• Voto:
Questa è la storia di un ragazzo di 16 anni rinchiuso in un gazebo in estate al caldo, a fare panini e servire bibite. E' uno stagista, quindi pagato da schifo e deve fare gli incarichi più umili negli stessi giorni in cui i suoi amici sono a divertirsi al mare.
Ma non gli importa. Perché lui in quei giorni pensa solo a una cosa. Ha appena fatto una scoperta eccezionale: il rock'n'roll.
Tutto quello che gli importa è quello che gira nello stereo quando tocca a lui stare nel gazebo-sauna in piscina: l'album "The Singles" dei The Clash.
Lo mette a ripetizione, a volume assordante, i clienti arrivano persino a lamentarsi alla reception del volume troppo alto.
Ma a lui non gli importa. Ha 16 anni e ha appena scoperto il rock'n'roll.
Secondo voi lui, a quell'età, può capire che non tutti considerino i Clash la band più importante al mondo come invece crede lui?
Come può un ragazzo a quell'età capire che non tutti sentono lo stesso soprattutto per una cosa personale come la musica?
Impossibile.
Per lui quella musica è stupenda, parla la sua stessa voce e non può arrivare a capire che gli altri possono pensarla diversamente.
Magari i tedeschi in vacanza mentre stanno a prendere il sole italiano in piscina preferiscono ascoltarsi l'ultima hit dell'estate (per la cronaca, era il 2005 quindi andavano a palla i Black Eyes Peas, i Green Day e i Negroamaro) e non classici del punk come "White Riot", "Remote Control" e soprattutto "White Man (In Hammersmith Palais)" (Eh, si. Sopratutto lei).
Naturalmente quel ragazzino ottuso e felice che aveva una paura immane di amputarsi i diti nel tagliare il pane per i panini mozzarella e pomodoro ero io.
Fu un estate importante per me quella del 2005.
Successe davvero di tutto, dalla prima cotta, i primi veri amici, il primo numero del Mucchio comprato, la mia prima stagione estiva da cameriere e la scoperta dei Clash.
Tutte cose che hanno avuto un impatto importantissimo nella mia vita e praticamente tutte di uguale intensità.
Prendiamo i Clash. E' da 9 anni ormai che sono la mia band preferita. Fate che vi pare.
Mi sono ascoltato un miriade di gruppi in seguito, oh, ma da lì, dalla cima, un tullì smovi.
Sicuramente proprio perché sono legati a quell'estate e a tutto quello che portò. A come in quel momento si intrecciarono perfettamente con la mia vita privata e a come divennero colonna sonora e colonna portante insieme.
A come spuntarono nella mia vita al momento giusto e ci siano rimasti per sempre.
Il primo disco che comprai dei Clash fu proprio questo. Avevo appena letto Jack Fusciante è uscito dal gruppo, sapete quindi il perchè scelsi proprio loro per incominciare la mia avventura musicale.
Da White Riot cantata a squarciagola in motorino ai balletti penosi sotto This Is Radio Clash.
Da imparare a memoria il testo di Train In Vain (Uno delle canzoni più importanti degli anni '80. Uscita nel '79, però) a fare airgiutar in Remote Control (quei 10 secondi che dura l'assolo).
E a White Man In Hammersmith Palais, una delle canzoni che meglio rappresenta la loro grandezza e quello che significano per me.
Certo, è una questione personale perché è difficile individuare in una band gigante come i Clash il miglior pezzo visto anche le decine di generi esplorati in soli 5 anni ("Hanno fatto vedere al mondo quanto era grande e vario, accorciando molte distanze. E questa è la cosa più importante di tutte." mi auto cito..).
Ma questa canzone ha tutto. Un reggae mischiato al punk dell'album di esordio di soli qualche mese prima, una linea melodica di una semplicità epocale, un testo anti-razzista e fascista (ma anche no global, anti sistema, anti capitalismo: erano tempi confusi quelli..) che ho fatto ragione di vita, la voce del buon Joe incisiva come non mai.
Insomma, tutto quello che può sconvolgere ad un ragazzino di 16 anni la prima volta che l'avrebbe ascoltata, questa canzone ce l'ha.
Che, ragazzi, scoprire i Clash a 16 anni è come... scoprire i Clash a 16 anni e basta.
Elenco tracce e testi
01 White Riot (01:58)
White riot (I wanna riot)
White riot (a riot of my own)
White riot (I wanna riot)
White riot (a riot of my own)
Black man gotta lot a problems
But they don't mind throwing a brick
White people go to school
Where they teach you how to be thick
An' everybody's doing
Just what they're told to
An' nobody wants
To go to jail!
All the power's in the hands
Of people rich enough to buy it
While we walk the street
Too chicken to even try it
Everybody's doing
Just what they're told to
Nobody wants
To go to jail!
Are you taking over
or are you taking orders?
Are you going backwards
Or are you going forwards?
02 Remote Control (03:00)
Who needs remote control
From the Civic Hall
Push a button
Activate
You gotta work an' you're late
It's so grey in London town
With a panda car crawling around
Here it comes
Eleven o'clock
Where can we go now?
Can't make a noise
Can't get no gear
Can't make no money
Can't get outta here
Big business it don't like you
It don't like the things you do
You got no money
So you got no power
They think you're useless
An' so you are - puuuuuuunnnnnk!
They had a meeting in Mayfair
They got you down an'
They wanna keep you there
It makes them worried
Their bank accounts
That's all that matters
And you don't count
Can't make no progress
Can't get ahead
Can't stop the regress
Don't wanna be dead
Look out' those rules and regulations
Who needs the Parliament
Sitting making laws all day
They're all fat and old
Queuing for the House of Lords
Repression - gonna start on Tuesday
Repression - gonna be a Dalek
Repression - I am a robot
Repression - I obey
04 Clash City Rockers (03:48)
And I wanna move the town to the Clash City Rockers
You need a little jump of electrical shockers
You better leave town if you only wanna knock us
Nothing stands the pressure of the Clash City Rockers
You see the rate they come down the escalator
Now listen to the tube train accelerator
Then you realise that you got to have a purpose
Or this place is gonna knock you out sooner or later
So don't complain about your useless employment
Jack it in forever tonight
Or shut your mouth and pretend you enjoy it
Think of all the money you've got
And I wanna liquefy everybody gone dry
Or plug into the aerials that poke up in the sky
Or burn down the suburbs with the half-closed eyes
You won't succeed unless you try
So don't complain about your useless employment
Jack it in forever tonight
Or shut your mouth (shut it) and pretend you enjoy it
Think of all the money you've got, yeah yeah
Yes, I wanna move the town to the Clash City Rockers
You need a little jump of electrical shockers
You better leave town if you only wanna knock us
Nothing stands the pressure of the Clash City Rockers
You owe me a move say the bells of St. Groove
Come on and show me say the bells of old Bowie
When I am fitter say the bells of Gary Glitter
No one but you and I say the bells of Prince Far-I
No one but you and I say the bells of Prince Far-I
And I wanna move the town to the Clash City Rockers
You need a little jump of electrical shockers
You better leave town if you only wanna knock us
Nothing stands the pressure of the Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
07 English Civil War (02:36)
When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurah, Tudah
He's coming by bus or underground
Hurah, Tudah
A woman's eye will shed a tear
To see his face so beaten in fear
An' it was just around the corner in the English Civil War
It was still at the stage of clubs and fists
Hurah, Tudah
When that well-known face got beaten to bits
Hurah, Tudah
Your face was blue in the light of the screen
As we watched the speech of an animal scream
The new party army was marching right over our heads
Alright
There you are, ha ha, I told you so
Tudah, Hyurah
Says everybody that we know
Hurah, Tudah
But who hid a radio under the stairs
An' who got caught out on their unawares
New party army came marching right up the stairs
When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurah, Tudah
Nobody understands it can happen again
Hurah, Tudah
The sun is shining an' the kids are shouting loud
But you gotta know it's shining through a crack in the cloud
And the shadows keep on falling
When Johnny comes marching home
Alright
Johnny
Oka.......ay
Johnny
All the towns go
O.... O.
O. O...........
08 I Fought the Law (02:39)
Breaking rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I needed money 'cause I had none
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I killed my baby and it feels so bad
I guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the
Robbing people with a six-gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I lost my gun and I lost my fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I left my baby and it feels so bad
I guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the
09 London Calling (03:19)
London calling to the far away towns
Now war is declared and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls
London calling, now don't look at us
Phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing
The ice age is coming, the sun zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning and I - live by the river
London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out – and draw another breath
London calling – and I don't wanna shout
But while we were talking – I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain't got no highs
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes
The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear error, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning and I - I live by the river
(x2)
Now get this!
London calling, yes, I was there, too
An' you know what they said? Well, some of it was true!
London calling at the top of the dial
After all this, won't you give me a smile?
London calling
I never felt so much alike
10 Train in Vain (03:09)
You say you stand by your man
Tell me something I don't understand
You said you love me and that's a fact
And then you left me, said you felt trapped
Well some things you can't explain away
But the heartache's in me 'til this day
You didn't stand by me, no, not at all
You didn't stand by me, no way
All the times when we were close
I'll remember these things the most
I see all my dreams come tumbling down
I can't be happy without you around
So alone I keep the wolves at bay
And there's only one thing I can say
You didn't stand by me, no, not at all
You didn't stand by me, no way
You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me?
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Now I got a job, but it don't pay
I need new clothes, I need somewhere to stay
But without all of these things I can do
But without your love I won't make it through
But you don't understand my point of view
I suppose there's nothing I can do
You didn't stand by me, no, not at all
You didn't stand by me, no way
You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me?
Did you stand by me
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way
11 Bankrobber (04:33)
My Daddy was a bankrobber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
Some is rich, and some is poor
That's the way the world is
But I don't believe in lying back
Sayin' how bad your luck is
So we came to jazz it up
We never loved a shovel
Break your back to earn your pay
An' don't forget to grovel
The old man spoke up in a bar
Said I never been in prison
A lifetime serving one machine
Is ten times worse than prison
Imagine if all the boys in jail
Could get out now together
Whadda you think they'd want to say to us?
While we was being clever
Someday you'll meet your rocking chair
Cos that's where we're spinning
There's no point to wanna comb your hair
When it's grey and thinning
Run rabbit run
Strike out boys, for the hills
I can find that hole in the wall
And I know that they never will
13 Hitsville U.K. (04:21)
They cried the tears, they shed the fears
Up and down the land
They stole guitars or used guitars
So the tape would understand.
Without even the slightest hope of a 1000 sales
Just as if there was a Hitsville in UK
Know the boy was all alone, till the Hitsville UK.
They say true talent will always emerge in time
When lightening hits small wonder
It's fast rough factory trade
No expense accounts, or lunch discounts
Or hypeing up the charts
The band went in 'n' knocked 'em dead in 2 min. 59.
No slimey deals, with smarmy eels - in Hitsville UK
Let's shake 'n' say we'll operate in Hitsville UK
The mutants, creeps and muscle men
Are shaking like a leaf
It blows a hole in the radio
When it hasn't sounded good all week
A mike 'n' boom, in your living room - in Hitsville UK
No consumer trials, or A.O.R. in Hitsville UK
Now the boys and girls are not alone
Now the Hitsvilles hit UK.
14 The Magnificent Seven (04:27)
Ring! Ring! It's 7 A.M.!
Move y'self to go again
Cold water in the face
Brings you back to this awful place
Knuckle merchants and you bankers, too
Must get up an' learn those rules
Weather man and the crazy chief
One says sun and one says sleet
A.M., the F.M. the P.M. too
Churning out that boogaloo
Gets you up and gets you out
But how long can you keep it up?
Gimme Honda, Gimme Sony
So cheap and real phony
Hong Kong dollars and Indian cents
English pounds and Eskimo pence
You lot! What?
Don't stop! Give it all you got!
You lot! What?
Don't stop! Yeah!
Working for a rise, better my station
Take my baby to sophistication
She's seen the ads, she thinks it's nice
Better work hard - I seen the price
Never mind that it's time for the bus
We got to work - an' you're one of us
Clocks go slow in a place of work
Minutes drag and the hours jerk
"When can I tell 'em wot I do?
In a second, maaan...oright Chuck!"
Wave bub-bub-bub-bye to the boss
It's our profit, it's his loss
But anyway lunch bells ring
Take one hour and do your thanng!
Cheeesboiger!
What do we have for entertainment?
Cops kickin' Gypsies on the pavement
Now the news - snap to attention!
The lunar landing of the dentist convention
Italian mobster shoots a lobster
Seafood restaurant gets out of hand
A car in the fridge
Or a fridge in the car?
Like cowboys do - in T.V. land
You lot! What? Don't stop. Huh?
So get back to work an' sweat some more
The sun will sink an' we'll get out the door
It's no good for man to work in cages
Hits the town, he drinks his wages
You're frettin', you're sweatin'
But did you notice you ain't gettin'?
Don't you ever stop long enough to start?
To take your car outta that gear
Don't you ever stop long enough to start?
To get your car outta that gear
Karlo Marx and Fredrich Engels
Came to the checkout at the 7-11
Marx was skint - but he had sense
Engels lent him the necessary pence
What have we got? Yeh-o, magnificence!!
Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi
Went to the park to check on the game
But they was murdered by the other team
Who went on to win 50-nil
You can be true, you can be false
You be given the same reward
Socrates and Milhous Nixon
Both went the same way - through the kitchen
Plato the Greek or Rin Tin Tin
Who's more famous to the billion millions?
News Flash: Vacuum Cleaner Sucks Up Budgie
Oooohh...bub-bye
Magnificence!!
FUCKING LONG, INNIT?
16 Know Your Rights (03:40)
This is a public service announcement
With guitar!
Know your rights, all three of them!
Number 1:
You have the right not to be killed
Murder is a CRIME!
Unless it was done by a
Policeman or aristocrat...
Know your rights!
And Number 2:
You have the right to food money
Providing of course
You don't mind a little
Investigation, humiliation
And if you cross your fingers
Rehabilitation...
Know your rights!
These are your rights!
Number 3:
You have the right to free speech
As long as
You're not dumb enough to actually try it!
Know your rights,
These are your rights!
All three of 'em!
And it has been suggested
In some quarters
That this is not enough!
Well...
Get off the streets
Run!
17 Rock the Casbah (03:41)
Now the king told the boogie men
You have to let that raga drop
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin' to the top
The sheik he drove his Cadillac
He went a' cruisin' down the ville
The muezzin was a' standing
On the radiator grille
''[Chorus:]''
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The shareef don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
By order of the prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy Casbah sound
But the Bedouin they brought out
The electric camel drum
The local guitar picker
Got his guitar picking thumb
As soon as the shareef
Had cleared the square
They began to wail
''[Chorus]''
Now over at the temple
Oh! They really pack 'em in
The in-crowd say it's cool
To dig this chanting thing
But as the wind changed direction
And the temple band took five
The crowd caught a wiff
Of that crazy Casbah jive
''[Chorus]''
The king called up his jet fighters
He said you better earn your pay
Drop your bombs between the minarets
Down the Casbah way
As soon as the shareef was
Chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to
The cockpit radio blare
As soon as the shareef was
Outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed
''[Chorus]''
He thinks it's not kosher
Fundamentally he can't take it.
You know he really hates it.
18 Should I Stay or Should I Go (03:07)
Darling you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
I'll be here 'til the end of time
So you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
It's always tease tease tease
You're happy when I'm on my knees
One day is fine, the next is black
So if you want me off your back
Well come on and let me know
Should I Stay or should I go?
Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An' if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
This indecision's bugging me
If you don't want me, set me free
Exactly who'm I'm supposed to be
Don't you know which clothes even fit me?
Come on and let me know
Should I cool it or should I blow?
Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
So you gotta let me know
Should I cool it or should I blow?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
and if I stay there will be double?
So you gotta' let me know!
Should I stay or should I go
Carico i commenti... con calma
