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Rating:
Lately, it is undeniable that among mainstream chart-topping products, several brilliant "she" figures are emerging. The reference to various Kate Nash, Yael Naim, and Lily Allen is clear, and a strong breath of fresh air is certainly welcome, considering that only three years ago people like Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, and Hilary Duff were competing for the top spots on the global charts.
But while the latter were fighting it out with pomp and sales figures, another newcomer was about to make her entrance on the scene: we’re talking about the then nineteen-year-old Scottish Amy Macdonald, who debuted in 2007 with "This Is The Life", an album I appreciated from its release, inexplicably arriving two years late in our country, and nevertheless enjoying notable success that persists even now!
Evidently, there must be something magical in Scotland, often a breeding ground for talents and remarkable personalities; I think of the legendary Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins), Shirley Manson (leader of Garbage), and Angela McCluskey (splendid voice of the majestic "Angel Milk" by the project Télépopmusik)! While it's true that for generation, vocal quality, and offering, it’s not the case (nor should it be) to compare Fraser to Macdonald (more akin to a mix between Dolores of the Cranberries and compatriot KT Tunstall), it’s also true that compared to the latter (author of rather bland pop), young Amy demonstrates very interesting capabilities!
A deep and distinctive voice, which sounds more experienced and "adult" than her age would suggest, with a velvety and powerful timbre at the same time (also possessing a decent vocal range), and an adorable British accent, make their mark among the 11 simple but truly beautiful songs that form an album rich in melody, light-years away from what MTV and Billboard currently feature on their schedules. A work on the border between folk-rock and indie/pop sounds, with the presence of the inseparable acoustic guitar, and classic instruments (the bagpipes of the ghost track "Caledonia", the sixties flute of "Poison Prince"), and arrangements detailed to the finest point (the country-pop and enticing chords of the splendid launch single "This Is The Life").
The songs are all well made and definitely pleasant, one might often be compelled to repeat episodes like "Mr. Rock & Roll", the surprising "Let's Start a Band" (with very successful melodic parts and choruses), and the delightful "Footballers' Wife". The more lively and traditional pieces, strictly in 4/4, are also good, like the catchy "A Wish For Something More", and the playful "Barrowland Ballroom".
A positive debut without a doubt, which only lacks from the songwriting aspect (some moments like "Youth Of Today" are really banal), but which leaves us hopeful for the future of this young revelation, who judging by the interviews circulating online, also seems to be a grounded girl with a genuine and boundless passion for what she is doing.
"...There are lots of people who get into this job to be recognized, to become a celebrity.
I’ve never cared for that. I play and write songs because I enjoy it, period.
And if one day I were to become a teen idol, frankly, I think I would quit.
I find it particularly sad that one can become famous simply by marrying a famous person.
Once upon a time, celebrities were the Frank Sinatras, the Fred Astaires, the Marlon Brandos... true artists,
whereas today just appearing on a reality show is enough. It’s a sad thing to take people without talent as a model...".
....Will she stick to her word?!
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Mr Rock & Roll (03:35)
So called Mr Rock And Roll
Is dancing on his own again
Talking on his phone again
To someone who tells him that his balance is low
He's got no where to go
He's on his own again
Rock chick of the century
Is acting like she used to be
Dancing like there's no one there
Before she never seemed to care
Now she won't dance
Its so rock and roll to be alone
And they'll meet one day
Far away
Saying "Hey I wish I was something more"
And they'll meet one day
Far away
And say "Hey I wish I knew you, I wish I knew you before"
Mrs Black and White
She's never seen a shade of grey
Always something on her mind
Every single day
But now she's lost her way
And where does she go from here
Mr Multicultural
Sees all that one can see
He's living proof of someone
Very different to me
But now he wants to be free
Free so he can see
And they'll meet one day
Far away
Saying "Hey I wish I was something more"
And they'll meet one day
Far away
And say "Hey I wish I knew you, I wish I knew you before"
He says "I wish I knew you, I wish I met you
When time was still on my side"
She'll say "I wish I knew you, I wish I loved you
Before I was his bride"
And so they must depart
Too many more broken hearts
But I've seen that all before
In TV, books and film and more
And there's a happy ending
Every single day
And they'll meet one day
Far away
Saying "Hey I wish I was something more"
And theyll meet one day
Far away
And say "Hey I wish I knew you, I wish I knew you before"
02 This Is the Life (03:05)
Oh the wind whistles down
The cold dark street tonight
And the people they were dancing to the music vibe
And the boys chase the girls with the curls in their hair
While the shy tormented youth sit way over there
And the songs they get louder
Each one better than before
And you're singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you're singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
So you're heading down the road in your taxi for four
And you're waiting outside Jimmy's front door
But nobody's in and nobody's home 'til four
So you're sitting there with nothing to do
Talking about Robert Riger and his motley crew
And where you're gonna go and where you're gonna sleep tonight
And you're singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you're singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you're singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you're singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you're singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
And you're singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?
03 Poison Prince (03:28)
A poetic genius is something I don't see
Why would a genius be trippin' on me?
And he's looking at me now
But what he can’t see
Is that I’m looking through his eyes
So many lies behind his eyes
And tell me stories from your past
And sing me songs you wrote before
I tell you this my poison prince,
You’ll soon be knockin' on heavens door
Some kinda poison prince with your eyes in a daze
Some kinda poison prince your life is like a maze
And what we all want and what we all crave
Is an upbeat song so we can dance the night away
Oh who said life was easy?
Who said life was fair?
Who said nobody gives a damn and nobody even cares?
The way you’re acting now like you left that all behind
You’ve given up
You’ve given in
Another sucker of that slime
Some kinda poison prince with your eyes in a daze
Some kinda poison prince your life is like a maze
And what we all want and what we all crave
Is an upbeat song so we can dance the night away
Some kinda poison prince with your eyes in a daze
Some kinda poison prince your life is like a maze
And what we all want and what we all crave
Is an upbeat song so we can dance the night away
04 Youth of Today (04:00)
Maybe if you were some spearheaded guy
I would listen to what you have to say
But you're just some incapable figure
Thinking you're bigger than me, but you're not
Yet you don't know a thing about the youth of today
Stating your opinion making it ring in my head all day
And you say,
"My children weren't the same"
"My children's children they're the ones to blame"
And you say,
"In my day we were better behaved"
But it's not your day no more...
And we are the youth of today
Change our hair in every way
And we are the youth of today
We'll say what we wanna say
And we are the youth of today
Don't care what you have to say at all
And maybe if you had a true point of view
I would listen to you
But it's just your one sided feelings
They keep getting in my way
And you don't know a single thing about the youth of today
Stating your opinion making it ring in my head all day
And you say,
"My children weren't the same"
"My children's children they're the ones to blame"
And you say,
"In my day we were better behaved"
But it's not your day no more...
And we are the youth of today
Change our hair in every way
And we are the youth of today
We'll say what we wanna say
And we are the youth of today
Don't care what you have to say at all
And you say,
"My children weren't the same"
"My children's children they're the ones to blame"
And you say,
"In my day we were better behaved"
But it's not your day no more...
And we are the youth of today
Change our hair in every way
And we are the youth of today
We'll say what we wanna say
And we are the youth of today
Don't care what you have to say at all
05 Run (03:50)
Will you tell me when the lights are fading
Cos I can't see, I can't see no more
Will you tell me when the song stops playing
Cos I can't hear, I can't hear no more
She said I don't know what you're living for
She said I don't know what you're living for at all
He said I don't know what you're living for
He said I don't know what you're living for at all
But I will run until my feet no longer run no more
And I will kiss until my lips no longer feel no more
And I will love until my heart it aches
And I will love until my heart it breaks
And I will love until there's nothing more to live for
Will you tell me when the fighting's over
Cos I can't take, I can't take no more
Will you tell me when the day is done
Cos I can't run, I can't run no more
She said I don't know what you did it for
She said I don't know what you did it for at all
He said I don't know what you did it for
He said I don't know what you did it for at all
But I will run until my feet no longer run no more
And I will kiss until my lips no longer feel no more
And I will love until my heart it aches
And I will love until my heart it breaks
And I will love until there's nothing more to live for
And I will love until my heart it aches
And I will love until my heart it breaks
And I will love until there's nothing more to live for
06 Let's Start a Band (04:05)
Put a ribbon round my neck and call me a libertine
I will sing you songs of dreams I used to dream
I will sail away on seas of silver and gold
Until I reach my home
Give me a guitar and I'll be your troubadour
Your strolling minstrel 12th century door to door
I don't know anymore, if that feeling is past will it last
Oh, how can you be sure?
And how do I know if you're feeling the same as me?
And how do I know if that's the only place you want to be?
Give me a stage and I'll be your rock and roll queen
Your 20th century cover of a magazine
Rolling Stone here I come, watch out everyone, I'm singing
I'm singing my song
Give me a festival and I'll be your Glastonbury star
The lights are shining everyone knows who you are
Singing songs about dreams about hopes about schemes
Ooooh, they just came true
And how do I know if you're feeling the same as me?
And how do I know if that's the only place you want to be?
And how do I know if you're feeling the same as me?
And how do I know if that's the only place you want to be?
And if you want it too, then there's nothing left to do:
Let's start a band
Let's start a band
Let's start a band
Let's start a band
And if you want it too, then there's nothing left to do:
Let's start a band
Let's start a band
Let's start a band
Let's start a band
And if you want it too, then there's nothing left to do:
Let's start a band
Let's start a band
Let's start a band
Let's start a band
And if you want it too, then there's nothing left to do.
07 Barrowland Ballroom (03:58)
Oh the lights outside they're as bright as the sun
They're much brighter than anyone
Oh the girls in the queue yes they're waiting for you
Well they're waiting for their song to be sung
And when the night turns to day and all the people go away
It's not the same, tell me who's to blame?
And when the stars shine so bright on the cold December night
I wish that I was on the stage
Oh won't you take a ride with me
Through the Barrowland history
And I'll sing you a song or two
People they may stop and stare but baby I just don't care
It's only me and you
And the drink and dance and drugs you know
It's all part of the show we go to
Maybe I should tell you
That people they may stop and stare but baby I just don't care
Tonight, it's only me and you
Oh nothing beats the feeling of the high Barrowland ceiling
When the band start to play
Won't you buy me a drink and I'll tell her what I think if she gets in my way
And when the night turns to day and all the people go away
It's not the same, tell me who's to blame?
And when the stars shine so bright on the cold December night
I wish that I was on the stage
Oh won't you take a ride with me
Through the Barrowland history
And I'll sing you a song or two
People they may stop and stare but baby I just don't care
It's only me and you
And the drink and dance and drugs you know
It's all part of the show we go to
Maybe I should tell you
That people they may stop and stare but baby I just don't care
Tonight, it's only me and you
And when the night turns to day and the lights they fade away
I wish that love and life would pass me by
And when the band stops a song because there's something going on
Well there is magic in the air I swear
And I wish that I saw Bowie, playing on that stage
I wish that I saw something, to make me come of age
Oh won't you take a ride with me
Through the Barrowland history
And I'll sing you a song or two
People they may stop and stare but baby I just don't care
It's only me and you
And the drink and dance and drugs you know
It's all part of the show we go to
Maybe I should tell you
That people they may stop and stare but baby I just don't care
Tonight, it's only me and you
08 L.A. (04:06)
Oh here's a story bout a boy named J.
Nothing he did would ever get in my way
But there's still a long, long way to go
I've only ever seen his face on film,
I've only ever heard the lines he'd say
But still they won't, get in my way
I'm always told to be the dreamer kind
Wake up one morning and your dreams are life
Never let them bring me down
Never let them tear me down
I always thought that I would follow you
Every place and everything you do
But I'm happy to be by myself
I don't need no-one else
He's never ever seen my face before
I'm trying hard cos this I can't ignore
But there's still a long, long way to go
I'm always told to be the dreamer kind
Wake up one morning and your dreams are life
Never let them bring me down
Never let them tear me down
I always thought that I would follow you
Every place and everything you do
But I'm happy to be by myself
I don't need no-one else
All my dreams are built around your face and this place
All the times I'm staring at the sun, you're the one
All my dreams are built around your face and this place
All the times I'm staring at the sun, you're the one
I'm always told to be the dreamer kind
Wake up one morning and your dreams are life
Never let them bring me down
Never let them tear me down
I always thought that I would follow you
Every place and everything you do
But I'm happy to be by myself
I don't need no-one else
I'm always told to be the dreamer kind
Wake up one morning and your dreams are life
Never let them bring me down
Never let them tear me down
I always thought that I would follow you
Every place and everything you do
But I'm happy to be by myself
I don't need no-one else
09 A Wish for Something More (03:46)
Oh the sun is shining far too bright
For it to still be night
Oh the air feels so cold
So cold and old
How can it be light
Oh let's take a walk outside
See the world through each other's eyes
I wish I was your only one
I think you're beautiful but your hair is a mess
And your shoes are untied, but that's what I love best
And I, I wish I was the one
You lonely, lonely son
And you looked at me that way
I wish for long lingering glances
Fairytale romances every single day
And you look at me and say
I'm your best friend every day
But I wish for something, wish for something more
Oh, I love you like a friend but let's not pretend
How I wish for something, wish for something more
Oh the grass is so green
But I can't see anything, past your eyes
I'm fixated on your smile
Your cherry lips make life worthwhile
I'm thinking these things
What I'm trying to say is
Life gets in my way
Every single day
And I, I wish I was the one
You lonely, lonely son
And you looked at me that way
I wish for long lingering glances
Fairytale romances every single day
And you look at me and say
I'm your best friend every day
But I wish for something, wish for something more
Oh, I love you like a friend but let's not pretend
How I wish for something, wish for something more
Now the sun is fading and the rain is coming down
And I'm looking at your face but your looking at the ground
I see diamonds in your dreams I see pearls around your neck
I see everything that's beautiful, everything that's beautiful
I wish I was the one
You lonely, lonely son
And you looked at me that way
I wish for long lingering glances
Fairytale romances every single day
And you look at me and say
I'm your best friend every day
But I wish for something, wish for something more
Oh, I love you like a friend but let's not pretend
How I wish for something, wish for something more
10 Footballer's Wife (05:06)
Oh Mr James Dean, he don't belong to anything
Oh he left before they could get him
With their ways, their wicked ways
Oh Marilyn Monroe, where did you go?
I didn't hear all your stories
I didn't see all your glory
But the footballer's wife tells her troubles and strife
I just don't care in the end
Who is she to pretend
That she's one of them?
I don't think so
And the girl from that show
Yes the one we all know
She thinks she's some kinda star
Yes you know who you are
I don't think so, I don't think so
Oh Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire
Won't you dance for me cos I just don't care
What's going on today
I think there's something more, something more
And I'm gone with the wind like they were before
But I'm believing myself I think there's something more
There must be something more
I think there's something more, something more
But still the footballer's wife tells her troubles and strife
I just don't care in the end
Who is she to pretend
That she's one of them?
I don't think so
And the girl from that show
Yes the one we all know
She thinks she's some kinda star
Yes you know who you are
I don't think so, I don't think so
Oh I don't believe in the telling of your stories
Throughout your life, there's just something unappealing
It don't catch my eye
It don't catch my eye
Oh I don't believe in the selling of your glories
Before you leave this life, there's so much more to see
I don't believe this is how the world should be
But still the footballer's wife tells her troubles and strife
I just don't care in the end
Who is she to pretend
That she's one of them?
I don't think so
And the girl from that show
Yes the one we all know
She thinks she's some kinda star
Yes you know who you are
I don't think so, I don't think so
The footballer's wife tells her troubles and strife
I just don't care in the end
Who is she to pretend
That she's one of them?
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