• Voto:
Scegliere quale recensire dei sette cd finora scritti e pubblicati da Myra Ellen Amos, in arte Tori, non è cosa semplice per chi come me segue questa ragazza americana mezza cheeroke con assoluta devozione ed amore fin dal suo esordio nel 1991, anche se in effetti gli ultimi due lavori aiutano nella scelta non essendo assolutamente all'altezza dei precedenti e non meritano quindi di essere considerati.
Ne restano comunque cinque, tutti di una bellezza imbarazzante, complessa, diversa e totale. La mia scelta cade su Boys for Pele del 1996, il lavoro forse in assoluto più ostico, difficile e tanto vario da sembrare dispersivo ad un primo ascolto ma che in realtà porrà le basi per il successivo From the Choirgirl Hotel, il cd giudicato da critica e pubblico come il suo lavoro più bilanciato e maturo (1998).
Figlia ribelle di un ministro protestante del North Carolina, all'età di nove anni Tori già componeva brani virtuosi al pianoforte, suo strumento principe con cui oggi esprime ogni sua sensazione in modo quasi tangibile, palpabile ed incredibilmente sensuale. A quindici lascia la città natale guadagnandosi da vivere cantando nei nightclub e formando vari gruppi che non appagheranno mai il suo talento e che le faranno scegliere la felice strada di compositrice e solista.
Boys for Pele, terzo album della rossa musicista, mette in evidenza totalmente tutto il suo genio creativo distinguendosi dai precedenti per una struttura musicale più complessa ed eterogenea, quasi esuberante tanto è eclettica. La formula è sempre la stessa: grandi ballate in cui virtuosismo al pianoforte e virtuosismo vocale costruiscono immagini ed emozioni di forte impatto emotivo ed evocativo, mentre le melodie danno corpo e voce alle problematiche più profonde dell’universo femminile e sensazioni incredibili si impossessano dell'ascoltatore che viene rapito e portato in una dimensione lontana ed irreale.
Il tutto con una dolcezza ed una passione fortissime, che ci cullano trasportandoci con esse in paesaggi sonori lontani e tiepidi.. La voce sale dalle viscere eppure è delicatissima anche dove è uno strumento potente, ora urlante ora sussurrata, le note al pianoforte eseguite con precisione e corposità, sono solo sette ma sembrano infinite, l'uso degli archi insieme alle percussioni, al clavicembalo che riesce a suonare contemporaneamente al piano a coda - vista con questi miei occhi pieni di lei - ed al carillon danno un senso di perdita della cognizione del tempo; così troviamo ambientazioni quasi cavalleresche e medievali in "Horses" e in "Blood Roses", madrigali in "Father Lucifer", la scatenata "Professional Widow" è quasi un'opera rock a se stante, poi lo scherzo di "Mr. Zebra" e la caduta con la dolcissima "Marianne" struggente per la dolcezza; tocchiamo la vetta con il pezzo più elettronico e sperimentale "Caught a Lite Sneeze" passando per il gospel di "Way Down" e "Muhammad My Friend", la parentesi intimista di "Not the Red Baron", e la ballata un po' barocca e un po' moderna di "Talula" fino allo swing estremo, contaminato da ritmi di riti voodoo e jazz di "In The Springtime of His Voodoo" in cui i vocalizzi della bella americana fanno arrossire di imbarazzo per la bravura e la sensualità.
Chiude il cd "Twinkle" una ballata dolcissima che ci fa dimenticare per un attimo l'energia rabbiosa e quella sorta di amarezza racchiuse all’interno del cd (la Amos era appena stata lasciata dal suo uomo nonché produttore Eric Rosse da cui era stata a detta sua molto delusa) e che ci restituisce al nostro tran tran quotidiano come dopo l'effetto di una schiaffo sonoro e di una carezza lunghissima e lenta, lungo tutto il corpo...
Opera forse un po' troppo ricca sia per il numero delle tracce (18) che per la pienezza dei contenuti sonori, va ascoltata per questo un poco più attentamente delle altre, ma ne vale davvero la pena, ve lo assicuro. Il viaggio verso Tori, è uno splendido viaggio senza ritorno...
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
02 Blood Roses (03:56)
Blood Roses
Blood Roses
Back on the street now
Blood roses
Blood roses
Back on the street now
can't forget the things you never said
on days like these starts me thinking
when chickens get a taste of your meat
chckens get a taste of your meat yes
You gave him your blood
and your warm little diamond
he likes killing you after you've died
you think I'm a queer
I think you're a queer
Said I think you're a queer
I think you're a queer
and I shaved every place where you been boy
I shaved every place where you been yeah
God knows I know I've thrown away those graces x3
the Belle of New Orleans tried to show me
once how to tango
wrapped around your feet
wrapped around like good little roses
Blood Roses
Blood Roses
back on the street now
Blood Roses
Blood Roses
Back on the street now
now you've cut out the flute
from the throat of the loon
at least when you cry now
he can't even hear you
when chickens get a taste of your meat
come on, come on, come on
when chickens sucks you deep
sometimes you're nothing but meat
03 Father Lucifer (03:42)
Father Lucifer you never looked so sane
You always did prefer the drizzle to the rain
Tell me you're still in love with that milkmaid
How's the Lizzies
How's your Jesus Christ been hanging
Nothing's gonna stop me from floating
Nothing's gonna stop me from floating
He says he reckons I'm a watercolour stain
He says I run and then I run from him
And then I run
He didn't see me watching
From the aeroplane
He wiped a tear
And then he threw away our apple seed
Nothing's gonna stop me from floating
Nothing's gonna stop me from floating
Every day's my wedding day
Though baby's still in his comatose state
I'll dye my own Easter eggs
Don't go yet
And Beenie lost the sunset but that's OK
Does Joe bring flowers to Marilyn's grave
And girls that eat pizza and never gain weight
Father Lucifer you never looked so sane
You always did prefer the drizzle to the rain
Tell me you're still in love with that milkmaid
How's the Lizzies
How's your Jesus Christ been hanging
04 Professional Widow (04:31)
Slag-pit
Stag-shit
Honey bring it close to my lips
Yes
Don't blow those brains yet
We gotta be big boy
We gotta be big
Starfucker just like my Daddy - yes
Starfucker just like my Daddy - yes
Selling his baby - yes
Just like my Daddy
Gonna strike a deal made him feel like a congressman
Running in our family - oh - It's run in our family
Rest your shoulders, peaches and cream
Everywhere a Judas, as far as you can see
Beautiful angel calling,
"We've got every re-run of Muhammad Ali"
Prism perfect
Honey bring it close to your lips
Yes
What is termed a landslide of principle
Proportion - boy its gotta be big
I said, it better be big boy - hey, hey
Starfucker just like my Daddy - yes
Starfucker just like my Daddy - yes
Selling his baby - yes
Just like your daddy
Yes - selling his baby
Gonna strike a deal make him feel like a Congressman
It's runnning in your family - oh
It's run in your family - hey
It's run in your family - hey baby
It's run in your family
Mother Mary
China white
Brown may be sweeter
may be sweeter
Mother Mary
China white
Brown may be sweeter
She will supply
She will supply
She will supply
She will supply
She will supply
Supply, supply
Give me peace, love, peace, love
Give me peace, love and a hard cock
05 Mr. Zebra (01:07)
Hello, Mr. Zebra
Can I have your sweater?
'Cause it’s cold, cold, cold
In my hole, hole, hole
Ratatouille Strychnine
Sometimes she's a friend of mine
With a gigantic whirlpool
That will blow your mind
Hello, Mr. Zebra
Ran into some confusion with a Mrs. Crocodile-dile-dile
Furry mussels marching on
She thinks she's Kaiser Wilhelm
Or a civilised syllabub
To blow your mind
Figure it out
She's a goodtime fella
She got a little fund to fight for Moneypenny's rights
Figure it out
She's a goodtime fella
"Too bad the burial was premature", she said
And smiled
06 Marianne (04:09)
Tuna
rubber
little blubber in my igloo
and I knew you
pigtails and all
girls when they fall
And they said
Marianne
killed herself and I said
not a chance
not a chance
Don't you love
the girls, ladies, babes
old bags who say
she was so pretty
why why why
oh why did she crawl down in the old deep ravine
Come on pigtails girls and all those
sailors, get your bags and
hold down
won't you just hold down, hold down
cause Ed is watching my every sound, I said
they're watching my every sound
the weasel squeaks faster than a seven day week
I said Timmy and that purple Monkey
are all down at Bobby's house
making themselves
pesters and lesters and jesters and my
traitors of kind
but I do know you're there
I do know you're there
I do
cause I'm just having thoughts I said
I'm just having thoughts of
having thoughts having
Marianne
Oh, yeah she could outrun the fastest slug
she could, oh
I'm having thoughts of Marianne
quickest girl in the frying pan
having thoughts of Marianne
07 Caught a Lite Sneeze (04:26)
Caught a light sneeze
Caught a light breeze
Caught a lightweight lightning seed
Boys on my left side
Boys on my right side
Boys in the middle
And you're not here
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo
I need a big loan from the girl zone
(chorus)
Building, tumbling down
Didn't know our love was so small
Couldn't stand at all
Mr. St. John, Just bring your son
The spire is hot and my cells can't feed
And you still got that Belle
Dragging your foots, yes
I'm hiding it well Sister Ernestine
But I still got that Belle dragging my foots, yes
(chorus)
Right on time
You get closer and closer
Called my name but there's no way in use that fame
Rent your wife and kids today, yeah maybe she will
I said a maybe she will
Caught a light sneeze
Dreamed a little dream
Made my own pretty hate machine
Boys on my left side
Boys on my right side
Boys in the middle and you're not here
Boys in their dresses and you're not here
I need a big loan from the girl zone
I need big loan from a girl zone
(chorus)
08 Muhammad My Friend (03:49)
Muhammad my friend
it's time to tell the world
we both know it was a girl
back in Bethlehem and on that fateful day
when she was crucified
she wore Shiseido red
and we drank tea by her side
sweet sweet
used to be so sweet to me
Muhammad my friend
I'm getting very scared
teach me how to love
my brothers who don't know the law
and what about the deal
on the flying trapeze
got a peanut butter hand
but honey do drop in
at the 'Dew Drop Inn'
sweet sweet
between the boys and the bees
sweet sweet
between the boys and the bees
and Moses I know
I know you've seen fire
but you never seen fire
until you've seen Pele blow
and I never seen light
but I sure have seen gold
and Gladys save a place for me on your grapevine
till I get my own TV show
Ashre ashre ashre ashre
and if I lose my Cracker Jacks
at the tidal wave
I got a place in the Pope's
rubber robe
Muhammad my friend
it's time to tell the world
we both know it was a girl
back in Bethlehem
we both know it was a girl
back in Bethlehem
we both know it was a girl
back in Bethlehem
09 Hey Jupiter (05:11)
no one's picking up the phone
guess it's me and me
and this little masochist
she's ready to confess
all the things that I never thought
that she could feel and
hey Jupiter
nothing's been the same
so are you gay
are you blue
thought we both could use a friend to run to
and I thought I wouldn't have to be
with you something new
sometimes I breathe you in
and I know you know
and sometimes you take a swim
found your writing on my wall
if my heart's soaking wet
boy your boots can leave a mess
hey Jupiter
nothing's been the same so are you gay
are you blue
thought we both could use a friend to run to
and I thought you wouldn't have to keep
with me hiding
thought I knew myself so well
all the dolls I had
took my leather off the shelf
your apocalypse was fab
for a girl who couldn't choose between
the shower or the bath
and I thought I wouldn't have to be
with you
a magazine
no one's picking up the phone
guess it's clear he's gone
and this little masochist
is lifting up her dress
guess I thought I could never feel the things I feel
hey Jupiter
11 Little Amsterdam (04:30)
Little Amsterdam
In a southern town
Hominy get it on the plate girl
Momma keep your head down
Momma it wasn't my bullet
Don't take me back to the Range
I'm just comin out of the cell in my brain
Girl you got to know these days
Which side your on
Momma got shit
She loved a brown man
Then she built a bridge in the Sheriff�s backyard
She'd do anything to save her man
You see all her lovers they are cool pressed
And her best fit in the window is sun dress
But Momma
It wasn't my bullet
Nah no, na-na-na-nahia-aa
Na-na-na-nah-ia
All alone got a girl in the city
Hey got a room and a place for two
Got a goal and a pharmacy boy,
You are my fifth avenue.
Round and a round and a round I go
Round and a round this time for keeps
Father only you can save my soul
And playing that organ must count
For something
Girl you got to know these days
Little Amsterdam
Shut down today
She buried her with a
Butter bean bouquet
And the Sheriff now can't ride away
Like he said into the sunset
And I won't stay
That he shouldn't pay
But Momma
It wasn't my bullet
14 Agent Orange (01:25)
Gotta tell you
What I heard from Agent Orange
Mister Suntan
Mister Happy Man
Mister I know the girls on all the world tours
Mister Agent
He's my favorite
And they don't understand
He's got palm oil fans
Yes he's down
And there
And everywhere
He's getting an A to Z
An underwater city
Where she swims and swims
15 Doughnut Song (04:20)
Hand me a trick and a kick and your message
You'll never gain weight from a doughnut hole
Then thought that I could decipher your message
There's no one here dear,
No one at all
And if I'm wasting all your time,
This time,
Maybe you never learned to take,
And if I'm hanging on to your shade,
I guess I'm way beyond the pale
And southern men can grow gold,
Can grow purty,
Blood can be purty like a delicate man,
Copper to steel,
To a hinge that is faltered,
That lets you in, lets you in , lets you in,
Something's just keeping you numb
You told me last night,
You are a sun now,
With your very own devoted satellite,
Happy for you and I am,
Sure that I hate you.
Two sons too many,
Too many able fires.
Youve been wasting my time,
This time,
I guess you never learned to take,
And if I'm hanging on to your shade,
I guess I'm way beyond the pale
16 In the Springtime of His Voodoo (05:33)
Standin on a corner in Winslow Arizona
and I'm quite shure I'm in the wrong song
2 girls 65 got a piecetied up in the
back seat
"honey we're Recovering Christians"
in the Springtime of his voodoo
he was going to show me spring
and right here for a minute
I knew you so well
got an angry snatch
girls you know what I mean
when swivelin that hip doesn't do the trick
me pureed sanitarily Mr Sulu
warp speed
warp speed
warp speed
in the spring time of his voodoo
every road leads back to my door
every road I will follow
every road leads back to my door
got all crosses loaded
and I know she's not that
Foxy
Boys
I said I know she's not that
Foxy but
you gotta owe something sometimes
you gotta owe
when you're your momma's sunshine
you've got to give something sometimes
when you're sweetest cherry
in the apple pie
I need some voodoo on my prunes
in the spring time of his voodoo
he was going to show me spring
17 Putting the Damage On (05:15)
glue
stuck to my shoes
does anyone know why
you play with an orange rind
you say you packed my things
and divided what was mine
you're off to the mountain top
I say her skinny legs could use sun
but now I'm wishing
for my best impression
of my best Angie Dickinson
but now I've got to worry
cause boy you still look pretty
when you're putting the damage on
don't make me scratch on your door
I never left you for a banjo
I only just turned around
for a poodle and a corvette
and my impression
of my best Angie Dickinson
but now I"ve got to worry
cause boy you still look pretty
when you're putting the damage on
I'm trying not to move
it's just your ghost passing through
it's just your ghost passing through
and now I'm quite sure
there's a light in your platoon
I've never seen a light move
like yours can do to me
so now I'm wishing
for my best impression
of my best Angie Dickinson
but now I've got to worry
cause boy you still look pretty
to me but I've got a place to go
I've got a ticket to your lake show
and now I'm worrying cause even still
you sure are pretty
when you're putting the damage on
yes
when you're putting the damage on
you're just so pretty
when you're putting the damage on
18 Twinkle (03:11)
sure that star can twinkle
and you're watching it do
boy so hard
boy so hard
but I know a girl
twice as hard
and I'm sure
said I'm sure
she's watching it too
no matter what tie she's go tin her right dresser
tied
I know she's watching that star
gonna twinkle
gonna twinkle
gonna twinkle
and last time I knew
she worked at an Abbey in Iona
she said "I killed a man T
I've gotta stay hidden in this Abbey"
but I can see that star
when she twinkles
and she twinkles
and I sure can
that means
I sure can
that means I sure can
so hard
so hard
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Altre recensioni
Di pluto77
Boys for Pele è stato apprezzato da molti quanto affossato da altrettanti.
Coraggioso ed Ispirato. Forse il migliore di Tori, lontana dagli speciali di MTV e i passaggi facili per le radio.
Di MorenoBottesin
Fai girare un disco che suona come uno Spiritual Blues apocalittico ma che ha minimali tocchi Baroque Pop.
Un album perfetto e ti senti già meglio.
