Folk al femminile o folk femminile? Mhm, vediamo, dunque... Cos'è che avvicina una donna a questo genere? Pura predilezione, tradizioni di famiglia, una certa "intimità" che, grazie al genere, l'interprete/autrice può riprodurre? Le donne, si sa, sono la luna mentre noi maschietti saremmo il sole... C'entra niente la passione per le cose fatte a mano? Le decorazioni country per la mobilia, la passione per il découpage?
Ok, sto fornendo una versione dell'universo femminile da indurre chi di competenza alla censura della recensione ed alla "cesura" di qualcos'altro. Mentre io metto in mostra il lato più bieco della mia personalità, queste donne usano la musica per dare vita a qualcosa di credibile, vero-verosimile, suonato e mica campionato; cantato, mica intonato; proposto, non di certo imposto tramite tivù.
Non è il caso che dileggi dunque il folk (al) femminile, a maggior ragione quando si è continuamente bombardati da ragazze spezia, micette atomiche, ragazze lecca-lecca, ragazze succhia-succhia, bambole di zucchero, fighe di legno ecc.. Parlare di donne e di musica da classifica è un po' come proporre una medaglia: due sono le facce, inevitabilmente inseparabili. In alcuni decenni una delle due è risultata più splendente dell'altra, magari ad oggi il poppetto da classifica pianificato a tavolino è regolarmente in vantaggio, ma in generale ogni decade ha la sua degna rappresentante in ambedue i sensi. Prendere per esempio gli anni ottanta: so che un paragone per vendite, celebrità ed esposizione mediatica è pressoché improponibile, però quelli furono gli anni di Madonna quanto lo furono di Tracy Chapman, o no?
Giusto negli ottanta, però, si potè assistere all'emersione di un personaggio alquanto singolare: una diciannovenne, proposta in televisione a programmini e Festivalbars come fosse una cantante pop qualsiasi per via di quella sua bellezza, cristallina quanto austera, ottima per le copertine dei magazines di tutto il pianeta e per l'apertura di nuove decine di fans club. Cantava canzoni certo difficili per chi andava all'Arena di Verona per consacrarsi al culto di Rick Astley e di Nick Kamen, ma come costoro reggeva il palco e l'urto delle telecamere, e lo faceva proprio perché non si poteva smettere di guardare in quei suoi occhioni neri tristi e profondissimi. Un mix vivente, a quel tempo, tra la sensibilità artistica della folk woman e la velleità superstarresca di ben altre colleghe... Una specie di Tracy Chapman corteggiata quanto una Samantha Fox...
Indubbio che Tanita Tikaram, la diciannovenne in oggetto, inglese nata in Westfalia, con sangue indocinese, indiano e figiano nel mezzo, a quel tempo non avesse né la consapevolezza né l'attitude a certe pose ed a certe inquadrature, ma ben presto, immagino, dovette comprendere le regole del gioco per quindi confrontarsi meglio con la trappola in cui era finita: il successo aveva fatto fare il giro del mondo alle sue canzoni, è vero, ma la strada che esse fecero è meno della metà di quella compiuta dal suo viso. Ed essendo "figlia" di quegli anni non potè fare a meno di perdere consensi e fama, cosiccome non poterono tutti gli altri sottrarsi dall'identificarla quale "quella ragazza bella... che cantava le canzoni più tristi del mondo... col vocione... te la ricordi?" o, per chi se ne intendesse, ?quella di "Twist In My Sobriety"'...
Questo brano, appunto il più celebre della sua discografia, è contenuto nell'album d'esordio "Ancient Heart", datato 1988; si tratta pressoché di un disco di folk puro, addirittura all'irlandese nell'opener "Good Tradition" (maledette tastieracce anni ottanta: sono-dappertutto-sono!), di innocenza adolescenziale che si sposa ad una consapevolezza quasi esistenzialista. E "Twist In My Sobriety", uno di quei pezzi che ricordo con maggior favore di quella decade, è, a mio avviso (sans d'émuler aucune), puro esistenzialismo, drammaturgia canzonettistica. A ciò contribuisce non poco la voce di Tanita, quasi maschile come per la Chapman, profonda anche se non bassa, differente da quella dell'americana perché stilisticamente e tecnicamente inferiore (ai limiti del pessimo, direi) ma con un nonsoccheporcacciamiseriaccia di più seducente, elevato, sensuale.
Se nell'ottima "Cathedral Song" questa voce è autenticamente quella di un fratello, se va benone nel blues in punta di piedi di "He Likes The Sun" o nella trasognata "Valentine Heart", nei brani più allegri "appesantisce la leggerezza" (un po' come quando in autostrada lessi un cartello che indicava "rallentare la velocità"), fa precipitare i mezzi sorrisi, riappiattisce l'elettrocardiogramma. Suggestivo è ascoltarla incerta tra i fiati del jazz in un locale con troppa eco, in "For All Those Years", mentre indispettisce un po' allorquando, inevitabilmente, co' sto vocione che si ritrova raffredda l'ultimo brano, l'accorata "Preyed Upon".
Menzione ulteriore per le liriche: trovatemi un o una adolescente nel 1988 che, quando pensa a scrivere una canzone, pensa a metterci questo livello di scrittura.
Tanita fu un fenomeno un po' troppo singolare, per il comune pop da classifica, nonostante la sua bellezza ce ne accorgemmo un po' tutti, non è così? Ritornò presto nella penombra del cantautorato, ma complici furono anche dei dischi non all'altezza di questo. I suoi occhi continuano a risplendere di nero ancora oggi, e la sua voce (migliorata) è stata incisa fino al 2002, però stavolta tocca a noi andarceli a trovare; non è più tempo (da tempo), per lei, di successi/mercificazioni...
Un cuore antico, si direbbe, quello di Tanita; pertanto non a suo agio in un mondo troppo moderno come quello delle charts.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Good Tradition (02:52)
There's a good tradition of love and hate staying by the fireside
There's a good tradition of love and hate staying by the fireside
And though the rain may fall - your father's calling you
You still feel safe inside
And though your ma's too proud - your brother's ignoring you
You still feel safe inside
Oh, was this solo?
Was this yesterday?
Was this true for you?
'Cos while all the rest have taken time
This didn't do a lot for you
And the corners laced with memories
Tell you how it used to be
Your mother smiles, the children play, and all the bad things happen miles away
And strong feelings never bother you
You hold your head up while the rest of us try to
Oh, call the stations
Call the people
We all want to know
'Cos while all the rest have taken time
You don't wanna know
Well, there's a good tradition of love and hate staying by the fireside
There's a good tradition of love and hate staying by the fireside
And though the rain may fall - your father's calling you
You still feel safe inside
And though your ma's too proud - your brother's ignoring you
You still feel safe inside
Oh, was this solo?
Was this yesterday?
Was this true for you?
'Cos of all the choices you have made
This didn't do a lot for you
02 Cathedral Song (02:53)
I saw you from the cathedral
You were watching me
Yes I saw from the cathedral
What I should be
So take my time
And take my lies
'Cos all the others, they want to take my life
And I watch you with an intent, basic
It's the same for you
You hold your hand
And it's all fine - laced and
What would you make me do?
So take my time
And take my lies
'Cos all the others, they want to take my life
Serious for the winter time
To wrench my soul
whole cotton, whole cotton ears
But I know there must be
I know there must be, yes, I know there must be a place to go
And you saw me from the cathedral
Well I'm an ancient heart
Yes, you saw me from the cathedral
Well here we are just falling apart
You catch me
I'm tired
I want all that you are
And I saw you from the cathedral
You were leaving me
Yes I saw from the cathedral
You could not see to see
So take my time
And take my lies
'Cos all the others, they want to take my life
05 World Outside Your Window (04:54)
Everyone has said that I might go
'Cos my red suitcase and my ray-bans
Weren't quite so
I'd bear the heavy wind and rain that falls
I'll never come back again
'Cos you know I laugh when winter shows her hand
Well, that picture framed the saddest thing you'll see
But it bought me time and a place that love could be
And since I'm going now please rearrange
'Cos I'd like to think that things have changed
I don't believe you'll be open anymore
Tell me if, you want to see
A world outside your window
A world outside your window isn't free
And tell me if you wanna catch that feeling of redemption
That feeling of redemption doesn't do much for me
Well, everyone was hoping you would stay a while
Tell us 'bout that great land in the south
I see that man - now ain't he under offer?
I tell you child you go wash out your mouth
Tell me if, you want to see
A world outside your window
A world outside your window isn't free
And tell me if you wanna catch that feeling of redemption
That feeling of redemption doesn't do much for me
What can you say
I'm hiding in the belfry
What can you say - I want to catch time
How can you say you know anything about me
Well I knew about you - but I won't care about you
Everyone has come to see. Well somethings have to do
Flowers out for this photographic haunt, but they all pass me by
But the age is not a funny game, it don't give such a buzz
And when I winced with ignorance
I had to kiss this dust
07 Twist in My Sobriety (04:51)
All God's children need travelling shoes
Drive your problems from here
All good people read good books
Now your conscience is clear
I hear you talk girl
Now your conscience is clear
In the morning when I wipe my brow
Wipe the miles away
I like to think I can be so willed
And never do what you say
I'll never hear you
And never do what you say
Look my eyes are just holograms
Look your love has drawn red from my hands
From my hands you know you'll never be
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
We've just poked a little empty pie
For the fun that people had at night
Late at night don't need hostility
The timid smile and pause to free
I don't care about their different thoughts
Different thoughts are good for me
Up in arms and chaste and whole
All God's children took their toll
Look my eyes are just holograms
Look your love has drawn red from my hands
From my hands you know you'll never be
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
Cup of tea, takes time to think, yeah
Time to risk a life, a life, a life
Sweet and handsome
Soft and porky
You pig out 'til you've seen the light
Pig out 'til you've seen the light
Half the people read the papers
Read them good and well
Pretty people, nervous people
People have got to sell
News you have to sell
Look my eyes are just holograms
Look your love has drawn red from my hands
From my hands you know you'll never be
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
09 He Likes the Sun (05:28)
Some say the world goes crazy
It's summertime
I say I'm feeling lazy
Hammocks in mind
And I can't change a thing
So I won't stay around
If you can still feel so hot
Why don't you feel for me?
If you can feel so much
Why don't you let it out
And let me be alone again
I keep watch. That's alright
'Cos it comes in this real night
He likes the sun
See the cornered clown
He likes the sun
Let us waste this town
And when it rains
You feel the click in his heart
And that's when the pain in mine will start
And that's when the pain in mine will start
I'm used to growing older
and feeling down inside
But yes, I know, well someone told
You should have seen him cry
Well that's not my life
I'm tired of chip inside and playing bronze for cool
Y'know that sometimes light
And sometimes you can just be that fool
Who can really say?
If I'm cross - it's a joke
if I'm lost - let it go up in smoke
He likes the sun
See the cornered clown
He likes the sun
Let us waste this town
And when it rains
You feel the click in his heart
And that's when the pain in mine will start
And that's when the pain in mine will start
Jump right out of your grass colours
And make like you were easy prey
and cheer us solemn of a possible
Is it possible?
I could really play could really play
All these things I say
Though not torn inside, though not torn
You just lie, lie low - lie low for me
I'm not in deeper waters - where everyone will claim
We used to know the daughter - throw it away it's such a shame
If you're feeling blue
And like icy looks and great command
He likes the way I'm true
But I know inside
This is a real life sham - but that's okay
And this song can't be sued
I assume - you get up and renew yourself
He likes the sun
See the cornered clown
He likes the sun
Let us waste this town
And when it rains
You feel the click in his heart
And that's when the pain in mine will start
And that's when the pain in mine will start
10 Valentine Heart (04:06)
If I was a Londoner, rich with complaint
Would you take me back to your house
Which is sainted with lust and the listless shade
If I could have held you once more with that light
It's nothing to you, but it keeps me alive
Like a Valentine's Day, it's a Valentine's heart, anyway
The king and the ages, they fall by the plan
It's always the tired and the ordinary man
(It's the) challenge it's funny and such
I want to see you again
I want to see you again
It's so simple and plain
But I'll come back and see you again
The lie is the angel, it doesn't exist
I tell you it's funny but you like just to twist all my words
It's a shame you're so young
My word, it's a shame I'm so dumb
I figure a house with the smoke and the fence
The people round here would be pleased
Take my word on this
I would believe just in you, just believe in you
And five days to catch me around with my ring
As I visit the friendships which meant everything to the girl
With the clown's face, to the girl with the clowns face, round here
11 Preyed Upon (05:04)
When your life has all been token
And your stance is akin to broken hearts
You've grown weary - I'm not weary
I can take your part
It's eye-open time, sailor
When they want you to pretend
You were inside that playground
You may be old - but not so old
That I can't see
See your old freinds and it's as fresh as dew
But see what's new and it's all the same to you
Now I'm not choosy and I'm just half grown
I took the old man - I gave the old man
I took the old man back home
Safe with us to serenade
To hang around your black scarf and black ways
I have "no idea" he said, "no idea of what I'll do"
And talking less - it chases home
It chases dreams - but I have really no reason, no goal and so
If you "wanna" play real basic
If you "wanna" help us make it
Don't forget you're alone
Unless it's all alone
Don't forget you're alone
Unless it's all alone
You get preyed upon
Ohh oh
I need to complicate you
To make you hate the things you might have done
And come out into the morning
It's the sun you want
Not the foreign time
Carico i commenti... con calma
