• Voto:
Curiosamente, a tutt'oggi su DeBaser mancano delle recensioni sui Pretenders di Chrissie Hynde, gruppo che, soprattutto nei primi anni '80 e prima di essere dimezzato dalla scomparsa di due dei membri fondatori (il chitarrista James Honeyman Scott ed il bassista Pete Farndon), è stato autore dei belle pagine di pop rock, probabilmente sottovalutate in mezzo mondo, ed in Italia in particolare.
La musica del gruppo statunitense (ma inglese "d'adozione), guidato dalla inconfondibile voce della sua cantante, deriva in egual misura dal pop inglese di fine anni '60 (Kinks su tutti... la Hynde fu anche moglie di Ray Davies, prima di accoppiarsi con Kerr dei Simple Minds), dal folk rock alla Byrds (soprattutto nel jingle jangle delle chitarre), e da certa new wave (specie per quanto attiene alla sezione ritmica ed al freddo dinamismo che, talvolta, caratterizza le canzoni del quartetto).
Per certi aspetti i Pretenders recuperano le radici beat rock nella confusione dei primi anni '80, cercando di rifondare il genere proprio partendo dalle sue origini, effettuando, nel versante relativo alla musica bianca, quello che i Talking Heads, anche grazie all'aiuto del mentore Eno, facevano nel versante relativo alla musica nera. Uno stile, dunque, eclettico e ben bilanciato, in cui spicca l'interplay fra i quattro membri del gruppo, all'insegna di un equilibrio compositivo ed esecutivo piuttosto raro a trovarsi.
Limite, ed al contempo, pregio fondamentale del gruppo, oltre alle travagliate vicende che portarono all'allontanamento ed alla morte di chitarrista e bassista è, forse, proprio quello di non aver trovato la sponda di un Eno, o di altri produttori di analogo lignaggio: il che, da un lato, ha segnato la ripetitività del genere dei Pretenders - confinato in un pop-rock che strizza l'occhio al mainstream -, dall'altro conferma l'immagine di un gruppo genuino, semplice e schietto, con un suono riconoscibile ed appassionato, lontano dalle elucubrazioni di altri gruppi del calderone new wave.
In questa antologia trovate, a mio parere, il meglio del gruppo, con una serie di canzoni (su tutte "Brass in Pocket", "Human", "2000 Miles", "Middle of the Road") che non stancano facilmente e che non rivelano mai delle cadute di tono - cosa rara anche per i best off -, mettendo bene in luce la grazia e lo stile dei Pretenders.
Altro non v'è da aggiungere, meglio essere semplici come semplice, è, al dunque, la proposta musicale di Hynde e soci.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Brass in Pocket (03:06)
Got brass in pocket
Got bottle I'm gonna use it
Intention I feel inventive
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice
Got motion restrained emotion
Been driving Detroit leaning
No reason just seems pleasing
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice
(CHORUS)
Gonna use my arms
Gonna use my legs
Gonna use my style
Gonna use my sidestep
Gonna use my fingers
Gonna use my, my, my imagination
'Cause I'm gonna make you see
There's nobody else here
No one like me
I'm special so special
I gotta have some of your attention, give it to me!
Got rhythm I can't miss a beat
Got new skank it's so reet
Got something I'm winking at you
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice
(CHORUS)
'Cause I gonna make you see
Theres nobody else here
No one like me
I'm special, so special
I gotta have some of your attention
Give it to me
cause I gonna make you see
Theres nobody else here
No one like me
I'm special, so special
I gotta have some of your attention
Give it to me
03 Don't Get Me Wrong (03:48)
DON'T GET ME WRONG
IF I'M LOOKING KIND OF DAZZLED
I SEE NEON LIGHTS
WHENEVER YOU WALK BY
DON'T GET ME WRONG
IF YOU SAY HELLO AND I TAKE A RIDE
UPON A SEA WHERE THE MYSTIC MOON
IS PLAYING HAVOC WITH THE TIDE
DON'T GET ME WRONG
DON'T GET ME WRONG
IF I'M ACTING SO DISTRACTED
I'M THINKING ABOUT THE FIREWORKS
THAT GO OFF WHEN YOU SMILE
DON'T GET ME WRONG
IF I SPLIT LIKE LIGHT REFRACTED
I'M ONLY OFF TO WANDER
ACROSS A MOONLIT MILE
ONCE IN AWHILE
TWO PEOPLE MEET
SEEMINGLY FOR NO REASON
THEY JUST PASS ON THE STREET
SUDDENLY THUNDER, SHOWERS EVERYWHERE
WHO CAN EXPLAIN THE THUNDER AND RAIN
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE AIR
DON'T GET ME WRONG
IF I COME AND GO LIKE FASHION
I MIGHT BE GREAT TOMORROW
BUT HOPELESS YESTERDAY
DON'T GET ME WRONG
IF I FALL IN THE 'MODE OF PASSION'
IT MIGHT BE UNBELIEVABLE
BUT LET'S NOT SAY SO LONG
IT MIGHT JUST BE FANTASTIC
DON'T GET ME WRONG
04 Kid (03:04)
KID WHAT CHANGED YOUR MOOD
YOU'VE GONE ALL SAD SO I FEEL SAD TOO
I THINK I KNOW SOME THINGS WE NEVER OUTGROW
YOU THINK IT'S WRONG
I CAN TELL YOU DO
HOW CAN I EXPLAIN
WHEN YOU DON'T WANT ME TO
KID MY ONLY KID
YOU LOOK SO SMALL YOU'VE GONE SO QUIET
I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT I'M ABOUT
I WON'T DENY IT
BUT YOU FORGIVE THOUGH YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
YOU'VE TURNED YOUR HEAD
YOU'VE DROPPED MY HAND
ALL MY SORROW, ALL MY BLUES
ALL MY SORROW
SHUT THE LIGHT, GO AWAY
FULL OF GRACE, YOU COVER YOUR FACE
KID GRACIOUS KID
YOUR EYES ARE BLUE BUT YOU WON'T CRY
I KNOW ANGRY TEARS ARE TOO DEAR
YOU WON'T LET THEM GO
05 Human (03:55)
I play a good game,
but not as good as you
I can be a little cold, but you can be so cruel
I'm not made of brick, I'm not made of stone
But I had you fooled enough
to take me on
If love was a war, it's you who has won
While I was confessing it, you held your tongue
Now the damage is done...
CHORUS:
Well there's blood in these veins
And I cry when in pain
I'm only human on the inside
And if looks can deceive
Make it hard to believe
I'm only human on the inside
I thought you'd come through,
I thought you'd come clean
You were the best thing I should never have seen
But you go to extremes, you push me too far
Then you keep going 'til you break my heart
Yeah, you break my heart
See I bleed and I bruise, oh, but what's it to you
I'm only human on the inside
And if looks could deceive,
Make it hard to believe
I'm only human on the inside
I crash and I burn, maybe some day you'll learn
I'm only human on the inside
I stumble and fall, baby, under it all
I'm only human on the inside
And the damage is done...
CHORUS
I crash and I burn, maybe some day you'll learn
I stumble and fall, baby, I do it all
I'm only human on the inside
06 I Go to Sleep (02:56)
WHEN I LOOK UP FROM MY PILLOW
I DREAM YOU ARE THERE WITH ME
THOUGH YOU ARE FAR AWAY
I KNOW YOU'LL ALWAYS BE NEAR TO ME
I GO TO SLEEP, SLEEP
AND IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE THERE WITH ME
I GO TO SLEEP, SLEEP
AND IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE THERE WITH ME
I LOOK AROUND ME
AND FEEL YOU ARE EVER SO CLOSE TO ME
EACH TEAR THAT FLOWS FROM MY EYE
BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF YOU TO ME
I GO TO SLEEP, SLEEP
AND IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE THERE WITH ME
I GO TO SLEEP, SLEEP
AND IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE THERE WITH ME
I WAS WRONG, I WILL CRY
I WILL LOVE YOU TILL THE DAY I DIE
YOU WERE ALL, YOU ALONE AND NO ONE ELSE
YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME
WHEN MORNING COMES AGAIN
I HAVE THE LONELINESS YOU LEFT ME
EACH DAY DRAGS BY
UNTIL FINALLY MY TIME DESCENDS ON ME
I GO TO SLEEP, SLEEP
AND IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE THERE WITH ME
I GO TO SLEEP, SLEEP
AND IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE THERE WITH ME
07 Forever Young (05:04)
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU ALWAYS
MAY YOUR WISHES ALL COME TRUE
MAY YOU ALWAYS DO FOR OTHERS
AND LET OTHERS DO FOR YOU
MAY YOU BUILD A LADDER
TO THE STARS
AND CLIMB ON EVERY RUNG
AND MAY YOU STAY
FOREVER YOUNG
FOREVER YOUNG
FOREVER YOUNG
MAY YOU STAY
FOREVER YOUNG
MAY YOU GROW UP
TO BE RIGHTEOUS
MAY YOU GROW UP TO BE TRUE
MAY YOU ALWAYS KNOW THE TRUTH
AND SEE THE LIGHTS SURROUNDING YOU
MAY YOU ALWAYS BE COURAGEOUS
STAND UP RIGHT AND BE STRONG
AND MAY YOU STAY
FOREVER YOUNG
FOREVER YOUNG
FOREVER YOUNG
MAY YOU STAY
FOREVER YOUNG
MAY YOUR HANDS ALWAYS BE BUSY
MAY YOUR FEET ALWAYS BE SWIFT
MAY YOU HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION
WHEN THE WINDS OF CHANGES SHIFT
MAY YOUR HEART ALWAYS BE JOYFUL
MAY YOUR SONG ALWAYS BE SUNG
MAY YOU STAY
FOREVER YOUNG
FOREVER YOUNG
FOREVER YOUNG
MAY YOU STAY
FOREVER YOUNG
09 Night in My Veins (03:17)
I SEE HIM STANDING SILHOUETTED
IN THE LAMP-LIGHT
I CROSS THE STREET
AND I QUICKEN MY PACE
HE CUPS HIS HANDS AND HE
LIGHTS A CIGARETTE
I FIND MYSELF IN THE BONES OF HIS FACE
IT'S JUST THE NIGHT IN MY VEINS
OH
MAKING ME CRAWL IN THE DUST AGAIN
IT'S JUST THE NIGHT
UNDER MY SKIN
SLIPPING IT IN
HE'S GOT HIS HANDS IN MY HAIR
AND HIS LIPS EVERYWHERE
OH YEAH
IT FEELS GOOD
IT'S ALRIGHT
EVEN IF IT'S JUST
THE NIGHT IN MY VEINS
HE'S GOT ME UP AGAINST THE BACK OF A
PICK-UP TRUCK
OUT OF SIGHT OF THE NEON AND GLARE
WE MIGHT AS WELL BE ON A BEACH
UNDER THE MOONLIGHT
LOVE'S LANGUAGE READS THE SAME
ANYWHERE YEAH
IT'S JUST THE NIGHT IN MY VEINS
OH
MAKING ME CRAWL IN THE DUST AGAIN
IT'S JUST THE NIGHT
UNDER MY SKIN
SLIPPING IT IN
HE'S GOT HIS CHEST ON MY BACK
ACROSS A NEW CADILLAC
OH YEAH
IT FEELS GOOD
IT'S ALRIGHT
EVEN IF IT'S JUST
THE NIGHT IN MY VEINS
EVEN IF IT'S JUST THE NIGHT IN MY VEINS
I'VE GOT MY HEAD ON THE
KERB AND I CAN'T PRODUCE
A WORD
OH YEAR
IT FEELS GOOD
IT'S ALRIGHT
EVEN IF IT'S JUST
THE NIGHT IN MY VEINS
IT FEELS GOOD
IT'S ALRIGHT
EVEN IF IT'S JUST
THE NIGHT IN MY VEINS
EVEN IF IT'S JUST
THE NIGHT IN MY VEINS
IT FEELS GOOD
IT'S ALRIGHT
11 Talk of the Town (03:13)
SUCH A DRAG TO WANT SOMETHING SOMETIME
ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER I KNOW
WAS A TIME WANTED YOU FOR MINE
NOBODY KNEW
YOU ARRIVED LIKE A DAY
AND PASSED LIKE A CLOUD
I MADE A WISH, I SAID IT OUT LOUD
OUT LOUD IN A CROWD
EVERYBODY HEARD
'TWAS THE TALK OF THE TOWN
IT'S NOT MY PLACE TO KNOW WHAT YOU FEEL
I'D LIKE TO KNOW BUT WHY SHOULD I?
WHO WERE YOU THEN, WHO ARE YOU NOW?
COMMON LABOURER BY NIGHT, BY DAY HIGHBROW
BACK IN MY ROOM I WONDER, THEN I
SIT ON THE BED, LOOK AT THE SKY
UP IN THE SKY
CLOUDS REARRANGE
LIKE THE TALK OF THE TOWN
MAYBE TOMORROW, MAYBE SOMEDAY
MAYBE TOMORROW, MAYBE SOMEDAY
YOU'VE CHANGED YOUR PLACE IN THIS WORLD
YOU'VE CHANGED YOUR PLACE IN THIS WORLD
OH BUT IT'S HARD TO LIVE BY THE RULES
I NEVER COULD AND STILL NEVER DO
THE RULES AND SUCH NEVER BOTHERED YOU
YOU CALL THE SHOTS AND THEY FOLLOW
I WATCH YOU STILL FROM A DISTANCE THEN GO
BACK TO MY ROOM, YOU NEVER KNOW
I WANT YOU, I WANT YOU BUT NOW
WHO'S THE TALK OF THE TOWN?
12 Stop Your Sobbing (02:38)
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO STOP ALL OF YOUR SOBBING
YES IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO STOP ALL OF YOUR SOBBING OH OH OH
THERE'S ONE THING YOU GOTTA DO
TO MAKE ME STILL WANT YOU
GOTTA STOP SOBBING NOW
YEAH YEAH STOP IT STOP IT
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO LAUGH INSTEAD OF CRYING
YES IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO LAUGH SO KEEP ON TRYING OH OH OH
THERE'S ONE THING YOU GOTTA DO
TO MAKE ME STILL WANT YOU
GOTTA STOP SOBBING NOW
YEAH YEAH STOP IT STOP IT
EACH LITTLE TEAR THAT FALLS FROM YOUR EYES
MAKES, MAKES ME WANT
TO TAKE YOU IN MY ARMS AND TELL YOU
TO STOP ALL YOUR SOBBING
THERE'S ONE THING YOU GOTTA DO
TO MAKE ME STILL WANT YOU
AND THERE'S ONE THING YOU GOTTA KNOW
TO MAKE ME WANT YOU SO
GOTTA STOP SOBBING NOW
YEAH YEAH STOP IT STOP IT
13 Hymn to Her (04:57)
LET ME INSIDE YOU
INTO YOUR ROOM
I'VE HEARD IT'S LINED
WITH THE THINGS YOU DON'T SHOW
LAY ME BESIDE YOU
DOWN ON THE FLOOR
I'VE BEEN YOUR LOVER
FROM THE WOMB TO THE TOMB
I DRESS AS YOUR DAUGHTER
WHEN THE MOON BECOMES ROUND
YOU BE MY MOTHER
WHEN EVERYTHING'S GONE
AND SHE WILL ALWAYS CARRY ON
SOMETHING IS LOST
BUT SOMETHING IS FOUND
THEY WILL KEEP ON SPEAKING HER NAME
SOMETHINGS CHANGE
SOME STAY THE SAME
KEEP BECKONING TO ME
FROM BEHIND THAT CLOSED DOOR
THE MAID AND THE MOTHER
AND THE CRONE THAT'S GROWN OLD
I HEAR YOUR VOICE
COMING OUT OF THAT HOLE
I LISTEN TO YOU
AND I WANT SOME MORE
I LISTEN TO YOU
AND I WANT SOME MORE
AND SHE WILL ALWAYS CARRY ON
SOMETHING IS LOST
BUT SOMETHING IS FOUND
THEY WILL KEEP ON SPEAKING HER NAME
SOME THINGS CHANGE
SOME STAY THE SAME
14 2000 Miles (03:40)
HE'S GONE 2000 MILES
IT'S VERY FAR
THE SNOW IS FALLING DOWN
GETS COLDER DAY BY DAY
I MISS YOU
THE CHILDREN WILL SING
HE'LL BE BACK AT CHRISTMASTIME
IN THESE FROZEN AND SILENT NIGHTS
SOMETIMES IN A DREAM YOU APPEAR
OUTSIDE UNDER THE PURPLE SKY
DIAMONDS IN THE SNOW SPARKLE
OUR HEARTS WERE SINGING
IT FELT LIKE CHRISTMASTIME
2000 MILES
IS VERY FAR THROUGH THE SNOW
I'LL THINK OF YOU
WHEREVER YOU GO
HE'S GONE 2000 MILES
IT'S VERY FAR
THE SNOW IS FALLING DOWN
GETS COLDER DAY BY DAY
I MISS YOU
I CAN HEAR PEOPLE SINGING
IT MUST BE CHRISTMASTIME
I HEAR PEOPLE SINGING
IT MUST BE CHRISTMASTIME
15 Popstar (03:41)
So your girlfriend wants to be a popstar
And beat the charts outta me
She wants to move a million units man
Probably just to prove she can
And after a couple of hits
She'll be buying a new pair of mitts
I can see just where she's heading
She's as predictable as armageddon
Oh, they don't make 'em like they used to
They don't make 'em like they used to
No, they don't make 'em like they used to
- you should have just stuck with me
Your girlfriend wants to be a popstar
And live in primrose hell
She'll join the meritocracy
And get to meet all of rocks aristocracy
And be someone everyone knows
Who all the designers send all their new clothes
But when she starts to look like Kylie Minogue
She might even get her picture in Vogue
Baby they don't make 'em like they used to
They don't make 'em like they used to
No, they don't make 'em like they used to
- you should have just stuck with me
Your baby wants to be a popstar
Probably just to spite me
She thinks it's so easy to get to the top
But a girl like that, she won't know where to stop
And when her most recent therapist
Suggests that maybe she become a buddhist
She might even consider giving up red meat
Man, you're gonna look back to when your life was so sweet
You know, they just don't make 'em like they used to
No, they don't make 'em like they used to, baby
They just don't make 'em like they used to
Yeah - you should have just stuck with me
You should have just stuck with me, baby
16 Middle of the Road (04:14)
The middle of the road
Is trying to find me
I'm standing in the middle of life
With my plans behind me
Well, I got a smile
For everyone I meet
As long as you don't try
Dragging my bay or dropping
The bomb on my street
Now, come on baby
Get in the road
Oh, come on now, in the
Middle of the road, yeah
In the middle of the road
You see the darndest things
Like fat guys driving round
In Jeeps through the city
Wearing big diamond rings
And silk suits
Past corrugated tin
Shacks full up with kids
Oh man, I don't mean
A Hampstead nursery
When you own a big chunk
Of the bloody third world
The babies just come
With the scenery
Oh, come on, baby
Get in the road
Oh, come on now, in the
Middle of the road, yeah
One, two, three, four
The middle of the road
Is no private cul-de-sac
I can't get from the
Cab to the curb without
Some little jerk on my back
Don't harass me, can't you tell
I'm going home, I'm tired as hell
I'm not the cat I used to be
I got a kid, I'm 33, baby
Get in the road
Come on now, in the
Middle of the road, yeah
17 Thin Line Between Love and Hate (03:41)
IT'S A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE
IT'S A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE
IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
AND YOU'RE JUST GETTING IN
YOU KNOCK ON THE DOOR
AND A VOICE SWEET AND LOW SAYS
"WHO IS IT?"
SHE OPENS UP THE DOOR AND LETS YOU IN
NEVER ONCE ASKS WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN
SHE SAYS "ARE YOU HUNGRY?
DID YOU EAT YET?
LET ME HANG UP YOUR COAT
PASS ME YOUR HAT"
ALL THE TIME SHE'S SMILING
NEVER ONCE RAISES HER VOICE
IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
YOU DON'T GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT
IT'S A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE
(REPEAT)
THE SWEETEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD
COULD BE THE MEANEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD
IF YOU MAKE HER THAT WAY
YOU KEEP HURTING HER
SHE'LL KEEP BEING QUIET
SHE MIGHT BE HOLDING SOMETHING INSIDE
THAT'LL REALLY, REALLY HURT YOU ONE DAY
I SEE YOUR IN THE HOSPITAL
BANDAGED FROM FOOT TO HEAD
IN A STATE OF SHOCK
JUST THAT MUCH FROM BEING DEAD
YOU COULDN'T BELIEVE THE GIRL
WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, HA
YOU DIDN'T THINK THE GIRL HAD THE NERVE
BUT HERE YOU ARE
I GUESS ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS
IT'S A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE
(REPEAT)
18 Back on the Chain Gang (03:52)
I FOUND A PICTURE OF YOU, OH OH OH OH
WHAT HIJACKED MY WORLD THAT NIGHT
TO A PLACE IN THE PAST
WE'VE BEEN CAST OUT OF? OH OH OH OH
NOW WE'RE BACK IN THE FIGHT
WE'RE BACK ON THE TRAIN
OH, BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG
A CIRCUMSTANCE BEYOND OUR CONTROL, OH OH OH OH
THE PHONE, THE TV AND THE NEWS OF THE WORLD
GOT IN THE HOUSE LIKE A PIGEON FROM HELL, OH OH OH OH
THREW SAND IN OUR EYES AND DESCENDED LIKE FLIES
PUT US BACK ON THE TRAIN
OH, BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG
THE POWERS THAT BE
THAT FORCE US TO LIVE LIKE WE DO
BRING ME TO MY KNEES
WHEN I SEE WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO YOU
BUT I'LL DIE AS I STAND HERE TODAY
KNOWING THAT DEEP IN MY HEART
THEY'LL FALL TO RUIN ONE DAY
FOR MAKING US PART
I FOUND A PICTURE OF YOU, OH OH OH OH
THOSE WERE THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF MY LIFE
LIKE A BREAK IN THE BATTLE WAS YOUR PART, OH OH OH OH
IN THE WRETCHED LIFE OF A LONELY HEART
NOW WE'RE BACK ON THE TRAIN
OH, BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG
19 I'll Stand by You (04:00)
Oh, why you look so sad?
The tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
But don't, be ashamed to cry,
Let me see you through
'Cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you,
And you don't know what to do
Nothing you confess,
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you,
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you,
I'll stand by you
So, if you're mad, get mad,
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well, I'm a lot like you
When you're standing
At the crossroads,
But don't know which path to choose
Let me come along,
'Cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you,
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you,
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you,
I'll stand by you
And when, when the night falls on you, baby
You're feeling all alone,
You won't be on your own
I'll stand by you,
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you,
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you,
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you,
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you,
I'll stand by you
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