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To my great surprise, I notice the absence of reviews on Bryan Adams. It's a shame. Let's fix that immediately. And let's start with the best. "18 'Til I Die" (1996) is definitely one of his best works, a Bryan Adams in great shape, three years after the breakthrough of "So Far So Good" (1993). The subsequent collection, "The Best Of Me" (1999) is more of a rough summary than a second greatest hits, and will have less impact. But let's talk about the album.
The first track "The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You", single, comes across fresh and invigorating, showing an Adams in top form, with a catchy riff (the album is peppered with interesting and clear riffs). Number two, "Do To You" I consider the least interesting moment of the album, but not ugly for that. A bit bouncy and danceable. Number three is a masterpiece of melodic and atmospheric rock that is "Let's Make A Night To Remember", offered by a Bryan Adams with a soft voice and guitar. It is followed by the title track and we return to fresh rock, carefree with the content of the desire for eternal youth. "Someday I'll Be 18 Comin'on 55"!! Bryan predicts here! We hope for him, and he proves it too!
Next is another gem named Star. A very romantic slow song (Bryan Adams doesn't limit himself from appearing too sappy, so for those who don't like this, it's not very suitable) and engaging between acoustic and piano. Number 6 is "(I Wanna Be)Your Underwear" a cheeky song that wanders in lustful male desires. Musically, it is catchy and clean, rock but not very powerful. Number seven is "We're Gonna Win". Short, powerful, vibrant, compelling. Growing in the chorus, it might seem trivial, but it doesn't get there. It stops just short, almost perfect. If I'm not mistaken, it was a soundtrack for English football clubs (Chelsea if I'm not mistaken) and football events in England. The reason is evident from the title and from listening. The next two are decidedly atmospheric songs named "I Think About You" and "I'll Always Be Right There"; both are love songs in the truest sense of the term, but the second is better executed, with pauses, arpeggios, and much care.
We return to abrupt wake-up rock with "It Ain't A Party... If You Can't Come 'Round" lyrics from a absent mood in a happy rock version. The last rock burst, this time with an enticing double guitar that creates fabric and embroidery over the verse, is "Black Pearl", no.11. Perhaps for the first time, the bass is in sight, indeed on display. "Black Pearl... is my kind of girl!" Bryan echoes his tastes. It is the fusion of woman and rock. Number twelve responds to "You're Still Beautiful To Me". A pleasant ballad, not excellent, perhaps another low point of the album. This is for the melodic songs. For the rock ones, it maybe only drops in "Do To You", as mentioned above. Last, but not least, is "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?" with a guest like Paco de Lucia who joins him on guitar (nothing short of amazing!!!) and Bryan showcasing a beautiful lyric both for the singing and the text: when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
. A poem. This is how the album concludes.
I preface that Bryan Adams’s career is intense both chronologically and discographically and certainly one album is not enough, but if you want to start, you could also start with an album like this.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You (03:39)
Well I don't look good in no Armani suits,
No Gucci shoes - or designer boots,
I've tried the latest lines from A to Z,
But there's just one thing that looks good on me.
The only thing I want,
The only thing I need,
The only thing I choose,
The only thing that looks good on me - Is you.
I'm not satisfied with Versace style,
Put those patent leather pants - in the circular file,
Sometimes I think - I might be lookin' good,
But there's only one thing that fits like it should.
The only thing I want,
The only thing I need,
The only thing I choose,
The only thing that looks good on me - Is you.
Yeah it's you - it could only be you,
Nobody else will ever do,
Ya baby it's you - that I stick to,
Ya we stick like glue.
The only thing I want,
The only thing I need,
The only thing I choose,
Yeah - The only thing that looks good on me - Is you.
The only thing I want - Yeah,
The only thing I need,
The only thing I choose,
Yeah - The only thing that looks good on me - Is you.
05 Star (03:44)
What'cha wanna be - when you grow up,
What'cha gonna do - when your time is up,
What'cha gonna say - when things go wrong,
What'cha gonna do - when you're on your own.
There's a road - long and winding.
The lights are blindin' - but it gets there,
Don't give up - don't look back,
There's a silver linin' - It's out there somewhere.
Everybody wants an answer - Everybody needs a friend,
We all need a shinin' star on which we can depend,
So tonight we're gonna wish upon a star,
We never wished upon before,
(To find what we're looking for.)
There'll be times - In your life,
Yeah - When you'll be dancin' n' shit - But you ain't gettin' it,
But don't get disillusioned - No, don't expect too much,
'Cause if what you have is all you can get - Just keep on trying,
It just ain't happened yet.
Everybody wants to be a winner - Everybody has a dream,
We all need a shinin' star when things ain't what they seem.
So tonight we're gonna wish upon a star,
We never wished upon before,
(Gotta get where you're headed for.)
Everybody wants some kindness - Everybody needs a break,
We all need a shinin' star when things get hard to take,
So tonight we're gonna wish upon a star,
We never wished upon before,
Yeah - Tonight we're gonna wish upon a star,
We've never wished upon before.
Gotta find what you're lookin' for,
So don't get disillusioned,
No, don't expect to much,
Yeah - It's out there somewhere babe.
*** Written for the Motion Picture "Jack" ***
09 I'll Always Be Right There (03:18)
I swear to you - I will always be there for you - There's nothin' I won't do,
I promise you - All my life I will live for you - We will make it through.
Forever - We will be,
Together - You and me,
Oh and when I hold ya - Nothin' can compare,
With all of my heart - Ya know I'll always be right there.
I believe in us - Nothin' else could ever mean so much,
You're the one I trust,
Our time has come - We're not two people now we are one,
Yeah you're second to none.
Forever - We will be,
Together - A family,
The more I get to know ya - Nothin' can compare,
With all of my heart - Ya know I'll always be right there.
Forever - We will be,
Together - Oh just you and me,
The more I get to know ya - The more I really care,
With all of my heart - Ya know I'll always be,
Ya know I really love ya - Nothin' can compare,
For all of my life - Ya know I'll always be,
Right there.
11 Black Pearl (04:01)
Deep down in Mississippi,
I found my sweet delta blues,
She weaved a little Southern spell on me,
Made a little voodoo.
She was born the bright side of midnight,
When her mama was seventeen,
She was a hot blooded - God fearin' - Gospel girl,
The finest that I ever seen - Oh.
She's black coffee - Little bit of cream,
Sweet brown sugar - My midnight dream.
Black pearl - Yeah my kinda girl,
Just the kind of thing to rock my world,
Black pearl - Oh my kinda girl - Yeah.
Met her in a dixie diner,
Put on the Southern hospitality,
I can still smell her sweet molasses,
Running all over me.
We started rollin' like the river,
Like a twister tearin' through the town,
Tongue tied - satisfied - 'n Southern fried,
As she drove this ol' dixie down.
She's black coffee - Little bit of cream,
Sweet brown sugar - My midnight dream.
Black pearl - My kinda girl,
Just the kind of thing to rock my world,
Black pearl - She's my kinda girl - Yeah.
Yeah - She's alright - Yeah - She's ok,
Makin' love night - Yeah - Really made my day.
She was born the bright side of midnight,
When her mama was seventeen - Yeah,
She was a hot blooded - God fearin' - Gospel girl,
The finest that I ever seen - Yeah baby.
She's black coffee - Little bit of cream,
Sweet brown sugar - My midnight dream.
(Hey, hey.)
Black pearl - My kinda girl,
Just the kind of thing to rock my world,
Black pearl - Oh my kinda girl.
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