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Rating: The question arises spontaneously: why buy a best of Frankie Goes To Hollywood?
Frankie Say Greatest is a shrewd commercial move. The singles are present in a remastered version with a superlative audio quality. The remixes that serve as a backdrop at the end of the album, not essential, underscore a certain desire on the part of the production to modernize (in some way) that old irreverent phenomenon that the rowdy Englishmen were.
Holly Johnson on vocals, Peter Gill on percussion, Mark O'Toole on bass, Brian Nash and Jed O'Toole on guitars, and Paul Rutherford... on dance, created a controversial brand;
Jungles of riffs paired with a Village People-like image and an incessantly provocative style.
Relax (and its video) was a massive hit that introduced Frankie to the mainstream audience and, above all, caused the birth of a short-lived Beatles-like Mania (both bands coming from Liverpool, ironic).
The post-punk of the Cure and the romantic theatricality of the Spandau Ballet in the early '80s (to mention just two of the many artists present in the charts) were overshadowed by the worldwide success of the Christmas hit The Power Of Love for a brief, intense moment often forgotten by music critics.
Irony alternated with cheesy romanticism, universal messages of peace with moments of glorious trash that confused a large portion of the audience, and the effect could only be total success.
The high-pitched voice of the leader (who later had a modest solo career) and the pounding rhythms that certainly caused a stir in the worst taverns guaranteed them retirement, but at the dawn of the second album, the chemistry vanished and Frankie was thrown out of Hollywood.
The typical live fast-die young frenzy has a dual effect. Negatively, it concerns artists forgotten in the musical oblivion and remembered only because they are associated with a socio-historical period, positively it concerns the old glories that continue to have a following even among the younger ones, despite the lack of productivity. They are midway, a yin yang with their potential not fully tapped in today's context.
But the glories of the past are still there at one's disposal; the interested lovers of a certain rock-spirited New Wave will surely find food for thought to the tune of
"War uh ah, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing -Sing it again!"
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Born to Run (04:01)
In the day we sweat it out
On the streets of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through mansions of glory
In suicide machines
Sprung from cages on Highway 9
Chrome-wheeled, fuel-injected
And steppin' out over the line
Oh, baby this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we're young
'Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run
Wendy, let me in, I wanna be your friend
I wanna guard your dreams and visions
Just wrap your legs 'round these velvet hips
And strap your hands 'cross my engines
Together we could break this trap
We'll run till we drop, baby we'll never go back
Oh, will you walk with me out on the wire
'Cause baby I'm just a scared and lonely rider
But I gotta know how it feels
I wanna know your love is wild
Girl, I wanna know that love is real
Beyond the palace hemi-powered drones
Scream down the boulevard
Girls comb their hair in review mirrors
And the boys try to look so hard
The amusement park rises bold and stark
And kids are huddled on the beach in the mist
I wanna die with you Wendy on the streets tonight
In an everlasting kiss
Highway's jammed with broken heroes
On a last-chance power drive
Everybody's out on the road tonight
But there's no place left to hide
Together Wendy we can live with the sadness
I'll love you with all the madness in my soul
Oh, someday girl I don't know when
We're gonna get to that place where really wanna go
And we'll walk in the sun
But till then, baby we were born to run
Baby we were born to run
Tramps like us, baby we were born to run
Whoa, ooh
Born to run
03 Warriors of the Wasteland (04:53)
From diamond mine to the factory
Everybody's doing what you've got to keep on doing for society
Make this world a good place to be
Let livin' be but don't work for free
Playing isn't paying so worx is what I'm saying
Working for the world go round
The battle cry don't mess with me
I've travelled the world for eternity
Warriors of the wasteland
Sailboats of ice on desert sands
Warriors of the wasteland
It seems to be that the powers that be
Keep themselves in splendour and security
Armoured cars for megastars
No streets, no bars, yours wealth is ours
They make the masses, kiss their asse(t)s
Lower class jackass, pay me tax take out the trash
Working for the world go round
Your job is gold, do as you're told
the pay you less the run for congress
Warriors of the wasteland
Sailboats of ice on desert sands
Warriors of the wasteland
I'm working for the world go round, go round
Diamond mind to the factory, yeah
Make this a world, a good place to be
Warriors what a waste, man
WARRIORS
WE'RE RATS IN A CAGE
SUICIDE A GO GO
06 Ferry Cross the Mersey (04:03)
Life goes on day after day after day after day.
Hearts torn in every way,
So ferry cross the Mersey, Cos this lands the place I love and here I'll stay,
And here I'll stay.
People they rush every where, Each with their own secret care,
So ferry cross the Mersey, Cos this lands the place I love and here I'll stay,
And here I'll stay
People around every corner, they seem to smile and say, they'll tell you!
We don't care what you name is boy, We'll never send you away,
Send you away, Send you away, Send you away
So I'll continue to say here's where I always must stay,
So ferry cross the Mersey, Cos this lands the place I love,
Ferry cross the Mersey, Cos this lands the place I love and here I'll stay.
and here I'll Stay, stay, stay,
Ferry cross the Mersey, Cos this lands the place I love.
Ferry cross the Mersey, Cos this lands the place I love.
Ferry cross the Mersey, Cos this lands the place I love.
10 Watching the Wildlife (04:18)
Watching the wildlife
On my way home, the state of Rome
People gliding on the floor
Pleased with life not needing more
Sunset on the river
People go home in the rain
Familiar faces on the train
Running scared, and staying sane
If you live by the sword
Well that's your own reward
So don't walk with me
Watching the wildlife
The beast within you
Eats your heart out
Get free from hate and get in love
Boys in the backyard
The girls are hanging out the lines
Washing the day, wash your troubles away
It's game we have to play
Ghosts are chasing you round
Things that happen in the past
Don't make that mistake again
The sun beats down the streets of passion
If you live by the sword
Well that's your own reward
So don't talk with me
Watching the wildlife
The beast within you
Eats your heart out
Get free from hate and get in love
Your own worst enemy
Get free from hate and get in love
If you live by the sword
Watching the wildlife
Watching you
The beast within you too
Watching the wildlife
Get in love, get in love
Watching the wildlife
We all live in a dream in home
We watch TV and drive a car
We go outside, but not too far
Watching the wildlife
We walk the water like a sun
Living cuts you like a knife
Living here watching the Wildlife
Get in love, get in love
13 Two Tribes (03:24)
The air attack warning sounds like
This is the sound.
When you hear the air attack warning
You and your family must take cover
Let's go
*When two tribes go to war
A point is all you can score
Score no more
Score no more
When two tribes go to war
A point is all you can score
Working for the black gas
Cowboy No. 1
A born-again poor man's son
Poor man's son
On the air America
I modelled shirts by Van Heusen-yeah
Working for the black gas
You know
*(Repeat)
Working on the black gas
Switch off your shield
Switch off and feel
I'm working on loving-yeah
Giving you back the good times
Ship it out-out
I'm working for the black gas
Tell the that you're winning
Love and life
Love and life
Listen to the voice sing
Follow me
Listen to the voice sing
Follow me
*(Repeat)
We got two tribes
We got the bomb
We got the bomb-yeah
Sock it to me biscuits-now
Are we living in a land
Where sex and horror are the new Gods?
Yeah
When two tribes go to war
A point is all you can score
15 Happy Hi (04:04)
Oh why in this world must we work life like a deal, sometimes I feel,
Its all make believe.
Put glory in your heart and never say die,
forget your troubles go where hearts are Happy hi,
so Happy hi, yeah!
And why in this world is life like a train, never stopping at stations.
If I could freeze time under the starry sky, never questioning why.
And what in this world is achieving perfection,
We may not get there but boy do we care,
Don't be scared.
Put glory in your heart and never say die,
forget your troubles go where hearts are Happy hi,
so Happy hi yeah!
Put glory in your heart and never say die,
forget your troubles go where hearts are Happy hi,
so Happy hi yeah!
Put glory in your heart and never say die,
forget your troubles go where hearts are Happy hi,
so Happy hi yeah!
22 Rage Hard (05:09)
Rage! Rage! Rage! Rage!
Rage Hard!
Laugh like the head of Apollo
Young and strong on the wings of tomorrow
Rise up in millions get off your knees
Dispelling the demons
In the valley of danger
We all work together, sculptures in sorrow
With love light to follow, on
Sweet head of Apollo
Rage hard, into the light
Rage hard, doing it right, doing it right
Rage Hard, against the dark
Rage Hard, make your mark
Let the tournament begin
Don't give up and don't give in
Strength to rise up, strength to win
Strength to save the wor(l)d from losing
Rage Hard, into the light
Rage Hard, doing it right
Rage Hard, against the dark
Rage Hard
Rage!
Rage Hard
Though blue eyes of children
They shine without fear
Hope is the future, with oceans of cheer
Nothing to fear
There's nothing to fear
Though laughter of angels resounding
From heaven keep fighting the favours
Of charlatan saviours, charlatan saviours
Rage hard, into the light
Rage hard, doing it right, doing it right
Rage Hard, against the dark
Rage Hard, make your mark
Let the tournament begin
Don't give up and don't give in
Rage hard, into the light
Rage hard, doing it right
Rage Hard, against the dark
Rage Hard, make your mark
I don't know which way to go
My love's like driven snow
When we past the test of time
My love you shall be mine
And if only, lost and lonely
Is all that's wrong with me, we' ll be free
Be free, be free
Laugh like the head of apollo
Young and strong on the wings of tomorrow
Rage Hard
Rage Hard
Let the tournament begin
Don't give up and don't give in
Rage Hard, into the light
Rage Hard, doing it right
Let the tournament begin
Don't give up and don't give in
Strength to rise up, strength to win
Strength to save the wor(l)d from losing
26 The Power of Love (05:29)
I'll protect you from the hooded claw
Keep the vampires from your door
Ayayayay
Feels like fire
I'm so in love with you
Dreams are like angels
They keep bad at bay-bad at bay
Love is the light
Scaring darkness away-yeah
I'm so in love with you
Purge the soul
Make love your goal
*The power of love
A force from above
Cleaning my soul
Flame on burnt desire
Love with tongues of fire
Purge the soul
Make love your goal
I'll protect you from the hooded claw
Keep the vampires from your door
When the chips are down I'll be around
With my undying, death-defying
Love for you
Envy will hurt itself
Let yourself be beautiful
Sparkling love, flowers
And pearls and pretty girls
Love is like an energy
Rushin' rushin' inside of me
*(Repeat)
This time we go sublime
Lovers entwine-divine divine
Love is danger, love is pleasure
Love is pure-the only treasure
I'm so in love with you
Purge the soul
Make love your goal
The power of love
A force from above
Cleaning my soul
The power of love
A force from above
A sky-scraping dove
Flame on burnt desire
Love with tongues of fire
Purge the soul
Make love your goal
I'll protect you from the hooded claw
Keep the vampires from your door
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