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Rating: "No Angel", released in 1999 (even though the first videos appeared in Italy in early 2001), is the recording debut of Dido Armstrong (sister of Faithless producer, Rollo Armstrong).
It is her first solo experience, but she is not new to the music scene, as she began her career as a backing vocalist for the first two Faithless albums, collaborating in both their song creation and accompanying the band on tour.
In the album, composed of twelve tracks, electronica prevails, supported by the singer's splendid voice.
The album opens with her first single, "Here With Me", which, aside from its significant success with the related video on Italian music channels, is also known for being the theme song for the TV series Roswell. Excellent musical balances in this piece, which I personally always enjoy re-listening to.
"Hunter", the beautiful third single from the album, is characterized by its marvelous melody produced by the guitar that accompanies the singer's voice throughout the track.
"Don't Think Of Me" differs from the previous ones as it has a brighter atmosphere and a more upbeat rhythm; it's greatly supported by bass and guitar.
"My Lover's Gone" references Faithless, as the first verse sung by Dido is the same as in the song "Postcard" contained in the "Sunday 8 P.M." album of the aforementioned group. It's a slow song where a melancholic singing is noted, which develops progressively towards the end.
"All You Want" is a track with characteristics more or less similar to "Don't Think Of Me".
The sixth track is the second single "Thank You", known for being the soundtrack of the film "Sliding Doors" and for being sampled by Eminem some months earlier for his "Stan", undoubtedly one of his most beautiful and successful pieces. Supported magnificently by piano and percussion, it is very pleasant to listen to and quite different from the previous tracks.
Quite different from the others is also "Honestly O.K.", predominantly electronic, introduced by keyboards and drums; Dido's calm singing alternates with magnificent choruses in the refrains that highlight the piece.
This is followed by "Slide", characterized by a nice text and a more fluid rhythm compared to the previous ones, and "Isobel", another undoubtedly pleasant song interpreted with her sweet and melancholic voice.
The tenth, "I'm No Angel", also developed on an accompaniment produced by percussion and not very different from the other songs, is the common thread for the eleventh track, in my opinion, the true masterpiece of the album, "My Life".
The latter is a slow and melancholic ballad, fantastically accompanied by the well-marked rhythm of the drums and the wonderful notes of the piano. It has a beautiful text and is quite engaging.
The work closes with "Take My Hand", another good piece developed with a smooth progression and a beautiful text.
Substantially, a very good debut album, which I personally appreciated much more than the subsequent "Life For Rent", which, although a good album, I feel fell a bit short of expectations.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Hunter (03:57)
With one light on in one room,
I know you're up when I get home
With one small step upon the stair,
I know your look when I get there
If you were a king up there on your throne,
Would you be wise enough to let me go?
For this queen you think you own
Wants to be a hunter again,
Wants to see the world alone again
To take a chance on life again, so let me go
The unread book and painful look,
The TV's on, the sound is down
One long pause, then you begin,
Oh look what the cat's brought in
If you were a king up there on your throne,
Would you be wise enough to let me go?
For this queen you think you own
Wants to be a hunter again,
Wants to see the world alone again
To take a chance on life again,
So let me go, let me leave
For the crown you've placed upon my head feels too heavy now
And I don't know what to say to you but I'll smile anyhow
And all the time I'm thinking, thinking
I want to be a hunter again,
Want to see the world alone again
To take a chance on life again, so let me go
03 Don't Think of Me (04:32)
So you're with her, and not with me,
I hope she's sweet, and so pretty
I hear she cooks delightfully, a little angel beside you
So you're with her, and not with me,
Oh how lucky one man can be
I hear your house is smart and clean,
Oh how lovely with your homecoming queen
Oh how lovely it must be...
When you see her sweet smile baby,
don't think of me
When she lays in your warm arms,
don't think of me
So you're with her, and not with me,
I know she spreads sweet honey
In fact your best friend,
I heard he spent last night with her
Now how do you feel
When you see her sweet smile baby,
don't think of me
When she lays in your warm arms,
don't think of me
And it's too late and it's too bad,
don't think of me
Oh it's too late and it's too bad,
don't think of me
Does it bother you now all the mess I made
Does it bother you now the clothes you told me not to wear
Does it bother you now all the angry games we played
Does it bother you now when I'm not there
When you see her sweet smile baby,
don't think of me
When she lays in your warm arms,
don't think of me
And it's too late and it's too bad,
don't think of me
Oh it's too late, oh it's too bad,
don't think of me
04 My Lover's Gone (04:28)
My lover's gone,
His boots no longer by my door,
He left at dawn,
And as I slept I felt him go,
Returns no more,
I will not watch the ocean,
My lover's gone,
No earthly ships will ever bring him home again,
Bring him home again.
My lover's gone,
I know that kiss will be my last,
No more his song,
The tune upon his lips has passed
I sing alone,
While I watch the ocean,
My lover's gone,
No earthly ships will ever bring him home again,
Bring him home again.
06 Thankyou (03:39)
My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why
I got out of bed at all
The morning rain clouds up my window
And I can't see at all
And even if I could it'd all be grey
But your picture on my wall
It reminds me that it's not so bad
It's not so bad
I drank too much last night, got bills to pay
My head just feels in pain
I missed the bus and there'll be hell today
I'm late for work again
And even if I'm there,
They'll all imply that I might not last the day
And then you call me and it's not so bad
It's not so bad and
I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life
Oh just to be with you is having the best day of my life
Push the door,
I'm home at last and I'm soaking through and through
Then you handed me a towel and all I see is you
And even if my house falls down now
I wouldn't have a clue
Because you're near me
And I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life
Oh just to be with you is having the best day of my life
07 Honestly OK (04:40)
I just want to feel safe in my own skin
I just want to be happy again
I just want to feel deep in my own world
But I'm so lonely
I don't even want to be with myself anymore
On a different day
If I was safe in my own skin
Then I wouldn't feel lost and so frightened
But this is today
And I'm lost in my own skin
And I'm so lonely
I don't even want to be with myself anymore
And I just say oh, oh
I feel, oh, oh
And I'm so lonely
I don't even want to be with myself anymore.
I just say oh, oh
And i'm so lonely
I feel oh, oh
I dont even want to be with myself anymore.
I just want to feel safe in my own skin
I just want to be happy again.
08 Slide (04:50)
Even on a day like this
When you're crawling on the floor,
Reaching for the phone to ring,
Anyone who knows you anymore
It's alright to make mistakes
You're only human
Inside everybody's hiding something
Staring at the same four walls
Have you tried to help yourself?
The rings around your eyes, they don't hide
That you need to get some rest
It's alright to make mistakes
You're only human
Inside everybody's hiding something
Take time to catch your breath and choose your moment
Don't slide
Even at a time like this
When the morning seems so far
Think that pain belongs to you
But it's happened to us all
It's alright to make mistakes
You're only human
Inside everybody's hiding something
Take time to catch your breath and choose your moment
Don't slide
You brought this on yourself
And it's high time you left it there
Lie here and rest your head
And dream of something else instead
Don't slide
09 Isobel (03:53)
I thought it was funny when you, missed the train
When I rang you at home, they said you'd left, yesterday
I thought it was strange when your, car was found
By the tree in Ennis where we used to hang around
Dear Isobel,
I hope you're well and what you've done is right,
Oh it's been such hell, I wish you well,
I hope you're safe tonight
It's been a long day coming and long will it last
When it's last day leaving, and I'm helping it pass
By loving you more
And who would he become, all the things he'd have done
Would he have loved you, and not let you down?
And would he be stronger than his father?
Don't punish yourself; leave it well alone
Dear Isobel,
I hope you're well and what you've done is right
Oh it's been such hell, I wish you well,
I hope you're safe tonight
It's been a long day coming, and long will it last
When it's last day leaving, and I'm helping it pass
By loving you more
10 I'm No Angel (03:50)
If you gave me just a coin
For every time we say goodbye ...
Well, I'd be rich beyond my dreams
I'm sorry for my weary life
I know I'm not perfect
But I can smile
And I hope that you see this heart
Behind my tired eyes
If you tell me that I can't
I will, I will, I'll try all night
And if I say I'm coming home
I'll probably be out all night
I know I can be afraid
But I'm alive
And I hope that you trust this heart
Behind my tired eyes
Cause
I'm no angel, but please don't think that I won't try and try
I'm no angel, but does that mean that I can't live my life?
I'm no angel, but please don't think that I can't cry
I'm no angel, but does that mean that I won't fly?
I know I'm not around each night
And I know I always think I'm right
And I can believe that you might look around
Cause
I'm no angel, but please don't think that I won't try and try
I'm no angel, but does that mean that I can't live my life?
I'm no angel, but please don't think that I can't cry
I'm no angel, but does that mean that I won't fly?
11 My Life (03:02)
What I choose to do
Is of no concern to you and your friends
Where I lay my hat may not be my home
But I will last on my own
'Cause it's me, and my life
It's my life, it's my life
Oh the world to set in the palm of my hand
Not that you'd see
And I'm tired and bored of waiting for you
And all those things you never do
'Cause it's me, and my life
It's my life, it's my life
12 Take My Hand (06:44)
Touch my skin, and tell me what you're thinking
Take my hand, and show me where we're going
Lie down next to me
Look into my eyes, and tell me
Oh tell me what you're seeing
So sit on top of the world, and tell me how you're feeling
What you feel now is what I feel for you
Take my hand, and if I'm lying to you
I'll always be alone, if I'm lying to you
See my eyes, they carry your reflection
Watch my lips, and hear the words I'm telling you
Give your trust to me
And look into my heart, and show me
Show me what you're doing
So sit on top of the world, and tell me how you're feeling
What you feel is what I feel for you
Take my hand, and if I'm lying to you
I'll always be alone, if I'm lying to you
Take your time, if I'm lying to you
I know you'll find that you believe me
You believe me
Feel the sun on your face
And tell me what you're thinking
Catch the snow on your tongue
And show me how it tastes
Take your time
Take my hand, and if I'm lying to you
I'll always be alone, if I'm lying to you
Take your time, and if I'm lying to you
I know you'll find that you believe me
You believe me
13 Christmas Day (04:04)
A young gentleman came riding past,
On a snow blue winters day,
He asked to drink by our fire
And I was pleased to let him stay,
He drank there quietly for a while,
And then he turned and said to me,
Your eyes are green,
Like summer grass,
Your lips are red,
Like a fresh cut rose,
Your hair is soft,
Like an Irish stream,
And your voice,
Is filled with sweet beauty
And the last words I heard him say
Were I shall return,
For you,
My love,
On Christmas Day
And the night will come,
But I won't sleep,
As I watch the stars that lead him,
I cannot place where he is,
But still my heart goes with him,
I'm saving all my Sunday clothes
For the day that I'll be leaving,
Father knows,
My sister knows,
And my friends,
They're happy for me,
And the priest he says,
You should thank God,
For the blessing,
Of such beauty
And the last words
I heard him say,
Were I shall return,
For you,
My love,
On Christmas Day
I shall return,
For you,
My love,
On Christmas Day
(On Christmas Day)
(I shall return for you my love)
And the last words
I heard him say
Were the last words
I ever
Heard him say
I shall return,
For you,
My love
On Christmas Day
I swear,
I will return,
On Christmas Day,
And yes,
I shall return,
On Christmas Day,
I shall return,
For you,
On Christmas Day
My love,
I will return,
On Christmas Day
I shall return,
My love
On Christmas Day
On Christmas Day
14 One Step Too Far (05:23)
[Dido]
You can sleep forever, but still you will be tired
You can stay as cold as stone, but still you won't find peace
With you I feel I'm the meek leading the blind
With you I feel I'm just spending wasted time
I've been waiting
I'm still waiting
I've been waiting
I've been waiting
I've been waiting
I'm still waiting
But with you (with you)
It's always one step too far
One step too far
You can whine to the bone but still you won't be full
You can look down on the world but still you won't find love
You won't find love
[Maxi Jazz]
Only with mellow
Are you thin enough to slide through.
If the sun or the moon should give way to doubt,
They would immediately go out.
One swallow don't make a summer,
But tomorrow has to start somewhere.
Only with mellow
Are you thin enough to slide through.
Only with mellow
Are you thin enough to slide through.
Don't Let nothing ride you
Only with mellow
Are you thin enough to slide through.
Don't Let nothing ride you
One swallow don't make a summer.
[Dido]
I've been waiting
I'm still waiting
But with you
It's always one step too far
One step too far
I've been waiting
I've been waiting
I'm still waiting
I've been waiting
I've been waiting
I've been waiting
I'm still waiting
But with you
It's always one step too far
One step too far
15 Worthless (07:49)
I know what you came for
and I know when you'll leave
You came for my heart
and it's lost to me
For I won't stop you
I will open my door
My heart is here waiting
I don't need it no more
I know why you're leaving
and I'll just let it be
I am left with nothing
and now you're lost to me
For I can't stop you
I will open my door
My heart is here waiting
I don't need it no more
I know why you're waiting --
to give me time to breathe
before you take my heart now
Just give up and leave
For I won't stop you
I will open my door
My heart is here waiting
I don't need it no more
For love makes a fool of me
For love makes a part of us
You know it's worthless, as worthless can be
For love makes a fool of me
For love makes a fool of us
You know it's worthless, as worthless can be
It's worthless, worthless
Can't be
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