|
| |
 | Mad Jack (3'55) Bonus US EP: |
| El bonus US EP sólo se incluye en algunas ediciones en doble LP o y en todas las de CD. * Existe una edición Americana en CD único de Strange Times donde Ever After ha sido eliminada debido a problemas de minutaje. |
| Ficha Técnica |
| Byrdy: Bajo, voces Todas las canciones escritas por Burgess/Fielding/Lever/Smithies excepto "John, I´m Only Dancing" escrita por Bowie y "Tomorrow Never Knows" escrita por Lennon/McCartney © 1986 Geffen Records. GEFD-24609 |
Comentarios de Mark Burgess
Comentarios de Tiempos Extraños
Nota - Incluímos al principio de cada canción los comentarios que ha confeccionado el propio Mark Burgess para la página oficial. Nosotros lo único que hemos hecho es traducirlos lo mejor posible y mostrarlos aquí. Estas breves notas os ayudarán a entender mejor el por qué de cada título y la temática que cada canción aborda. ¡Disfrutadlas!
Hello again,
This LP was well and truly produced by Dave M. Allen (not the brilliant Irish Comedian, the brilliant English Comedian) and was admiringly engineered by Mark Saunders (courtesy of West Side, London) and assisted by Paul Corcket and Beki, who also played some piano. The noise was created at Jacob's Studio which is in Surrey, a land of many mansions; nut "looks are deceiving" said the Gladiators and they were right! We'd like to say thank you to some people. Thanks Tony Fletcher, a rock of sanity in a sea of shit. Thanks Harvey and Anthony Addis for saving us from extinction. Thanks Andy and Spoonhead and Colin for helping out. Thanks WEA Records, London, particularly Alicia Winter (what a nice name) for coping with last minute chaos. Thanks Tom Zutaut for showing us what paradise looks like and a hello to everyone in paradise. Thanks Tony The Greek, the last DJ. Thanks to everyone in The Sun, Hawkshead, for being friendly. Thanks Jacob's staff for being great and waking me up every morning. Metaphorically and literally; Hello Chrissy; and thanks Bob Geldof for firing the starting pistol.
So here it is. LP number three. Who would've believed it, not me.
Mark B.
Some time in the afternoon,
I wish I knew what day it was,
Where am I?
Who am I?
What?
P.S. Another splendid picture from Reg.
P.P.S. This record was made to be played loud
Comentarios de Tiempos Extraños
El tercer y, por desgracia, último trabajo de los Chameleons en la década de los 80 y 90, se editó bajo el sello de la multinacional Geffen Records y la producción corrió a cargo de Dave Allen ( productor de trabajos de The Cure ). Estos dos hechos diferenciales hacen que este trabajo sea el contrapunto de lo que venía siendo hasta ahora la trayectoria musical de los Chameleons.
En esta ocasión, optan por un sonido menos etereo y ambiental y profundizan en melodías más densas con una base más rítmica. Las guitarras de Dave y Reg también en esta ocasión dejan ese sonido característico adoptando un sonido más convencional, aunque el estilo sique siendo inconfundible.
De esta manera surgen canciones con más fuerza y gancho como Mad Jack o desarrollos musicales extensos como Caution o Soul In Isolation donde, por fin, el papel de John a la batería pasa a un primer plano y el minutaje se excede de los típicos 3 o 4 minutos de una cancion pop.
En definitiva, un cambio en su trayectoria necesario para evitar el anquilosamiento. Lástima que problemas posteriores dieran al traste con la carrera de los Chameleons durante lo que restaba de siglo.
Letras Strange Times
Notas de Mark - La demo de esta canción era muy diferente y tenía como título 'Bobby Moore´s Wine' cuando nos dio por títulos raros. Cuando pusimos los arreglos la cambiamos por 'Mad Jack'. Fue una de las pocas veces que pude hacer que el resto de la banda hiciera coros y fue la primera canción que acabamos en la sesión. Había un colega en Middleton, cuyo nombre era Jack, que se puso bastante paranoico porque pensó que la canción era sobre él. De hecho no lo era, pero lo podía haber sido ...
He's cold to the kiss
In ignorance he's dangerous, in innocence he's bliss
And stalks the night with sonar senses and he holds you tight
Masturbates the madness in you
He dreams when he's not sleeping
Plays a trusted friend
Trust him, friend, about as far as you can piss
And he holds the night, walks in shadow and avoids the light
Masturbates the madness in you
His frightened eyes can't disguise
Blatant lies, flagrant lies
Step inside, let the world know...
Oh well we'll be watching now where he's walking
Is a vacuum world where every word is a silent, strangled scream
Oh he's God tonight, he walks on water and he's always right
Talks about the madness in America
Oh he's God tonight, he walks on water and he's always right
Talks about the madness in Africa
His frightened eyes, Mad Jack's eyes
Can't disguise blatant lies
Frightened eyes
Mad Jack's eyes are open wide, his eyes are wide, eyes are wide!
It's been a long time Jack, welcome back
Have some speed, have some smack
You know it's your name.
Notas de Mark - No tenía nada escrito cuando me puse delante del micro para hacer la toma. Había intentado escribir algo pero, para ser honestos estaba estancado y decidí otro método que incluía un litro de vino en una sala de grabación a oscuras. Hicimos seis tomas totamente diferentes, pero pude intuir por la voz del productor a través del intercomunicador que ya teníamos algo especial. Había puesto un vaso en el suelo, en la oscuridad, y durante las tomas lo debí romper sin darme ni cuenta y me corté. El productor e ingeniero no podían verme así que cuando terminamos, corrieron la cortina y encendieron las luces para encontrarme lleno de sangre, pensaron que me había estado mutilando para inspirame. Por supuesto no hice nada para matar el mito :-)
(This is a little trick I learned, this latest great escape)
We have no future, we have no past
We're just drifting ghosts of glass
Brown sugar, ice in our veins
No pressure, no pain
Everybody looks the same to me
Rows and rows of faces on a balcony
I can hear them calling down to me
Come up here--set us free
Got sugar in our brains
Or a dagger in our hearts
This is not my home, no
Everyone's bought and sold
This is not my home
Everybody's walking round the dead and cold
And one by one by one we disappear
Day after day, year after year
You can do a runner but we're still there
Nobody hears cause nobody cares
Put a dagger in my heart now
Cold here and I shudder and I shiver
I want to look twenty but I can't deliver
Pains in the heart
Ba-ba-bow-wow-wow-wow
It's cold in here
Can you hear my teeth a-chatter
The time has come for all of us to scatter
Caution to the wind
Caution to the wind
Dagger in the heart
No
This is not my home, no
Everyone's bought and sold
This is not my home
Everybody's checking out the dead and cold
Cold, cold, cold
We have no future we have no past
We're just drifting ghosts of glass
Brown sugar, ice in our veins
No pressure, no pain
No pressure, no pain
No pressure, no shame
No pressure, oh, throw it away
Nothing on earth could help me now
No...
Notas de Mark - Unos pocos meses después de empezar 'Strange Times' un viejo y querido amigo murió de cancer. Por aquella época fue el peor momento con el que me he tenido que enfentar y quería escribir algo especial; la idea 'Tears', originalmente 'Tears Are Not Enough', parecía perfecta. Creo que tanto el sello discográfico como el productor lo apuntaron como posible single, de aquí la versión más rockera, que me gustaba más pero que no recogía lo que tenía en mente y por ello pelee y al final lo conseguí, un tratamiento alternativo. El estudio tenía residencia pero el productor decidió que nos movieramos todos los días desde el cercano Londres. Decidimos seguir trabajando por la noche y fuimos la banda y el ingeniero quienes unimos las pistas; el productor vino para las mezclas. Personalmente, la noche que la grabamos fue uno de los puntos álgidos del album.
It's just coincidence
Well you can talk that way
But I have to say I don't believe in it
And with the chill of chance I decided to dance the days away
But I wasn't worried at all--sneaking through the back door
No I wasn't worried at all--dreams are what you live for
Waiting for the light to turn green
And carry me home
To the kindest eyes that I've ever seen
Carry me home
Well can you tell me how will it be now?
How will it be?
Can you tell me how will it be now?
How will it be?
Well we were younger then, and the days were long and slow
But were we wiser then? I couldn't say, I wouldn't know,
But I wasn't worried at all--I had someone to run to
No I wasn't worried at all--I knew which way the wind blew
Kicking out the chaos and gloom
Carry me home...
I watched the ceiling spin round the room
Carry me home...
Well can you tell me how will it be now?
How will it be?
Can you tell me how will it be now?
How will it be?
In a cold world
How will it be?
In the real world
How will it be?
In a lonely world
How will it be?
Will the ghosts just stop following me?
In a cold world
How will it be?
In a real world
How will it be?
Beg and crawl
How will it be?
Will the ghosts just stop following me?
Oh now, draw him to the sun
He was the only one
He cries out to everyone
For his only son
From the window of my room now
I can see the colour bloom now
You can't even look in my eyes now
What would you see?
If you could look into my eyes now
What would you see?
What would you see
It's just coincidence
Well you can talk that way
It's just coincidence
Well you can talk that way
I don't believe in it
I don't believe in it
Notas de Mark - La idea original fue tomada de una de las primeras cosas que hicimos juntos, en versión demo pero nunca finalizada, titulada 'Dear Dead Days'. Retomamos ese trabajo en los ensayos y salió esto. Empiezo a cantar casi al final de la canción. Estabamos a punto de empezar la canción siguiendo a la intro cuando a John se le ocurrio el ritmo de la batería, el cual me encanta. La idea de la letra fue inspirada por uno de mis libros favoritos de todos los tiempos: 'Star Rover' de Jack London. Fue el productor Dave Allen quien me lo pasó.
Soul in isolation
I can hear you breathing down the hall
Soul in isolation
I can hear you whisper through the walls
And if I had a mind to now
I could call to you
Or I could simply shut you out
No more would you cry, cry, cry
I give you my time to kill
But you'll never never break my will
Or I could sink a sleeping pill
And in the morning could be sleeping still
But most of you are much too ill
Way beyond a surgeon's skill
In bondage to a dollar bill
What more can you buy, buy, buy?
Oh, when you think on it,
When you think on it we're all souls in isolation
I'm alive in here
Come here...a word in your ear...
Back to the trees...
Big bad giant standing tall
Crushing all creatures, great and small
I'd like to see this giant fall
When will it come?
Words that rattle round my head
"Struck by lightning" someone said
A diamond bullet through the head
Right in the brain
Will I see the chamber's face
Did my mother bring me to this place?
And will I live to see his face
Will another come to take my place?
In total isolation surrounded by fears
Too many clouds--too many tears
Isolation, surrounded by clouds
In another world, head in the clouds
I'm alive in here
I scream but you still don't hear
I'm alive in here
I'm alive--turn on the light...
Turn on the light...
Oh, when you think on it,
When you think on it we're all souls in isolation
I'm alive in here
We're always searching for something, searching
Dear, dear dead days I'm longing for you
Sweetest virgin, now deflowered...
Notas de Mark - Definitivamente una de mis favoritas. Tenía la idea de los coros, que Dave sacó, rondando mi cabeza durante un tiempo y sabía qué es lo que cantaría. John y Reg se habían metido con lo que iban a ser los versos pero no sabendo cómo se iba a titular, la denominaron 'Swamp'. Cuando estabamos trabajando todos juntos se me ocurrió introducir la idea esa de los coros. Fue una de las canciones más rápidas que hemos hecho. No estaba muy contento con mi voz y me sugirieron que dejara de fumar durante un par de días. Lo hice y no volví a fumar durante un año.
I can already hear your tune
Calling me across the room
When the world and his wife are on my back again
Not enough pleasure, too much pain
When the world is too much with me
(Please leave--just go away)
I lose my mind completely
(Please leave--just go now)
In the side street something's moving
Look around, look around
All around you walls are tumbling down
Stop staring at the ground
I can practically see your face
And another revolutionary falls from grace
Hear the thunder in your brain
Not enough sunshine, too much rain
When the light of life has gone
(No change for the meter)
And then the king of spivs will come
(Selling blood by the liter)
When nothing's sacred anymore
When the demon's knocking on your door
You'll still be staring down at the floor
Not too many hours from this hour
So long
The storm comes
Or is it just another shower?
Picking up the pieces
Half alive in a nine-to-five
Vacant eyes
Is it any wonder?
Rhyme and scream at the TV screen
Close your eyes
Now the world is too much with me
(Please leave--just go away)
Before I lose my mind completely
(Just leave--please go now)
Now nothing's sacred anymore
When the demon's breaking down your door
You'll still be staring down at the floor
Not too many hours from this hour
So long
The storm comes
Or is it just another shower?
Now the rain has come
Or is it just another shower?
Time
Notas de Mark - Una de las primeras canciones que escribí con la guitarra acústica que había acabado de comprar, una Jap Washburn, que todavía tengo. La toqué para los demás. Muy satisfactorio para mí ya que había pasado de componer en bajo a guitarra.
One chance is all you have
When it's gone all you have is sorrow
One chance is all you have
Take it on like there's no tomorrow
Don't waste your time,
Don't waste time
Time
Time--slipping away
Have to make the most of your time
You don't have time
Time--open the door somewhere in the back of your mind
Child, you don't have time anymore
Unchained, intoxicating youth
Such an endless feeling
These days are softly stolen away
While your head is reeling
Don't waste your time,
Don't waste time
Time
Time
Time--slipping away
Have to make the most of your time
You don't have time
Time--open the door somewhere in the back of your mind
Child, you don't have time anymore
Don't waste your days away crying all night
Lonely child, lonely child
Don't waste your days away crying all night
Oh lonely child, lonely child
Time--slipping away
Have to make the most of your time
You don't have time
Time--open the door somewhere in the back of your mind
Child, you don't have time anymore
Time, time, time
Slipping away somewhere in the back of your mind
In your mind, in your mind
Tick tick tick
Tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock...
Notas de Mark - La última canción que escribí en bajo y en mi opinión una de las mejores. La percusión fue idea de Reg, que la sacó de una caja de ritmos sorprendente, 'Human Beat-Box'.Si no lo llego a ver, me habría resultado muy dicifil de creer.
I used to be so sure
I used to be so certain
Now it's gone
Always needing more
Bleating out excuses
I have none, no
Cast reflections on the water
Now that the deed is done
We'll wait, and watch the ripples fade away
Hearts are breaking
Someone's daughter joins with someone's son
It goes on and on again, on and on again
We'll watch the ripples run
I used to be so sure
I used to be so certain
How could I be so wrong?
Always needing more
At last the chains are breaking
Watch me now
Watch me run
Over fields and past the houses
Like a bullet from the gun
Watch the figure fade away
Hearts are breaking
Someone's daughter joins with someone's son
All alone again
All alone again
Watch the ripples run
Over fields and past the houses
Watch the rabbit run
Notas de Mark - Habíamos escrito y grabado en versión demo la canción hacía tiempo, antes de la sesión para 'Strange' y tocamos la única gran versión en vivo que hemos hecho en Paradiso, Amsterdam. De nuevo una de mis favoritas, ya que supone una progresión. Liricamente habla de la pérdida de la virginidad.
Hey, one afternoon
The parties were parted too soon
And it slipped away
I don't know what to say
Eyes that drew me in
To a wonderfully wonderful sin
And it blew me away
I don't know what to say
In answer,
In answer,
In answer,
Nothing matters to me
Hey, one cold grey afternoon
The parties were parted too soon
And it slipped away
I don't know what to say
Eyes that drew me in
To a wonderfully wonderful sin
And it blew me away
I don't know what to say
In answer
In answer
In answer
Nothing matters to me
Nothing matters to me
Believe me--you own my soul completely
And from day to day,
Oh from hour to hour
I will be, I will be
Always in your power
Set my spirit free
As I fell, fell to the ground
My head spun around and around
And I didn't know
Which way was up or down
Hey, one cold grey afternoon
The party was parted too soon
I touched the moon
I don't know what to say
In answer
In answer
In answer
You're all that matters to me
You're all that matters to me
Believe me...
Notas de Mark - Una tarde estaba dando una vuelta con John por Suite Sixteen mientras el resto ponían las guitarras a una demo y empezamos a tocar juntos en un teclado Casio. Memorizé la melodía y la guardé para luego. Fui capaz de nuevo de conseguir que Reg y John se unieran conmigo en los coros. Liricamente no me surgió nada hasta que una mañana, me desperte encima de la mesa de mezclas,como era habitual, y me pasaron una invitación para la boda de una antiguo amigo de colegio. Desperté inmediatamente al ingeniero, escribí la letra en cinco minutos y grabamos las voces antes de que llegara el productor.
I saw innocent kids turn cool
In the playground at school
Poor Claudius played the fool
Survival is cruel
One for the space to prowl as you please
Two for the pulpit--down on your knees
We opened out hearts to shame
No-one's to blame
Hey--everything was clearer than today
Oh you have to hold on to your childhood
Open your eyes, and stay as you are my friend
You have to hang on
My life is a Milbury's home, on Hereford way
My life is a Barclays' loan, now, and a mortgage to pay
Let's drink to freedom and family ties
"Here's to the bags that are under my eyes"
We opened our eyes to pride
Nothing inside
Hey--everything was clearer than today
Oh you have to hold on to your childhood
Open your eyes, and stay as you are my friend
You have to hold on...
How have you been? I hope you go far
Together we stand and drop from the bar
I'm watching you now, cleaning your car
Open your eyes, and stay as you are
You have to hold on to your childhood
You have to hold on to your childhood
Hang on, hang on
With just a little more heart now
With just a little more--come on
Just a little more heart now
Just a little bit--come on
I hope we'll both be very happy
Both be very happy
Both be very happy
Both be very very very very very very very happy
Hang on with just a little more heart now
With just a little bit...
Hang on, hang on
I´ll Remember
Notas de Mark - De nuevo no una canción en sentido completo pero un bello instrumental y un claro ejemplo de lo buen productor que es Dave Allen. Añadí los coros al final con un nuevo juguete traído para la ocasión, un flamante y nuevo Emulator II, oooooo!
Tears (full arrangement)
It's just coincidence
Well, you can talk that way
But I have to say I don't believe in it
It was a chill of chance,
I decided to dance the days away
And I wasn't worried at all
Sneaking through the back door
No, I wasn't worried at all
Dreams are what you live for
Waiting for the light to turn green
Carry me home
To the kindest eyes that I've ever seen
Carry me home
Well, can you tell me how will it be now?
How will it be?
Can you tell me, how will it be now?
How will it be?
Well we were younger then,
And the days were long and slow
But were we wiser then?
I couldn't say, I wouldn't know
But I wasn't worried at all
I had someone to run to
And I wasn't worried at all
I knew which way the wind blew
Counting out the chaos and gloom
Carry me home
And I watched the ceiling spin 'round the room
Carry me home
Well, can you tell me, how will it be now?
How will it be?
Can you tell me, how will it be now?
How will it be?
In the real world, how will it be?
In a cold world, how will it be?
In a lonely world, how will it be?
Will the ghosts just stop following me?
No, now drawn into the sun
He was the only one
In the real world, how will it be?
In a cold, cold world, how will it be?
Beck and call, beg and crawl, how will it be?
Will the ghosts just stop following me?
No, now drawn into the sun
He was the only one
And so I'll remember you
I'll remember the days and the thousands of ways you pulled me through
And dream of all the things you've seen
Of all the faces and all of the places you have been
Now you have no phone and you have no name and you have no number
And it comes to an end in the blink of an eye and it makes me wonder...
Paradiso
I recall a closing door, and I remember
Seeing shadows cross a stained-glass stair
Long before the strangers came down to steal our clothing
And our consciences and long before
Eyes were empty
Hearts were cold...
We'll watch the rattlesnake slide
Slowly swirl into view
To tease and tantalize
To suck your senses and spit out the pieces
Magazine girl, she was living in a different world
Or is it a he?
Pull back the curtain, my son
I look around, the color has gone
And slowly darkness descends upon me
Paradiso, I know you lied
That much I see
Well the serpent sings his song
To so many sleeping, staring eyes
Like sheep they sing along
And clap in time to a heart that's beating
Crazy child, she was wicked, oh she was wild
Her eyes were open
Pull back the curtain today
I look around, the color is gray
Gray as the ghost town that towers above me
Paradiso, I know you lied
That much is clear
To me
I see the poet and the fool
Walking hand in hand to school
I recall a lonely outcast, and I remember
Laughing children
It was long before
Their eyes were empty,
Hearts were cold
So dance this final dance with me
I'll wrap my sting round your spine
Will poison wash away the fear
Wipe the world from my mind?
Look up, what can you do
I looked around, the color was blue
Wise up, it's in your head
I looked around me and the color is red
Red as the words that I read on the wall
Paradiso, kingdoms rise,
So must they fall
And only ashes remain in the end
Paradiso, I know you lied,
Lies without end
I'll see it again and again and again...
Inside Out
Love and laughter fills his life today
Dragged into this world and thrown away
She never wanted you, better things to do
You won't remember...
Drawn to the door, whizzing through the week,
Dancing round the fire with the rest of the freaks
Oh no, no, things are different now
Don't let these days of doubt
Turn him inside out
His second mother holds him to her breast
She sees her children come and go
Ripping the heart from her
All of them part of her
And some will remember...
Time heals all wounds they say
She can't let them take her boy away
This son, oh, she would die without
Don't let these days of doubt
Turn her inside out
When she was young, the world was a different place...
After all
And his heart is in his home
There helplessly waiting for someone to smash his world to pieces
Ignorant and cruel,
Social student fools,
Pull him to the right, pull him to the left,
Pull him by the arms, pull him by the legs
Let go!
Oh, things are different now...
Don't let these days of doubt
Turn them inside out
When you were young, they wore a different face
When she was young, the world was a different place
When you were young, they wore a different smile
Ever After
I don't believe in fascists or flashing females or factory floors
I don't believe in speeding, I don't believe in spreading spores
I don't believe in Cupid or his laden arrows out of the blue
All of that is stupid but then again it's up to you.
Disguise and distort all you will
I'm burning up I can't stand still
I'm finding out I always will
For ever after.
I don't believe in fireworks, I don't believe in CND
It's just another slogan from a student library
I don't believe in justice, I don't believe in love on the dole
I don't believe in wham-bam, I don't believe in what comes now.
Disguise and distort all you will
I'm burning up I can't stand still
I'm finding out I always will
For ever after.
It's just another avenue to walk down.
Disguise and distort all you will
I'l burning up I can't stand still
I'm finding out I always will
For ever after.
Everybody's crazy.
