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Rating: Problem: you have a brother (cousin, nephew...) who is about to become a Teenager. There he is: tousled hair without a model to follow yet, clothes no longer chosen by mom but not quite personal either, timidness concerned about the impending invasion of body hair that will reveal to the world the end of his childhood. You know that at this stage he is waiting for a revelation, a hero to show him how to express his discontent and dissatisfaction. And you are, understandably, worried because lately you have had the chance to observe the dominant trend: black hair with bangs, wide-eyed, smile strictly banned... snap! posing for the selfie! Soundtrack: guitar-laden groups of similarly styled youths talking about their restlessness in such an explicit way that it becomes flat and banal. All these people take themselves and their emotions too seriously. Do you want to save your little one? Do you want to prevent him from jumping on the fashion bandwagon? It’s legitimate: putting aside discussions on the quality of trendy music products (the usual "de gustibus" rule applies) at least for the love of the niche (after all, all of us here could declare that we find ourselves comfortable and in agreement with a minority always...even in a more decent society than this one). Solution: lend him your copy of "Leisure" the first album by Blur (1991, 17 years ago!), certainly not the best of their production, but it deserves a reevaluation and is just right for you. All the classic adolescent themes are there: Love: as an idealization of an unattainable girl, therefore a source of frustration ("She's So High"), and as a powerful and exhausting force ("Wear Me Down"). Boredom: days and years go in one ear and out the other in "Bang" (and by delving into BritPop, our initiate will discover that over the years the feeling remains as the almost-thirty-year-old Cocker sings in "Monday Morning"). Depression: "Birthday" where the entrenchment in the Swamp of Sadness is so deep that it is almost ridiculous with hindsight, but at 15, nothing seems more worthy of seriousness. A song which, paired with Francesco Guccini's "Il compleanno", is ideal for those suffering from birthday depressive syndrome (more common than you might think). Confusion: "Sing", the best song on the album, in fact, used in the soundtrack of "Trainspotting" while the rest of the record is periodically criticized and denied by the authors themselves. Rebellion and Resignation: only the wisest know they go hand in hand. And Albarn is already wise: "There is no other way, all you can do is watch while they play" ("No Other Way"), "Try, try, try, everything remains the same so why try again?" ("Repetition"). Alienation: withdrawing from the real world so disappointing with the motto: "And sometimes I wonder if I'm here, if I'm really here" ("Fool"). The Blur, still a bit Seymour, begin to be Blur and therefore catchy melodies and choruses paired with ultimately dark lyrics, one above all "There's No Other Way", and this is what makes the usual themes less trivial and appeals to the intelligent (ah!). Returning to our youngster, if you succeed in the endeavor (and it’s unlikely he wouldn't be fascinated by a band that shouts before a concert: "We suck so much you might be better off going straight home. This could be the worst concert of your life". I mean Blur are also rock & roll and therefore seductive.) a whole world will open up for him. Maybe by reading that the young Graham Coxon got excited listening to the guitars in "And Your Bird Can Sing" he will start listening seriously to the Beatles; maybe he will discover The Who by watching the favorite film of teenagers Graham and Damon, "Quadrophenia"; but he could also start listening to Rod Stewart fascinated by the cover of "Maggie May" that appears in the "Special Collector's Edition". In short, the paths are truly infinite and unpredictable, but you could contribute with a guiding push and cross your fingers.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 She's So High (04:44)
I see her face everyday
I see her face
It doesn't help me
I see her face everyday
I see her face
It doesn't help me
She's so high
She's so high
She's so high
I want to crawl all over her
She's so high
She's so high
She's so high
I want to crawl all over her
I think of her everyday
I think of her
It doesn't help me
I think of her everyday
I think of her
It doesn't help me
She's so high
She's so high
She's so high
I want to crawl all over her
She doesn't help me
She doesn't help me
She doesn't help me
She's so high
She's so high
She's so high
I want to crawl all over her
She's so high
She's so high
She's so high
I want to crawl all over her
02 Bang (03:37)
Sitting in an S.D.T.
Waiting for an underground train
to rumble underneath my feet
Bang goes another day
Where it went I could not say
And now I'll have to wait another week
When all is said and all is done
What was said was never done
Don't panic it's not really worth your while
Bang goes another year
In and and out of one ear
Everybody's doing it
So do it too
I don't need anyone
But a little love would make things better
Sitting on the early bus
Passing through the morning rush
It makes no difference
That I'm not with you
Bang goes another year
In and out of one ear
Everybody's doing it
I'll do it too
I don't need anyone
But a little love would make things better
aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh
I don't need anyone
But a little love would make things better
I don't need anyone
But a little love would make things better
I don't need anyone
But a little love would make things better
I don't need anyone
But a little of your love would make things better
03 Slow Down (03:11)
It's up to you
You know it is
I can't convince you
All you have to do is
Slow down
I've always said
It will never change
All you have to do
Just you be you
I mean that's all I want to say
All these things
That I told you
I didn't mean at all
I didn't mean at all
I'd forget you
So if you come here
If you come here
All you have to do
Just you be you
I mean that's all I need to say to you
04 Repetition (05:25)
So sure
So sure you are
Nothing can
Touch you now
I need to know
Did you think of me
But you're forgettng me now
Slow down
Don't be so
Eager to let me go
Realise it could change you
It could change your mind
Try, try, try
All things remain the same
So why try again
05 Bad Day (04:24)
do you do
anything
you ever do
no she said
do you want
anything
you ever wanted
no she said
she don't know how
how to feel
this is a bad day
this is a bad day
to know
do you have
anything
you ever had
no she said
do you love
anyone
you ever loved
yes she said
06 Sing (06:00)
I can't feel
"Cos I am numb
I can't feel
"Cos I am numb
So what's the worth in all of this
What's the worth in all of this
Sing to me
So what's the worth in all of this
If the child in your head
If the child is dead
Sing to me
07 There's No Other Way (03:23)
You're taking the fun
Out of everything
Making me run
When I don't want to think
You're taking the fun
Out of everything
I don't want to think at all
There's no other way
There's no other way
All that you can do
Is watch them play
You're taking the fun
Out of everything
You're making it clear
When I don't want to think
You're taking me up when
I dont want to go up anymore
I'm just watching it all
There's no other way
There's no other way
All that you can do
Is watch them play
I'll watch you play
08 Fool (03:15)
sorry
but i don't understand
the things you say
they make no sense at all
funny
but i think that you mean them all
this time
don't you
i know that you think i'm a fool
but couldn't you try
to forgive a fool
one more time
sorry
but i'm not really listening
i've got my mind
on something else
and sometimes i wonder if i'm here
if i'm here at all
i know that you want me to go
don't you
but it's not as easy as it seems
i know that you think i'm not here at all
but i'm just as fed up as you
i know that you want me to leave
i'm amazed at how cold you can be
well may my weak and insipid soul grow stronger in your absence
09 Come Together (03:52)
I don't understand
You're walking over me
All over me
To you
You must be mad
And you know you are
You should have known
I'd do anything for you
So, why, why
Can't we come together
Why?
Inside my head
There's nothing left
It's all been taken out
By you
And do I care
Well, you know I do
You should have known
I'd do anything for you
So, why, why
Can't we come together
Why?
Now it's all been said
And you know it all
Then you should have known
I'd do anything for you
For you
11 Birthday (03:50)
it's my birthday
no one here day
very strange day
i think of you day
go outside day
sit in park day
watch the sky day
what a pathetic day
i don't like this day
it makes me feel too small
i don't like these days
they make me feel so small
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