•
Rating:
Possible definitions for Lili-Marlene Premilovich, born in 1949: singer, saxophonist, author, actress, screamer, dancer, avant-garde performer, cabaret artist, fashion icon, visual arts fanatic, experimental musician, master and witch of the voice, New-Wave MUSE... and who knows how many more, if one insists on forcing imagination to further (but really useful...?) efforts.
Such effort is for nothing, actually – because none of the aforementioned definitions suit the unique persona of this Serbo-American genius, nor those still imaginable. ONE definition can capture at most one aspect, (guiltily) remaining silent about the thousand others. And so something will be needed to summarize them all: GENIUS, precisely... but even this does not fully satisfy me; and so I will say that Her Art resembles a bridge: a bridge thrown to cover the long distance that separates the vocal revolution of the New Wave godmother Patti Smith from Kate Bush. In other words – the explosive vocal revolution of the New Wave godmother on one side, and on the other the Art-Rock conceived as a territory of research and synthesis, divine (and shocking) use of the singing medium and free exploitation of the classic song structure.
But there is still a missing piece regarding the connections with the nightingale of Kent: the Kate Bush to whom Lene's music is closer is absolutely not the one of "Wuthering Heights". It’s the one of "The Wedding List", at most – and we understand each other – in '78 not yet known, moreover. Or perhaps the one (but we move even further) of "Sat In Your Lap". And above all: Lene Lovich developed her identity WELL BEFORE Kate Bush.
Lene-barred eyes and terrifying gaze, long braids and clothes borrowed from Slavic folklore didn’t begin with "Stateless". Before the debut, there is a long history of art studies and intense exoticism mania, distinguished acquaintances including Salvador Dalí, a stint as a songwriter for the disco star Cerrone, and a funk experience (behind the scenes of the mainstream) with the Diversions. A story spent mostly in the shadows, but also a story of continuous self-improvement. Finally, the opportunity of a lifetime: the boss of Stiff Records, Dave Robinson, is presented with "I Think We're Alone Now", a cover of an old piece by Tommy James & The Shondells (those of "Crimson And Clover").
It’s the spark from which the fire blazes.
"Stateless", indeed – "stateless", "without a homeland". And how can one establish the artistic homeland of such a Woman, who from decadent-Central European inspirations (Berlin reigns, in those years) incorporates into her idea of Pop sixties Beat chart memories, typically-Wave rhythms worthy of the B-52's or the more danceable Devo, space keyboards, small organs and vague psychedelic memories, cosmo-kitsch effects and latent cabaret infatuations and soundtracks of Teutonic memory? In fact, it’s impossible. And always maintaining that commercial appeal that will make "Lucky Number" (with its historical music video) the TRULY lucky number of an entire career.
Before appearing alongside Nina Hagen in that underground manifesto which is "Cha Cha", Lene assembles this absolute masterpiece of Pop eccentricity: the dark/horror organ elements of "Home" and the sweetness of "Too Tender", here are the two extremes of a path in which everything a singer can experiment is experimented. And with the complicity of guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Les Chappell, fantasies like the psycho/western "Sleeping Beauty", the piano wonder of "Say When", the reggae-dance flirt of "Writing On The Wall" (featuring Lene’s own sax), the melodies of "Telepathy" and "Momentary Breakdown" come one after the other, becoming irresistible as soon as you’ve given them a listen; and they do not tire despite the dense inventory of ideas and instrumental/electronic tricks laid out in the production phase (here and there, electric pianos and drum machine shots à la Visage and Human League, but on an infinitely richer tapestry of colors). And a masterful "Tonight" by Nick Lowe, the very essence of the "beat crazy" of those unrepeatable years.
Sensuality, horror, witchcraft, sweetness, histrionics, feeling worthy of a 1930s nightclub chanteuse: nothing is missing.
And after just adding that the cover you see is that (kindly suggested to me by the database) of the expanded edition on CD, I can also say goodbye...
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Lucky Number (02:51)
Udy, udy, udy, udy etc...
I never used to cry 'cause I was all alone
For me, myself and I is all I've ever known
I never felt the need to have a hand to hold
In everything I do I take complete control
That's where I'm coming from
My Lucky Number's one
I've everthing I need to keep me satisfied
There's nothing you can do to make me change my mind
I'm having so much fun
My Lucky Number's one
Ah! Oh! Ah! Oh!
Ay ay ay ay ay...
I now detect an alien vibration here
There's something in the air besides the atmosphere
The object of the action is becoming clear
An imminent attack upon my heart I fear
The evidence is strong
My Lucky Number's rung
Ah! Oh! Ah! Oh!
Something tells me my Lucky Number's gonna be changing soon
Something tells me Lucky Number's gonna be oweoweoweoweoweowe...
You certainly do have a strange effect on me
I never thought that I could feel the way I feel
There's something in your eyes gives me a wild idea
I never want to be apart from you my dear
I guess it must be true
My Lucky Number's two
This rearrangement suits me now I must confess
The number one was dull and number two is best
I wanna stay with you
My Lucky Number's two
Ah! Oh! Ah! Oh!
Number... Number...
Fade
02 Sleeping Beauty (03:02)
You could improve me, rebuild-anew me, heat up or cool me,
But don't forget to wake me in time....
You know I had a lot on my mind;
These tired old eyes await a surprise;
I wonder what the future will bring...
---
Fix me, mix me, rearrange me, change my body;
Make it so pretty, they can't resist me, queue up to kiss me,
But don't forget to wake me in time...
You know I got to be first in line;
This sensitive child is changing her style;
The ugly duck is starting to smile...
Open up your eyes;
You Sleeping Beauties must arise...
You're shaping up just fine,
So climb inside a brand new life...
This twilight seems like an eternity...
The changes I go through are hurting me...
Do we become what we deserve to be?
Open up your eyes;
You Sleeping Beauties must arise...
You're shaping up just fine,
So climb inside a brand new life...
Open up your eyes;
You Sleeping Beauties must arise...
You're shaping up just fine,
So climb inside a brand new life...
05 Say When (02:51)
Well, I'm all revved up and ready, baby
You're a man, I'm a lady
Better turn your eyes from this body of mine
I don't want you to be ahead of our time
I'll say when to stop
Hey, I call the shots
Baby, I say when
Say when
I'll say when to stop
Hey, I call the shots
Baby, I say when
Say when
Well, you look plenty good to me
Yeah, you got plenty of energy
And, I know that you're big and strong
But, I'll be the boss, so don't go wrong
I'll say when to stop
Hey, I call the shots
Baby, I say when
Say when
I'll say when to stop
Hey, I call the shots
Baby, I say when
Say when
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!
Well, I'm all revved up and ready, baby...
Yeah, you're a man, I'm a lady...
You better turn your eyes from this body of mine...
I don't want you to be ahead of our time...
I'll say when to stop
Hey, I call the shots
Baby, I say when
Say when
I'll say when to stop
Hey, I call the shots
Baby, I say when
Say when
Un, deux, trois, quattre, cinq, six, sept, huit, nine, ten!
11 I Think We're Alone Now (02:48)
Children behave
That's what they say when we're together
And watch how you play
They don't understand
And so we're running just as fast as we can
Holdin' onto one another's hand
Tryin' to get away into the night
And then you put your arms around me
And we tumble to the ground and then you say
I think we're alone now
There doesn't seem to be anyone around
I think we're alone now
The beating of our hearts is the only sound
Look at the way
We gotta hide what we're doin'
'Cause what would they say
If they ever knew
And so we're running just as fast as we can
Holdin' onto one another's hand
Tryin' to get away into the night
And then you put your arms around me
And we tumble to the ground and then you say
I think we're alone now
There doesn't seem to be anyone around
I think we're alone now
The beating of our hearts is the only sound
I think we're alone now
(Alone now)
There doesn't seem to be anyone around
I think we're alone now
(Alone now)
The beating of our hearts is the only sound
I think we're alone now
(Alone now)
There doesn't seem to be anyone around
I think we're alone now
(Alone now)
The beating of our hearts is the only sound
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By luludia
Between a witch and a blossoming maiden, it seemed like a switch turned on and off all the masks on her face.
The music then... a sensational synthesis between Devo and Kate Bush.
