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In the 80s, during the pop and dance explosion, when girls were obsessed with Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet (not to mention many other one-hit wonders), and when synthesizers dominated the music scene, rock seemed well and truly dead. But there was someone like Bryan Adams, whose debut album dates back to 1980, who tried to keep a strictly rock tradition alive. Without inventing anything new but trying to carry on what the masters of the past had taught. In the '90s, however, the Canadian rocker discovered that with soft and sugary songs one could reach the hearts of thousands of girls (just look at the 13,000,000 copies sold of "Waking up the neighbours"), so he continued his path steering towards a rock very inclined to pop. And what does Bryan Adams of the 2000s propose? To know that, we have to wait until 2004, the year of release of this "Room service," which comes out a good 6 years after the last album of unreleased songs, the less successful "On a day like today," 5 years after yet another collection of hits "The best of me," and 2 years after the soundtrack for "Spirit - stallion of the Cimarron."
The album was conceived in the various hotels that hosted the singer-songwriter during his numerous concerts, as evidenced by the title "Room Service." Let's make it clear right away that this album doesn't offer anything new, let's be clear.
Neither from a musical nor a lyrical point of view. However, in this album, Adams balances rock songs with the classic ballads that have accompanied the love stories of hundreds of teenagers.
In essence, in my opinion, it is an album for concerts. Given the context in which it was written, probably the singer-songwriter felt the energy that only concerts can transmit, and managed to convey it on the album.
Just think of "She's a little too good for me," "Room service," "Nowhere fast," and "Right back where I started from," very catchy and immediate songs that are well-suited for a concert. Or the ballads "Flyin'," "I was only dreaming" and "Why do you have to be so hard to love" perfect tracks to listen to while embracing your loved one, waving a lighter. Another noteworthy song is surely the second track "This side of paradise," especially for the lyrics, which are undoubtedly the most committed of the album. A nine-year-old child sitting in the backseat of a '69 car, pressed against the window while seeing images of a funeral. He wants to know what is left unsaid; he wants something to believe in. It's a song about growth and hope, as the final verse of the song reads "We wander 'round in the darkness but every now and then a little light shines through."
The other lyrics offer us the classic Bryan Adams with love as the main theme. Told in a banal way, if you will, but still effective. The other songs "East side story," "Not Romeo not Juliet" go by quickly without leaving an indelible trace, whereas I find "Open road" the least interesting point of the album. Strange that it was chosen as the first single. Perhaps that's why it did not receive the right attention in Italy. The English and Japanese version of the album contains a bonus track at the album's end: "Blessing in disguise," a fun old-style rock. In summary, this is an album that will please (and a lot) longtime fans of the Canadian singer-songwriter and could also be an excellent start for those who do not know him yet.
Unfortunately, in the next album "11" dated 2008, the freshness and spontaneity present in this album will be missing, focusing entirely on excellent arrangements, but they seem too "thought out."
So far, I have tried to be as objective as possible, but if I have to give a personal opinion, I find this record the best since "Reckless." It is one of those albums that I would play continuously on the CD player because its lightheartedness knows how to transmit energy and positivity to me.
I hope to have enticed you to listen, because in my opinion, this album is worth it.
See you next time...
P.S: "From now on we'll be going somewhere slowly, instead of going nowhere fast"
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 This Side of Paradise (03:52)
I'm ridin' in the back seat - nine years old,
Starin' out the window countin' the highway poles,
And then I get to thinkin' - that it don't seem real,
I'm flyin' through the universe in a '69 Oldsmobile.
And I wanna know what they're not tellin',
And I don't wanna hear no lies,
I just want something to believe in,
Ahh - it's a lonely, lonely road I'm on,
This side of paradise.
I'm ridin' in the back seat - black limousine,
Starin' out the window at a funeral scene,
And then I get to thinkin' - and it don't seem right,
I'm sittin' here safe and sound and someone I love is gone tonight.
I wanna know what they're not tellin',
I don't wanna hear no lies,
I just want something to believe in,
Ahh - it's a lonely, lonely road we're on,
This side of paradise.
There ain't no crystal ball,
Yhere ain't no Santa Claus,
There ain't no fairy tales,
There ain't no streets of gold,
There ain't no chosen few,
It's just me and you,
That's all we got yeah,
That's all we got to hold on to,
Yeah this side of paradise.
I remember bein' a little boy in the back seat - nine years old,
Always askin' questions - never did what I was told,
And then I'd get to thinkin' like I always do,
We wander 'round in the darkness but every now and then,
A little light shines through.
I wanna know what they're not telling,
I don't wanna hear no lies,
I just want something to believe in,
Ahh - it's a lonely, lonely road we're on,
This side of paradise.
04 Flying (04:06)
If you ever feel like you're gonna fall - Oh I'll be there,
And if you ever feel down or feel small - Oh don't despair,
And if you ever feel lost or feel alone - Babe come on home.
Let's just make love - All night,
Let's just hold on - So tight,
Let's make it last - For life,
I won't let you go.
Yeah we're flying,
Feels just like flying,
We're such a long way up,
From the ground,
Just you and me flying,
So high and I'm never gonna come down.
Every time you turn around and wanna run - Oh come to me,
When every little dream comes undone - Oh don't worry.
Let's just make love - All night,
Let's just hold on - So tight,
Let's make it last - For life,
I won't let you go.
Yeah we're flying,
Feels just like flying,
We're such a long way up,
From the ground,
Yeah - Just you and me flying,
So high and I'm never gonna come down - No.
Yeah it's just you and me,
Oh let's just make love - All night,
Let's just hold on - So tight,
Let's make it last - For life,
I won't let you go.
Yeah we're flying,
Feels just like flying,
Ohh, we're such a long way up,
Ohh, from the ground,
(Yeah we're flying,)
Yeah we're flying,
(Feels just like flying,)
Feels like flying,
(We're such a long way up,)
A long, long way up, from the ground,
Yeah we're flying,
So high and,
We're never gonna come down,
You and me.
06 Open Road (03:30)
I'm sitting at the wheel - I got a green light,
I'm not afraid of nothing,
'cause heart and soul I'm built for life.
So let the engines roar - Push the pedal down,
I want the white lines on my highway,
To lead me out of town.
I'm rolling on and on and on - Who knows where I'm goin'.
Life is an open road,
It's the best story never told,
It's an endless sky, it's the deepest sea,
Life is an open road to me,
Life is an open road to me.
I got headlights - To guide me through the night,
I got the window down and the radio playing,
It makes me feel alive.
I'm rolling on and on and on - Who knows where I'm goin'.
Life is an open road,
It's the best story never told,
It's an endless sky, it's the deepest sea,
Life is an open road to me,
Life is an open road to me,
Yeah life's an open road.
Life is an open road,
It's the best story never told,
It's an endless sky, it's the deepest sea,
Life is an open road to me,
Life is an open road to me,
Yeah life's an open road - oh yeah.
Yeah I'm built for life,
Life is an open road to me.
07 Room Service (02:55)
When a hotel room's the closest thing you've got to home,
You could be in Philadelphia, you could even be in Rome,
You gotta dial nine to get an outside line,
I even need a concierge just to take a drive - it's a crazy life.
Well I hope to see your smile - but I'm always wrong,
It's a different melody but the same old song...
Yeah I've been on the road nearly all my life,
Been around the world 'bout a thousand times,
Still a knock on the door makes me nervous,
I think I'll see you standing there - but no,
It's only room service - yeah - room service.
I've been living out my suitcase as long as I remember,
Life's the same - it doesn't change - it's a Gibson or a Fender,
I still think about you babe,
I swear sometimes I see your face,
These are crazy days.
Yeah I think I hear your voice - but it's just a dream,
It's a brand new movie but the same old scene...
Yeah I've been on the road nearly all my life,
Been around the world 'bout a thousand times,
Still a knock on the door makes me nervous,
I think I'll see you standing there - but no,
It's only room service - yeah - room service.
You know I wouldn't change a thing - no,
I'm just waiting for the bell in my room to ring,
Well I hope to see you smile - but I'm always wrong,
It's a different melody but the same old song...
Yeah I've been on the road nearly all my life,
Been around the world 'bout a thousand times,
Still a knock on the door makes me nervous,
I think I'll see you standing there - but no,
It's the closest thing I'll ever get to home,
It's room service - room service - yeah - room service.
12 Blessing in Disguise (02:25)
Are you lonely - are you crying,
Are those teardrops in your eyes,
Is it more blues - is it bad news,
Is it a curse, or a blessing in disguise?
Did you leave him - do you love him,
Have you said your - said your last goodbyes,
Is it over - hey, are you sorry,
Could it be a blessing in disguise?
It's the scars that make you stronger,
It's the hard times that make you wise,
It's the sweet things only time brings,
That arrive like a blessing in disguise.
Clouds roll by - and bring the rain,
Tears will dry - and ease the pain,
Ohh are you lonely - are you crying,
Are those teardrops - teardrops in your eyes,
Ohh is it more blues - is it bad news, yeah,
Is it a curse or a blessing in disguise,
Is it a curse or a blessing in disguise,
Ohh is it a curse or a blessing in disguise.
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Other reviews
By Maupassant83
It's no longer the golden years for Bryan Adams when flaming guitars shook stages worldwide, and rock could still be called by its name.
Room Service tells about the life of an artist perpetually on tour, incapable of consolidating any kind of relationship with those around him.
