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In birreria ho sempre il timore di ascoltare musica di merda. Invece che sorpresa l’altra sera sentire il reggae bianco degli UB40. Il sottofondo saltellante dell’intro di Rat in the Kitchen mi aveva messo il buonumore. Sorseggiando una “Rata Vuloira”, birretta scura come la pece e dal gusto intenso, sorridevo. Il tipo di fianco a me esordisce dicendo “Grandi gli UB40”. “Si guarda avevo questo disco e lo ricordo tutto, dal primo all’ultimo pezzo”. Scambiamo due battute su questa band di Birmingham che negli anni 80 era andata controcorrente scrivendo pezzi reggae di grande fattura. Il tipo, di punto in bianco, cambia discorso chiedendomi se voglio una cassetta di Prosecco. “No, il Prosecco proprio non mi piace”. Ma insistendo mi dice che me lo regala. “Non bevo Prosecco”. “Ma te lo regalo”. “No grazie, veramente”. “Una cassetta di Prosecco gratis non si rifiuta. Dai accettalo. È un regalo”. Esitando gli dico “Vabbeh allora grazie”. “Si, però volevo chiederti un favore”. Ecco qui, penso tra me. C’è sempre un imbroglio. Lo guardo con espressione interrogativa. “Volevo sapere se tu in cambio mi accarezzavi il c****”". Roba da matti. C’è gente in giro senza pudore, pazzi scatenati che ti fanno rivoltare il sangue.
Invece gli UB40 riescono a trasmettermi allegria. Sempre. Band inglese formata nel 77 che prende nome dai moduli del sussidio di disoccupazione (per l’appunto UB40). Con il pezzo Red Wine del ’83 si piazzano addirittura in testa alla Hit Parade UK. Questo album datato ’86 è un turbinio di suoni piacevoli che si mescolano al ritmo Giamaicano. All I Want to Do apre il lavoro ed è piacere allo stato puro. Watchdogs è un’onda sul mare che ti coinvolge al punto di metterla in loop per l’eternità. La title track ha un finale di sax da “fumo pakistano”.
Copertina? Da urlo!!!
Se volete possiamo ascoltarlo insieme. Siete tutti invitati da me. Anche perché ho una cassetta di Prosecco da far fuori.
Elenco tracce testi e video
04 The Elevator (03:24)
1st floor decide what you`ll be one day
With a head full of comment and nothing to say
2nd floor mixed up it happens that way
Soon you realize that listening don`t pay
3rd floor in limbo, no easy moves
Up or down it`s time to choose
(Chorus)
The elevators going up
Quick the door`s about to shut
Too late we`re full just hang around
It won`t be long - it won`t be long before it`s down
4th floor the job hunt and all that you ask
Is an honest day`s pay for an honest day`s graft
5th floor you may make a little more money
Now it`s apparent downstairs ain`t so fuuny
6th floor a mortgage, a collar and tie
2 weeks vacation in june or july
(Chorus)
7th floor expenses and private schools
Pushing a pen you`re not turning the tools
8th floor position, respect and acclaim
Move up the 9th for fortune or fame
10th floor for investment and real estate
Recouping the redies before it`s tool late
11th floor the penthouse the final cut
With a head full of comment and a mouth that stays shut
(Chorus)
05 Watchdogs (04:18)
You try to close your ears
And you try to close your eyes
But the blasphemies keep coming
And tempting you with lies
Chorus:
Give thanks for your protection
Your watchdogs of the night
Who hold the hungry wolves at bay
And keep them out of sight out of sight
You focus your direction
Cloak tightly pulled around
But somewhere in the distance
You can hear a haunting sound
Chorus 2x
You're in danger of corruption
And you're always running scared
You cannot make decisions
You're completely unprepared
Chorus
08 Don't Blame Me (03:36)
I think its only fair to say
We`d welcome riches down our way
No stigma knotted in my hair
I want to be a millionaire
Nevertheless I must insist
A thought is spared for those who missed
The handouts when it came to wealth
To education and good health
The time has come now all can see
As seeing this is killing me
our future victim to command
Together we can lend a hand
(Chorus)
So don`t blame me for wanting more
The facts are too hard too ingnore
I`m scared to death of poverty
I only want whats best for me
But even so I`m holding on
I think the world can live as one
If only credence took the lead
The world would see a world to feed
An endless sea of blood that`s spilt
Enough to sail an ark of guilt
And when we lend our helping hand
We`ll have our green and pleasant land
09 Sing Our Own Song (07:20)
The great flood of tears that we've cried
For our brothers and sisters who've died
Over four hundred years
has washed away our fears
And strengthened our pride
Now we turn back the tide
We will no longer hear your command
We will seize the control from your hands
We will fan the flame
of our anger and pain
And you'll feel the shame
For what you do in God's name
We will fight for the right to be free
We will build our own society
And we will sing, we will sing
We will sing our own song
When the ancient drum rhythms ring
The voice of our forefathers sing
Forward Africa run
Our day of freedom has come
For me and for you
Amandla Awethu
We will fight for the right to be free
We will build our own society
We will sing, we will sing
We will sing our own song
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