The Greatest Album Of All Time

Τη σημερινή ημέρα μπορεί ένας blogger να την αντιμετωπίσει με πολλούς τρόπους. Μπορεί να αναφερθεί κανονικά στη γιορτή του Αγίου Βαλεντίνου σαν να μη συμβαίνει τίποτε, όπως όλοι στις εκπομπές, στα περιοδικά κλπ, όπως θα αναφερόταν στα Χριστούγεννα, σε κάτι που είναι πια θεσμός. Μπορεί να αναφερθεί αρνητικά, για την εμπορευματοποίηση των πάντων, και το πόσο κιτς είναι όλα αυτά, και το πως θα'πρεπε ο έρωτας να γιορτάζεται κάθε μέρα blah blah blah. Μπορεί να την αντιμετωπίσει δήθεν αποενοχοποιημένα και να αναφερθεί θετικά [για σπάσιμο σ'αυτούς της 2ης κατηγορίας, στους οποίου μέχρι πρόσφατα ανήκε κι ο ίδιος]. Μπορεί να μην αναφερθεί καθόλου [δύσκολο αυτό, όπως καταλαβαίνετε..]. Ή μπορεί να διαλέξει την εύκολη και διπλωματική λύση, και να κάνει ένα αφιέρωμα για το οποίο έψαχνε αφορμή εδώ και καιρό, όπως θα κάνουμε εδώ!

Κυρίες και κύριοι, Βαλεντίνες και Βαλεντίνοι, παλιότεροι που θα το θυμηθείτε, νεότεροι που θα το μάθετε, σας παρουσιάζουμε ένα άλμπουμ με 69 τραγούδια αγάπης, ένα άλμπουμ που ΛΕΓΕΤΑΙ '69 τραγούδια αγάπης', ένα άλμπουμ αγάπης για τα τραγούδια αγάπης. Απλά, το καλύτερο άλμπουμ όλων των εποχών..

Beatles? Puh-lease!! Velvets? Επιδραστικό, αλλά μέχρι εκεί..Sex Pistols? Πολύ 70ς για μένα. Nirvana? Ε, μην τρελαθούμε κιόλας.. Smiths? Ποιό απ'όλα? Bob Dylan? Θα του πω κι άμα θέλει..

Πραγματικά, από την πρώτη φορά που άκουσα αυτό το μνημειώδες άλμπουμ [τη θυμάμαι ακόμη, καλοκαίρι του 2000, νέα δουλειά, νέα πόλη, νέο σπίτι, οδηγώντας προς τη Θεσσαλονίκη, ντάλα ήλιος.. κι εγώ να τσιμπιέμαι για να δω αν είμαι ξύπνιος, γεμάτος ευτυχία που άκουγα ένα τέτοιο άλμπουμ στη δική μου εποχή, για τη δική μου γενιά, που καταλάβαινα επιτέλους πως αισθάνονταν οι νέοι των 60s και των 70s που άκουγαν όλα τα αυτά τα αριστουργηματικά άλμπουμς της δικής τους γενιάς] κατάλαβα ότι θα γίνει το αγαπημένο μου άλμπουμ ever πριν καν φτάσω στο δέκατο τραγούδι. Και μην ξεχνάτε ότι μιλάμε για 69 ολόκληρα από δαύτα! Το ένα μετά το άλλο, το ένα καλύτερο από το άλλο, το ένα είδος να μπλέκεται με το άλλο... pop, electro, indie, rock, country, musicals, jazz, τα 50s, τα 80s.. τι να κατατάξεις και που, ο Cole Porter συναντά τους Soft Cell, και ο Johny Cash τους Divine Comedy [ποτέ δε συγχώρεσα τον Richard Ashcroft που δήλωσε: 'προς τι ο χαμός? είναι σαν ένα fucking divine comedy record'].

Και οι στίχοι.. ο μόνος στιχουργός για μένα, όλα αυτά τα χρόνια που ακούω μουσική, που κατάφερε να αγγίξει τον σπουδαιότερο στιχουργό ever, δηλ. το Morrissey [είναι άλλωστε και φαν]. Στίχοι έξυπνοι αλλά όχι εξυπνακίστικοι, ρομαντικοί, συγκινητικοί, αστείοι, τολμηροί..

Ένα instant classic, ένα άλμπουμ 'touched by the hand of god' όπως έγραψε το περιοδικό Select. Και θεϊκή πραγματικά ήταν η έμπνευση του δημιουργού αυτού του έπους, του Νεοϋορκέζου Stephin Merritt, που με το συγκρότημα των Magnetic Fields, αφαιρώντας πάνω από πενήντα τραγούδια διάλεξε τελικά 69 και κυκλοφόρησε το 1999 το τριπλό άλμπουμ με τίτλο '69 Love Songs'.

Η επιλογή 11 τραγουδιών ήταν αυτές τις ημέρες ένα από τα δυσκολότερα πράγματα για μένα. Για το άλμπουμ δεν θα γράψω πολλά, μπορείτε να τα βρείτε και αλλού άλλωστε. Απλά ακούστε..

1. The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side

Andy would bicycle across town in the rain to bring you
candy and John would buy the gown for you to wear to the
prom with Tom the astronomer who'd name a star for you
But I'm the luckiest guy on the Lower East Side
cause I've got wheels and you want to go for a ride
Harry is the one I think you'll marry but it's Chris
that you kissed after school I'm a fool, there's no doubt
but when the sun comes out and only when the sun
comes out...
But I'm the luckiest guy on the Lower East Side
cause I've got wheels and you want to go for a ride
The day is beautiful and so are you
My car is ugly but then I'm ugly too I know you'd
never give me a second glance but when the weather's
nice all the other guys don't stand a chance
I know Professor Blumen makes you feel like a woman
but when the wind is in your hair you laugh like a little girl
So you share secrets with Lou but we've got secrets too
Well, one: I only keep this heap for you
cause I'm the ugliest guy on the Lower East Side
but I've got wheels and you want to go for a ride
Want to go for a ride?


2. Nothing Matters When We're Dancing

Dance with me my old friend once before we go Let's pretend
this song won't end and we never have to go home and we'll
dance among the chandeliers And nothing matters when we're
dancing In tat or tatters you're entrancing Be we in Paris
or in Lansing nothing matters when we're dancing You've never been
more beautiful your eyes like two full moons than here in this
poor old dancehall among the dreadful tunes the awful songs
we don't even hear...


3. Meaningless

Meaningless?
You mean it's all been meaningless?
Every whisper and caress?
Yes yes yes it was totally meaningless
Meaningless
like when two fireflies flouresce
Just like everything I guess
it was utterly meaningless
Even less
a little glimpse of nothingness
sucking meaning from the
rest of this mess
Yes yes yes it was thoroughly meaningless
and if some dim bulb should say
we were in love in some way
kick all his teeth in for me
and if you feel like keeping on kicking
feel free
Meaningless
Who dare say it wasn't meaningless?
Shout from the rooftops
and address the press
Ha ha ha it was totally meaningless
Meaningless
Meaning less than a game of chess
Just like your mother said
and mother knows best
I knew it all the time but now I confess
Yes yes yes how deliciously meaningless
Yes yes yes how effervescently meaningless
Yes yes yes how beautifully meaningless
Yes yes yes how profoundly meaningless
Yes yes yes how definatively meaningless
Yes yes yes how comprehensively meaningless
Yes yes yes how magnificently meaningless
Yes yes yes how incredibly meaningless
Yes yes yes how unprecedentedly meaningless
Yes yes yes how mind-blowingly meaningless
Yes yes yes how unbelievably meaningless
Yes yes yes how infinitely meaningless


4. I Don't Want To Get Over You

I don't want to get over you. I guess I could take
a sleeping pill and sleep at will and not have to
go through what I go through. I guess I should take
Prozac, right, and just smile all night at somebody new,
Somebody not too bright but sweet and kind who would
try to get you off my mind. I could leave this agony behind
which is just what I'd do if I wanted to, but I don't
want to get over you cause I don't want to get over love.
I could listen to my therapist, pretend you don't exist
and not have to dream of what I dream of; I could listen
to all my friends and go out again and pretend it's enough,
or I could make a career of being blue--I could dress
in black and read Camus, smoke clove cigarettes and drink
vermouth like I was 17 that would be a scream but I
don't want to get over you.

5. Reno Dakota

Reno Dakota there's not an iota of kindness in you
You know you enthrall me and yet you don't call me
It's making me blue Pantone 292 Reno Dakota I'm
reaching my quota of tears for the year Alas and
alack you just don't call me back You have just
disappeared It makes me drink beer I know you're
a recluse You know that's no excuse Reno that's
just a ruse Do not play fast and loose with my heart
Reno Dakota I'm no Nino Rota I don't know the score
Have I annoyed you or is there a boy who
Well he's just a whore I've had him before
It makes me drink more

6. All My Little Words

You are a splendid butterfly
It is your wings that make you beautiful
And I could make you fly away
But I could never make you stay
You said you were in love with me
Both of us know that that's impossible
And I could make you rue the day
But I could never make you stay
Not for all the tea in China
Not if I could sing like a bird
Not for all North Carolina
Not for all my little words
Not if I could write for you
The sweetest song you ever heard
It doesn't matter what I'll do
Not for all my little words
Now that you've made me want to die
You tell me that you're unboyfriendable
And I could make you pay and pay
But I could never make you stay


7. Very Funny

Everybody knows but me when you go where you shouldn't be Everybody knows
but me where you go when you're feeling free Everybody knows but me So you
go there for a laugh You just go to take photographs To believe that, I'd be
daft but yes I think you go for a laugh and you say, I love you honey Very funny


8. Come Back From San Francisco

Come back from San Francisco.
It can't be all that pretty,
when all of New York City misses you.
Should pretty boys in discos distract you from your novel,
remember I'm awful in love with you.
You need me like the wind needs the trees to blow in.
Like the moon needs poetry, you need me.
Come back from San Francisco and kiss me; I've quit smoking.
I miss doing the wild thing with you.
Will you stay? I don't think so,
but all I do is worry, pack bags, call cabs, and hurry home to me.
You need me like the wind needs the trees to blow in.
Like the moon needs poetry, you need me.
When you betray me, betray me with a kiss.
Damn you. I've never stayed up as late as this.


9. I Think I Need A New Heart

Time stands still
All I can feel is the time standing still
as you put down the keys
and say don't call me please
while the radio plays
"I Think I Need a New Heart" ohhh
"I Think I Need a New Heart" ohhh
You've lied too
but it's a sin that I
can't tell the truth
cause it all comes out wrong
unless I put it in a song
so the radio plays
"I Think I Need a New Heart"
just for you
"I Think I Need a New Heart
cause I always say I love you
when I mean turn out the light
and I say let's run away
when I just mean stay the night
but the words you want to hear
you will never hear from me
I'll never say "happy anniversary"
never stay to say "happy anniversary"
so I think I need a new heart ohhh
I think I need a new heart ohhh
I think I need a new heart ohhh
I think I need a new heart ohhh
Give me time


10. No One Will Ever Love You

If you don't mind why don't you mind Where is your sense of indignation You
are too kind Much too kind Where is the madness that you promised me Where
is the dream for which I paid dearly When things go wrong I sing along It
is the nature of the business But you're not here to make my sad songs more
sincere No one will ever love you honestly No one will ever love you
for your honesty No one will ever love you honestly No one will ever
love you for your honesty


11. Parades Go By

I'll linger here your ring upon my finger dear and sing till dawn
a song of you and me and what and why for time is all I have to keep
between these walls and half asleep the days go by a million little
nights and days go by and I don't mind Parades go by So many beautiful
parades go by Leave me behind I'll sit and stare how could I venture
anywhere and let the centuries fall where they may but never die
for I have loved and so I lost the world above beyond the moss...

ένας τύπος έχει φτιάξει μερικά εκπληκτικά φιλμάκια για κάποια από τα τραγούδια του 69LS, αξίζει πραγματικά να τα δείτε..

1.[crazy for you but] not that crazy



2. the death of ferdinand de saussure



3. let's pretend we're bunny rabbits



4. xylophone -> φοβερή ανατροπή στο τέλος, δεν το συζητώ..



από μια εμφάνιση στο Cambridge το 2004 [lucky bastards]

1. yeah! oh yeah!



2. if you don't cry



3. i don't believe you

αφήστε λοιπόν ότι κάνετε, κάντε αναστροφή στην Τσιμισκή, κλέψτε, πουλήστε όλα τα ρούχα σας που θα'λεγε και ο Morrissey, αποκτήστε όμως αυτό το άλμπουμ. [α! και όταν παραγγείλετε το neon bible από τη Merge, μην ξεχάσετε να βάλετε στο καλάθι σας και το βιβλιαράκι με τη συνέντευξη του Stephin όπου μιλά για την ιστορία των τραγουδιών, ένα προς ένα, απ'όπου και οι ενδεικτικές φωτογραφίες]

κι αφού το μάθετε απ'έξω, αν [δεν] ξέρετε ένα μουσικό όργανο, ΝΑ τι μπορείτε να κάνετε..

1. the book of love



2. parades go by



3. boa constrictor

a. wikipedia

b. ότι μα ότι θα θέλατε να μάθετε για το 69LS

c. stephinsongs

d. το βιβλίο των 69LS [φυσικά υπάρχει και τέτοιο]

e. στίχοι

f. ένα blog

[του χρόνου πάντως, καλά να είμαστε, μια καρδούλα σε φωτογραφία, κι όξω απ'την παράγκα.. σας το λέω από τώρα να'μαστε εξηγημένοι..]