•
Rating:
The 2000s, apparently years of decline; new ideas capable of garnering widespread public approval are desperately lacking, and so we cling to the past, we recycle, often poorly, sometimes better. Raise your hand if, like me, you've meticulously noted and cataloged all the new Velvet Undergrounds, the new Led Zeppelins, the new Joy Divisions, and other similar gimmicks with the precise intent to avoid them all from first to last; indeed, the rock revival is certainly very trendy, it’s ideal for giving oneself a tone, an "alternative" appearance that I have personally always found worthy of loud raspberries. I think my ideas on revival are very clear; without lightness and self-irony, all that remains are glaring baubles. These three English girls do not lack these qualities and additionally demonstrate how one can be original and personal even in this context. A simple and genuine female pop in pure '60s style is decidedly less prone to articles stuffed with big words and baseless musings compared to the current Arctic Monkeys; I don't think, with these foundations, the Pipettes’ musical career could have lasted who knows how long; probably with the debut album, they have already expressed all their potential. However, the disparity in treatment compared to other more pretentious and artificially inflated realities remains quite annoying, a sign that in the third millennium music business, evidently, spontaneity and sincerity are qualities that are secretly unappreciated.
To fully appreciate the work of Julia, Rose, and Rebecca, it's necessary first of all to understand its spirit and accept without reservation the fact that you are facing something completely recycled: every single note, the look, the group’s name, even the producer-mentor-inspirer responsible for the formation of the trio (Robert Barry), once you’ve entered this perspective, all that remains is to fully appreciate a delicious concentrate of freshness, naivety, and charm; just to name one, the great Kirsty MacColl often flirted with this particular pop subgenre, recognizing, from her heightened sensitivity, its natural and undeniable expressive and melodic qualities. "We Are The Pipettes" is so derivative that, exactly like in the '60s, it seems expressly built as a mere "container" for four or five standout tracks, with the rest feeling almost like a simple garnish, although always pleasant. Despite everything, the formula works great; for any (conscientious) pop lover, this record is a true delight: energetic and fun, with those easy and irresistible tunes, great vocal harmonies, and exquisite youthful freshness. Obviously, the singles "Pull Shapes" and "ABC" stand out, but the real peak of the album is the semi-ballad "Judy," a song that Kirsty would have loved tremendously, who would most likely have recorded a cover for her "Desperate Character," the same identical emotional approach, the same mix of sweetness and energy, the same effectiveness in authentically narrating adolescence. In this album, a good dose of cheeky bravado (the declaration of intent "We Are The Pipettes") intertwines naturally with a distinctly feminine sensitivity (the sweet and melancholic "A Winter's Sky") just as the brass alternates with the organ and strings, it's all a work of small sparks and contrasts united by simple and highly effective harmonies; among the many tunes, often under two minutes in duration, that populate the tracklist, some small melodic masterpieces emerge, like the carefree "It Hurts To See You Dance So Well" and "Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me," the bittersweet "One Night Stand," another very "McCollian" track in musicality, and the brilliant and colorful "Because It's Not Love (But It's Still A Feeling). "
In the end, "We Are The Pipettes" is an almost perfect album, many highs, no style drops, not a single bad song; it's something tender, lively, delightful, perhaps a mere commercial operation, but one of the good ones, a small anomaly, a curiosity worth knowing. The best thing is that for the 2000s, this is a completely anachronistic album, not for its sounds, but simply because it does not appeal to a specific audience target; in purely theoretical terms, it would be an excellent teen-pop record, ideal for introducing the "young generation" to the simpler, more genuine, and folksy side of music, but between Beyonce and My Chemical Romance, that sector seems decidedly clogged, and for a more mature audience, well, unfortunately, not many preserve a childlike and naive side, essential to fully appreciate a record like this, and it's a real shame, after all, it seems so simple and natural...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 We Are the Pipettes (02:48)
Gwenno!
Riotbecki!
Rosay!
1, 2, 3, lets go!
Take us, take us to your planet,
We’ve got enough, we can't stand it,
Give us your soul and we'll can it, can it, cant it, can it.
We've taken all we can manage,
Just say a word and we'll ban it,
Make us a deal and we'll land it,
And we’ll brand it.
We are The Pipettes, and we've got no regrets,
If you haven't noticed yet, we're the prettiest girls you've ever met.
We are The Pipettes, we will drop you in our nets,
When you're crying in your bed, you'll hope we haven’t finished with you yet.
Take us, take us to your planet (planet),
Give us your mind and we'll scan it (scan it),
Send us a ship and we'll man it, 'cos we mean it (uh huh).
Throw us the line we've been handed,
Lend us some film we'll be candid,
Give us some wheels, and make us some meals, do you know how I feel?
We are The Pipettes, and we've got no regrets,
If you haven't noticed yet we're the prettiest girls you've ever met.
We are The Pipettes, we will drop you in our nets,
When you're crying in your bed, you'll hope we haven’t finished with you.
We are The Pipettes and we've got no regrets,
If you haven't noticed yet we're the prettiest girls you've ever met.
We are The Pipettes, we will drop you in our nets,
When you're crying in your bed, you’ll hope we haven't finished with you yet
We haven't finished with you yet,
We haven't finished with you yet.
02 Pull Shapes (02:58)
Dance with me pretty boy tonight,
Dance with me and we'll be all right,
There's a whole floor before us,
Just for you and me,
So follow my lead and we'll 1, 2, 3,
Pull shapes!
I like to disco,
I like to rock 'n' roll,
Well, I like to hip hop,
We can do it all, just don't let the music stop
Pull shapes!
I lead with my left hand,
I stomp with my right foot,
Well, I just wanna freak out,
I just wanna move, I don't care what the song's about.
Dance with me pretty boy tonight,
Dance with me and we’ll be all right,
There's a whole floor before us,
Just for you and me,
So follow my lead and we'll 1, 2, 3,
Pull shapes!
Is that a drum beat (pull shapes),
And is the base beat (pull shapes),
Well, then the rhythm is complete,
So get up on the floor it's time for you to move your feet.
Dance with me pretty boy tonight,
Dance with me and we'll be all right,
There's a whole floor before us,
Just for you and me,
So follow my lead and we'll 1, 2, 3.
What do you do when the music stops?
What do you do when the music stops?
What do you do when the music stops?
What do you do when the music stops?
Pull shapes!
Clap your hands if you want some more (pull shapes),
Clap your hands if you want some more (pull shapes),
Clap your hands if you want some more (pull shapes),
Clap your hands if you want some more,
Clap your hands if you want some more,
Clap your hands if you want some more.
Dance with me pretty boy tonight,
Dance with me and we'll be all right,
There's a whole floor before us,
Just for you and me,
So follow my lead and we'll 1, 2, 3 (pull shapes).
Dance with me pretty boy tonight (pull shapes),
Dance with me and we’ll be all right (pull shapes),
There's a whole floor before us,
Just for you and me (pull shapes),
So follow my lead and we'll 1, 2, 3,
Pull shapes!
03 Why Did You Stay? (01:43)
You used to tell me that you loved me everyday,
I didn't know what to say,
But there was never any doubt I always knew,
That to me you'd stay true.
But my heart never could be so committed,
For all those transgressions you permitted.
Why did you stay?
Why did you stay?
Why did you stay when I treated you that way?
I was so cruel,
(But he was so kind),
Why did I feel I had to leave you behind?,
(But he was so sweet),
Oh yeah,
Well, I've had just about enough of sweet.
Why did you stay?
Why did you stay?
Why did you stay when I treated you that way?
Why did you stay?
Why did you stay?
Why did you stay?
Why did you stay?
What did you say?
Why did you stay with me?
04 Dirty Mind (02:43)
He's got a dirty mind, just don't know what you're gonna find.
On her way from the school,
She saw him, she saw him.
In a second she knew,
She wanted him, oh she wanted him.
There was no trace on him,
Of filth, grime or dirt.
An overwhelming urge
To smile, laugh and flirt.
There she goes with a twinkle in her eye,
Don't take a genius to understand the reason why.
There she goes with a twinkle in her eye,
Don't take a genius to understand the reason why.
He's got a dirty mind, just don't know what you're gonna find.
This girl he thought she was,
Living in a dream.
It's just that he was,
Exceptionally clean.
All the boys that she, that she had known before,
Avoided hygiene.
Around at his house,
You could eat off the floor,
Which was slightly unnerving.
Hygiene boy, oh what am I to do?
I feel positively filthy standing next to you.
Hygiene boy, oh what am I to do?
I feel positively filthy standing next to you.
He's got a dirty mind, just don't know what you're gonna find.
She got to know his mind intimately,
She was surprised to find,
Something of an anomaly.
You see this perfect boy,
Wasn't quite so pristine,
He had ideas that would (He had ideas that could),
Make the Devil scream.
Dirty mind, don't know what you're gonna find,
He's got a dirty mind, just don't know what you're gonna find.
Dirty mind, don't know what you're gonna find,
He's got a dirty mind, just don't know what you're gonna find.
Dirty mind, don't know what you're gonna find,
He's got a dirty mind, just don't know what you're gonna find.
Dirty mind, don't know what you're gonna find,
He's got a dirty mind, just don't know what you're gonna find.
05 It Hurts to See You Dance So Well (01:53)
Half past one on the dancefloor,
And my thoughts have turned to murder.
Total strangers feel my eyes,
burning into them.
They know that I wanna kill them.
'Cos I can't get over you,
And I can see them looking at you.
And I just can't, can't get over you.
It hurts to see you dance so well.
Quarter to two on the dancefloor,
But my feet won't dance no more,
I've got no spirit for dancing,
since you walked right out the door.
Now all my moves are flawed.
Cos I can't get over you,
And I can see them dancing up to you.
And I just can't, can't get over you.
It hurts to see you looking so fine.
It hurts to see you dance so well.
I remember the times that we kissed,
and the beats my heart missed,
but our feet never missed a beat,
when we were dancing cheek to cheek.
And you knew all the best moves,
and the funkiest grooves,
but you never knew,
How much I was in love with you.
And now it's two o'clock on the dancefloor,
And I'm going home,
I'm going home,
I'm going home alone.
06 Judy (02:48)
I knew a girl and her name was Judy,
She used to do things I thought were rude,
But I never said anything to her face,
'Cos my friends all said she'd kick my arse all over the place.
Used to think she was kinda cool (kinda cool),
Saw her walking all around the school (around the school),
But all the boys would stop and turn their heads,
Oh but all the girls wished she was dead.
Judy what you gonna do,
when you're older and no-one wants to know you?
I will look out for you if you will look out for me
I know I'm not as hard as you
But I think I can see right through you.
Now me and Judy we’re the best of pals (best of pals),
Took me dancing till the early hours (the early hours),
And she showed me things I've never seen,
Mum always asked me where I’d been when I'm with,
Judy what you gonna do,
when you're older and no-one wants to know you?
I will look out for you if you will look out for me
I know I'm not as hard as you
But I think I can see right through you.
When you go, home at night,
Are you still looking for a fight?
You know your mum is not that mean,
But still you want to, rip out her spleen.
Judy what you gonna do,
when you're older and no-one wants to know you?
I will look out for you if you will look out for me
I know I'm not as hard as you
But I think I can see right through you.
What's in your head?
07 A Winter's Sky (03:02)
She was cold and all alone (do be do be do do),
Hadn't been there long and didn't know what to say.
So she sat in the corner of the room (do be do be do do),
She figured if she didn't move no one would notice her.
Underneath a winters' sky,
Her eyes were bright, tonight would be the night.
A boy spotted her from afar (do be do be do do),
He too understood and felt her pain,
Unsure of what to do (do be do be do do),
I'm lacking in imagination he said hello.
Underneath a winters' sky,
Her eyes were bright, tonight he finds her.
Underneath a winters' moon,
The last we saw on, how we came too soon.
Underneath a winters sky,
Her eyes were bright, tonight he finds her,
Underneath a winters' moon, The last we saw on, how we came too soon.
08 Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me (02:11)
Your kisses are wasted on me.
Your kisses are wasted on me.
Your kisses are wasted on me.
Your kisses are wasted on me.
Boy, can't you see we're through?
Boy, I don't love you,
Don't make me smile,
For a while.
Boy, get out of my face.
Boy, I'm going back out to chase,
Some other guy;
Who I might like.
And you might cry,
for some time.
But you don't know it.
No you don't know it.
And you might try,
to hold my hand again.
But you don't know it.
Your kisses are wasted on me.
Your kisses are wasted on me.
Your kisses are wasted on me.
Your kisses are wasted on me.
Boy, you've gotta hear me clear.
Boy, I want you outta here.
Don't send me wild,
You're just a child.
And you might cry,
for sometime.
But you don't know it.
No you don't know it.
And you might try,
to hold my hand again.
But you don't know it.
No you don't know it
And you might cry,
for sometime.
You still don't know it.
Your kisses are wasted on me.
09 Tell Me What You Want (02:32)
Our eyes meet all the time.
Your eyes permanent on mine.
Oh, tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
You've been looking at me for days.
I don't go for secretive games.
Oh, tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
I need a kind, and honest man. (honest man)
So come and talk to me. (If that's your plan?)
You could be mine.
If you want me, baby, that's fine.
But don't keep up this old line.
Oh, tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
I need a kind, and honest man. (honest man)
So come and talk to me. (If that's your plan?)
You could be mine.
Oh, a kind, and honest man. (honest man)
So come and talk to me. (If that's your plan?)
You could be mine.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
You could be mine.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
Tell me what, tell me what you want.
You could be mine.
11 Sex (02:38)
He said we could talk about gossip,
We could talk about lies.
He said we could talk about rumours,
We could do whatever I like.
Then he said, Let's stop with all the talking,
Why not try something new?
Because there's no need for any talking,
In what we're about to do.
Rest your pretty head, your pretty head.
(Just rest, just rest, just rest your pretty head),
Don't trouble your pretty head, your pretty head.
You know I'm all for conversation,
I'm really quite romantic you know.
But why not get right to the point,
It's not that often we're left alone.
No offence, but when you get going,
You really can be quite a bore.
Now, please don't take this the wrong way,
But my ears are getting sore.
Rest your pretty head, your pretty head.
(Just rest, just rest, just rest your pretty head),
Don't trouble your pretty head, your pretty head.
We spent a winter and a spring,
Just listening not talking,
come weather rain or shine.
But no-one ever told you then,
the conversations in my head,
helped me to pass the time.
Rest your pretty head, your pretty head.
(Just rest, just rest, just rest your pretty head),
Don't trouble your pretty head, your pretty head.
Rest your pretty head, your pretty head.
(Just rest, just rest, just rest your pretty head),
Don't trouble your pretty head, your pretty head.
12 One Night Stand (01:40)
I left you alone,
At four in the morning, not a stitch to wear.
'Cos you ignored my warning.
You thought it was special.
You thought I was wrong,
But now I'm telling you,
Baby, as I sing this song.
I don't love you,
I don't want you.
If you think that this is cruel, then you should see what my friends do.
I don't love you,
I don't want you.
Leave me alone, you're just a one night stand.
I saw you cross a crowded room.
You smiled at me and made my heart go boom.
I looked at the scoresheet, and saw a seven,
So I walked up to you and said "Baby did it hurt when you fell from heaven?"
I don't love you,
I don't want you.
If you think that this is cruel, then you should see what my friends do.
I don't love you,
I don't want you.
Leave me alone, you're just a one night stand.
You're just a one night stand.
You're just a one night stand.
I don't love you,
I don't want you.
If you think that this is cruel, then you should see what my friends do.
I don't love you,
I don't want you.
Leave me alone, you're just a one night stand to me.
13 ABC (02:07)
He knows all about the movements of the planets
But he don't know how to move me
He knows about the sonic spectrum damnit
But he don't know if it's groovy
He knows about
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
Kind of tall and kind of shy
He's always asking me why
He's always got his head in a book
He doesn't care how I look
He cares about
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
He's the kind of guy
who knows just what he knows
He's the kind of guy
who oh-oh-oo-oh-oh-oh
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
A-B-C-1-2-3-X-Y-Z
But he don't know about X-T-C
A-B-C-1-2-D-Even I
Ain't in any of his categories
14 I Love You (01:37)
There used to be a lot of things,
That I didn't know,
And although they still exist,
I try not to let them show.
But I think that now you’ve seen me,
For my true colours,
I'm sure you recognise I'm more stupid than the others.
But I love you,
Oh I love you,
And I will love you,
'Til the day I die,
There will never be a time when we have to say good-bye.
I've seen you try to laugh at all of my bad jokes,
And I’ve cooked you seven meals six of them of which you've choked,
But it has taken me a while,
To get used to this new feeling,
When I woke up with a smile,
Oh, I nearly started screaming.
That I love you,
Oh I love you,
And I will love you,
'Til the day I die,
There will never be a time when we have to say good-bye.
Because I love you,
Oh I love you,
And I will love you,
'Till the day I die,
There will never be a time when we have to say good-bye.
Never be a time when we have to say good-bye,
There will never be a time when we have to say good-bye.
15 Really That Bad (02:04)
He's the boy that always sits at the back of the class
He never does what he is told (Oh no he never does)
They say he's several years older than the rest of us
But I don't don't know if that is true (Oh yes, you'd better believe it)
I once sat next to him in geography when he was thrown out of his class
He's got a tattoo on his arm (I wonder where else)
They say he'll only come to harm, but I can he that he
Has got a certain charm
But what's beneath his smile ?
But what's beneath his smile ?
But what's beneath his smile ?
He's good enough to smile at me when he passes me in the corridor
He's good enough to know my name, 'cause I heard him once
So can he really be that bad ?
Can he bad that bad ?
Can he really really really be that bad ?
He's the boy that always stands by the bike sheds smoking on his own
And he once offered me a try (Oh did you really, did you try ?)
But I was always too shy, though I regret it know
Just to be near him for a while
I doubt he needs much longer
I doubt he needs much longer
I doubt he needs much longer
He's good enough to smile at me when he passes me in the corridor
He's good enough to know my name, 'cause I heard him once
So can he really be that bad ?
Can he bad that bad ?
Can he really really really be that bad ?
He's good enough to smile at me when he passes me in the corridor
He's good enough to know my name, 'cause I heard him once
So can he really be that bad ?
Can he bad that bad ?
Can he really really really really really really really really really really really be that bad ?
Loading comments slowly
