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Rating:
At the heart of this review lies a motivation. Many have undoubtedly wondered what happened to Ben Moody after his departure from the famous band Evanescence due to personal disagreements with Amy Lee. Well, if we exclude his collaboration on the soundtrack for the film adaptation of the comic "Fantastic 4" with the song "Everything burns" (featuring Anastacia), the answer is actually found among the albums of some American pop starlets.
Thus, we discover that the blond and controversial guitarist, having rekindled his camaraderie with former teammate David Hodges, also a member of the first lineup of Evanescence, is currently involved in compositions that are light years away from the world of metal, rock, or any form of art we could generally define as alternative. With questionable results, the first collaboration to see the light was with Avril Lavigne, for the album "Under my skin," to which Moody tried to bring a dark vein, which, as everyone can imagine, does not belong even remotely to the young girl from Canada, recruited a few years ago by savvy discographers to create a new idol among kids. The same process occurs for Kelly Clarkson, who became known in her homeland thanks to the talent show "American Idol" and the release of the album "Thankful," which, despite the complete lack of depth in the instrument approach typical of pop albums, showed undeniable vocal abilities (it seems the singer has a soul background) and also some fairly enjoyable compositions.
"Breakaway," the second release of the new sensation, was released in the United States in 2004; in Italy, it only appeared on store shelves in the summer of 2005, when the launch single "Since u been gone," an engaging pop-rock mix in full Avril Lavigne style featuring a strong performance by Clarkson behind the microphone, began to be broadcasted by a well-known phone company commercial and on the radio. It's immediately apparent the producers' intent to blend and exploit current trends; if "Thankful" (from which "Beautiful disaster" was re-proposed in a live version) left behind vague jazz and soul reminiscences, listening to this "Breakaway," we quickly notice how vibrant electric guitars attempt to construct a discordant rock architecture around the banal pop motifs and catchy choruses of the various songs. Illustrative in this regard are the aforementioned single and "Behind these hazel eyes," where above the sly pop-rock refinements à la Alanis Morissette, the vocalist's range especially stands out. Abhorrent in intentions but despite everything listenable. The touch of Ben and David, last-minute daredevils in the scene, is more than evident in other episodes, such as the second single "Because of you," spiced with an adolescent dramatic verve, which turns out to be one of the few successful tracks in the lot. "Addicted" is instead a commercial version of the more pop episodes of Amy Lee's band, stripped of that gothic mantle so dear to the Arkansas quartet, yet still pleasant and energetic. The other songs struggle to leave a mark and border on unlistenability. And if an easygoing listener like myself says so, it's worth believing.
There is surely no more hope for Kelly Clarkson, but for Ben Moody and David Hodges, a chance for redemption might still arise; let's just hope they don't once again succumb to hefty offers from any record executive. As for the album, it must be said that the twelve episodes of "Breakaway," for the most die-hard fans of the most banal and radio-friendly pop, will perhaps be a pleasant alternative (perhaps while playing beach volleyball on a scorching beach or in the headphones of an iPod during a day of frenzied shopping) to the whining and laxative voice and the fake pop-rock of Avril Lavigne, to the brothel-like provocations of the '30s from the latest Christina Aguilera, to the self-celebratory vocal masturbation of "panther" Beyoncé Knowles, and to the inevitably offered soil fertilizer from Hilary Duff and Paris Hilton.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Breakaway (03:57)
[verse 1]
Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreamin' of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray
Trying hard to reach out
But, when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I'd pray
I could break away
[chorus]
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And break away
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But, I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And break away
[verse 2]
Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jetplane, far away
And break away
[chorus]
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And break away
Out of the darkness and into the sun
I won't forget all the ones that I love
I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And break away
[bridge]
Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging round revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me
But, gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, break away
[chorus 2]
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye, gotta
Take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And break away
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But, I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And break away
Breakaway
Breakaway
02 Since U Been Gone (03:08)
Here's the thing, we started out friends
It was cool but it was all pretend
Yeah, yeah, since you been gone
You're dedicated, you took the time
Wasn't long 'til I called you mine
Yeah, yeah, since you been gone
And all you'd ever hear me say
Is how I picture me with you
That's all you'd ever hear me say
But since you been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on, yeah yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
What I want
Since you been gone
How can I put it, you put me on
I even fell for that stupid love song
Yeah, yeah, since you been gone
How come I'd never hear you say
I just wanna be with you
Guess you never felt that way
But since you been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on, yeah yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
I get what I want
Since you been gone
You had your chance, you blew it
Out of sight, out of mind
Shut your mouth, I just can't take it
Again and again and again and again
Since you been gone (since you been gone)
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on, yeah yeah
Thanks to you (thanks to you)
Now I get
I get what I want
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on, yeah yeah
Thanks to you (thanks to you)
Now I get (I get it)
You should know (you should know)
That I get
I get what I want
Since you been gone
Since you been gone
Since you been gone
03 Behind These Hazel Eyes (03:18)
Seems like just yesterday, you were a part of me
I used to stand so tall, I used to be so strong
Your arms around me tight, everything it felt so right
Unbreakable, like nothing could go wrong
Now I can´t breathe, no I can´t sleep
I’m barely hanging on
Here I am, once again
I’m torn into pieces, can´t deny it, can´t pretend
Just thought you were the one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won´t get to see the tears I cry
Behind these hazel eyes
I told you everything, opened up and let you in
You made me feel alright, for once in my life
Now all that’s left of me, is what I pretend to be
So together, but so broken up inside
Cause I can’t breathe, no I can’t sleep
I’m barely hanging on
Here I am, once again
I’m torn into pieces, can´t deny it, can´t pretend
Just thought you were the one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won't get to see the tears I’ve cried
Behind these hazel eyes
Swallow me, then spin me out
For hating you, I blame myself
Seeing you, it kills me now
No, I don’t cry on the outside anymore
Anymore
Here I am, once again
I’m torn into pieces, can´t deny it, can´t pretend
Just thought you were the one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won't get to see the tears I cry
Behind these hazel eyes
Here I am, once again
I’m torn into pieces, can´t deny it, can´t pretend
Just thought you were the one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won't get to see the tears I cry
Behind these hazel eyes
06 Addicted (03:57)
It's like you're a drug
It's like you're a demon I can't face down
It's like I'm stuck
It's like I'm running from you all the time
And I know I let you have all the power
It's like the only company I seek is misery all around
It's like you're a leech
Sucking the life from me
It's like I can't breathe
Without you inside of me
And I know I let you have all the power
And I realize I'm never gonna quit you over time
It's like I can't breathe
It's like I can't see anything
Nothing but you
I'm addicted to you
It's like I can't think
Without you interrupting me
In my thoughts
In my dreams
You've taken over me
It's like I'm not me
It's like I'm not me
It's like I'm lost
It's like I'm giving up slowly
It's like you're a ghost that's haunting me
Leave me alone
And I know these voices in my head
Are mine alone
And I know I'll never change my ways
If I don't give you up now
It's like I can't breathe
It's like I can't see anything
Nothing but you
I'm addicted to you
It's like I can't think
Without you interrupting me
In my thoughts
In my dreams
You've taken over me
It's like I'm not me
It's like I'm not me
I'm hooked on you
I need a fix
I can't take it
Just one more hit
I promise I can deal with it
I'll handle it, quit it
Just one more time
Then that's it
Just a little bit more to get me through this
I'm hooked on you
I need a fix
I can't take it
Just one more hit
I promise I can deal with it
I'll handle it, quit it
Just one more time
Then that's it
Just a little bit more to get me through this
It's like I can't breathe
It's like I can't see anything
Nothing but you
I'm addicted to you
It's like I can't think
Without you interrupting me
In my thoughts
In my dreams
You've taken over me
It's like I'm not me
It's like I'm not me
08 Walk Away (03:08)
You've got your mother and your brother
Every other, undercover
Telling you what to say
You think I'm stupid
But the truth is that it's cupid
Baby, loving you has made me this way
So before you point your finger
Get your hand off of my trigger, oh yeah
You need to know
The situations getting old
And now the more you talk the less I can take, oh
I'm looking for attention
Not another question
Should you stay or should you go?
Well if you don't have the answer
Why you still standing here?
Hey, hey, hey, hey... just walk away
Just walk away
Just walk away
I waited here for you
Like a kid waiting after school
So tell me, how come you never showed? (show)
I gave you everything
And never asked for anything
And look at me, I'm all alone (alone)
So before you start defendin'
Baby, stop all your pretendin'...
I know you know I know
So what's the point in being slow
Let's get this show on the road today, hey...
I'm looking for attention
Not another question
Should you stay or should you go?
Well if you don't have the answer
Why you still standing here?
Hey, hey, hey, hey... just walk away
Just walk away
Just walk away
I want a love, I want a fire
To feel the burn, my desires
I want a man by my side
Not a boy who runs and hides
Are you gonna fight for me, die for me
Live and breathe for me
Do you care for me
Cause if you don't then just leave
I'm looking for attention
Not another question
Should you stay or should you go?
Well if you don't have the answer
Why you still standing here?
Hey, hey, hey, hey... just walk away
Just walk away
Just walk away
If you don't have the answer (walk away)
Walk away (just walk away)
Just leave (walk away)
Walk away
Walk away
09 You Found Me (03:39)
Is this a dream?
If it is
Please don't wake me from this high
I'd become comfortably numb
Until you opened up my eyes
To what it's like
When everything's right
I can't believe
You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
You found me
So, here we are
That's pretty far
When you think of where we've been
No going back
I'm fading out
All that has faded me within
You're by my side
Now everything's fine
I can't believe
You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
You found me
And I was hiding
'Til you came along
And showed me where I belong
You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know?
How did you know?
You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
(You found me)
(When no one else was lookin')
You found me
(How did you know just where I would be?)
You broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
The good and the bad
And the things in between
You found me
You found me
11 Hear Me (03:56)
Hear me, hear me
You gotta be out there
You gotta be somewhere
Wherever you are
I’m waiting…
'Cause there are these nights when
I sing myself to sleep
And I’m hoping my dreams bring
You close to me
Are you listening?
[Chorus]
Hear me I’m crying out
I’m ready now
Turn my world upside down
Find me
I’m lost inside this crowd
It’s getting loud
I need you to see
I’m screaming for you to please
Hear me
Can you hear me?
I used to be scared of
Letting someone in
But it gets so lonely
Being on my own
With no one to talk to and
No one to hold me
I’m not always strong
Oh I need you here
[Chorus]
Are you listening?
I’m restless and wild
I fall but I try
I need someone to understand
(Can you hear me?)
I’m lost in my thoughts
And baby I’ve fought
For all that I’ve got
Can you hear me?
[Chorus]
12 Beautiful Disaster (live) (04:34)
He drowns in his dreams
An exquisite extreme, I know
He's as damned as he seems
And more heaven than a heart could hold
If I tried to save him
My whole world could cave in
It just ain't right, it just ain't right
[chorus]
Oh and I don't know
I don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful
Or just a beautiful disaster
His magic and myth
As strong as what I believe
A tragedy with
More damage than a soul should see
And do I try to change him
So hard not to blame him
Hold on tight, hold on tight
[chorus]
Oh 'cause I don't know
I don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful
Or just a beautiful disaster
I'm longing for love and the logical
But he's only happy, hysterical
I'm waiting for some kind of a miracle
Waiting so long
So long
He's soft to the touch
But frayed at the end, he breaks
He's never enough
And still he's more than I can take
[chorus]
Oh 'cause I don't know
Don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful
Or just a beautiful disaster
He's beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
Oh oh...beautiful
Oh oh...beautiful disaster
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By cinciu
Clarkson seems truly unstoppable!
Finding singers of such talent nowadays is not easy.
