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Sfrecciati come la cometa di Halley nel firmamento del Rock stelle e strisce, i Knack incarnano la concenzione capovolta del'aforisma latino "Ars longa vita brevis" ovvero "Ars brevis vita longa". Giunti al successo planetario con l'one hit wonder "My Sharona" (canzone coverizzata da Mina e dai thrashers Destruction, tanto per citare due artisti agli antipodi), si sono sciolti e poi riuniti, nuovamente evaporati, spariti nell'atmosfera stantia dei mercati musicali minori, liquefatti nelle grinfie dell'antipatia dei critici, elaborando altresì dischi dignitosi, ma alieni di appeal commerciale, ricucinando la medesima scaloppina alla Elvis e bruciacchiandola all'uscita della secondo full-lenght.
La band si forma a Los Angeles nel 1978 ed è composta da Doug Fieger, voce e chitarra ritmica, Berton Averre, chitarra solista, Prescott Niles, basso e Bruce Gary, batteria, i quali vengono tosto lanciati nel mercato da scaltri frombolieri discografici e paragonati da qualche burlone ai Beatles, per via dell'immagine black and white. Il Power-Pop, con qualche molecola di Hard Rock, confezionato con cura, digeribile e radiofonico entusiasmò la jeunesse statunitense del 1979, in virtù della bella voce melodica di Doug Fieger ed al Rock'N Roll di fondo che permeava le canzonette di questo album d'esordio "Get The Knack", prodotto da Mike Chapman. Una ricetta innocente, con testi che non si discostano molto dal modello cars & girl dei Beach Boys (con i dovuti distinguo), ridisegnata nelle serenate energiche e nella perizia strumentale della sezione ritmica, che alterna momenti briosi ad altri caramellosi. Tutto ciò diede alla band la limousine, le ragazzine urlanti, le prime pagine delle riviste musicali: un canovaccio tanto celebrato quanto attuale. Cosa volere di più? Niente. E niente ha concesso loro il Music biz.
Un budget spartano, dieci giorni di registrazione e parche sovraincisioni, quasi in presa diretta: ecco il segreto di "Get The Knack" che si veste di platino in un baleno negli States. Nell'album ci sono gemme sepolte come "Siamese Twins (The Monkey And Me)" invero deliziosa nella sua melodia grintosa, con batteria tutta-sui-piatti, spogliata di ogni intento cerebrale, senza pretesa alcuna se non quella di accalappiare l'attenzione dei giovani yankee in un vasto bacino di utenza, iniettando però un urlo oscuro prima del guitar solo corroborante, bilanciato dalle voci cristalline del chorus, mai sopra le righe. Non se ne contano molti di quadretti così in questo platter, eccetto la cover degli Hollies "Heartbeat" che è in sintonia col sound del progettino, anche se l'album è battezzato da "Let Me Out", un bel rock nevrotico dal drumming furente, solcato da rullate insistite, sempre badando di non impegnare assai l'ascoltatore, in fin dei conti c'è anche una platea femminile da sedurre con ballatone edulcorate quali "Oh Tara" oppure "Lucinda", con Fieger sugli scudi. "Good Girls Don't" è così semplice da spiazzare il pubblico, che però ne apprezza la compostezza e fruibilità, grazie anche all'uso dell'armonica a bocca in apertura. L'apice del disco è però "My Sharona" (dedicata ad una groupie). Anzi l'album è edificato attorno a questa canzone, con la coppia di autori Fieger-Averre pervasi dal sacro fuoco del pezzo Pop fulminante, "spaccaclassifiche", una commistione genialoide di "Rocka Rolla" vecchia e nuova in mezzo a tutta la disco music negletta e imperante. Non un pezzo che rappresenta un'epoca come "Smell Like Teen Spirit" dei Nirvana, ma un affresco di semplicità messa in musica: "It's Only Rock & Roll", cantavano i Rolling Stones. E ci piace. La canzone è così digeribile che i Knack l'avrebbero arrostita in due minuti, ma riescono a reinventarla grazie ad un lead guitar tour de force dell'impavido Berton Averre, passato alla storia, che trasforma il motivetto in una frizzante kermesse rock entrata nell'immaginario collettivo.
Qualche anno fa Alice Cooper affermò che "My Sharona" era una di quelle canzoni, entrate nella storia del rock, che avrebbe voluto scrivere, rammaricandosi del fatto che fosse stata scritta da un gruppo Pop. Ipse Dixit. Dopo questo inebriante successo il quartetto produce un album ". . . But The Little Girls Understand" che riscuote moderati consensi sulla scia dell'esordio ed in seguito pubblica "Round Trip", un fiasco commerciale che affossa il complesso. Il gruppo si riformerà più volte, ma la magia di "My Sharona" rimarrà ineguagliata. Sono ancora in attività, ma senza il drummer originario Bruce Gary.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
01 Let Me Out (02:21)
one two three four
let me out come and get me out 'cause i've been stuck in for too long
let me out out come get me out baby maybe be where i belong
the time is right for stepping out in the light
my cup is full and i'll be pulling the wool tonight
let me out come get me out you know that she don't understand
let me out out come get me out baby i'm just living for the band
it's getting tighter and i'm feeling the bite
but i don't care because i'm getting my share tonight
tonight tonight tonight whoo
let me out come get me out i'm just a prisoner of your love
let me out out come get me out baby i will never have enough
i guess i'm getting while the getting is right
she may be faking but i'm taking my chance tonight
let me out
02 Your Number or Your Name (02:57)
saw your face from a window
now i can't let it go
but i don't know
your number or your name
if i only could phone you
i could say what i want to
when i'm trying to catch your eye
you're stepping out of view
it's hard to do
it's such a shame
i can't get through without
your number or your name
caught a glimpse in the subway
but you weren't going my way
you were lost in
the rumble of the train
in the rush of the city
you were standing so calmly
wish that i only had the nerve
to say hello to you
i'll be waiting 'til the end of time
with this burning yearning
in my heart and in my mind
saw you walking this morning
so i too started walking
maybe this time will be the one
where you will see me too
03 Oh Tara (03:05)
Oh Tara (Doug Fieger)
oh tara oh oh
you squeeze my heart
and then you let it go
ooh tara my oh my
i can't help falling
no i wouldn't try
i can't explain no i don't know how
and all my talking means nothing now
it only frightens you anyhow
you'll never know what you've done to me
the agony and the ecstasy
ooh tara it's alright
but i miss you tonight
i don't expect you to understand
the thrill i feel when i hold your hand
but this is something i never planned
you're thinking of me as just a friend
my heart is breaking i can't pretend
ooh tara it's for real
i can't help how i feel
04 (She's So) Selfish (04:31)
baby gonna shut you down
she got a funny little face
but her body won't quit
an-an-and everytime she come around
she give a wiggle and a wink
but she don't give a shit about
anybody else but herself
no she doesn't care for nobody else
it's just me me me me
she's so selfish
everybody plays her game
she got the style and the class
and she get what she wants
yeah and everybody knows her name
she got the smile and the ass
and the power to flaunt
'cause she's really in it just for herself
no she doesn't care for nobody else
it's just me me me me
she's so selfish
and she say
gimme gimme gimme gimme
gimme gimme gimme gimme
gimme gimme gimme gimme
gimme gimme gimme gimme please
oh won't you give it to me please please please baby
day after day after day
after night after night after night
you've been giving her what she wants
is she giving you what you need
no way
when she takes you by the short hairs
it's the only thing she'll leave you down there
no fuck-a me fuck-a me today
no fuck-a me fuck-a me today
she's the prima donna queen
c-c-coming from the quaalude scene
no fuck-a me fuck-a me today
no fuck-a me fuck-a me today
hey what do you say
she's been working in the clothing trade
she's a rich little bitch
and she's thinking she's cool
when she tells you that she's got it made
she make you weak in the knees
like a love sick fool
yes you said she made your motor run
now you know she'll never give you none
it's just me me me me
she's so selfish
i think you know this girl
i know you do
ouch
i don't want much uh uh
i don't wanna be her boyfriend forever
i just wanna touch
05 Maybe Tonight (04:03)
i dont know why i never said it before
i dont know why i waited so long to be sure
but i... everythings coming
somethings coming, maybe tonight
funny to think i had to clown and pretend
never knew i saw you as more than a friend
but i... come hold me tighter, come make it right
maybe tonight, oh maybe tonight
ever since the day i saw you
i was blown away 'cause i knew i could not say
all the things i had to say
i was such a shy guy, i could not tell you i love you
well maybe tonight, yes maybe tonight
but i...come hold me tighter
come make it right, maybe tonight
yes maybe tonight
ever sense the day i saw you
i was blown away 'cause i knew i had to say
all the things i had to say
i was such a shy guy
i could not tell you i love you
well maybe tonight
maybe tonight
yes maybe tonight
maybe tonight
maybe tonight
06 Good Girls Don't (03:09)
She's your adolescent dream
Schoolboy stuff, a sticky sweet romance
And she makes you want to scream
Wishing you could get inside her pants
So you fantasize away
While you're squeezing her, you thought you heard her saying
Good girls don't
Good girls don't
But she'll be tellin' you
Good girls don't, but I do
So, you call her on the phone
To talk about the teachers that you hate
And she says she's all alone
And her parents won't be coming home 'til late
There's a ringing in your brain
'Cause you could've swore you thought you heard her saying
Good girls don't
Good girls don't
But she'll be tellin' you
Good girls don't, but I do
And it's a teenage sadness
Everyone has got to taste
An in-between age madness
That you know you can't erase
'Til she's sitting on your face
You're alone with her at last
And you're waiting 'til you think the time is right
'Cause you've heard she's pretty fast
And you're hoping that she'll give you some tonight
So, you start to make your play
'Cause you could've swore you thought you heard her saying
Good girls don't
Good girls don't
But she'll be tellin' you
Good girls don't, but I do
And it's a teenage sadness
Everyone has got to taste
An in-between age madness
That you know you can't erase
'Til she's sitting on your face
It hurts
Good girls don't
Good girls don't
But she'll be tellin' you
Good girls don't, but I do
Good girls don't
Good girls don't
But she'll be tellin' you
Good girls don't, but I do
But I do
But I do
But I do
07 My Sharona (04:55)
Ooh my little pretty one, my pretty one
When you gonna give me some time, Sharona?
Ooh you make my motor run, my motor run
Gun it comin' off of the line, Sharona
Never gonna stop, give it up, such a dirty mind
I always get it up from the touch of the younger kind
My-my-my-eye-eye-woo
Ma-ma-ma-my Sharona
Come a little closer, will ya huh
Close enough to look in my eyes, Sharona
Keeping it a mystery gets to me
Running down the length of my thigh, Sharona
Never gonna stop, give it up, such a dirty mind
I always get it up from the touch of the younger kind
My-my-my-eye-eye-woo
Ma-ma-ma-my Sharona
Ma-ma-ma-my Sharona
When you gonna give to me, give to me
Is it just a matter of time Sharona?
Is it de-de-destiny, destiny?
Or is it just a game in my mind, Sharona?
Never gonna stop, give it up, such a dirty mind
I always get it up from the touch of the younger kind
My-my-my-eye-eye-woo
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma
My-my-my-eye-eye-woo
Ma-ma-ma-my Sharona
Ma-ma-ma-my Sharona
Ma-ma-ma-my Sharona
Ma-ma-ma-my Sharona
Ooooooooooo-oh, my Sharona
Ooooooooooo-oh, my Sharona
Ooooooooooo-oh, my Sharona
08 Heartbeat (02:12)
heartbeat why do you miss when my baby kisses me
heartbeat why does a love kiss stay in my memory
riddle-dee-pat
and sing to me love's story
reveal to me love's glory
hey hey
riddle-dee-pat
i know that true love thrills me
i know what will be will be
hey hey
09 Siamese Twins (The Monkey and Me) (03:25)
Hes on my back Hes on my back Hes on my back
Hes on my back Hes on my back Hes on my back
Please cut me free he's making me strange the monkey and me
Sits on my back shits on my back piss on my back
Sits on my back shits on my back piss on my back
kill him for me
it's time for a change
the monkey and me
Starlight starbright first star tonight
wish my brother was no longer
cut theif who had got away
got clean made a getaway
leaving out on the highway
kill him for me
it's time for a change
the monkey and me
starlight starbright first star tonight
wish my brother was no longer
cut theif who had got away
got clean made a getaway
leaving out on the highway
He's on my back He's on my back He's on my back
He's on my back He's on my back He's on my back
Please cut me free
he's making me strange
the monkey and me
the monkey and me
the monkey and me
the monkey and me
10 Lucinda (04:01)
She hides behind a smile
She lies
Beware of what you do
Take care, she will get to you
Trust in experience
Believe it's true
Lucinda gonna cut you down
Lucinda gonna make you cry
She been around don't ask me why
She got to hurt you
She gonna hurt you, hurt you
This girl is not a child
She's wise
She knows just what to say
She knows how to get her way
Don't let her steal your heart
'Cause when she's through
Lucinda gonna cut you down
Lucinda gonna make you cry
She been around don't ask me why
She got to hurt you
She gonna hurt you, hurt you
You're thinking you're the number one
You're king and she will wear your crown
Lucinda gonna cut you down
It's gonna hurt you
It's got to hurt you, hurt you
Lucinda gonna cut you down
Lucinda gonna cut you down
Lucinda gonna cut you down
Lucinda gonna cut you down
12 Frustrated (03:52)
frustrated she's getting to me
frustrated do what you do to me
frustrated
she'll tell you grab it live it up
long as you can get it up
she'll make you shake and break your neck
feeling like a total wreck
oh i wanna serve you
oh no i don't deserve you
she's a teaser tonight
but you know she'll turn it off
just as you're turning down the light
she's gonna take you by the hand
lead you to the promised land
she'll make you weak and out of breath
feeling like you done to death
oh i wanna hold you
oh and bend and fold you
she'll be pulling the string
but she'll tie it in a knot
before she give you anything
you gotta get that get this
if you wanna get a kiss
she'll make you crazy in the head
better off if you were dead
oh i wanna lead you
oh i wanna feed you
call her chicken delight
but the flesh is on the bone
and she ain't giving you a bite
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