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Rating: An unplugged concert always has something magical. I'm talking about the atmosphere.
Intimate and friendly, dedicated to a silence of mystical attention, light years away from the chaotic crowd of a mega concert. A few gentle and broken claps by the light of a few candles, with voices and acoustic guitars highlighted. But I'm also talking about the music, which stands out magically: nothing left to chance, not even studied. Everything comes naturally, elaborated and perfect in its simplicity.
An unplugged is an event I would call almost unique in its beauty. And I'm not talking about genres or anything else, but any group that has tried this sublime show has always created something truly admirable: Eric Clapton, Nirvana (in a concert almost symptomatic of Cobain's end..).
I believe Bryan Adams is one of the artists with the most acoustic soul rather than rock: a husky but warm voice, simply beautiful, expressive yet joyful in every song. And his songs pair wonderfully with an Unplugged concert. His compositions are like few others in a show of this type. And everything almost changes: a rhythmic song like "Summer of '69", cheerful, becomes sweet and at times melancholic, I would say nostalgic, no other artifice is present: two acoustic guitars, a small drum set, and this song takes off subtly. And after the first little magic, "back to you" resumes the playful atmosphere one expects from the Canadian singer. If you're looking for complex listening, go elsewhere, because the simplicity of certain songs borders on masterpiece, and the new acoustic version illuminates them with new beauty.
Not to mention "Cuts like a knife", classic Adams. Bryan's voice, as usual, is rich and strong, definitely not powerful, but incredibly effective, while a banjo echoes the melody of the song, joined by a flute. "I'm ready" begins to let us feel the true soul of certain songs: the real intention of a song like this is palpable now, accompanied by a small string section. Love songs are a trademark of the Canadian, and it shows. "Fits ya good" increases the now sweet and sentimental atmosphere, and "When you love someone" finally consecrates it, bringing tears to anyone's eyes. I have always loved Adams' style, and calling him a singer is quite reductive, given the wide range of emotions he can really evoke, and I'm not exaggerating, because this simple concert is its purest testament.
"18 till I die" brings back a more playful atmosphere, but always suggestive thanks to the string section that enriches the piece. "I Think about you", with its almost country sound and rhythm, is very cheerful and fun to listen to. Honestly, I've really heard some gems so far, but I sincerely believe the best is yet to come. A small medley containing "If ya wanna be bad-ya gotta be good" and "Let`s make a night to remember" leads us to the rhythmic "The only thing I want". The prelude to the final gem is "A Little Love". And here perhaps the song that struck me the most: laden with a melancholy but at the same time with a loving happiness, "Heaven" represents the gem of this unplugged. An arpeggiated intro, an almost suffering voice, few chords, and it's magic. The whispered chorus is wonderful. "I'll always be right here" concludes this splendid concert admirably, in a sensational finale surrounded by a silence of admiration and attention.
I honestly consider this album a masterpiece, full of emotions and incredible feelings. I never imagined that an acoustic guitar could create such magic. One of my favorites, for intensity, for atmospheres and emotions, I have never found anything that could compete with such beauty.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Summer of '69 (04:02)
I got my first real six string
Bought it at the Five-and-Dime,
Played it 'til my fingers bled
Was the summer of '69.
Me and some guys from school
Had a band and we tried real hard,
Jimmy quit, Jody got married
I should've known we'd never get far.
Oh when I look back now,
That summer seemed to last forever,
And if I had the choice,
Yeah - I'd always want to be there,
Those were the best days of my life.
(Hey)
Ain't no use in complainin',
When you got a job to do,
Spent my evenin's down at the drive-in,
And that's when I met you, yeah.
Standin' on your mama's porch,
You told me that you'd wait forever,
Oh and when you held my hand,
I knew that it was now or never,
Those were the best days of my life - oh yeah,
Back in the summer of '69 - oh
Man, we were killin' time
We were young and restless,
We needed to unwind
I guess nothin' can last forever - forever, no.
And now the times are changin',
Look at everything that's come and gone,
Sometimes when I play that old six string,
I think about you, wonder what went wrong.
Standin' on your mama's porch,
You told me that it'd last forever,
Oh, and when you held my hand,
I knew that it was now or never,
Those were the best days of my life - oh yeah.
02 Back to You (04:30)
I've been down - I've been beat,
I've been so tired - That I could not speak,
I've been so lost - That I could not see,
I wanted things that were outta reach,
Then I found you and you helped me through,
And you showed me what to do,
And that's why I'm comin' back to you.
Like a star that guides a ship across the ocean,
That's how your love can take me home - Back to you,
And if I wish upon that star, that someday I'll be where you are,
Yeah I know that day is coming soon - Yeah I'm comin' back to you.
You've been alone - But you did not show it,
You've been in pain - But I did not know it,
You let me do - What I needed to,
You were there - When I needed you,
Might've let you down - Might've messed you around,
But you never changed your point of view,
And that's why I'm coming back to you.
Yeah - Like a star that guides a ship across the ocean,
That's how your love can take me home - Back to you,
And if I wish upon that star, that someday I'll be where you are,
Yeah I know that day is coming soon - Yeah I'm comin' back to you.
Might've let you down - Might've messed you around,
But you never changed your point of view,
And that's why I'm coming back to you, yeah.
Like a star that guides a ship across the ocean,
That's how your love can take me home - Back to you,
And if I wish upon that star, that someday I'll be where you are,
I know that day is coming soon - Oh I'm comin' back to you.
I'm coming back to you,
I'm coming back to you,
I'm coming back to you,
I'm coming back to you,
That day is coming soon,
I'm coming back to you.
Yeah - Back to you!
03 Cuts Like a Knife (05:04)
Drivin' home this evening,
I could've sworn we had it all worked out,
You had this boy believin',
Way beyond the shadow of a doubt.
I heard it on the street,
I heard you might've found somebody new,
Well who is he baby - Who is he,
And tell me what he means to you.
I took it all for granted,
But how was I to know,
That you'd be letting go.
Now it cuts like a knife,
But it feels so right,
It cuts like a knife,
But it feels so right.
There's times I'd been mistaken,
There's times I thought I'd been misunderstood,
So wait a minute darlin',
Can't you see we did the best we could.
This wouldn't be the first time,
Things have gone astray,
Now you've thrown it all away.
And it cuts like a knife,
But it feels so right,
It cuts like a knife,
Yeah but it feels so right.
I took it all for granted,
But how was I to know,
That you'd be letting go.
Now it cuts like a knife,
But it feels so right,
Now it cuts like a knife,
But it feels so right.
04 I'm Ready (04:29)
I'd like to see you - Thought I'd let you know,
I wanna be with you everyday,
'Cause I've got a feeling that's beginning to grow,
And there's only one thing I can say.
I'm ready - To love you,
I'm ready - To hold you,
I'm ready - To love you,
I'm ready - To hold you,
I'm ready as I'm gonna be.
You left me a long note - When you left me here,
Told me that love was hard to find,
But baby it's easy and I'll make it clear,
There's only one thing on my mind.
I'm ready - To love you,
I'm ready - To hold you,
Baby I'm ready - To love you,
I'm ready - To hold you,
I'm ready as I'm gonna be.
10 The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You (04:34)
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.
12 Heaven (04:31)
Oh - thinkin' about our younger years,
There was only you and me,
We were young and wild and free.
Now nothin' can take you away from me,
We've been down that road before,
But that's over now,
You keep me comin' back for more.
Baby you're all that I want,
When you're lyin' here in my arms,
I'm findin' it hard to believe,
We're in heaven.
And love is all that I need,
And I found it there in your heart,
It isn't too hard to see,
We're in heaven.
Oh - once in your life you find someone,
Who will turn your world around,
Bring you up when you're feelin' down.
Ya - nothin' could change what you mean to me,
There's lots that I could say,
But just hold me now,
'Cause our love will light the way.
Baby you're all that I want,
When you're lyin' here in my arms,
I'm findin' it hard to believe,
We're in heaven.
Ya - love is all that I need,
And I found it there in your heart,
It isn't too hard to see,
We're in heaven.
I've been waitin' for so long,
For somethin' to arrive,
For love to come along.
Now our dreams are comin' true,
Through the good times and the bad,
Ya - I'll be standin' there by you.
And baby you're all that I want,
When you're lyin' here in my arms,
I'm findin' it hard to believe,
We're in heaven.
And love is all that I need,
And I found it there in your heart,
It isn't too hard to see,
We're in heaven - heaven.
You're all that I want,
You're all that I need.
13 I'll Always Be Right There (04:27)
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.
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