...e, do nada, a memória de um salmo...

 

... souvenir de la musique roxie ...

 

d e s c u b r a
a s 
s e t e
d i f e r e n ç a s :



entre estas duas interpretações de uma canção a propósito de algo mais do que isto



a) a original, de cinco maníacos

 
b) a cópia, de dez mil maníacos

esta velha balada de bryan ferry fechava o album "manifesto", na reunião da banda no final da década de setenta. 
e continua a apetecer-me rodopiar enquanto a ouço. aliás, a apetecer rodopiar-me.

Now the ballroom´s empty

Everybody I have known

Has been and gone

With the music over

Here am I

A shadow echoing on

Spin me round…

Now there must be something

In what they say of all things

Great and small

There´s a dozen roses

Lying almost dying

To say it all

Spin me round…

A nether world dancing toy

I´m wired for sound

Does it matter to me

Who turns the key?

Now if life is for living

Then the way is clear

But I don´t understand

Why the dream has ended

Yet I can´t wake up

Lend a hand -
Spin me round…

esta é para mim a grande canção do disco de estreia dos roxy music. na verdade é uma espécie de colagem de três temas (o primeiro vagamente country, o segundo marcado pelo saxofone e o refrão repetido da última parte) mas estava ali, desde logo, toda a essência do que viria a ser a música do grupo.

If there is something that I might find

Look around corners

Try to find peace of mind I say

Where would you go if you were me

Try to keep a straight course not easy

Somebody special looking at me

A certain reaction we find

What should it try to be I mean

If there are many

Meaning the same

Be specific just a game

I would do anything for you

I would climb mountains

I would swim all the oceans blue

I would walk a thousand miles

Reveal my secrets

More than enough for me to share

I would put roses round our door

Sit in the garden

Growing potatoes by the score

Shake your hair girl with your ponytail

Takes me right back (when you were young)

Throw your precious gifts into the air

Watch them fall down (when you were young)

Lift up your feet and put them on the ground

You used to walk upon (when you were young)

Lift up your feet and put them on the ground

The hills were higher (when we were young)

Lift up your feet and put them on the ground

The trees were taller (when you were young)

Lift up your feet and put them on the ground

The grass was greener (when you were young)

Lift up your feet and put them on the ground

You used to walk upon (when you were young)

pensa-se na arcaica palavra iraniana hamazan que significava "guerreira" e depois na mítica Αμαζών que parece significar "sem seio" (evocando a lenda de mulheres a cavalo que cortavam um seio para maior destreza no manejo dos arcos e flechas). depois ouve-se aquele fabuloso riff inicial da guitarra de phil manzanera - que permanece como um dos melhores cartões de visita pour la musique roxie. e tudo faz de algum modo todo o sentido.

Amazona

Is a zone where

There is no doubt

No more fall-out -

Why don't you step

Through the mirror and see'

From Arizona

To Eldorado

Sure is a mighty long way.

Hey little girl

Is something wrong'

I know it's hard

For you to get along

The bell-tower rings

It tolls a hollow sound

But your castles in Spain

Still may be realised

And longings more profound.

You see - every cloud

Has a silver lining

And sometimes paradise

Around your corner lies.

In Amazona everything is nice

Little one - come take my hand'

I'll try to help you there -

I'll take you there.

Amazona's

Getting closer

Oh soon you'll see.

Journey's over

We're almost there

provavelmente esta foi a primeira canção dos roxy music de que gostei mesmo. sei exactamente quando a ouvi pela primeira vez: tinha ido estudar uma tarde para casa de um colega e um irmão dele, depois do lanche, pôs este disco a tocar. gosto de pensar que é uma imagem nacarada, inscrita a madrepérola na memória.

Turn the lights down / Way down low / Turn up the music / Hi as fi can go

All the gang's here/ Everyone you know / It's a crazy scene

Hey there just look over your shoulder / Get the picture' /No no no no .......(Yes)

Walk a tightrope / Your life-sign-line / Such a bright hope / Right place, right time

What's your number' / Never you mind / Take a powder

But hang on a minute what's coming round the corner' / Have you a future'

No no no no .......(Yes)

Well I've been up all night again / Party-time wasting is too much fun

Then I step back thinking / Of life's inner meaning / And my latest fling

It's the same old story / All love and glory / It's a pantomime

If you're looking for love / In a looking glass world / It's pretty hard to find

Oh mother of pearl / I wouldn't trade you / For another girl

Divine intervention / Always my intention / So I take my time

I've been looking for something / I've always wanted / But was never mine

But now I've seen that something / Just out of reach - glowing - / Very Holy grail

Oh mother of pearl / Lustrous lady / Of a sacred world

Thus: even Zarathustra / Another-time-loser / Could believe in you

With every goddess a let down / Every idol a bring down / It gets you down

But the search for perfection / Your own predilection /Goes on and on and on and on

Canadian Club love / A place in the Country / Everyone's ideal

But you are my favorita / And a place in your heart dear / Makes me feel more real

Oh mother of pearl / I wouldn't change you / For the whole world

You're highbrow, holy / With lots of soul / Melancholy shimmering

Serpentine sleekness / Was always my weakness / Like a simple tune

But no dilettante / Filigree fancy / Beats the plastic you

Career girl cover / Exposed and another / Slips right into-view

Oh looking for love / In a looking glass world / Is pretty hard for you

Few throwaway kisses / The boomerang misses / Spin round and round

Fall on featherbed quilted / Faced with silk / Softly stuffed eider down

Take refuge in pleasure / Just give me your future / We'll forget your past

Oh mother of pearl / Submarine lover / In a shrinking world

Oh lonely dreamer / Your choker provokes / A picture cameo

Oh mother of pearl / So so semi-precious / In your detached world

Oh mother of pearl / I wouldn't trade you / For another girl

voltei a recordar os roxy music há tempos - e fui dar com esta canção. 
diz-se que o senhor ferry se inspirou na supermodel texana jerry hall
quando escreveu sobre essa rosa da pradaria, que depois foi sua namorada
- e mais tarde se mudou para o jardim do senhor jagger, com quem veio
a casar e ter quatro filhos. ah, a vida das flores...

Texas That's where I belong It seems to me

Texas Lonesome star Shine on the big country

Texas With open skies And you for company

Texas Oh prairie rose How happy I should be

Hey hey you can take it from me

Hey hey I'll be coming, you'll see

Hey hey oh what a state to be in

Hey hey you're tantalizing me

Texas I will compose In fancy rhyme or just plain prose

Texas A song of praise To you prairie rose

Texas Though I'm not sure I can explain your strange allure

Texas Oh Prairie rose A crown of thorns a scented flower

Hey hey I'd better leave right away

Hey hey I can hear you calling me

Prairie rose

esta canção para uma europa sonhada há quarenta anos é muito mais que a história de alguém sentado num café revivendo a recordação de uma relação passada ainda presente. os versos finais em latim e francês são uma delícia.



Here as I sit at this empty cafe, thinking of you,
I remember all those moments,
Lost in wonder,
That we'll never find again.

Though the world is my oyster, it's only a shell
Full of memories.
And here by the Seine,
Notre Dame casts a long, lonely shadow.

Now, only sorrow.
No tomorrow.
There's no today for us.
Nothing is there for us to share
But yesterday.

These cities may change, but there always remains
My obsession.
Through silken waters, my gondola glides.
And the bridge, it sighs.

I remember all those moments,
Lost in wonder,
That we'll never find again.
There's no more time for us.
Nothing is there
For us to share
But yesterday.

Ecce momenta 
Illa mirabilia 
Quae captabit 
In aeternum 
Memor 
Modo dolores 
Sunt in dies 
Non est reliquum 
Vero tantum 
Comminicamus 
Perdita 
Tous ces moments 
Perdus dans l`enchantement 
Qui ne reviendront 
Jamais 
Pas d´aujourd´hui pour nous 
Pour nous il n´y a rien 
A partager 
Sauf le passé

auto-retrato com sereia 
(período azul)





Surely you cannot be leading me on? Well if that's so, however again will I love? How could I believe again? How can I hold on? Sentimental fool Knowing that fate is cruel,  You ought to forget it. Yes, I know it's true, I've seen what love can do, But I don't regret it. Oh, you silly thing - Don't you see what's happening? You're better without it. No, that's not the case - If you were in my place, You never would doubt it. Sentimental fool Who broke the golden rule, You couldn't resist it. Though it's all in vain, I'd do it all again Just to relive one minute. A woman in love Can make you feel good - You know what you're living for. She'll give you so much And keep you in touch With all that's worth living for. Oh once she gets in Through thick and through thin She'll show you what living's for. The rhythm of love It must go on Can't stop. The beat of your heart Is like a drum Will it stop?

"oh no! are pink suits trendy again?!..."

d e s c u b r a
a s
s e t e
d i f e r e n ç a s :

ainda me lembro da sensação causada pela capa de “country life”, o quarto album dos roxy music, 
em que a transparência da indumentária não deixava transparecer a presença desta canção gloriosa.

alguns anos mais tarde pude assistir a esta tourné da banda: 
o que se perdeu em lingerie ganhou-se em presença feminina nos grandes músicos em palco.

All your cares

Now they seem

Oh so far away

All your fears

I fear I once shared

Now I know

There's a future

For all of us

Not so long ago

I was so scared

You seemed so sad

I could see

Through your twisted smile

So unsure

Always confused

Pale blue eyes

Gazing down

From your ivory tower

Through the haze

All broken and bruised

Then: out of the blue

Love came rushing in

Out of the sky

Came the sun

Out of left field

Came a lucky day

Out of the blue

No more pain

I don't mind

If it's only

A passing craze

Throwaway lines

Often ring true

If I were you

I would stay

For a little while

I you were me

Would you walk out

In style?