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Rating:
In the landscape of "synthetic" bands from the early '80s, the Swiss group Yello stood out for their originality and experimentation compared to the average of their peers. Their way of playing was an intelligent and refined caricature of the fashion of the time, a cultured amusement that gave shape to sparkling and unpredictable miniatures, far from the monotony and pretentious poses that prevailed at the time.
The "mastermind" of the project was Dieter Meier, an artist devoted to multimedia performances (very popular at the time) who decided to unleash his imagination accompanied by Boris Blanck on the synth and Carlos Peron on tapes.
The adventure therefore began with this memorable debut, immediately presenting the first single release: the captivating schizophrenia of "Bimbo". The parodic tone of the operation is noticeable right from the title, a squeeze of electronic gags at a syncopated rhythm creates a devolved and futuristic reggae, a caricature version of Kraftwerk's robotic mechanics.
The hypnosis of the following "Night Flanger" rises on an epic chorus, with sharp guitar notes outlining the entire piece, spicing it with psychedelia. In short, a truly successful hybrid. Their strength was precisely to be found in this medley of styles, blended with extreme elegance.
The drum intro in the manner of a march of the frantic "Bostich" (the second hit of the album) preludes to an industrial-techno rhythm with echoes of house (and we're in the '80s) audible in the samples in the background. A concise track, almost punk in duration (2 minutes).
There's also room for Spanish-flavored suggestions over the electronic backdrop of "Blue Green", as if the Durutti Column met the second Klaus Schulze.
Describing this work as creative and intelligent seems almost obligatory in view of such an interesting ensemble, certainly distinguishable from the duller and more inconsistent commercial panorama. Especially today, 25 years later, it’s easy to discover how it has aged better compared to many of its contemporaries.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Bimbo (03:39)
You think you're special
And you're a standard guy
I'm gonna tell you
You're nothing but a standard guy
You are a standard... standard...
It's the bimbo
Standard bimbo man
They call me the white white white white white white
White white bimbo man
Oh, hey I want her
I want shoes
Oh, so my head hurts
But make fun of blues
Oh, that music
I got the blues
Cash in my pocket
Don't want to lose
I... I... I try so hard
Let me be smart
Look at myself in the window of a glass door
Look in my eyes
Look at myself in the window of a toy store
Wink at the size
Never ever gonna be
Never ever gonna be
Never ever gonna be
Staring at her until the end
Special lie, my only friend
That's so hard for me to take
Silly to work around the thing
Bimbo, bimbo, oh it's sad
It drives me mad This is bimbo man
Oh, oh, it's sad B-b-b-b-b b-b-b-b-b b-b-b-b-bimbo
It drives me mad Why bimbo man
Oh, oh, it's sad Why it's the bimbo, standard bimbo
It drives me mad Why it's the bimbo man
Oh, oh, it's sad Why it's the bimbo, standard bimbo
It drives me mad Why it's the bimbo man
Special, and silly wanna be
Standard, oh what a silly me
You're really special, that you don't wanna be
You're standard, firm set in your silly ways
Look at myself in the window of a drug door
Wink at the size
Look at myself in the window of a toy store
Look in my eyes
Never ever gonna be
I wear a white hat Bimbo, bimbo, he's hip
White gloves I choose Bimbo, bimbo man
I saw her dance Bimbo, bimbo
Not for the blues He's the bimbo man
I... Bimbo, bimbo, b-b-b-b-bimbo
Don't want to be He's the bimbo man
The standard guy Bimbo, bimbo, b-b-b-b-bimbo
The standard guy He's the bimbo man
Standard guy
Look at myself in the window of a glass door
Wink out the size
Look at myself in the window of a toy store
Look in my eyes
Never ever gonna be
I hear hip music Bimbo, bimbo, he's a bimbo
Ain't got the blues Bimbo, bimbo man
Fist in my pocket Why it's the bimbo, why it's the bimbo
Don't want to lose Bimbo, bimbo man
I... I... Standard bimbo, why it's the bimbo
Try so hard Bimbo, bimbo man
Oh please, oh please, Why it's the bimbo, bimbo, bimbo
I wanna be smart... smart Bimbo, bimbo man
04 Downtown Samba (02:38)
This one's called
Now for you
Downtown samba
Canal Street's where we dance
We do the rhumba, samba
The city's hot, we're almost naked
It's a scandal
Night's still young
We do the samba with the congo warrior
Downtown samba (2x)
Hey you over there
You shouldn't dance alone
Watch me come on closer
Cause I am the one
To dance with you
All night long
I'm dancing like a mambo
Go go go for sambo
Dancing, dancing, dancing
Tango
Over there, mister
Come see, you'll see
So dance the tango, tango
07 Assistant's Cry (01:49)
From time to time they cry
Only if you know why
Here they go
A hundred thousand people
Walking down the streets
Trying to protect their dream
Following their feet
They're busy, lost
Can't find anyone
They're looking for a disguise
And the stars could come
No more!
No tears
Just cries, and fears
I don't believe it
Look at them
I really can't believe it
Look at them
They're fucking crazy
Hey! Just... Ha ha ha ha!
I can't believe it
Look at them
All right, all right
All right folks
This was today's show time
And now go home!
See you tomorrow
Same time, same place
Take care
08 Bostich (02:14)
Chorus:
Standing at the machine every day for all my life
I'm used to do it and I need it
It's the only thing I want
It's just a rush, push, cash
(chorus)
Standing at the machine every day for all my life
I'm used to do it and I need it
It's the only thing I want
It's just a rush, push, cash
Rush, push, rush, push, rush, push, rush, push
Standing at the machine every day for all my life
I'm used to do it and I need it
It's the only thing I want
11 Blue Green (05:28)
We haven't lyrics of this song. Please, add these lyrics for other users. Use "Correct". Thanks to you.
12 Eternal Legs (04:08)
Across the space
We fly around the world
For years... years... years... years...
We're out of control
Inside an iron ball
Desire
Chorus:
We see the moon
A color ball
We won't be free again
No choice
An iron box
Electric brain release
Away... away... away... away
A piece of steel
That's all we ever feel
No pain
(chorus)
Desire
We see the moon
A color ball
We won't be free again
13 Stanztrigger (02:56)
We haven't lyrics of this song. Please, add these lyrics for other users. Use "Correct". Thanks to you.
14 Bananas to the Beat (03:05)
Chorus:
I go bananas
Bananas to the beat
Le le lee
I mono wayso jambo pe janga poje
Onte myo sobo jo maame jauo peijosau
Kokonipi jao sobo jambo, jambo pomi peso
(chorus)
Kokonipi ous tonko jado jo mousi nindu pou
O seeke ambo pelai kokonipi nai
Kokonipi ous, stono ambou
(chorus)
Eo-o show me ambo jambo, jaambo jomo jo eethu eat
(chorus)
Wojo bomo eso i jo pande beo bou
Sobo i jo postiau do peeta
(chorus)
Mo le le o posi jambo mo le le kompie
Bo le le, bo le le
(chorus)
I go banaanas, wo jo sombi jedo
Bananas to the beat, kwanto be pe io
To the beat
To the beat, cos lobo lobo le jo
To the beat
Bananas to the beat, e jo sambi ebo jo ame
Bananas to the beat
Bananas to the beat, wa pe o sio beo pe tojovlo peo
Bananas to the beat (3x)
Bananas to the beat, kokonipi oso pai
Bananas to the beat (3x)
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Other reviews
By assurdino
The world is so absurd that it is worth it to be more absurd than it.
Little songs with appropriately (and mirably) titles, like 'Bimbo' or 'Bananas'... delightful useless machines in love with their gears of joyful madness.
