is contradiction and a lack of faith
Cynicism rules the day
I know it has it's place
But I am really needing guidance now
Reminding me I'm strong inside
(don't cry) I know you love me
(stay high) and we'll make it through this time
(don't hide) I want to feel the sun
we've got to start to take control
(why) do I feel this pain
(why) has this world gone insane
03 I Won't Change You (03:42)
I Won't Change You Lyrics
I used to change my accent, change my stance
My phone number, the way I dance
Some people change lovers like they change their sheets
But I won't change you honey, you're for keeps
I used to think I had to change the way I am
To feel better, to get a man
But once I stopped trying I fell for you
You fell for me so I'll stay the same for you
Oh yeah I know that I'm not perfect baby
Oh yeah it's no reason to go crazy
Oh yeah boy you can always count on me
For better or for worse I will always put you first
Now that I have found you
You've changed my life
Cos you're the one who showed me
I have everything right
We're never gonna differ cos we know it's true
So don't change me and I won't change you
I used to change my style like I changed my mind
I tried to change a tyre but I'm not that way inclined
Tried to change my figure my diet too
I'll still change my underwear if that's O.K with you
Oh yeah the world can sometimes make you feel bad
Oh yeah but don't forget the things you have
Oh yeah boy you can always count on me
In sickness and in health baby always be yourself
04 Nowhere Without You (04:54)
Another day break and we face the sun
You are everything to me
And I am overcome, I can taste it now
I know we have become single minded
And have I told you, how I want to breathe you in
You're so far beneath my skin, darling I'd be...
Nowhere without you
You're the only one I have ever loved
I'd be nowhere without you
You're the only one I can really trust
Let my loving surround you
You are safe inside, this is paradise
I'd be nowhere without you
And I want to be beside you always
Heaven help me, oh how I pray you stay
I would die without your love
And I am stunned today, so far fallen now
Another choice is made, I want you forever
I couldn't bear it if we had never felt the same
Could I have ever found my way
And have I told you, how I want to breathe you in
You're so far beneath my skin
08 You Get Yours (04:00)
You're selfish
Like me
It's why we get along
Famously
We're English
As well
So we're a
We're a
We're a little bit ashamed of ourselves
It's ok to be needy
Just not voraciously greedy
Let's make sure that we don't let it show
You get yours and I'll get mine
We'll justify our actions
Some other time
You're anxious
In dreams
cos you've come apart
At the seams
Revealing inside
What it was
What it was
What it was that you were trying to hide
I don't know how to be friendly
When you're consumed with envy
It never stops controlling how I feel
Tell me you love me and this time mean it
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