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Rating: Rod Stewart: Body Wishes
"When I give my heart again I know it's gonna last forever, no one tell me where or when it's gonna last forever" so goes the chorus of the famous song Baby Jane from Stewart's 12th album from the 80s.
Released on June 10, 1983 and issued by Warner Bros. Records, the album Body Wishes was labeled by Rolling Stone magazine and Allmusic as "one of Rod Stewart's worst efforts''.. Unjust and wrong criticism in my opinion! Considering that old Rod has always known how to adapt to changing musical styles over the years, and right now, as I'm writing and listening to this album yet again, I wonder and try to grasp the reason why it received such harsh and severe criticism.
The album features 10 completely original tracks different from the artist's previous works, and I would say that musically they fit perfectly with the style of 80s music! Body Wishes opens with the song "Dancin' Alone", a humorous song halfway between rock and dance style, very catchy and pleasant. The second song is "Baby Jane", the "Lady of the album!", beautiful both for the lyrics and the musical base! A pure rock song that highlights the star's hoarse voice and that after a couple of minutes leaves space for an exciting saxophone sound, thus a high-quality track that would climb to 1st place in the UK and 14th in the US.
More or less of the same genre as the two mentioned songs are "Move Me", "What Am I Gonna Do (I'm So In Love With You)", "Ghetto Blaster" and "Ready Now", all lively and respectable. But the album is not made only of upbeat tracks, but also of romantic and relaxing masterpieces like "Sweet Surrender" where you can admire the singer's inimitable voice, a typical old Rod track that, telling romantic situations as usual, knows how to blend irony and sentimentality into a song that, in my opinion, deserves to be placed among the best!
The rest is not less noteworthy, the songs "Body Wishes", "Satisfied" and "Strangers Again" give a touch of mystery, in fact, the style of these three tracks is a style never encountered in previous works, yet very passionate, making it one of the most sparkling moments of the record and showcasing Stewart's skill in adapting to sudden changes in musical genres.
So, according to me, the album deserves to be re-evaluated positively! It is definitely a musical masterpiece, extremely relaxing and pleasant that should not be missing among the best music collections, after all, we are talking about a record containing tracks sung by one of the most inimitable, prolific, and great artists in music history!
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Baby Jane (04:43)
Baby Jane don't leave me hanging on the line
I knew you when you had no one to talk to
Now you're moving in high society
don't forget I know secrets about you
I used to think you were on my side
but now I'm no longer sure
I wish I knew what I know now before
When I give my heart again
I know it's gonna last forever
No one tell me where or when
I know it's gonna last forever
Baby Jane don't it make you feel sad
just when I thought that we were winning
You and I were so close in every way
don't time fly when you're loving and laughing
I've said goodbye so many times
the situation ain't all that new
Optimism's my best defense
I'll get through without you
When I give my heart again
I know it's gonna last forever
No one tell me where or when
I know it's gonna last forever
I won't be that dumb again
I know it's gotta last forever
When I fall in love again
I know it's gonna last forever
Baby Jane I've said all I want to say
go your own way don't think twice about me
Cause I've got ideas and plans of my own
so long darlin' I'll miss you believe me
The lesson learned was so hard to swallow
but I know that I'll survive
I'm gonna take a good look at myself and cry
When I give my heart again
I know it's gonna last forever
No one tell me where or when
I know it's gonna last forever
When I fall in love next time
I know it's gonna last forever
I won't be that dumb again
I know it'll last forever
07 Ghetto Blaster (04:08)
This song ain't meant to be pretty
it ain't meant to make you dance
There's so many unsolved problems
too many empty, angry hands
A little child in Ethiopia
will die before this song is through
Poor eyes have only seen sadness
Oh God show us what to do
I'm not preaching, I'm just singing
trying to get a message through
I'm not crazy, I think maybe
the answers with me and you
Here they come
Take us to your leader
Take us to your leader
Think about it
A billion dollars on the arms race
Billions floating round in space
OPEC's counting out it's money
Hunger stares us in the face
The battlefield is little children
caught in a cross fire of hate
How can we call ourselves Christians
How can we turn the other way
I'm not preaching, I'm just singing
trying to get a message through
I'm not crazy, I think maybe
the answers with me and you
Here they come
Take us to your leader
Listen to what they're sayin'
Take us to your leader
Think about it
Nostradamus gave us warning
you will never walk away
One neutron bomb in the morning
may just ruin your whole day
I'm not preaching, I'm just singing
trying to get a message through
I'm not crazy, I think maybe
the answers with me and you
Here they come
Take us to your leader
Listen to what they're sayin'
Take us to your leader
Take us to your leader
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