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And with this umpteenth puzzle of historical songs (to avoid saying "always the same"), our Mick Hucknall, wine enthusiast naturalized Italian, the sole ruler of the Simply Red brand practically forever, had the brilliant idea (!!) to reinterpret his tracks in a Latin-pop style that brought so much luck to Santana 3 years ago.
The songs, if it wasn't for the millionth time we've heard them, would actually be good, I mean, of good quality relative to the genre; it's just that the general mood is lacking. In short, little soul and lots of craft (you can feel the absence "of the group," understood as "a cohesive spirit of musicians with a common project" in favor of an assembly of musicians/session players, technically skilled but with little soul - a problem always felt in our man's productions -). As the album shoots its bullets, you get the impression of listening to a cruise ship piano bar band (luxurious, for goodness' sake!) with the classic antics from the "music that the rich adore" repertoire. The single "Perfect Love", now heavily overplayed by Italian radios, is the classic hit that our man inevitably churns out year after year: pretty, catchy, somewhat Latin, with the easy and memorable chorus that, coincidentally, matches the song's title (you might not remember the name of the band, but during purchase, it's easy to sing to the cashiers, and they get it right away...). Here and there, sweet overly sentimental and romantic ballads, in perfect seasoned crooner style, see "Your Mirror" or the formerly danceable "Fairground" now turned into a love song à la Earth, Wind & Fire. Here and there, scraps of jazz, but not too much, for heaven's sake, crumbs of pop & soul, but not too much, remnants of salsa and Latin-pop, just enough to make it all seem renewed. In short, changing, arranging, playing to make everything seem like before: already heard and, moreover, played slickly by a good professional. The soul and R&B soul of the beginnings is a distant memory; we're left with this future piano bar singer, also good at stylishly interpreting these tracks (listen to the bland version of "Everytime We Say Goodbye"), following in the footsteps of Bublé & Co., which everyone likes and which makes even the bejeweled elderly matrons in the audience tap their time at concerts (in theaters, of course). What's the next step? A future role? Perhaps conducting the orchestra of a Rai1 program, a bit like Paolo Belli, and becoming a character between the pathetic and the nostalgic. Bet on it? Take it or leave it.
Absolutely dispensable.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Something Got Me Started (03:45)
Something got me started
You know that I will love you
Lately since we parted
I truly know that I need you
I'd give it all up for you
[Yes I would]
Totally broken-hearted
Guilty of what I did to you
Lately since we parted
I truly know that I need you
I'd give it all up for you
[Yes I would]
You've got to help me, help me, help me
03 Holding Back the Years (04:19)
Holding back the years,
Thinking of the fear I've had so long.
When somebody hears,
Listen to the fear that's gone.
Strangled by the wishes of pater,
Hoping for the arms of mater,
Get to meet her sooner or later,
Holding back the years,
Chance for me to escape from all I know.
Holding back the tears,
Cause nothing here has grown.
I've wasted all my tears,
Wasted all those years.
Nothing had the chance to be good,
Nothing ever could, yeah.
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on.
So tight.
I've wasted all my tears,
Wasted all those years.
And nothing had the chance to be good,
Cause nothing ever could, yeah.
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on,
I'll keep holding on
So tight.
That's all I have today
It's all I have to say.
06 Your Mirror (04:14)
I've got to stand up for myself
This society don't care about nobody else
I've got to be strong
Even if I know that this feeling is wrong
I've got to not care
Even if I know that this world is meant to share
Wait a minute. This is wrong
Even the birds still sing their faithful song
And your beauty lies within you
Look in the mirror baby
Look in the mirror baby
What you gonna do when your friends have gone away
And deserted you
You'll have to be strong
24 hours can seem so long
You're taught to not care
And then not realise this world is meant to share
Wait a minute. It's wrong
Even the birds still sing their faithful song
And your beauty lies within you
Look in the mirror baby
Look in the mirror baby
We've got to stand up for ourselves
Even if a leader so cold wants to glory himself
We've got to be strong
Even if our reasons seem wrong
We've got to not care
Even if the world that we know may not even be here
Hold It! It's wrong
Even the birds still sing their faithful song
And your beauty lies within you
Look in the mirror baby
Look in the mirror baby
07 Fairground (05:14)
Driving down an endless road
Taking friends or moving alone
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
Its always friends that feel so good
Lets make amends like all good men should
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
Walk around be free and roam
Theres always someone leaving alone
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
And I love the thought of coming home to you
Even if I know we cant make it
I love the thought of giving hope to you
Just a little ray of light shining through
Love can bend and breathe alone
Until the end it finds you a home
Dont care what the people may say
Its always friends that feel so good
Lets make amends like all good men should
Pleasure at the fairground on the way
And I love the thought of coming home to you
Even if I know we cant make it
I love the thought of giving hope to you
Just a little ray of light shining through
11 For Your Babies (04:24)
You've got that look again
The one I hoped I had when I was a lad
Your face is just beaming
Your smile got me boasting, my pulse roller-coastering
Anyway the four winds that blow
They're gonna send me sailing home to you
Or I'll fly with the force of a rainbow
The dream of gold will be waiting in your eyes
You know I'd do most anything you want
Hey I, I try to give you everything you need
I can see that it gets to you
I don't believe in many things
But in you I do
Her faith is amazing
The pain that she goes through contained in the hope for you
Your whole world has changed
The years spent before seem more cloudy than blue
In many ways your baby's controlling
When you haven't laid down for days
For the poor no time to be thinking
They're too busy finding ways
You know I'd do most anything you want
Hey I, I try to give you everything you need
I'll see that it gets to you
I don't believe in many things
But in you I do
You know I'd do most anything you want
Everyday I, I try to give you everything you need
We'll always be there for you
I don't believe in many things
But in you I do
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