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Versione 1
Rating: What a wonder!!! The chirping at "Birdie hop," the intermittent voice of the fireflies, the affectionate and parodistic ooohhhh. All of it sweetly out of focus and, together, much more in focus than being in focus. Yes, I know, like a good psychedelic buffoon, I'm already exaggerating. So, let me blow raspberries at myself, pprrr, pprrr, pprrr even if said like that, it seems more like a cat's purr. In any case: the friends of my friends are my friends, and in "I know where Syd Barrett Lives" there's the most beautiful tribute to Syd I've ever heard. But for once, let's leave the elf of Cambridge aside, because here we need to talk about Daniel Treacy and his Television Personalities.
Blame it on the phrase and the one who wrote it. And, if it was written by one of the debasio poets, namely Byzzin Fly, today Alfama, this little wonder is the phrase: "How can you not love Daniel Treacy, King Arthur with a pint of beer in hand?" I remember my divining rod instinct vibrating like crazy and the immediate thought that pure spring water was hidden there. However, I indefinitely postponed the treasure hunt, the phrase was so beautiful that I could be content to use it just as a magic formula. The confetti could remain in the air for the moment. This is, after all, as Donatella says, what poetry is for. Speaking metaphorically: there was no rush to listen to that mysterious early eighties English group.
Then, okay, some time ago I listened. Pop brightness, think + post-punk indifference and swiftness. Backlit dispatches of a neurotic and hypersensitive minstrel who, in a twisted way, goes straight to the point. Boredom, crappy situations, and all the sadness in the world even if, in the end, Emily will bring tea, and we'll all find ourselves in front of The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Sometimes the songs have a magnificent nervous quality, imagine the Buzzcocks corrupted and blessed by a sort of dazed sophistication. Sometimes it's the most crystalline melancholy, or the quirky little tune. Then, occasionally, fragments of sixties classicism. "Did you say comedy? Yes, I said comedy."
Everything veers nicely to the side and tells, as best as possible, the desiring impulse, poetry is proof that life is not enough, right Fernando? You board the Mystery train, even if the only possible stop is always and only the starting point. You read a book, get to page 19, it seems everything is fantastic, then, page after page, the usual obvious returns, to the point that you can't wait to reach the end. Then if you raise your eyes from the book and shift them to what's around you, you realize that more or less it's the same. That's why you pick up a guitar. It doesn't matter if you're a dandy with rotten teeth who "will end up in jail like Pinocchio and like Jesus."
"...and don't the kids just love it" is only the first act. Then will come limping ballads, a hint of psychedelia, little things like the most lyrical Velvets, pop delicacies. Lots of stuff, in short...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 This Angry Silence (02:39)
I hear my father shouting at my mother
In the room next door
He's always threatening to pack his bags
'Cause he can't take it anymore
And my brother's anorexic
But no one seems to care about the state he's in
And my sister's in a club, she's a barmaid in a pub
And my mother's full of gin
Can you hear this angry silence?
I spend the days on my own
Writing silly poetry
Writing poems for the girl I love
But she doesn't love me
And I'm scared to go out at night
It's not safe on the streets
And it's hard to disagree in today's society
You can't trust anyone you meet
Can you hear this angry silence?
Listen, listen, listen... this angry silence
02 The Glittering Prizes (03:01)
In the past I always tried
I never got amongst the glittering prizes
I put it down to confidence
Or something trendy
Like an emotional complex
Thinking to myself that I've got something to prove
Waiting for the chance to accept my point of view
Pretty soon you will recognise me
Glittering prizes for me
Glittering prizes for me
I wear a clean shirt every day
I quite enjoy my job as an office boy
The novelty begins to fade
I never get the chance
To play with executive toys
Thinking to myself that I've got something to prove
Waiting for the chance to accept my point of view
Pretty soon you won't recognise me
Glittering prizes for me
Glittering prizes for me
05 Silly Girl (02:49)
Silly girl, wasn't you a silly girl?
Silly girl, what have you done now?
You ran away on a train to Crewe
Such a silly thing to do
Your parents are worried about you
Time you changed your attitude
Silly girl, wasn't you a silly girl?
Silly girl, what have you done now?
I'm sitting alone in a quiet room
Trying to write a letter to you
It's only me who understands
Girl I'll always hold yor hand
Silly girl, wasn't you a silly girl?
Silly girl, what have you done now?
07 Geoffrey Ingram (02:15)
Geoffrey's got a nice new suit, he bought it yesterday
Ten pounds in an Oxfam shop near Hammersmith Broadway
All the kids admire him, Geoffrey is the face
Geoffrey is that kind of guy
Who always gets away with that sort of things
Geoffrey shops at Safeways, it's got everything he wants
He fills up his pockets with baked beans and blancmange
And all the girls at the tills smile at Geoffrey
He's that kind of guy
Who gets away with that sort of things
Just like Geoffrey Ingram
Geoffrey always gets home as it starts to rain
Me an Geoff got to a Jam gig, we got there too late
The Marquee was sold out and it was only five past eight
But Geoffrey got us on the guest list please don't ask me how
Geoffrey is that kind of guy
Who always gets away with that sort of things
Geoffrey gets away with that sort of things
08 I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives (02:34)
There's a little man in a little house
With a little pet dog and a little pet mouse
I know where he lives and I visit him
We have sunday tea, sausages and beans
I know where he lives
Cause I know where Syd Barrett lives
He was very famous once upon a time
But no one knows even if he's alive
But I know where he lives and I visit him
In a little hut in Cambridge
I know where he lives
Cause I know where Syd Barrett lives
And the trees and the flowers are so pretty, aren't they?
He was very famous once upon a time
And no one cares even if he's alive (we do)
But I know where he lives and I visit him
In a little hut by the edge of the wood
Oh shut up!
09 Jackanory Stories (03:04)
Jackanory stories, settle down and we'll begin
Now we're up to page nineteen and it looks like the indians will win
But just like life there's a good beginning but there is no middle
So you may as well skip to the end
It's the same old story
And I've heard that story a thousand times before
Read a book at bedtime to help you off to sleep
I've found I get the same effect from fixing on reality
It's just like life there's a good beginning but there is no middle
So you may as well skip to the end
It's the same old story
And I've heard that story a thousand times before
Sit amongst the bowler hats and make your crossword last
Travel intercity, get nowhere twice as fast
Just like life there's a good beginning but there is no middle
So you may as well skip to the end
It's the same old story
And I've heard that story a thousand times before
11 La Grande Illusion (03:33)
I know a girl who's very sad, she lives on her own
Looking from an open window, looking up to the sky
The girl's got tears in her eyes, she's looking very sad
When that girl looks sad I feel also bad
I just don't know what to do
The girl's got tears in her eyes
She always falls for his tricks, thinks that she's in love
But she's not in love at all, she doesn't realize
So the girl's got tears in her eyes and she's always looking sad
And why she looks so sad I'm trying to understand
I just don't know what to do
The girl's got tears in her eyes
La grande illusion
I just don't know what to do
The girl's got tears in her eyes
Monday she was so upset
Tuesday she was blue
Wednesday I telephoned her
Thursday, didn't know what to do
(Friday) so I telephoned again
(Saturday) (Sunday) but her mother said she was gone
I just don't know what to do
The girl's got tears in her eyes
La grande illusion
12 A Picture of Dorian Gray (02:13)
When I'll buy my mansion I'll invite the world to stay
So everyone can see a picture of Dorian Gray
We'll sit by the river drinking lemon tea
And there's a thousand midget russians in midget submarines
You can come and stay
You can bring your friends
You can come and stay for a day
And see a picture of Dorian Gray
Take you to my mansion, can see my gallery
Lots of pretty pictures, all of them of me
We'll sit by the river drinking lemon tea
Eat tiny cucumber sandwiches made by Emily
You can come and stay
You can bring your friends
You can come and stay for a day
And see a picture of Dorian Gray
14 Look Back in Anger (02:39)
I said some things I shouldn't have said
Should have kept them to myself instead
I was wrong, I admit I was wrong
I'm very sorry when I look back at you
I was wrong, I made you cry
But isn't that what you want to hear?
I look back in anger, I look back at you
I look back in anger at you
I did some things you thought weren't good
Not quite the way you thought I should
I listened to your advice
Did what you said, never thought twice
I'm very sorry when I look back at you
I was wrong, I made you cry
Isn't that what you want to hear?
I look back in anger, I look back at you
I look back in anger at you
All the things you do
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