venerdì 28 novembre 2008

Guns N'Roses Chinese Democracy Lyrics

Bene, eccomi qui anche oggi.... Ho sentito in questi giorni che "Chinese Democracy" è stato vietato in Cina, bè, onestamente me lo aspettavo.... Non mi piace parlare di politica, questo blog non è fatto per questo, il punto è che qui non si tratta di politica, si tratta di musica, e di libertà di ascoltarla....

Probabilmente questo non cambierà molto, ma chi lo sa, può capitare che qualche cinese finisca su questo blog, e allora, visto che le canzoni non le possono sentire, almeno le leggeranno.... sicuramente è un piccolo passo, ma se lo facessero tutti.... chissà.... intanto leggetevele anche voi! ;)


Testi - Chinese Democracy (Guns N'Roses - 2008)

01 - Chinese democracy

It don't really matter
Gonna find out for yourself
No it don't really matter
Gonna leave this thing to
Somebody else

If they were missionaries
Real time visionaries
Sittin' in a chinese stew
To view my disinfatuation

I know that I'm a classic case
Watch my disenchanted face
Blame it on the Falun Gong
They seen the end
And you can't hold on now

Cause it would take a lot more
Hate than you
To end the fascination
Even with an iron fist
More than you got rule a nation
When all I've got is precious time

It don't really matter
Guess I'll keep it to myself
Said it don't really matter
It's time I look around
For somebody else

Cause it would take a lot more
Time than you
Have got for masturbation
Even with your iron fist
More than you got to rule a nation
When all we've got is precious time

It don't really matter
I guess you'll find out for yourself
No it don't really matter (matter....)
So you can hear it now
from somebody else

02 - Shackler's revenge

I got a funny feeling
there's something wrong today
Igot a funny feeling
And it won't go away

I got an itchy finger
An they'll be hell to play
I'm gonna pull the trigger
An blow them all away

Don't ever
Try to tell me
How much you care for me
Don't ever
Try to tell me
How you are there for me

I don't believe there's a reason
I don't believe it
I don't believe there's a reason
I don't believe it

I got a wicked demon
His hunger nevere fades
I got an empty feelin'
I won't be home today

Don't ever
Try to tell me
How much you care for me
Don't ever
Try to tell me
How you are there for me

I don't believe there's a reason
I don't believe it
I don't believe there's a reason
I don't believe it

No one is a stoppin' you
From a doin what you want to do
No one is a stoppin' you now
Stopin' you now

I don't believe there's a reason
I don't believe it
I don't believe there's a reason
I don't believe it
I don't believe there's a reason
I don't believe it
I don't believe there's a reason
I don't believe it

03 - Better

No one ever told me when
I was alone
They just thought I'd know better
Better

No one ever told me when
I was alone
They just thought I'd know better
Better

The hardest part
This troubled heart
Has ever yet been through now

Was heal the scars
That got their start
Inside someone like you know

For had I known
Or I'd been shown
Back when how long it'd take me

To break the charms
That brought me harm
And all but would erase me

I never would
Or thought I could
No matter what you'd pay me

Replay the part
You stole my heart
I should have know you're crazy

If all I knew
Was that with you
I'd want someone to save me

It'd be enough
But just my luck
I feel in love and maybe

All that I wanted was

Now I know you better
You know I know better
Now I know you better

So bittersweet
This tragedy
Won't ask for absolution

A twist of faith
A change of heart
Cures my infatuation

A broken heart
Provides the spark
For my determination

No one ever told me when
I was alone
They just thought I'd know better
Better

All that I wanted was

Now I know you better
You know I know better
Now I know you better

I never wanted you to be so full of anger (anger)
I never wanted you to be somebody else
I never wanted you to be someone
Afraid to know themselves
I only wanted you to see things for yourself

All that I wanted was

Now I know you better
Now we all know better
All that I wanted was

Na na na na
Na na na na
Na na na na
Na na na na

If I were you
I'd manage to
Avoid the invitation

Of promised love
That can't keep up
With your adoration

Just use your head
And in the end
You'll find your inspiration

To choose your steps
And won't regret
This kind of aggravation

No one ever told me when
I was alone
They just thought I'd know better
Better

No one ever told me when
I was alone
They just thought I'd know better
Better

04 - Street of dreams

All the love in the world
Couldn't save you
All the innocence inside
You know I tried so hard to make you
Oh, to make you change your mind

And it hurts too much to see you
And how you left yourself behind
You know I wouldn't want to be you
Now there's a hell I can't describe

So now I wander through my days
And try to find my ways
To the feeling that I felt
I saved for you and no one else
And though as long as this road seems
I know it's called the street of dreams
But that's not stardust on my feet
It leaves a taste that is bitter sweet
That's called the blues

I don't know just what I should do
Everywhere I go I see you
Though it's what you planned
This much is true
What I thought was beautiful
Don't live inside of you
Anymore

I don't know just what I should do
Everywhere I go I see you
Though it's what you planned
This much is true
What I thought was beautiful
Don't live inside of you
Anymore

What this means to me
Is more than I know you believe
What I thought of you now
Has I thought true before
Where lies I couldn't see
What I thought was beautiful
Is only memories

Oh oh oh
What'd I tell you
Oh oh oh
That's
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Inside of you

05 - If the world

If the world would end today
And all the dreams we had
Would all just drift away
You know there's nothing more to say
If the world would end
And our love world slipped away

I never knew the way that you looked at me
Would never mean so much to me
But in my heart I found
The feelin' that I've never shown
And now they've
Got the best of me

If the world would end today
And all the dreams we had
Would all just drift away
You know there's nothing more to say
If the world would end
And our love world slipped away

Oooh
La la....
La la....

I never thought all the love I was lookin' for
Could ever be so close to me
But you're the only one
I have ever love that has ever loved me
And now you got the best of me

If the world would end today
And all the dreams we had
Would all just drift away
You know there's nothing more to say

If the world would end today
And all the dreams we had
Would all just drift away
You know there's nothing more to say
If the world would end
And our love world slipped away
If the world would end
And our love world slipped away

06 - There was a time

Broken glass and cigarettes
Writin' on the wall
It was a bargain for the summer
And I thought I had it all
I was the one who gave you everything
The one who took the fall
You were the one who would do anything
The one who can't recall
Where she was while she was sleepin'
In another woman's bed
Or the doctor's or the lawyer's
Or the stranger that she met
If there's nothin' I can gain from this
Or anything at all
It'd be the knowledge that you gave me
When I thought I heard it all

It was a long time for you
(It was a long time)
It was a long time for me
(It was a long time)
It was a long time for anyone but
(It was a long time)
Looks like it's meant to be

Social class and registers
Cocaine in the hall
All the way from California
On the way to your next call
To those non-negotiations
To stimulate a cause
For the betterment of evils
And your ways around the laws
That keep you up and sitting pretty
On a pedestal or bed
And now you're sleeping like an angel
Never mind who gave your head
If there's somethin' I can make of this
Or anything at all
It'd be the devil hates a loser
And you thought you had it all

It was a long time for you
(It was a long time)
It was a long time for me
(It was a long time)
It was a long time for anyone but
(It was a long time)
Looks like I got to see for myself

I I could go ack in time
To the place in my soul
There all alone
Lonely teardrops ooh
Are callin' you
But I don't want to know it now
Cause knowin' you
It won't change a damn thing
But there was a time

Yeah there was a time
Didn't want ta know at all....
Didn't wanna know at all....
N'I don't wanna know it now
Yeah there was a time
Didn't want ta know at all....
Didn't wanna know at all....
N'I don't wanna know it now
Oh....

Oh I would do anything for you
There was a time
I would do anything for you
I would do anything for you
There was a time

There was a time
I would do anything for you
Ooh....
Yeah there was a time
I would do anything for you
Didn't want ta know at all....
Didn't wanna know at all....
Ooh....
N'I don't wanna know it now
I would do
Didn't want to know at all....
Anything for you
Didn't wanna know at all....
N'I don't wanna know it now

There was a time....
There was a time

07 - Catcher in the rye

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
But everytime I see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
(I guess I'd have more fun)

Oooh, the Catcher In The Rye Again
Won't let you get away from him
(Tomorrow never comes)
It's just another day....
Like today

You decide
Cause I don't have to
And then they'll find
And I won't ask you
At anytime
Or long hereafter
If the cold outside's
As ?m imagining
It to be

Lana nana na na na
Lana nana na nana

Oooh, the Catcher In The Rye Again
Won't let you get away from him
(Tomorrow never comes)
It's just another day....
Like today

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the young folks say
But every time I see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
(Guess I'd have more fun)
Cause what used to be's
Not there for me
And ought to for someone
That belongs....
Insane....
Like I do

Lana nana na na na....

On an ordinary day
Not in an ordinary way
All at once the song I heard
No longer would it play
For anybody
Or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Who cared
To be
Not like you
And unlike me

And then the voices went away from me
Somehow you set the wheels in motion
That haunt our memories
You were the instrument
You were the one
How a body
Took a body
You gave that boy a gun

You took our innocence
Behind our stares
Sometimes the only thing
We counted on
When no one else was there

08 - Scraped

Ay-o
Don't you try to stop us now
Ay-o
I just refuse
Ay-o
Don't you try to stop us now
Ay-o
Cause I just won't let you

Sometimes I feel like
The world is on top of me
Breakin' me down with
An endless monotony

Sometimes I feel like
There's nothing that's stopping me
All things are possible
I am unstoppable

Some may convince you
No one can break through
I'm here to tell you
You're worth
More than they tell you

Ay-o
Don't you try to stop us now
Ay-o
I just refuse
Ay-o
Don't you try to stop us now
Ay-o
Cause I just won't let you

Sometimes I feel like
My life's a catastrophe
Can't understand why
It seems like it has to be

Sometimes I feel like
It's all opened up for me
Nothing's impossible
I am inconquerable

No one can make you
Do what they want to
You know you're stronger
Than the lies
That they tell you

Ay-o
Don't you try to stop us now
(I'd give anything to know)
Ay-o
I just refuse
Ay-o
Don't you try to stop us now
(I would have never made it so far)
Ay-o
Cause I just won't let you

Believe in yourself

Some may convince you
No one can break through
You know you're stronger
Than the lies
That they tell you

Ay-o
Don't you try to stop us now
(I'd give anything to know)
Ay-o
I just refuse
Ay-o
Don't you try to stop us now
(I would have never made it so far)
Ay-o
Cause I just won't let you
(All by myself)

Believe in yourself

09 - Riad N' the bedouins

Riad N' the bedouins
Had a plan, and thought they'd win
But I don't give a fuck 'bout them
Cause I am crazy

Oh, my salvation
N' all my frustration
Caught in the lies no one had wove as well
Somewhere in time
Where only I could tell
Ooh

Riad N' the bedouins
Say that's a war that you can't win
But I've had enough of them
And who can blame me

Sands of time and desert winds
Nomads and barbarians
I won't bend my will to them
You aggravate me

Oh my salvation
N'all my frustration
Caught in the lies
No one had wove as well
Somewhere in time
Where only I could tell
Ooh

Riad N' the bedouins
Say that's a war that you can't win
But I have had enough of them
And who can blame me

Sands of time and desert winds
Nomads and barbarians
I won't bend my will to them
You aggravate me

Oh my salvation
N'all my frustration
Caught in the lies
No one had wove as well
Somewhere in time
Where only I could tell
Ooh

Oh, sweet salvation
Like all my frustrations
Caught up in lies
No one had wove as well
Somewhere in time
Where only I could tell

Oh, sweet salvation
Like all my frustrations
Caught up in lies
No one had wove as well
Somewhere in time
Where only I could tell

Riad N' the bedouins
Had a plan and thought they'd win

Riad N' the bedouins
Crossed the line and lost again

10 - Sorry

You like to hurt me
You know that you do
You like to think
In some way
That it's me
An not you
(But we know that isn't true)

You like to have me
Jump an be good
But I....
Don't want to do it

You don't know why
I won't act the way
You think I should

You thought they'd make me
Behave and submit (submit)

What were you thinking
Cause I don't forget

You don't know why
I won't give in
To hell with the pressure
I'm not cavin' in

You know that I
Got under your skin
You sold your soul
But I won't let you win

You talk too much
You say I do

Difference is nobody cares about you

You've got all the answers
You know everything
Why nobody
's a mystery to me

I'm sorry for you
Not sorry for me
You don't know who in the hell to
Or not to believe

I'm sorry for you
Not sorry for me
You don't know who you can trust now
Or you should believe
You should believe
You don't know who you can trust now
Or you should believe
You close your eyes
All well an good
I'll kick your ass
Like I said that I would

You tell them stories they'd rather believe
Use an confuse them
They're numb and naive

Truth is the truth hurts
Don't you agree

It's harder to live
With the truth about you
Than to live with
The lies about me

Nobody owes you
Not one goddamn thing
ou know where to put your
Just shut up and sing

I'm sorry for you
Not sorry for me
You don't know who in the hell to
Or not to believe
I'm sorry for you
Not sorry for me
You choose to hurt those that love you
An won't set them free
Won't set them free
You choose to hurt those that love you
An won't set them free

You don't need
Anyone else to be
Sorry for you
You've got no heart
You can't see
All that you've done for me
I know the reasons
You tear me apart

11 - I.R.S.

AH, ah,
Is it true
What they
Say of you

Gonna call the president
Gonna call a private eye
Gonna get the IRS
Gonna need the FBI
There's not anymore
That I can do

All the reasons
That you gave
I'd follow you
To where you'd lead
And if that'd be
The end of time it's true

Wouldn't be the first time I been wrong
Wouldn't be the last
I'm sure I've known
With all the rumors I could tell
Somethings didn't work so well
Well anyway it feels the same

As when you first told me you were gone
So long ago but I still held on
Through all the motions the love and the sex
And that's the truth and here's the worst yet
Would it even mattered the things that I'd say

You made your mind up and gone anyway
And there'sno use now in draggin' it on
Shoulda seen it comin' all along

Well it's true
I had
My doubts of you

Gonna call the president
Gonna call myself a private eye
Gonna get the IRS
Gonna get the FBI
Gonna make this a federal case
Gonna wave it right down in your face
Read it baby with your morning news
With a sweet hangover an the headlines too
Ah....
Ah....

I bet you think I'm doin' this all for my health
I shoulda looked again babe at somebody else
Feelin' like I'm done way more than wrong
Feelin' like I'm living inside of this song
Feelin' like I'm just too creed to care
Feelin' like I done more than my share
Could it be the way I've carried on
Like a broken record for so long
And I do
Ooh ooh

Gonna call the president
Gonna call private eye
Gonna get the IRS
Gonna get myself the FBI

Ooh what shall I do
If I....
Gave my heart to you oh....
It's such a crime
You know it's true

Gonna call the president
Gonna call myself a private eye
Gonna get the IRS
Gonna get the FBI
Gonna make this a federal case
Gonna wave it right down in your face
Read it baby with your morning news
With a sweet hangover an the headlines too

There's not anymore
That I can do

12 - Madagascar

I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
And left so far out from the shore
But I can't find my way back my way anymore
Oh no I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
And left so far out from the shore
But I can't find my way back my way anymore no

Oh I....I....

Forgive them that tear down my soul
And bless them that they might grow old
And freethem so that they may know
That's never too late
For the many times what seemd like a memory
I've searched and found the ways
You used to lure me in
Oh I've found the ways
Oh why it had to be
My'd own deniale, and so afraid
If we ever find its true,
That we have the strength to choose
Oh, free of all the chains, we have to together

"I'm gonna tell you a story"

"Stand up for rightousness"

"Eh.... what...."

"Stand up for justice"

"Eh.... what...."

"Stand up for truth"

"How can a person grow up with all this around them?"

"You gotta call on that something"

"Where does it come from?"

"That can make a wa out of no way"

"All this hatred"

"What we've got here is...."

"That power that can make a way out of no way"

"Failure to communicate"

"I tell you I've seen the lightning flash,
I've heard the thunder roar"

"Everybody's actin' like we can do any
Thing and it don't matter what we do
Maybe we gotta be extra careful
Because maybe it patters more
Than we even know"

"Sometimes"

"Hatred isn't something you're born with"

"I feel discouraged"

"It gets taught"

"Sometimes I feel discouraged"

"I felt this.... fear!"

"He promised never to leave me,
Never to live me alone
No, never alone, no never alone"

"Let's get somethin' straight alright"

"He promised never to leave me"

"This whole thing is fucked up"

"Never to leave me alone"

"Well, all men betray, all lose heart"

"I don't wanna lose heart! I wanna believe!"

"Black men and white men together
At the table of brotherhood
I have a dream"

"Free at last, free at last"

"Thank God almighty. We are free at last"

OH I won't be told anymore, if we ever find its true
That I've been brought down in this storm
That we have the strength to choose
And left so far out from the shore
Oh freed of all the chains
That I can't find my way back my way anymore
We have together
OH I won't be told anymore, if we ever find its true
That I've been brought down in this storm
That we have the strength to choose
And left so far out from the shore
Oh freed of all the chains
That I can't find my way back my way anymore
We have together

13 - This I love

And now I don't know why
She wouldn't say goodbye
But then it seems that I
Had seen it in her eyes

And it might not be wise
I'd still have to try
With all the love
I have inside
I can't deny

I just can't let it die
Cause her heart's just like mine
Ans she hold her pain inside

So if you ask me why
She wouldn't say goodbye
I know somewhere inside

There is a special light
Still shining bright
And even on the darkest night

So if she's somewhere near me
I hope to God she hears me
There's no one else
Could ever make me feel
I'm so alive
I hoped she'd nevere leave me
Please God you must believe me
I've searched the universe
And found myself
Within' her eyes

No matter how I try
They say it's all a lie
So what's the use of my
Confessions to a crime
Of passions that won't die
In my heart

So if she's somewhere near me
I hope to God she hears me
There's no one else
Could ever make me feel
I'm so alive
I hoped she'd nevere leave me
Please God you must believe me
I've searched the universe
And found myself
Within' her eyes

So if she's somewhere near me
I hope to God she hears me
There's no one else
Could ever make me feel
I'm so alive

I hoped she'd nevere leave me
Please God you must believe me
I've searched the universe
And found myself
Within' her eyes

So now I don't know why
She wouldn't say goodbye
It just might be that I
Had seen it in her eyes
And now it seems that I
Gave up my ghost of pride
I'll never say goodbye

14 - Prostitute

Seems like forever an a day

If my intentions are misunderstood
Please be kind
I've done all I should
I won't ask of you
What I would not do
Oh, I saw the damage in you
My fortunate one
The envy of youth

Why would they
Tell me to please those
That laugh in my face
When all of the reasons
They've taught us
Fall over themselves
To give way

It's not a question
Whether my heart is true
Streamlined
I had to pull thought
Look for a new
Beginning on you
Oh I got a message for you
Up and away
It's what I gotta do
Forgive what you have
For what you might lose

What would you say
If I told you that I'm to blame
And what would you do
If I had to deny your name
Where do you go if I told you
I love you
And then walked away
N' who should I turn to
If not for the ones
You would not save
I told you when I found you
If there were doubts you
Should be careful and unafraid

Now
They sorround you
And all that amounts to
Is love that you fed by
Perversion and pain

So if my affections
Are misunderstood
And you decide
I'm up
To no good
Don't ask me to
Enjoy them
Just for you

Ask youself
Why I would choose
To prostitute myself
To live with fortune and shame
Oh yeah
When you should
Have turned to the hearts
Of the ones
That you could not save

I told you
When I found you
All that amounts to
Is love that you fed by
Perversion and pain

giovedì 27 novembre 2008

Auguri Jimi!

Il 27 novembre di 66 anni fa nasceva Jimi Hendrix, uno dei personaggi più dannati del rock, e, come spesso capita, uno dei più geniali, forse IL più geniale, perchè con quella chitarra aveva il potere di descrivere tutto, la rabbia, la frustrazione, i viaggi mentali, la voglia di cambiare.... insomma, lo spirito degli anni 60 racchiuso in 6 corde....
.
I critici di Rolling Stone l'hanno messo al primo posto nella classifica dei 100 migliori chitarristi di sempre, e come contraddirli? Certo, ad un livello così alto dare un giudizio è molto difficile.... Giusto per farvi qualche esempio troviamo Angus Young 96°, un po' poco, che ne dite?.... Oppure Brian may 39°, e addirittura Eddie Van Halen 70°....
.
Evidentemente tutte le altre posizioni possono essere condivise o no, ma su chi debba stare sul trono non ci sono dubbi.... L'unico vero, indiscusso re dei chitarristi è Jimi Hendrix, perchè solo lui sapeva far vibrare così quelle 6 corde (e non sto parlando solo del fatto che suonasse coi denti....) e perchè quella mattina del 19 agosto 1969, quando salì sul palco di Woodstock per suonare uno dei più dissacranti affronti al sistema e alle ingiustizie del mondo, è passata alla storia.... Per poco più di 4 minuti Hendrix, con la sua Stratocaster, fece risuonare a Woodstock e in tutto il mondo le note distorte dell'inno americano, accompagnate da rumori di esplosioni e urla; ecco, in quell'istante il rock era cambiato, la musica era cambiata, e da lì sarebbe cambiato il mondo.... Incredibile cosa si possa fare con una chitarra, vero? :)
.
Purtroppo Jimi entrò a far parte del famigerato Club 27, ma a 39 anni dalla sua morte è sempre il re, e quindi.... Tanti auguri Jimi! grazie della musica!
.
Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix - Are you experienced? - 1967)
.
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand
.
I'm going down to shoot my old lady
You know, I've caught her messin' around with another man
I'm going down to shoot my old lady
You know, I've caught her messin' around with another man
And that ain't too cool
.
Hey Joe, I've heard you shot your woman down,
shot her down, now
I said I've heard you shot your old lady down,
You shot her down to the ground
.
Yes I did, I shot her
You know, I caught her messin' round, messin' round town
Yes I did, I shot her
You know, I caught my old lady messin' around town
And I gave her the gun
I SHOT HER!
.
Hey Joe, alright
Shoot her one more time, baby
.
Hey Joe, said now
Where you gonna run to now?
Where you gonna run to?
Hey Joe, I said where you gonna run to now?
Where you, where you gonna go?
Well, dig it
.
I'm goin' way down south,
Way down to Mexico way
Alright!
I'm goin' way down south,
Way down where I can be free
Ain't no one gonna find me
.
Ain't no hangman gonna,
He ain't gonna put a rope around me
You better believe it right now
I gotta go now
Hey Joe, you better run on down
Good by everybody
Hey Joe, uhh
Run on down
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Traduzione - Hey Joe
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Hey Joe, dove stai andando con quella pistola in mano
Hey Joe, ho detto dove stai andando con quella pistola in mano
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Sto andando a uccidere la mia vecchia signora
Sai, l'ho trovata in giro con un altro tizio
Sto andando a uccidere la mia vecchia signora
Sai, l'ho trovata in giro con un altro tizio
e questo non va bene
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Hey Joe, ho sentito che hai sparato alla tua vecchia signora,
le hai sparato, adesso
ho detto, ho sentito che hai sparato alla tua vecchia signora,
le hai sparato, l'hai stesa
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sì è vero, le ho sparato
sai, l'ho trovata in giro, in giro per la città
sì è vero, le ho sparato
sai, ho trovato la mia signora che faceva casino in giro per la città
e l'ho ripagata con la pistola
LE HO SPARATO!
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Hey Joe, va bene
sparale ancora, baby
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Hey Joe, ho detto
e adesso dove te ne andrai?
adesso dove te ne andrai?
Hey Joe, ho detto adesso dove te ne andrai?
Dove, dove andrai?
Be', scava
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Andrò a sud,
verso il Messico
va bene!
Andrò a sud,
a sud dove posso essere libero
nessuno mi troverà
.
Non ci sarà nessun boia,
non mi metterà una corda intorno al collo
farai meglio a crederci
adesso devo andare
Hey Joe, è meglio che ti muova
arrivederci a tutti
Hey Joe, uhh
vattene via

lunedì 24 novembre 2008

Recensione - Guns N'Roses - Chinese Democracy

....Chi non ha mai provato un brivido strano quando si trova di fronte a qualcosa che aspettava da tanto tempo? conoscete tutti questa sensazione.... bene, tenetevela bene a mente perchè questo "Chinese Democracy" riporta le due facce della medaglia....
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Ancora prima di darvi un parere sul disco, su come suonerà o cosa abbia da dire, cominciamo con le certezze: "Chinese Democracy" entra dritto dritto nel Guinness dei primati; ci sono voluti ben 17 anni per realizzarlo ed è costato più di 13 milioni di dollari (e questa cifra risale al 2005, gli ultimi tre anni non sono stati ancora calcolati). Ne è stata annunciata l'uscita un numero incalcolabile di volte, portandolo a dventare una leggenda metropolitana e, più che altro una barzelletta.
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Il titolo, calza a pennello con tutto questo, e viene quasi da pensare che questi 17 anni siano stati calcolati fin dall'inizio, o quantomeno che questa sia stata un'attesa studiata: "Chinese Democracy", democrazia cinese, un azzardo nel 91, quando per la prima volta se ne è sentito parlare, eppure un azzardo anche oggi, perchè la democrazia in Cina ancora non è arrivata, pare essere solamente un'utopia, tanto quanto pareva un'utopia questo album, che però alla fine è arrivato.... Bè, meglio tardi che mai, verrebbe da dire, speriamo di poterlo dire un giorno anche per la vera democrazia cinese....
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Ma passiamo al disco; dopo tutto questo tempo finalmente esce, e dentro c’è tutta la paranoia, l’insicurezza, la pazzia di Axl Rose, mitica voce dei Guns n’ Roses e unico membro della formazione originale che, nel 1987, incendiò il mondo del rock con un disco formidabile, "Appetite for Destruction". In piena era di Mtv e di gruppi di plastica, i Guns tirarono fuori dal nulla un devastante assalto elettrico, come se i Led Zeppelin si fossero uniti ai Ramones, o i Rolling Stones con i Clash, una bomba atomica piena zeppa di rock’n’roll radiattivo e spacca orecchie: dentro c’era tutta la decadenza, la droga, la rabbia, le donne facili della Los Angeles del tempo. Un disco che riportava la musica rock alla sua vera essenza.
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Dopo quell'enorme successo (18 milioni di copie vendute) tutti sappiamo com'è andata, come si è arrivati ai 2 "Use your illusion", a the spaghetti incident, e all'inesorabile spaccatura. L'album racchiude tutte le sfaccettature di questa incredibile esperienza, e tutta l'instabilità di un personaggio fuori dal coro, fuori da ogni schema comune. Certo, nonostante i numeri di questo disco siano altisonanti non ci si può aspettare qualcosa di simile ad "Appetite", nè nello stile nè nell'effetto che avrà sul pubblico, perchè certe cose sono fatte per essere irripetibili, impareggiabili, ed è giusto che sia così....
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Ci sono ottimi pezzi, come Shackler’s Revenge, dove spicca la voce arrancante del 46enne Axl, che tenta di emulare le urla stomacali e rabbiose di 20 anni fa, e a tratti sembra riuscirci, ma purtroppo a tratti si perde in un vagito spento prontamente coperto da un riff di chitarra o una rullata di batteria; ci sono sinfonie pop di smisurata ambizione in brani come Madagascar e Prostitute e anche If The World; ci sono lunghi assoli di chitarra, ma sembrano messi lì, appiccicati come un corpo estraneo, come pezzi di un collage.
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Axl non lo ammetterà mai probabilmente, ma tutto il mondo sa che l'unico vero chitarrista dei Guns N'Roses è e resta Slash, senza alcun dubbio, e, a nuova dimostrazione di quanto questo disco sia studiato, nel brano Catcher in the Rye (titolo del libro di Salinger che l’assassino di John Lennon aveva eletto a suo preferito e che incolpò per avergli ispirato proprio quell’omicidio), Axl ha cancellato le parti di chitarra registrate, nel 1999, da un "ragazzino" che forse qualcuno conosce.... si chiama Brian May, e direi che di presentazioni non ne ha bisogno....
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La stampa l'ha chiamato scandalo, e all'unanimità è stato detto che questo sia stato un gesto senza alcuna motivazione.... Bè, forse, ma se volete la mia opinione, non credete che la bravura e l'arte infinita di uno dei più grandi chitarristi della storia avrebbe potuto riportare alla mente il caro vecchio Slash, e di conseguenza un pesante confronto con i veri guns?....
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Il disco è ottimo, le canzoni sono buone, ricche di idee, e che di certo sarà un successo, perchè Axl di classe ne ha da vendere.... Le sonorità che si alternano sono svariate, si passa da power ballads a brani tendenti al metal, a suoni quasi pop che ricordano molto i Queen, per arrivare a canzoni lente e ricche di sentimento; un album che si lascia ascoltare, senza stancare o annoiare, insomma, senza deludere, che mette il pubblico in una campana di vetro da cui guardare la vita, le sofferenze, la rabbia e le delusioni dei protagonisti dei brani; le sonorità prendono per mano l'ascoltatore e lo accompagnano su questa "Street of dreams" affiancata a qualcosa di ben poco idilliaco, come ad esempio qualche "Prostitute"....
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C'è da dire però che d'altra parte, ad una più attenta analisi, l'album nasconde nell'incredibile superproduzione, nei suoni stratificati di mille incisioni (solo per le parti di chitarra Axl ha cambiato decine di elementi) e nella tecnologia ultimo grido, ben poco dell’anima rock stradaiola e sincera dei vecchi Guns, ma si dimostra comunque un pezzo immancabile della collezione di ogni amante del rock.
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Tracklist
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1. Chinese Democracy
2. Shackler's Revenge
3. Better
4. Street Of Dreams
5. If The World
6. There Was A Time
7. Catcher N' The Rye
8. Scraped
9. Riad N' The Bedouins
10. Sorry
11. I.R.S.
12. Madagascar
13. This I Love
14. Prostitute

mercoledì 19 novembre 2008

Recensione - Nickelback - Dark Horse

"Non diamo mai nulla per scontato", assicura Chad Kroeger dei Nickelback, ma di certo questa è una di quelle band che potrebbe permetterselo.
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Dalla nascita 13 anni fa, la band canadese ha sfornato numerose hit e dischi di platino (l’album del 2005 “All The Right Reasons” è uno degli album di maggior successo degli ultimi 10 anni), e quindi, nonostante la modestia di Kroeger, viene naturale avere grandi aspettative per il loro sesto album, "Dark Horse". Un’altra band si sarebbe crogiolata sugli allori e avrebbe dato per scontato che il mondo intero stesse aspettando con ansia il prossimo disco, ma i Nickelback sono sempre convinti che un nuovo album sia un’ottima opportunità per mettersi alla prova. Per fortuna esistono ancora certi gruppi....
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Bene, queste erano le premesse, ma i Nickelback sono andati ben oltre, hanno superato di gran lunga ogni aspettativa, e hanno lasciato ancora una volta tutti a bocca aperta con il loro nuovo lavoro.
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"Dark Horse" è un album di 11 tracce che racchiude tutto ciò che il gruppo ha fatto sinora, e in qualche modo l'essenza del rock: ballate torreggianti, sound forti, quasi metal, ritornelli da pugno alzato, grind rock, divertenti allusioni sessuali, romanticismo (quello vero), e hook talmente ampi da avere un effetto boomerang che attraversa tutti i brani.
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E anche se Mike Kroeger sostiene che "Dark Horse" non segna un grande cambiamento di direzione rispetto ai lavori precedenti, con quest’album la band si immerge in un territorio rock ‘n roll fresco e raffinato. "Dark Horse" è il primo disco a cui i Nickelback hanno lavorato con un produttore esterno dopo "Silver Side Up" del 2001, ma considerando che si tratta del produttore Rober John "Mutt" Lange, è facile capire perché la band sia stata così desiderosa di aprire nuovamente il sancta sanctorum, visto che Lange ha lavorato, tanto per citarne qualcuno, a "Back in Black" degli AC/DC, "Pyromania" e "Hysteria" dei Def Leppard e "4" dei Foreigner....
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I precedenti dischi dei Nickelback la dicono lunga sul valore dei 4 canadesi: hanno venduto più di 27 milioni di dischi in tutto il mondo, e dopo il successo di "How You Remind Me" del 2001, hanno piazzato ben 13 singoli nelle classifiche Billboard, e sono entrati di diritto nella Top 40 delle vendite di dischi rock.
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I Nickelback hanno cominciato a lavorare a "Dark Horse" all’inizio di marzo, dopo aver contattato Lange. La band è andata fino in Svizzera, dove vive il produttore, per cominciare a lavorare sui brani. Le idee sono arrivate da molte direzioni diverse: hanno cominciato a lavorare sull’energica "If Today Was Your Last Day", ad esempio, senza però finirla. "Quando Chad l’ha ritirata fuori, i flussi creativi hanno cominciato a scorrere", afferma Mike Kroeger. Poi c’è "This Afternoon", il cui sapore acustico e retrò e le sonorità country, rappresentano una svolta rispetto al sound a cui eravamo abituati.
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I restanti brani sono stati registrati a Vancouver, nello studio di Chad Kroeger, e spaziano all'interno di una vasta gamma di melodie, sound e sensazioni, dal flusso e riflusso melodico di "Gotta Be Somebody" al groove grezzo e metallico di "Burn It To The Ground", dai riff duri di "Something In Your Mouth" e "The Next Go Round" alle ballate "You’ll Never Be Alone" e "I’d Come For You".
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Insomma, i Nickelback dimostrano di essere una band matura, che suona heavy a volte, e lo fa benissimo, ma vuole portare anche qualcosa di melodico, di dolce, e a volte anche un po’ più suadente.
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Alcune band possono permettersi di approcciare solo una delle due cose, ma non i Nickelback, perchè come ha spiegato Mike Kroeger, "Non ci limitiamo ad avere una sola identità; proviamo cose nuove, che non abbiamo mai fatto prima… e ci assicuriamo di farlo nel miglior modo possibile".
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Bè, ascoltate l'album, vi accorgerete che ce l'hanno fatta un'altra volta....
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Tracklist:
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1. Something In Your Mouth
2. Burn It To The Ground
3. Gotta Be Somebody
4. I'd Come for You
5. Next Go Round
6. Just To Get High
7. Never Gonna Be Alone
8. Shakin' Hands
9. S.E.X.(Listen to song)[3]
10. If Today Was Your Last Day
11. This Afternoon

venerdì 7 novembre 2008

Recensione - Slash by Anthony Bozza

Finalmente, dopo un anno di attesa, e dopo che molti dei fans avevano già perso ogni speranza, lo scorso 25 settembre è arrivata anche nelle edicole italiane la biografia del mitico Slash, indimenticato chitarrista dei Guns N'Roses, ora chitarra e leader dei Velvet Revolver, probabilmente uno dei migliori chitarristi dell'era moderna....
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In "Slash by Anthony Bozza", il chitarrista racconta la sua vita, da un'infanzia parecchio travagliata ed influenzata dai movimenti culturali, musicali e popolari dell'epoca, ai suoi primi passi nel mondo della musica, per poi arrivare alla scalata al successo dei Guns N'Roses, al loro apice, e al loro inesorabile crollo, fino alla sua nuova vita con i Velvet Revolver, la moglie Perla e i 2 figli, London e Cash.
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Il sottotitolo del libro è "Può sembrare ESTREMO, ma questo non vuol dire che non sia successo", ed è proprio così, Slash si racconta senza mezzi termini, con onestà e passione, descrivendo nei minimi particolari tutte le situazioni, anche quelle estreme (quando si trovava con la facoltà di ricordarle), di una vita a dir poco dissoluta e selvaggia. E anche questi due termini, una volta letto il libro, risultano riduttivi, e non sbagliava chi diceva, parlando di quest'opera, che "rivaluterete le parole Sesso, Droga e Rock'n'Roll"....
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Il libro però non è soltanto una storia di dissolutezza ed esagerazioni, come ce ne sono parecchi (basta pensare ai grandi cantanti e gruppi rock degli anni 70 e ai libri sulla loro storia per avere una lista infinità di sostanze, oggetti, comportamenti e mentalità autodistruttive ed estreme), ma racconta la storia di un uomo, che di certo nella sua vita ne ha combinate di cotte e di crude, che grazie a un talento innato e sicuramente un po' di fortuna si è fatto strada nel mondo della musica, vivendo alti e bassi, casini e dipendenze di ogni tipo.... per farla breve, una vera vita da rockstar.
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Insomma, la ricetta giusta per leggere questo libro è abbandonare i clichè, perchè altrimenti ci si soffermerebbe su episodi che non sarebbero nulla di nuovo rispetto alle biografie di altre rockstar, ma leggere le sensazioni, le emozioni che scaturiscono da un profondo amore per la musica; alcuni tra i passaggi più significativi del libro riguardano le sensazioni provate al primo concerto, alla nascita delle musiche e dei testi delle canzoni, e a quanto quelle 6 corde rappresentassero e rappresentano il rifugio più sicuro di un grandissimo artista.
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Per finirla qui, "Slash by Anthony Bozza" non è adatto a chi si sofferma alle apparenze, a osservare con sdegno uno stile di vita che esce dai normali schemi, ma sono sicuro che questi, per la maggior parte, Slash nemmeno lo conoscano; lo consiglio invece a chi suona la chitarra, che sicuramente può comprendere certe sensazioni, a chi ama il rock, e la musica in generale, perchè in fondo è di questo che si parla, di musica....