The Man's Too Strong - Dire Straits

Dentro del álbum superventas Brothers in Arms hay algunas joyas escondidas, como este The Man´s Too Strong, que está interpretada principalmente con una guitarra Dobro (todos los discos de dIRE sTRAITS incluyen, al menos, una canción con ese instrumento).

 

Este tema encaja dentro de la temática antibelicista de parte del disco, donde se pone en la piel de una figura similar a Rudof Hess, uno de los hombres fuertes de Hitler, según las propias palabras de Mark Knopfler, líder y guitarrista y compositor de todos las canciones de Dire Straits.

 

Espero que os guste

 

I am just an aging drummer boy

And in the wars I used to play

And I've called the tune to many a torture session

Now they say I am a war criminal

And I'm fading away

Father, please hear my confession

I have legalized robbery

And called it relief

I have run with the money

I have hid like a thief

Rewritten histories with armies and my crooks

Invented memories

I did burn all the books

And I can still hear his laughter

And I can still hear his song

The man's too big

The man's too strong

Well, I've tried to be meek

I have tried to be mild

But I spat like a woman

And I sulked like a child

Hid behind walls that have made me alone

Striven for peace

Which I never have known

And I can still hear his laughter

And I can still hear his song

The man's too big

The man's too strong

Well, the sun rose on the courtyard

And we all did hear him say

"You always was a Judas,

But I got you anyway.

You may have got your silver

But I swear upon my life

Your sister gave me diamonds

And I gave 'em to your wife."

Oh father, please help me

For I have done wrong

The man's too big

The man's too strong

Heartbeat - King Crimson

En los años 80 King Crimson tuvieron una etapa claramente diferenciada de sus anteriores trabajos, en los que Robert Fripp y Bill Bruford con la incorporación de Adrian Belew a la voz, guitarras y letras y Tony Levin al bajo y stick (ambos músicos americanos), dieron forma a tres trabajos realmente fascinantes y novedosos: Discipline, Beat y Three of a Perfect Pair.

 

En algunos casos, tenían una clara influencia pop y de los sonidos ochenteros, quizás por los grupos con los que había tocado Belew como Talking Heads, David Bowie o Frank Zappa y el trabajo de Levin como músico de sesión de Peter Gabriel, entre otros muchos, y de cuya banda forma parte hasta el momento.

 

No por ello dejan de ser composiciones elaboradas y vanguardistas interpretadas con un nivel técnico considerable, como podemos ver en este Heartbeat.

 

Espero que os guste

 

I need to feel your heartbeat heartbeat

so close, feels like mine

all mine

I need to feel your heartbeat heartbeat

so close it feels like mine

all mine...

 

I remember the feeling

my hands in your hair

hands in your hair

I remember the feeling

of the rhythm we made

the rhythm we made

 

I need to land sometime

right next to you

feel your heartbeat heartbeat

right next to me...

In the Army - Status Quo

Esta versión que realizaron los enérgicos británicos de ese alegato antibelicista compuesto por el dúo holandés Bolland & Bolland, supuso un enorme éxito en el año 1986 y volvió a colocar al grupo en lo más alto de las listas.

Como tengo más años que el fuego, recuerdo con nitidez escuchar el tema en la radio y en la televisión y puedo asegurar que fue un éxito gigantesco, pues sonaba constantemente en todos los medios.

Espero que os guste

A Vacation in a foreign land
Uncle Sam does the best he can
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now

Now you remember what the draft man said
Nothing to do all day but stay in bed
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now

You'll be the hero of the neighborhood
Nobody knows that you left for good
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now

Smiling faces as you wait to land
But once you get there no one gives a damn
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now

Hand grenades flying over your head
Missiles flyin' over your head, if you wanna survive
Get out of bed
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army, now

Shots ring out in the dead of night
The sergeant calls: "Stand up and fight!"
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now

You got your orders better shoot on sight
Your finger's on the trigger but it don't seem right
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now

Night is falling and you just can't see
Is this illusion or reality
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - in the army now
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now

You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - in the army now
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now

Oh, oh you're in the army - in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - in the army now

 

Valerie - Ra Ra Riot

Esta es una vibrante versión del grupo Ra Ra Riot del popular tema de Steve Winwood, uno de los músicos británicos más importantes vinculado al rock (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith), y que a finales de los 80 del pasado siglo relanzó su carrera en solitario.

Espero que os guste

So wild, standing there

With her hands in her hair

I can't help remember

Just where she touched me

There's still no face

Here in her place

So cool, she was like

Jazz on a Summer's day

Music, high and sweet

Then she just blew away

Now she can't be that warm

With the wind in her arms

Valerie, call on me

Call on me, Valerie

Come and see me

I'm the same boy I used to be

Love songs fill the night

But they don't tell it all

Not how lovers cry out

Just like they're dying

Her cries hang there

In time, somewhere

Someday, some good wind

May blow her back to me

Some night I may hear

Her like she used to be

No it can't be that warm

With the wind in her arms

Valerie, call on me

Call on me, Valerie

Come and see me

I'm the same boy I used to be

So cool, she was like

Jazz on a Summer's day

Music, high and sweet

Then she just blew away

Now she can't be that warm

With the wind in your arms

Valerie, call on me

Call on me, Valerie

Come and see me

I'm the same boy I used to be

I'm the same boy I used to be

God Only Knows - The Beach Boys

Ayer falleció Brian Wilson, uno de los grandes creadores de la música popular del S. XX. 

Descanse en paz

 I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
Ill make you so sure about it

God only knows what I'd be without you

If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me

God only knows what I'd be without you

God only knows what I'd be without you

If you should ever leave me
Well life would still go on believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me

God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows

Love Wars - Womack & Womack

Uno de los primeros singles que sacó el dúo Womack & Womack, formado por el matrimonio Linda y Cecil Womack, fue este Love Wars, perteneciente al álbum del mismo título y lanzado en 1983.

Cecil formó parte de un grupo llamado The Valentinos junto a sus hermanos, que gozó de un razonable éxito y trabajaron con Sam Cooke, cuya hija Linda se casaría posteriormente con Cecil y pasarían a formar el dúo musical.

 Espero que os guste

Love wars
Love wars

Absence makes the heart grow fonder
But it's taking me under
Since you're not here
Oh, and I feel so all alone tonight

It's better when it's harder to get
But this hide and go seek
Is making me weep
Oh, we call over now

I promise to stop boxing you round
So don't scratch my face
End of the eight
Oh, the fight is all over now

We need to get our act together
Take it off the street
Bring it on home and drop them guns on the floor

Love wars (No, we don't need)
Love wars

The talks we have don't change a thing
They only bring rain
On top of pain
Oh, it's raining in my heart now

Flashbacks and uncovered tracks
From when you left
With my best friend

We need to get our act together
Take it off the street
Bring it on home and drop them guns on the floor

Make love and peace
And, baby, never cheat
Vow to be strong and let the band roll on
And stop these

Love wars (We don't need)
Love wars (Love wars)
Love wars (And be strong now)
Love wars (Ow!)

Love wars (We don't need)
Love wars (Love wars)
Love wars (Could it be all over now?)
Love wars (Come on back home, darling)

Love bombs explodin' in air
Until the last one
I don't care

I remember losing my head
And calling you things
Like dirty names
Oh, and I feel bad about it, baby

We need to get our act together
Take it off the street
Bring it on home and drop them guns on the floor

Make love and peace
And, baby, never cheat
Vow to be strong and let the band roll on

Love wars (No!)
Love wars (We can't stand, no)
Love wars (Just come on out)
Love wars (I don't want no love wars)

If You Could Read My Mind - Varios

La original: Gordon Lightfoot

 Versión disco: Viola Wills

 

Versión jazz: Diana Krall

 

Versión Johnny Cash:

 

 

Versión Olivia Newton-John:

 

 

Versión Cher:

 

Versión Stars on 54:

If you could read my mind, love
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old time movie
'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet
You know that ghost is me
And I will never be set free
As long as I'm a ghost you can't see

If I could read your mind, love
What a tale your thoughts could tell
Just like a paperback novel
The kind the drugstores sell
When you reach the part where the heartaches come
The hero would be me
But heroes often fail
And you won't read that book again
Because the ending's just too hard to take

I'd walk away like a movie star
Who gets burned in a three-way script
Enter number two
A movie queen to play the scene
Of bringing all the good things out in me
But for now love, let's be real
I never thought I could act this way
And I've got to say that I just don't get it
I don't know where we went wrong
But the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back

If you could read my mind, love
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old time movie
'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet
But stories always end
And if you read between the lines
You'll know that I'm just tryin' to understand
The feelings that you lack
I never thought I could feel this way
And I've got to say that I just don't get it
I don't know where we went wrong
But the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back

I´m Not In Love - 10 CC

Este prodigio de la grabación en estudio es el mayo éxito de la banda británica 10 cc, aunque conviene recordar que en los años 70 eran una banda muy popular.

Todos los miembros originales de 10cc (Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley y Lol Creme) eran o son multinstrumentistas, cantantes, compositores, productores...La lista de colaboraciones con otros artistas y grupos es interminable.

Espero que os guste

I'm not in love 

So don't forget it 
It's just a silly phase I'm going through 
And just because I call you up 
Don't get me wrong 
Don't think you've got it made 
I'm not in love 
No, no 
It's because 

I'd like to see you 
But then again 
It doesn't mean you mean that much to me 
So if I call you 
Don't make a fuss 
Don't tell your friends about the two of us 
I'm in love 
No, no 
It's because 

(Be quiet...big boys don't cry...) 

I keep your picture 
Upon the wall 
It hides a nasty stain that's lying there 
So don't you ask me 
To give it back 
I know you know it doesn't mean that much to me 
I'm not in love 
No, no 
It's because 

Ooh, you'll wait a long time for me 
Ooh, you'll wait a long time 

I'm not in love, I'm not in love 

Why Worry - Mark Knopfler

The Everly Brothers fueron una influencia para muchos músicos, incluyendo Mark Knopfler o The Beatles, como ya declararon en alguna ocasión.

Desde luego, en este tema es evidente la huella del lado más romántico del famoso dúo americano, quienes también tenían algunos temas más movidos teniendo en cuenta la época. 

 

Curiosamente, en este vídeo sale otro de los personajes más idolatrados del guitarrista escocés que no es otro que el mítico Chet Atkins, quién influyó en su manera de tocar la guitarra.

Espero que os guste

Baby, I see this world has made you sad
Some people can be bad
The things they do, the things they say
But baby, I'll wipe away those bitter tears
I'll chase away those restless fears
That turn your blue skies into grey

Why worry? There should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now?
Why worry now?

Baby, when I get down, I turn to you
And you make sense of what I do
I know it isn't hard to say
But baby, just when this world seems mean and cold
Our love comes shining red and gold
And all the rest is by the way

Why worry? There should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now?
Why worry now?

As (Live in the Studio) - Stevie Wonder

Imágenes inéditas de la grabación del magnífico y multipremiado Songs in the Key of Life de Stevie Wonder. 

Las increíbles líneas del piano Fender Rhodes están tocadas por, ni más ni menos, Herbie Hancock.

El resto de los músicos son: Nathan Watts al bajo, Mike Sembello a la guitarra solista, Dean Parks a la guitarra rítmica, Greg Brown a la batería, Stevie Wonder cantando y con el Fender Rhodes también y Mary Lee Whitney y Yolanda Simmons en los coros, Dave Hanson, Yolanda Simon y Josette Valentino con las palmas.

Espero que os guste

As around the sun, the earth knows she's revolving
And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May
Just as hate knows love's the cure
You can rest your mind assure
That I'll be loving you always

As now can't reveal the mystery of tomorrow
But in passing, will grow older every day
Just as all is born is new
Do know what I say is true
That I'll be loving you always

Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky (Always)
Until the ocean covers every mountain high (Always)
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea (Always)
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream

Did you know that true love asks for nothing?
Her acceptance is the way we pay
Did you know that life has given love a guarantee
To last through forever and another day?

Just as time knew to move on since the beginning
And the seasons know exactly when to change
Just as kindness knows no shame
Know through all your joy and pain
That I'll be loving you always

As today, I know I'm living, but tomorrow
Could make me the past, but that, I mustn't fear
For I'll know deep in my mind
The love of me I've left behind
'Cause I'll be loving you always

Until the day is night and night becomes the day (Always)
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away (Always)
Until the day that eight times eight times eight is four (Always)
Until the day that is the day that are no more (Did you know you're loved by somebody?)
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left (Always)
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself (I'll be loving you forever)
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through (Always)
Until the day that you are me and I am you (Always)
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky (Always)
Until the ocean covers every mountain high (Always)

We all know sometimes life's hates and troubles
Can make you wish you were born in another time and space
But you can bet your life times that and twice its double
That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed
So make sure when you say you're in it, but not of it
You're not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell
Change your words into truth and then change that truth into love
And maybe our children's grandchildren
And their great-grandchildren will tell
I'll be loving you

Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky (Loving you)
Until the ocean covers every mountain high (Loving you)
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea (Loving you)
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream (Be loving you)
Until the day is night and night becomes the day (Loving you)
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away (Loving you)
Until the day that eight times eight times eight is four (Loving you)
Until the day that is the day that are no more (Loving you)
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left (Be loving you)
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself (Loving you)
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through (Loving you)
Until the day that you are me and I am you (Now ain't that loving you?)
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky (Ain't that loving you?)
Until the ocean covers every mountain high (And I've got to say always)
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea (Always)
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream (Always)
Until the day is night and night becomes the day (Always)
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away (Always)
Until the day that eight times eight times eight is four
Until the day that is the day that are no more (Always)
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself (Always)
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through
Until the day that you are me and I am you
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream
Until the day is night and night becomes the day
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away
Until the day that eight times eight times eight is four
Until the day that is the day that are no more
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through
Until the day that you are me and I am you