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Rating:
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Year 1979, a boy who loves bands like Thin Lizzy and UFO decides one day to start his own band with some schoolmates, and he chooses the name "Def Leppard" (from a distortion of deaf leopard: "deafened leopard").
That boy was the now-famous Joe Elliott and his friends were Rick Savage (bassist), Steve Clark (guitar), Pete Willis (guitar), and Rick Allen (drummer)... the latter was only fifteen at the time! After a period of rehearsals, the newly formed band recorded its first EP entitled "Getcha Rock Off," which miraculously began to be played on the radio quite frequently. It was thanks to this fortunate promotional launch that the British combo had the opportunity to open for famous artists like Sammy Hagar and even ACDC, all of which further increased the group's popularity in Great Britain.
The year 1980 marked the official recording debut for the band led by Elliott, which recorded "On through the night" produced by Tom Allom, already a producer for Judas Priest. The record had a fair amount of success, climbing the charts, and taking the band on tour in the States in support of ACDC and Ted Nugent. After a second album that only consolidated the moderate success the band had achieved so far, and the release of the third excellent "Pyromania" (1983), 1984 opened a dark chapter for Def Leppard that would later threaten the very foundations of the entire musical project. In fact, the drummer of the British combo was the victim of a serious accident that left him with a severed arm. The band, with much courage and determination, decided not to break the alliance among the founding members and, after a period of rehabilitation and training for the drummer on a drum kit specially built for him by Simmons, they ventured into composing the album that is still considered their greatest success (both commercially and compositionally), "Hysteria."
The album was released in 1987 and marked a kind of turning point in terms of arrangements, feeling and, why not, approach to the hard rock that had been played by the British band until then. The compositions on this album are more sophisticated, arranged with a very refined taste for melody and with a truly fit Elliott.
The work starts with "Women" a piece with a cadenced drum pace that soon allows the guitars to intervene, creating a very engaging harmony. The rapport among the instrumentalists is on very high levels and Rick Allen's electronic drums fit perfectly in the slightly more hard rock parts that permeate the song. The piece manages to capture the listener's attention, and the great class of the arrangements, a true surprise of the album, makes the entire track smooth and enjoyable. An intro entrusted to a kind of "radio contact" between an airbase and perhaps the band itself introduces us to the following track, "Rocket". The cadenced pace of this song truly expresses the essence of the title, emphasized in the choruses that are forcefully inserted multiple times throughout the duration of the piece. With "Animal", we enter the true musical discourse set by this album, with a very well-crafted melody, superb arrangement, and a catchy chorus that immediately sticks in your head. The piece has a very captivating start with two guitars well-synchronized on simple yet not banal harmonies, "Love Bites" is a very sweet ballad in its "discreet" pace, with few arpeggios creating an almost "sensual" atmosphere and hitting the title's meaning right on point. Here too, Elliott's good performance cannot escape the listener's attention, who can let themselves be "carried away" in a very captivating refrain. The following "Pour Some Sugar on Me" has a "rocking" pace in its riffing and chorus, with a very spirited Elliott in his role as vocalist. The chorus is catchy, and the cleanliness of execution is, as usual, remarkable although at some points the song seems to "lose itself" in superfluous "pauses". "Armageddon It" brings us back to energetic and vital sounds, yet never losing the standard elegance of the vocal and instrumental execution. This time the piece is also played with multiple atmospheres: from the more impactful one to the melodic until it culminates towards the end of the track in a guitar interplay that gives the piece a touch of "brightness". The following "Gods of War" features an evocative intro, with clearly audible background sounds of gunfire, followed by a classic opening riff that later finds its outlet in a leading arpeggio performed with the usual grace by the Clark/Willis duo.
With "Don't Shoot Shotgun" the rock soul of the band comes out again and here too the group's talent is evident in nailing simple and "uplifting" riffs alternated with elegant arpeggios throughout the piece's duration. The piece, although very discreet, hints at a certain hard-rock sound reminiscent of AC/DC, especially in a well-executed "plucked" riff typical of the band led by the Young brothers. The ninth track, "Run Riot", has a sustained rhythm and gritty riffs, and Elliott's vocal performance in these moments is perfectly at ease, giving the song notable vitality and depth at the same time. With the title track, "Hysteria", the band returns to explore warm and melodic sounds. The piece has the structure of a semi-ballad and is almost entirely centered on a delightful yet simple arpeggio. The song flows smoothly, and a beautiful solo, very melodic in its arrangement, embellishes its arrangement. The penultimate piece, "Excitable", has a very "catchy" riff supported by a vigorous rhythmic section. Almost the entire track is played on catchy yet appealing and almost "sensual" riffs, although the refrain might be repeated a few too many times without finding alternative developments to the overall musical line the piece takes.
The album closes with "Love and Affection", a piece that perfectly maintains the "elegant" standard of the entire work, resulting, despite the excellent arrangement and execution, more of a filler than a fundamental song of the album.
In essence, we can say that with this album the "heavy-rock" cycle started by the band with albums like "On through the night" and "Pyromania" came to a close, and another one opened, more oriented towards a melodic and refined hard-rock but always performed with the typical class of the "Deafened Leopards".
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Women (05:42)
OOH WE OOH
OOH WEE OOH
In the very beginning
God made the land
Then he made the Waters, and creatures
Then He made Man
He was born with a passion,love and hate
A restless spirit, with a need for a mate
But there was something missing, something lost
So He came up with the answer, here's what it cost:
One part love, one part wild
One part lady, one part child, I give you
WOMEN! WOMEN! - Lots of pretty women
MEN! MEN! - We can't live without them
WOMEN! WOMEN! - Lots of pretty women
MEN! MEN! - We can't live without them
And in the Garden, lust began
The animal instinct, the wanton man
She fed him with a hunger, an appetite
And filling with emotion, he to a bite
It was one part love, one part wild
One part lady, one part child, I give you
WOMEN! WOMEN! - Lots of pretty women
MEN! MEN! - We can't live without them
WOMEN! WOMEN! - Lots of pretty women
MEN! MEN! - We can't live without them
Skin on skin, let the love begin
WOMEN!
It was one part love, one part wild
One part lady, one part child,
A whole llot of passion, a little bit of ice
A whole lot of something you can't sacrifice
I give you...
Hair, eyes skin on skin
Legs, thighs, what's that spell?
What's that spell?
WOMEN!WOMEN
OH! OH! OH!
OH! OH! OH!
WOMEN! WOMEN - Callin every girl
WOMEN! WOMEN! - All around the world
WOMEN! WOMEN! Oh we can't live woithout them
WOMEN! WOMEN! OH!
02 Rocket (06:37)
("We're fighting for the Gods of War") said backwards
Ah ah
Ooh ooh
Ah ah
Ooh ooh
White lights, strange city, mad music all around
Midnight street magic (ah) crazy people crazy sound
Ah ah
Ooh ooh
Jack Flash, rocket man, Sergeant Pepper and the band
Ziggy, Benny and the Jets, take a rocket
We just gotta fly
I can take you thru the center of the dark
We're gonna fly
On a collision course to crash into my heart
I will be your, I will be your, I'll be your
Rocket yeah satellite of love
Rocket yeah satellite of love
Rocket yeah satellite of love
Rocket baby! C'mon, I'll be your satellite of love
Ooh ooh
Ah ah
Ooh ooh
Ah ah
Spotlight magnetic razor rhythm laser love
Guitar, drums, load up, stun!
Ah ah
Ooh ooh
Jet Black, Johnny B ,Gene Jeanie, Killer Queen
Dizzy Lizzy Major Tom so c'mon
We just gotta fly
[Repeat Bridge]
[Repeat Chorus]
Rocket baby! C'mon, we're gonna fly
[interlude]
Oooh
Countdown commencing...fire one
Five, four, three, two, one, zero...we have liftoff
We just gotta fly
[Repeat Bridge]
[Repeat Chorus]
Rocket, baby, guitar, drums, light up
We're gonna fly, rocket yeah
Satellite of love, we're gonna fly
Rocket yeah, satellite of love
Rocket yeah!
03 Animal (04:04)
A wild ride, over stony ground
Such a lust for life, the circus comes to town
We are the hungry ones, on a lightning raid
Just like a river runs, like a fire needs flame
I burn for you
I gotta feel it in my blood
(Whoa-oh)
I need your touch don't need your love
(Whoa-oh)
And I want,
And I need,
And I lust,
Animal.
And I want,
And I need,
And I lust,
Animal.
I cry wolf, given mouth to mouth
Like a movin' heartbeat in the witching hour
I'm runnin' with the wind, a shadow in the dust
And like the drivin' rain
Yeah, like the restless rust
I never sleep
I gotta feel it in my blood
(Whoa-oh)
I need your touch don't need your love
(Whoa-oh)
And I want,
And I need,
And I lust,
Animal.
And I want,
And I need,
And I lust,
Animal.
(Huh!)
(Oh!)
Cry wolf baby
Cry tough
Gonna hunt you like an, uh, uh, animal
Gonna take your love n' run
I gotta feel it in my blood
(Whoa-oh)
I need your touch don't need your love
(Whoa-oh)
And I want,
And I need,
And I lust,
Animal.
And I want,
And I need,
And I lust,
Animal.
And I want (And I want)
And I need (And I need)
And I lust (And I lust)
Animal (Animal)
And I want (Take me)
And I need (Tame me)
And I lust (Make me)
Animal (Your Animal)
And I want (Show me)
And I need (Stroke me)
And I lust
(Let me be your...)
Animal (Animal)
And I want (I want)
And I need (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
And I lust (Yeah Animal)
Animal
(Animal)
(Heh! Heh!)
04 Love Bites (05:46)
If you've got love in your sights
Watch out, love bites
When you make love, do you look in the mirror?
Who do you think of, does he look like me?
Do you tell lies and say that it's forever?
Do you think twice, or just touch 'n' see?
Ooh babe ooh yeah
When you're alone, do you let go?
Are you wild 'n' willin' or is it just for show?
Ooh c'mon
I don't wanna touch you too much baby
'Cuz making love to you might drive me crazy
I know you think that love is the way you make it
So I don't wanna be there when you decide to break it
No!
Love bites, love bleeds
It's bringin' me to my knees
Love lives, love dies
It's no surprise
Love begs, love pleads
It's what I need
When I'm with you are you somewhere else?
Am I gettin' thru or do you please yourself?
When you wake up will you walk out?
It can't be love if you throw it about
Ooh babe
I don't wanna touch you too much baby
'Cos making love to you might drive me crazy
Repeat Chorus
[guitar solo]
Ooh yeah
Repeat Bridge
Love bites, love bleeds
It's bringin' me to my knees
Love lives, love dies
Repeat Chorus
If you've got love in your sights
Watch out, love bites
Yes it does
Bloody Hell
05 Pour Some Sugar on Me (04:27)
Step inside, walk this way, you and me babe, HEY HEY
Love is like a bomb, baby, c'mon get it on
Livin' like a lover with a radar phone
Lookin' like a tramp, like a video vamp
Demolition woman can i be your man?
Razzle 'n' a dazzle 'n' a flash a little light
Television lover, baby, go all night
Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet
Little miss innocent sugar me,
yeah
yeah
C'mon, take a bottle, shake it up
Break the bubble, break it up...
Pour some sugar on me
(Ooh, in the name of love)
Pour some sugar on me
(C'mon fire me up)
Pour your sugar on me
(Oh, I can't get enough)
I'm hot, sticky sweet
From my head to my feet, yeah
Listen! red light, yellow light, green-a-light, go!
Crazy little woman in a one man show
Mirror queen, mannequin, rhythm of love
Sweet dream, saccharine, loosen up
oh, loosen up
You gotta please a little, squeeze a little
Tease a little more
Easy operator come a knockin' on my door
Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet
Little miss innocent sugar me, yeah
yeah!
yeah!
Give a lil' more
Take a bottle, shake it up
Break the bubble, break it up
Pour some sugar on me
(Ooh, in the name of love)
Pour some sugar on me
(C'mon fire me up)
Pour your sugar on me
(Oh, I can't get enough)
I'm hot, sticky sweet
From my head to my feet
yeah
[guitar solo]
You've got the peaches, I've got the cream
Sweet to taste, saccharine
'Cuz I'm hot, hot, so hot, sticky sweet
From my head, (my head,) to my feet
Do you take sugar..... one lump or two?!!!
Take a bottle, shake it up
Break the bubble, break it up
Pour some sugar on me
(Ooh, in the name of love)
Pour some sugar on me
(C'mon fire me up)
Pour your sugar on me
(Oh, I can't get enough)
Pour some sugar on me
(Oh, in the name of love)
Pour some sugar on me
(Get it, come get it)
Pour your sugar on me
(Ooh)
Pour some sugar on me
(Yeah! Sugar me!)
06 Armageddon It (05:24)
Ya better come inside when you're ready to
But no chance if ya don't wanna dance
You like (a) four letter words when you're ready to
But then you won't 'cos you know that you can
You got it
But are you gettin' it?
You say that love is (a) won when you get some
But then your finger won't trigger the gun
You know you (ya) can't stop it, so don't rock it
You know you got it
Hey, but are you gettin' it?
Ooh, really gettin' it?
(Oh)
Come get it from me
(Gimme all of you lovin')
Ev'ry little bit
(Gimme all that you got)
Ev'ry bit of it
(Ev'ry bit of your lovin)
Oh, c'mon live a bit
(Never wanna stop)
Yeah, but are you gettin' it?
(Armageddon it!)
Ooh, really gettin' it?
(Yes, Armaggedon it!)
C'mon get it
Yeah
Do, do, do
Uh oh
You try comin' on when you need some
But then you don't 'cos you already did
Yeah, you jangle your jewels while your shakin' ya
And drive the pretty boys outta their heads
You got it
But are you gettin' it?
You flash your bedroom eyes like a jumpin' jack
Then play it pretty with a pat on the back
C'mon, Steve, get it
Huh!
Take it, take it, take it from me
I got an itchy finger following me
Pull it, pull it, c'mon trigger the gun
'Cos the best is (a) yet to come
I say
('Cos the best is yet to come)
Oh, are you gettin' it?
Oh, really gettin' it?
Yes, are you gettin' it?
Whooh, really gettin' it?
(Oh) Come get it from me
(Gimme all of you lovin')
Ev'ry little bit
(Gimme all that you got)
Ev'ry bit of it
(Ev'ry bit of your lovin')
Oh come on live a bit
(Never want it to stop)
Oh, are you getting it?
(Gimme all of your lovin')
Ooh really gettin' it?
(Gimme all that you got)
Oh are you getting it?
(Gimme all of your lovin')
Oh live a bit
(Gimme all that you got)
No
Live a bit
You've gotta live it
(Gimme all of your lovin')
Ooh baby live it
(Gimme all that you got)
C'mon and give it
(Ev'ry bit of your lovin')
Oh come on and give it
(Never want it to stop)
Oh are you gettin' it?
(Gimme all of your lovin')
Ooh really gettin' it?
(Gimme all that you got)
Oh are you gettin' it?
(Ev'ry bit of your lovin')
Oh live a bit
(Never want it to stop)
Whoah
(Gimme all of your lovin')
(Gimme all that you got)
07 Gods of War (06:37)
Feelin' like it's all over, feelin' like there's no love
Feelin' like it's not easy, breathin' life in the dust
On a countdown to zero take a ride on the nightmare machine
There ain't gonna be heroes, there ain't gonna be anything
Here it comes, here comes the night
Here it comes, hell in the night
Here it comes, here comes the night
When we all fall down
When we walk into silence, when we shadow the sun
When we surrender to violence, then the damage is done
Put away that gun
I don't wanna be there, I don't wanna be anywhere
Here it comes, here comes the night
Here it comes, hell in the night
Here it comes, here comes the night
That's right
We're fightin' for the gods of war but what the hell we fightin' for
We're fightin' with the gods of war but I'm a rebel
And I ain't gonna fight no more, no way
On a countdown to zero, take a ride on the nightmare machine
There ain't gonna be heroes, there ain't gonna be anything
Here it comes, here comes the night
Here it comes, hell in the night
Here it comes, here comes the night
Don't ya know that's right
We're fightin' for the gods of war but what the hell we fightin' for
We're fightin' with the gods of war
And I ain't gonna fight no more
Stop fightin' for the gods of war
Yeah what the hell we fightin' for
What in the hell we fightin' for
We're fightin' with the gods of war
Heavy
08 Don't Shoot Shotgun (04:26)
Run for cover
Don't shoot, shoot
She's so dangerous
Shotgun, gun, don't shoot shotgun
Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right
Fallin' head over heels at the speed of light
Hey little miss heaven on earth
Won't you walk this way
But I see a red alert
Oh, my senses say keep away
So don't shoot, don't shoot shotgun
Dream on nightmare, touch 'n' go
Dove turned destroyer, she cut you up, she's a slave of love
Run for cover, she's so dangerous
Undercover, she's so shameless
So don't shoot shotgun, you got me bitin' my lip
Don't shoot shotgun, you're shootin' straight from the hip
So don't shoot shotgun
Shoot me baby
Hit 'n' miss, flesh and blood
She's sweet and indiscreet, she can't get enough
A little midnight madness, oh baby, you can't hide
So wild 'n' unpredictable, step aside
Cause you're, you're shooting wide
Run for cover, she's so dangerous
Undercover, she's so shameless
Don't shoot shotgun, you got me bitin' my lip
So don't shoot shotgun, ya shootin' straight from the hip
Shake it, shake it!
Take this, little hit 'n' miss
So don't shoot shotgun, you got me bitin' my lip
Don't shoot shotgun, ya shootin' straight from the hip
Don't shoot it
Don't shoot shotgun, shake it, shake it
Take this little hit 'n' miss
Don't shoot shotgun
Oh shoot it, don't shoot it
Oh shotgun
Shoot me, baby
Let it blow
09 Run Riot (04:39)
Living by the law is a bloody necessary bore
Everybody are you gettin' what you're lookin' for
Livin' by the rule is somethin' that you gotta do
But does it matter if we break a rule or two
Get up, break out, don't be the odd one out
Livin' on the edge, I'm a tryin' to keep a level head
Every morning it's a bummer gettin' out of bed
Same old story does a nothin' ever ever change
Yeah, they lock me up and then they let me out again
Get up, break out, don't be the odd one out
Come on, it's alright, we're hot tonight
You better run, run riot
You gotta run, run riot
You know the time has come
Run, run riot, I mean everyone
Run, yeah, run riot
Oh, gotta run riot babe
Goin' through the motions desperation guaranteed
Whoa, get f-f-frustrated easily
Pedal to the metal senses working overtime
Hey, gonna fight to the finish baby
Draw the line
Get up, break out, don't be the odd one out
C'mon, it's alright we're hot tonight
Run, run riot
You gotta run, run riot
You know the time has come
Run, run riot, I mean everyone
Run, yeah, run riot
Speak to me
They lock me up, they let me out but I'm up and runnin'
I scream and shout
Get up, break out, don't be the odd one out
Come on, it's alright we're hot tonight
You better run, run riot
You gotta run, run riot
You know the time has come
Run, run riot, come on, run with me
Run, run riot
Run, run riot
I'll take you from your misery
Come on, stick with me
10 Hysteria (05:54)
Out of touch, out of reach, yeah
You could try to get closer to me
I'm in love, I'm in deep, yeah
Hypnotized, I'm shakin' to my knees....
I gotta know tonight
If you're alone tonight
Can't stop this feelin'
Can't stop this fire
(CHORUS)
OH I get hysterical, hysteria
Oh can you feel it?
(Oh can you feel it?)
Do you believe it?
(Do you believe it?)
It's such a magical mysteria
When you get that feelin'
(When you get that feelin')
Better start believin'
(Better start believin')
'Cause it's a miracle, oh say you will
Oh, babe
Hysteria when you're near
Out of me, into you, yeah
You could hide, it's just a one-way street
Oh, I believe I'm in you, yeah
Open wide, that's right
Dream me off my feet
Oh believe in me
I gotta know tonight
If you're alone tonight
Can't stop this feeling
Can't stop this fire
OH I get hysterical, hysteria
Oh can you feel it?
(Oh can you feel it?)
Do you believe it?
(Do you believe it?)
It's such a magical mysteria
When you get that feelin'
(When you get that feelin')
Better start believin'
(Better start believin')
'Cause it's a miracle, oh say you will
Oh, babe
Hysteria when you're near
I gotta know tonight
If you're alone tonight
Can't stop this feeling
Can't stop this fire
(CHORUS)
11 Excitable (04:19)
Stand up, say yeah, stand up
Stand up, say yeah, stand up
Never go down
Check it out
Ah, this o-o-obsession, it's gettin' a-invitin'
A little X-rated, a little bit excitin'
Stand up, say yeah, stand up
Stand up, say yeah, stand up
Come on get in the groove
Ya know I get so excitable
I really get so excitable
I wanna get you excitable
So come, let's go
Ah, baby, don't say no
Ah, this te-temptation, it gets-a a-outrageous
It's such a sensation, a little bit co-contagious
Stand up, say yeah, stand up
Stand up, say yeah, stand up
Come on get in the groove
Ya know I get so excitable
I really get so excitable
I wanna get you excitable
So baby, let's go
This obsession
Check it out
Inch by inch, mile by mile, what I do I do in style
You got your leather, lace, long and lean
Ballistic lipstick dream machine
You got to do it
Ah, do it, do it
Hey, come on and do it
Ya know I get so excitable
I really get so excitable
I wanna get you excitable
So come on, let's go
Oh I really get so excitable
Ya know I get so excitable
I wanna get you excitable
So baby let's go excitable
Ya know I get so excitable
I really get so excitable
I wanna get you excitable
Excitable
Excitable
Excitable
Baby, let's go
Excitable
Ya got me shiverin'
Shakin' and shiverin'
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By SmknToyz87
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