• Voto:
Mi è tornato in mente proprio ieri questo disco, quando la mia amica Fosca mi ha chiamata dicendomi “ascoltavo Playboy Mommy e ti ho pensata”!
L’ho ripreso dallo scaffale nel quale era sepolto da molto tempo perché è un disco doloroso legato ad un ricordo doloroso ma è anche uno dei lavori che preferisco di Tori Amos che ha girato per tantissimo tempo nel mio lettore e del quale avevo pensato spesso di fare una recensione.
Amo Tori Amos perchè è una di quelle artiste che ha fatto della sua arte la sua terapia, il suo modo per lenire le ferite, per esprimere la sua complessità e i suoi contrasti.
Tori Amos è una donna che nasce da una famiglia estremamente religiosa e rigida, la ribellione agli schemi e ai valori imposti rendono la vera essenza del peccato stesso, chi ha visto un suo concerto anche solo in video lo percepisce nettamente dal suo rapporto praticamente fisico e viscerale con il pianoforte e dalla sensualità e la malizia che escono da ogni sua fibra e ad ogni suo sguardo.
“From the Choigirl Hotel” è il suo quarto album, nei suoi precedenti ha già esorcizzato quasi tutte le sue paure, nei suoi testi complessi ha già spiegato bene cosa pensa di se stessa e cosa pensa degli uomini ma c’è un evento prima di questo disco che la sconvolge proprio all’apice del successo, un evento tanto imprevisto quanto doloroso forse uno dei più dolorosi per una donna ovvero la perdita della bambina di cui era in attesa.
Questo è “From the Choigirl Hotel”, la rielaborazione di quello stesso dolore, di quelle emozioni e di quella sofferenza quello che si andrà a trovare all’interno lo si comprende già dalla bellissima copertina nella quale Tori sembra imprigionata in un urna di vetro. L’album è estremamente complesso e articolato. Il pianoforte che aveva caratterizzato così tanto dischi come “Boys for Pele” è qui un po’ in secondo piano per lasciare più spazio all’elettronica e alle percussioni. Il vero fascino di questo disco sta però nei testi taglienti come pezzi di vetro.
“Spark” apre il disco e appare come una tenera ballata ma il testo è pieno di senso di colpa "Lei era convinta di poter tenere a bada un ghiacciaio\ Ma non è riuscita a mantenere in vita la bambina\ Dubitando se ci sia una donna qui da qualche parte\.
Il senso di colpa si unisce a quello di impotenza nei confronti della sua stessa essenza in “Playboy Mommy” dice "Non sono mai stata la fantasia di ciò che vuoi\ Volevi che io fossi\ Non giudicarmi così duramente, ragazzina, hai una mamma playboy...".
In ogni traccia c’è un po’ di se stessa e il risultato finale è una sorta di confessione tanto nella tranquilla ed elettronica “Liquid Diamonds” quanto nell’elegante “Pandora’s Aquarium” sottolineata dal piano suonato in maniera forte ed energica quasi a incidere ogni parola ed ogni concetto. Non manca un po’ di disprezzo per i tanto odiati/amati uomini in “Black Dove”, “Cruel” o nella stessa “Hotel” dove dice “Eri un selvaggio, dove sei ora?\ Dammi di più, dammi di più, dammi di più\ Devo imparare a lasciarti precipitare..."
Forse scrivendo questa recensione ho esorcizzato un po’ anche io la sofferenza legata a questo disco.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Spark (04:13)
She's addicted to nicotine patches
She's addicted to nicotine patches
She's afraid of a light in the dark
6:58 are you sure where my spark is
Here, here, here
She's convinced she could hold back a glacier
But she couldn't keep baby alive
Doubting if there's a woman in there somewhere
Here, here, here
You say you don't want it again and again
But you don't really mean it
You say you don't want it
This circus we're in but you don't
You don't really mean it
If the divine master plan is perfection
Maybe next I'll give Judas a try
Trusting my soul to the ice cream assassin
Here you say you don't want it again and again
But you don't, you don't really mean it
You say you don't want it
This circus we're in but you don't
You don't really mean it, you don't really mean it
How many fates turn around in the overtime?
Ballerinas that have fins that you'll never find?
You thought that you were the bomb
Yes, well so did I
Say you don't want it, say you don't want it
Again and again but you don't really mean it
Say you don't want it
This circus we're in but you don't
You don't really mean it
You don't really mean it
She's addicted to nicotine patches
She's afraid of a light in the dark
6:58 are you sure where my spark is-here
02 Cruel (04:07)
So don't give me respect, don't give me a piece of your preciousness
Flaunt all she's got in our old neighborhood I'm sure she'll make a few friends
Even the rain bows down let us pray as you cock-cock-cock your mane
No cigarettes only peeled havanas for you
I can be cruel
I don't know why
Why can't my ba.ll.oo.n stay up in a perfectly windy sky
I can be cruel I don't know why
I don't know why
Dance with the Sufis celebrate your top ten in the charts of pain
Lover brother bogenvillia my vine twists around your need
Even the rain is sharp like today as you sh-sh-shock me sane
No cigarettes only peeled havanas for you
I can be cruel
I don't know why
Why can't my ba.ll.oo.n stay up in a perfectly windy sky
I can be cruel I don't know why
I don't know why
I can be cruel
I don't know why
Why can't my ba.ll.oo.n stay up in a perfectly windy sky
I can be cruel I don't know why
I don't know why, why, why
04 Raspberry Swirl (03:58)
Let's go
I am not your señorita
I am not from your tribe
In the garden, in the garden
I did no crime
I am not your señorita
I am not from your tribe
If you want inside her well,
Boy you better maker her raspberry swirl
Things are getting desperate
When all the boys can't be men
Everybody knows
I'm her friend
Everybody knows
I'm her man
Things are getting desperate
When all the boys can't be men
Everybody knows
I'm her friend
Everybody knows
I'm her man
Let's go
I am not your señorita
I don't aim so high
In the garden, in the garden
I did no crime
If you want inside her, well
Boy you better make her raspberry swirl
Raspberry swirl, let's go, raspberry swirl
Things are getting desperate
When all the boys can't be men
Everybody knows
I'm her friend
Everybody knows
I'm her man
Things are getting desperate
When all the boys can't be men
Everybody knows
I'm her friend
Everybody knows
I'm her man
Things are getting desperate
When all the boys can't be men
Everybody knows
I'm her friend
Everybody knows
I'm her man
Raspberry swirl
And she swirls, and she swirls
And she swirls again
05 Jackie's Strength (04:26)
A Bouvier till her wedding day
Shots rang out the police came
Mama layed me on the front lawn
And prayed for Jackie's strength
Feeling old by 21
Never thought my day would come
My bridesmaids getting laid
I pray for Jackie's strength
Make me laugh
Say you know what you want
You said we were the real thing
So I show you some more
And I learn
What black magic can do
Make me laugh
Say you know you can turn
Me into the real thing
So I show you some more and I learn
Stickers licked on lunch boxes
Worshipping David Cassidy
Yeah I mooned him once on Donna's box
She's still in recovery
Sleepovers Beene's got some pot
You're only popular with anorexia
So I turn myself inside out
In hope someone will see
Make me laugh
Say you know what you want
You said we were the real thing
So I show you some more
And I learn
What black magic can do
Make me laugh
Say you know you can turn
Me into the real thing
So I show you some more and I learn
I got lost on my wedding day
Typical the police came
But virgins always get backstage
No matter what they've got so say
If you love enough you'll lie a lot
Guess they did in Camelot
Mama's waiting on my front lawn
I pray I pray I say I pray
For Jackie's strength
07 Liquid Diamonds (06:21)
Surrender then start your engines
You'll know quite soon what my mistake was
For those on horseback and dogsled
You turn on at the bend in the road
I hear she still grants forgiveness
Although I willingly forgot her
The offering is molasses
And you say
I guess I'm an underwater thing
So I guess I can't take it personally
I guess I'm an underwater thing
I'm liquid running
There's a sea secret in me
It's plain to see that it is rising
But I must be flowing
Liquid diamonds
Calling for my soul
From the corners of the world
I know she's playing poker
With the rest of the stragglers
Calling for my soul
From the corners of the world
I know she's playing poker
With the rest, the rest
And if your friends don't come back to you
And you know this is madness
A lilac mess in your prom dress
And you say
I guess I'm an underwater thing
So I guess I can't take it personally
I guess I'm an underwater thing
I'm liquid running
There's a sea secret in me
It's plain to see that it is rising
But I must be flowing
Liquid diamonds
I call I go inside a shell
I see it's old and your doing oh so well these days
You do it again and I say it's coming back again
Something like that
Saturday, such was it
Can he bring me those dreams
Keep it back it is done
Reaching back into himself
Keep it just between us
Liquid
08 She's Your Cocaine (03:42)
She's your cocaine
She's got you shaving your legs
You can suck anything
But you know you wanna be me
Put on your makeup, boy
You're your favourite stranger
And we all like to watch
So shimmy once and do it again
Bring your sister if you can't handle it
She says you control it
Then she says you don't control it
Then she says you're controlling
The way she makes you crawl
She's your cocaine - your exodus laughing
And she knows what you are
So shimmy once and do it again
Bring your sister
Bring your sister if you can't handle it
If you want me to
Boy, I could lie to you
You don't need one of these to let me inside of you
And is it true that devils end up like you
Do something safe for the picture frame
And is it true that devils end up like you
So tied up you don't know how she came
She's your cocaine
She's got you shaving your legs
She got you liking mine back
Got me taking it in
Getting mine back
Lasting mine evil
I'm taking my easel
And I'm writing good checks
You sign Prince of Darkness
Try squire of dimness
Please don't help me with this
09 Northern Lad (04:19)
Had a northern lad
Well not exactly had
He moved like the sunset
God who painted that?
First he loved my accent
How his knees could bend
I thought we'd be ok
Me and my molasses
But I feel something is wrong
But I
I feel this cake just isn't done
Don't say that you don't
Chours:
And if you
Could see me now
Said if you
Could see me now
Girls you've got to know
When it's time to turn the page
When you're only wet
Because of the rain
Because of
You don't show much these days
It gets so fucking cold
I loved his secret places
But I can't go anymore
You change like sugar cane
Says my northern lad
Well, I guess you go too far
When pianos try to be guitars
I feel the west in you
And I
I feel it falling apart too
Don't say that you don't
Chours
10 Hotel (05:19)
Met 'em in a hotel
Met 'em in a hotel
Beneath ground
Tell me that he's missing
Tell me this is one for
Lollipop Gestapo
You were wild
Where are you now
You were wild
Where are you now
Give me more
Give me more
Give me more
I have to learn to let you crash down
I have to learn to let you crash down
I have to learn to let you crash
Met 'em in a hotel
Met 'em in a hotel
You say he's the biggest thing
There'll be this year
I guess that what I'm seeking
I guess that what I'm seeking
Isn't here
Met him in a hotel
Met him in a guess world
Guessed anyone but you
You were wild
Where are you now
You were wild
Where are you now
Give me more
Give me more
Give me more
I have to learn to let you crash down
Where are the velvets
Where are the velvets
Where are the velvets
When you're coming down
H o t e l
You were wild
Where are you now
You were wild
Where are you now
King Solomon's Mines
Exit 75
I'm still alive
I'm still alive
I'm still alive
11 Playboy Mommy (04:08)
In my platforms I hit the floor
Fell face down
Didn't help my brain out
Then the baby came
Before I found
The magic how to keep her happy
I never was the fantasy
Of what you want, wanted me to be
But don't judge me so harsh, little girl
So you've got a playboy mommy
And when you tell em my name
And wanna cross that bridge all on your own
Little girl, they'll do you no harm
Because they know your playboy mommy
And when you tell em my name
From here to Birmingham
I've got a few friends
I never was, was there when it counts
I get my way
You're so like me
You seemed ashamed
Ashamed that I was
A good friend of American soldiers
I'll say it now, here by your grave
Those angels can't ever take my place
But dont judge me so hard, little girl
So you've got a playboy mommy
And when you tell em my name
And wanna cross that bridge all on your own
Little girl, they'll do you no harm
Because they know your playboy mommy
And when you tell em my name
From here to Birmingham
I've got a few friends
12 Pandora's Aquarium (04:45)
Pandora
Pandora's aquarium
She dives for shells
With her nautical nuns
And thoughts you thought
You'd never tell
I am not asking you to believe in me
Boy, I think you're confused
I'm not Persephone
Foam can be dangerous
With tape across my mouth
These things you do
I never asked you how
Line me up in single file
With all your grievances
Stare but I can taste
You're still alive
Below the waste
Ripples come and ripples go
And ripple back to me
Pandora
Pandora's aquarium
She dives for shells
With her nautical nuns
And thoughts you thought
You'd never tell
Line me up in single file
With all your grievances
Stare but I can taste
You're still alive below the waste
Ripples come and ripples go
And ripple back to me
I am not asking you to believe in me
Boy, I think you're confused
I'm not Persephone
She's in New York somewhere
Checking her accounts
The lord of the flies was diagnosed as sound
Pandora
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