Выход
альбома: октябрь 1991 (США, Великобритания)
BORDER SONG (ЭРИК КЛЭПТОН)
Holy Moses I have been removed
I have seen the spectre he has been here too
Distant cousin from down the line
Brand of people who ain't my kind
Holy Moses I have been removed
Holy Moses I have been deceived
Now the wind has changed direction and I'll have to leave
Won't you please excuse my frankness but it's not my cup of tea
Holy Moses I have been deceived
I'm going back to the border
Where my affairs, my affairs ain't abused
I can't take any more bad water
I've been poisoned from my head down to my shoes
Holy Moses I have been deceived
Holy Moses let us live in peace
Let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease
There's a man over there what's his colour I don't care
He's my brother let us live in peace
He's my brother let us live in peace
He's my brother let us live in peace
I have seen the spectre he has been here too
Distant cousin from down the line
Brand of people who ain't my kind
Holy Moses I have been removed
Holy Moses I have been deceived
Now the wind has changed direction and I'll have to leave
Won't you please excuse my frankness but it's not my cup of tea
Holy Moses I have been deceived
I'm going back to the border
Where my affairs, my affairs ain't abused
I can't take any more bad water
I've been poisoned from my head down to my shoes
Holy Moses I have been deceived
Holy Moses let us live in peace
Let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease
There's a man over there what's his colour I don't care
He's my brother let us live in peace
He's my brother let us live in peace
He's my brother let us live in peace
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
ROCKET MAN (I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE A
LONG, LONG TIME (КЕЙТ БУШ)
She packed my bags last night pre-flight
Zero hour nine a.m.
And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the earth so much I miss my wife
It's lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science I don't understand
It's just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man
And I think it's gonna be a long long time...
Zero hour nine a.m.
And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the earth so much I miss my wife
It's lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science I don't understand
It's just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man
And I think it's gonna be a long long time...
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
COME DOWN I TIME (СТИНГ)
In the quiet silent seconds I turned off the light switch
And I came down to meet you in the half light the moon left
While a cluster of night jars sang some songs out of tune
A mantle of bright light shone down from a room
Come down in time I still hear her say
So clear in my ear like it was today
Come down in time was the message she gave
Come down in time and I'll meet you half way
Well I don't know if I should have heard her as yet
But a true love like hers is a hard love to get
And I've walked most all the way and I ain't heard her call
And I'm getting to thinking if she's coming at all
Come down in time I still hear her say
So clear in my ear like it was today
Come down in time was the message she gave
Come down in time and I'll meet you half way
There are women and women and some hold you tight
While some leave you counting the stars in the night
And I came down to meet you in the half light the moon left
While a cluster of night jars sang some songs out of tune
A mantle of bright light shone down from a room
Come down in time I still hear her say
So clear in my ear like it was today
Come down in time was the message she gave
Come down in time and I'll meet you half way
Well I don't know if I should have heard her as yet
But a true love like hers is a hard love to get
And I've walked most all the way and I ain't heard her call
And I'm getting to thinking if she's coming at all
Come down in time I still hear her say
So clear in my ear like it was today
Come down in time was the message she gave
Come down in time and I'll meet you half way
There are women and women and some hold you tight
While some leave you counting the stars in the night
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING (THE
WHO)
It's getting late have you seen my mates
Ma tell me when the boys get here
It's seven o'clock and I want to rock
Want to get a belly full of beer
My old man's drunker than a barrel full of monkeys
And my old lady she don't care
My sister looks cute in her braces and boots
A handful of grease in her hair
Don't give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for fighting
Get a little action in
Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Gonna set this dance alight
`Cause Saturday night's the night I like
Saturday night's alright alright alright
Well they're packed pretty tight in here tonight
I'm looking for a dolly who'll see me right
I may use a little muscle to get what I need
I may sink a little drink and shout out "She's with me!"
A couple of the sound that I really like
Are the sounds of a switchblade and a motorbike
I'm a juvenile product of the working class
Whose best friend floats in the bottom of a glass
Ma tell me when the boys get here
It's seven o'clock and I want to rock
Want to get a belly full of beer
My old man's drunker than a barrel full of monkeys
And my old lady she don't care
My sister looks cute in her braces and boots
A handful of grease in her hair
Don't give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for fighting
Get a little action in
Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Gonna set this dance alight
`Cause Saturday night's the night I like
Saturday night's alright alright alright
Well they're packed pretty tight in here tonight
I'm looking for a dolly who'll see me right
I may use a little muscle to get what I need
I may sink a little drink and shout out "She's with me!"
A couple of the sound that I really like
Are the sounds of a switchblade and a motorbike
I'm a juvenile product of the working class
Whose best friend floats in the bottom of a glass
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
CROCODILE ROCK (THE BEACH BOYS)
I remember when rock was young
Me and Suzie had so much fun
holding hands and skimming stones
Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock
we were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock
Well Crocodile Rocking is something shocking
when your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will
Oh Lawdy mama those Friday nights
when Suzie wore her dresses tight
and the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight
But the years went by and the rock just died
Suzie went and left us for some foreign guy
Long nights crying by the record machine
dreaming of my Chevy and my old blue jeans
But they'll never kill the thrills we've got
burning up to the Crocodile Rock
Learning fast as the weeks went past
we really thought the Crocodile Rock would last
Me and Suzie had so much fun
holding hands and skimming stones
Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock
we were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock
Well Crocodile Rocking is something shocking
when your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will
Oh Lawdy mama those Friday nights
when Suzie wore her dresses tight
and the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight
But the years went by and the rock just died
Suzie went and left us for some foreign guy
Long nights crying by the record machine
dreaming of my Chevy and my old blue jeans
But they'll never kill the thrills we've got
burning up to the Crocodile Rock
Learning fast as the weeks went past
we really thought the Crocodile Rock would last
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
DANIEL (WILSON PHILLIPS)
Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
They say Spain is pretty though I've never been
Well Daniel says it's the best place that he's ever seen
Oh and he should know, he's been there enough
Lord I miss Daniel, oh I miss him so much
Daniel my brother you are older than me
Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal
Your eyes have died but you see more than I
Daniel you're a star in the face of the sky
Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Oh God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
They say Spain is pretty though I've never been
Well Daniel says it's the best place that he's ever seen
Oh and he should know, he's been there enough
Lord I miss Daniel, oh I miss him so much
Daniel my brother you are older than me
Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal
Your eyes have died but you see more than I
Daniel you're a star in the face of the sky
Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Oh God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD (ДЖО КОКЕР)
What have I got to do to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there
What do I do to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over
And sorry seems to be the hardest word
It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word
What do I do to make you love me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do
What have I got to do
When sorry seems to be the hardest word
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there
What do I do to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over
And sorry seems to be the hardest word
It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word
What do I do to make you love me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do
What have I got to do
When sorry seems to be the hardest word
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
LEVON (ДЖОН БОН ДЖОВИ)
Levon wears his war wound like a crown
He calls his child Jesus
`Cause he likes the name
And he sends him to the finest school in town
Levon, Levon likes his money
He makes a lot they say
Spend his days counting
In a garage by the motorway
He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day
When the New York Times said God is dead
And the war's begun
Alvin Tostig has a son today
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
He shall be Levon
Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leaving Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies
He calls his child Jesus
`Cause he likes the name
And he sends him to the finest school in town
Levon, Levon likes his money
He makes a lot they say
Spend his days counting
In a garage by the motorway
He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day
When the New York Times said God is dead
And the war's begun
Alvin Tostig has a son today
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
He shall be Levon
Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leaving Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
THE BITCH IS BACK (ТИНА ТЁРНЕР)
I was justified when I was five
Raising cane, I spit in your eye
Times are changing, now the poor get fat
But the fever's gonna catch you when the bitch gets back
Eat meat on Friday that's alright
Even like steak on a Saturday night
I can bitch the best at your social do's
I get high in the evening sniffing pots of glue
I'm a bitch, I'm a bitch
Oh the bitch is back
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I can bitch, I can bitch
`Cause I'm better than you
It's the way that I move
The things that I do
I entertain by picking brains
Sell my soul by dropping names
I don't like those, my God, what's that
Oh it's full of nasty habits when the bitch gets back
Raising cane, I spit in your eye
Times are changing, now the poor get fat
But the fever's gonna catch you when the bitch gets back
Eat meat on Friday that's alright
Even like steak on a Saturday night
I can bitch the best at your social do's
I get high in the evening sniffing pots of glue
I'm a bitch, I'm a bitch
Oh the bitch is back
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I can bitch, I can bitch
`Cause I'm better than you
It's the way that I move
The things that I do
I entertain by picking brains
Sell my soul by dropping names
I don't like those, my God, what's that
Oh it's full of nasty habits when the bitch gets back
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
PHILADELPHIA
FREEDOM (ДЭРИЛ ХОЛЛ, ДЖОН ОУТС )
I used to be a rolling stone
You know if the cause was right
I'd leave to find the answer on the road
I used to be a heart beating for someone
But the times have changed
The less I say the more my work gets done
`Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom
From the day that I was born I've waved the flag
Philadelphia freedom took me knee-high to a man
Yeah gave me peace of mind my daddy never had
Oh Philadelphia freedom shine on me, I love you
Shine a light through the eyes of the ones left behind
Shine a light shine a light
Shine a light won't you shine a light
Philadelphia freedom I love you, yes I do
If you choose to you can live your life alone
Some people choose the city
Some others choose the good old family home
I like living easy without family ties
Till the whippoorwill of freedom zapped me
Right between the eyes
You know if the cause was right
I'd leave to find the answer on the road
I used to be a heart beating for someone
But the times have changed
The less I say the more my work gets done
`Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom
From the day that I was born I've waved the flag
Philadelphia freedom took me knee-high to a man
Yeah gave me peace of mind my daddy never had
Oh Philadelphia freedom shine on me, I love you
Shine a light through the eyes of the ones left behind
Shine a light shine a light
Shine a light won't you shine a light
Philadelphia freedom I love you, yes I do
If you choose to you can live your life alone
Some people choose the city
Some others choose the good old family home
I like living easy without family ties
Till the whippoorwill of freedom zapped me
Right between the eyes
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
YOUR SONG (РОД СТЮАРТ)
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on
So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on
So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME (ОЛЕТА АДАМС)
I can't light no more of your darkness
All my pictures seem to fade to black and white
I'm growing tired and time stands still before me
Frozen here on the ladder of my life
Too late to save myself from falling
I took a chance and changed your way of life
But you misread my meaning when I met you
Closed the door and left me blinded by the light
Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
But losing everything is like the sun going down on me
I can't find, oh the right romantic line
But see me once and see the way I feel
Don't discard me just because you think I mean you harm
But these cuts I have they need love to help them heal
All my pictures seem to fade to black and white
I'm growing tired and time stands still before me
Frozen here on the ladder of my life
Too late to save myself from falling
I took a chance and changed your way of life
But you misread my meaning when I met you
Closed the door and left me blinded by the light
Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
But losing everything is like the sun going down on me
I can't find, oh the right romantic line
But see me once and see the way I feel
Don't discard me just because you think I mean you harm
But these cuts I have they need love to help them heal
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER (БРЮС ХОРНСБИ И THE RANGE)
I can see very well
There's a boat on the reef with a broken back
And I can see it very well
There's a joke and I know it very well
It's one of those that I told you long ago
Take my word I'm a madman don't you know
Once a fool had a good part in the play
If it's so would I still be here today
It's quite peculiar in a funny sort of way
They think it's very funny everything I say
Get a load of him, he's so insane
You better get your coat dear
It looks like rain
We'll come again next Thursday afternoon
The In-laws hope they'll see you very soon
But is it in your conscience that you're after
Another glimpse of the madman across the water
I can see very well
There's a boat on the reef with a broken back
And I can see it very well
There's a joke and I know it very well
It's one of those that I told you long ago
Take my word I'm a madman don't you know
The ground's a long way down but I need more
Is the nightmare black
or are the windows painted
Will they come again next week
Can my mind really take it
There's a boat on the reef with a broken back
And I can see it very well
There's a joke and I know it very well
It's one of those that I told you long ago
Take my word I'm a madman don't you know
Once a fool had a good part in the play
If it's so would I still be here today
It's quite peculiar in a funny sort of way
They think it's very funny everything I say
Get a load of him, he's so insane
You better get your coat dear
It looks like rain
We'll come again next Thursday afternoon
The In-laws hope they'll see you very soon
But is it in your conscience that you're after
Another glimpse of the madman across the water
I can see very well
There's a boat on the reef with a broken back
And I can see it very well
There's a joke and I know it very well
It's one of those that I told you long ago
Take my word I'm a madman don't you know
The ground's a long way down but I need more
Is the nightmare black
or are the windows painted
Will they come again next week
Can my mind really take it
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
SACRIFICE (ШИНЕЙД О’КОННОР)
It's a human sign
When things go wrong
When the scent of her lingers
And temptation's strong
Into the boundary
Of each married man
Sweet deceit comes calling
And negativity lands
Cold cold heart
Hard done by you
Some things look better baby
Just passing through
And it's no sacrifice
Just a simple word
It's two hearts living
In two separate worlds
But it's no sacrifice
No sacrifice
It's no sacrifice at all
Mutual misunderstanding
After the fact
Sensitivity builds a prison
In the final act
We lose direction
No stone unturned
No tears to damn you
When jealousy burns
When things go wrong
When the scent of her lingers
And temptation's strong
Into the boundary
Of each married man
Sweet deceit comes calling
And negativity lands
Cold cold heart
Hard done by you
Some things look better baby
Just passing through
And it's no sacrifice
Just a simple word
It's two hearts living
In two separate worlds
But it's no sacrifice
No sacrifice
It's no sacrifice at all
Mutual misunderstanding
After the fact
Sensitivity builds a prison
In the final act
We lose direction
No stone unturned
No tears to damn you
When jealousy burns
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
BURN DOWN THE MISSION (ФИЛ КОЛЛИНЗ)
You tell me there's an angel in your tree
Did he say he'd come to call on me
For things are getting desperate in our home
Living in the parish of the restless folks I know
Everybody now bring your family down to the riverside
Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide
Behind four walls of stone the rich man sleeps
It's time we put the flame torch to their keep
Burn down the mission
If we're gonna stay alive
Watch the black smoke fly to heaven
See the red flame light the sky
Burn down the mission
Burn it down to stay alive
It's our only chance of living
Take all you need to live inside
Deep in the woods the squirrels are out today
My wife cried when they came to take me away
But what more could I do just to keep her warm
Than burn burn burn burn down the mission walls
Did he say he'd come to call on me
For things are getting desperate in our home
Living in the parish of the restless folks I know
Everybody now bring your family down to the riverside
Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide
Behind four walls of stone the rich man sleeps
It's time we put the flame torch to their keep
Burn down the mission
If we're gonna stay alive
Watch the black smoke fly to heaven
See the red flame light the sky
Burn down the mission
Burn it down to stay alive
It's our only chance of living
Take all you need to live inside
Deep in the woods the squirrels are out today
My wife cried when they came to take me away
But what more could I do just to keep her warm
Than burn burn burn burn down the mission walls
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
TONIGHT (ДЖОРДЖ МАЙКЛ)
Tonight
Do we have to fight again
Tonight
I just want to go to sleep
Turn out the light
But you want to carry grudges
Nine times out of ten
I see the storm approaching
Long before the rain starts falling
Tonight
Does it have to be the old thing
Tonight
It's late, too late
To chase the rainbow that you're after
I'd like to find a compromise
And place it in your hands
My eyes are blind, my ears can't hear
And I cannot find the time
Tonight
Just let the curtains close in silence
Tonight
Why not approach with less defiance
The man who'd love to see you smile
Who'd love to see you smile
Tonight
Do we have to fight again
Tonight
I just want to go to sleep
Turn out the light
But you want to carry grudges
Nine times out of ten
I see the storm approaching
Long before the rain starts falling
Tonight
Does it have to be the old thing
Tonight
It's late, too late
To chase the rainbow that you're after
I'd like to find a compromise
And place it in your hands
My eyes are blind, my ears can't hear
And I cannot find the time
Tonight
Just let the curtains close in silence
Tonight
Why not approach with less defiance
The man who'd love to see you smile
Who'd love to see you smile
Tonight
Музыка: Элтон Джон
Стихи: Берни Топин
«Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John and
Bernie Taupin» отдавал должное одному знаменательному факту. В 1992 году сотрудничество Элтона и
Берни достигнет возраста зрелости — двадцати пяти лет.
«Two Rooms» планировался давно, начиная с двадцатилетнего юбилея совместного
творчества. В команду Элтона для руководства проектом вернулся Стив Браун,
который работал с музыкантом в первые годы его успеха. В сотрудничестве с
компанией «Poly Gram International Music Publishing», которая теперь владела всеми правами на записи, сделанные до 1974
года (она купила их у «Dick James Music»), Браун собрал шестьдесят артистов, творчество которых охватывало четыре
десятилетия, чтобы они спели на «серебряном юбилее» поэта и композитора. Когда
проект «Two Rooms» близился к завершению, Браун и «PolyGram» начали рекламную кампанию, выпустив сопутствующий видеоклип и
разрешив транслировать некоторые песни по радио и по кабельным телевизионным
сетям.
Вообще Элтон не любил ничего делать в
рекламных целях. Для него маркетинговое продвижение музыки заключалось только
в сессиях звукозаписи и гастрольных турне. Он мог появиться в телевизионном или
радиоэфире, чтобы представить новое произведение, но это чаще случалось дома, в
Великобритании, чем в Соединенных Штатах, и только тогда, когда это доставляло
ему удовольствие. Он носил одежду, которая ему нравилась, и говорил то, что
думал. В 1990 году он решил заняться своими личными проблемами не для того,
чтобы способствовать увеличению продаж своих песен, а потому, что пришло время
это сделать. Случилось так, что, перед тем как он отправился в больницу, его
карьера была вновь на подъеме.
Однако Элтон не мог спорить с «Two Rooms». Их с Берни вполне устраивало, когда
другие записывают их песни, и основной целью «Two Rooms» стало ускорение этого процесса. «В
век поющих композиторов люди считают, что им нужна только оригинальная версия,
— заметил глава «PolyGram International Music Publishing» Дэвид Хокмен. — Это придуманный ими
самими миф, который нужно преодолеть». Элтон постоянно повторял, что ни у кого,
кроме него, песня Джона и Топина не становилась хитом. Наибольшего успеха добилась
Арета Франклин, когда в 1970 году ее версия «Border Song» заняла 37-ю строчку хит-парада.
Слишком многие песни Джона и Топина в
исполнении Других артистов были преданы незаслуженному забвению —«Country Comfort» и «Let Me Be Your Саг» Рода Стюарта, «The Rumour» Оливии Ньютон-Джон, «Candle in the Wind» Сэнди Денни. Слишком мало суперзвезд, способных предложить достойную
интерпретацию песен Элтона, записывали их. Кроме того, существовало огромное
количество неполноценных записей песен Джона и Топина, например, американский
альбом «The Elton John Songbook» Пола Виндзора и его оркестра, а также английский диск под названием «Bobby Crush Plays Elton John». Альбом «Two Rooms» был призван доказать, что песни Элтона и Берни могут с успехом
исполняться ведущими артистами, стремящимися по-своему интерпретировать их.
Достиг ли
альбом «Two Rooms» этой цели? По выражению журнала «Billboard», альбом «Two Rooms» представляет собой «разношерстный
сборник, который удовлетворит или расстроит покупателя, в зависимости от того,
насколько ему нравятся оригинальные версии». Наибольшую выразительность
мелодиям Элтона придает взаимное проникновение вокала и аккомпанирующих голосу
инструментов. Эта гармония отсутствует в большинстве песен «Two Rooms».
Среди неудачных работ можно назвать «Levon» в исполнении Джона Бон Джови,
механически точную копию оригинала, которая разбивается вдребезги об
американский акцент певца. Разочаровала также «Madman Across the Water» Брюса Хорнсби (эта песня требует
дьявольски сложного вокала), страдающая от вялого исполнения, a «Burn Down the Mission» в интерпретации Фила Коллинза
(композиция, предполагающая необузданный пианизм) страдает от слабой фортепьянной
игры. Объединение Хорнсби и Коллинза для исполнения любой из этих двух песен
могло бы дать блестящий результат.
Были и
удачные моменты. Кейт Буш превратила «Rocket Мап» в буйное рэгги. Сдержанная «Соmе down in Time» Стинга, где Элтон исполняет партию
фортепьяно, успешно пробуждает в памяти сюрреализм оригинала. Группа «The Who» ставит на «Saturday Night's Alright» собственный отпечаток воинственного
рока.
Однако, несмотря на эти удачи, альбом
не смог достойно проиллюстрировать карьеру Элтона и Берни. В нем не нашли
своего отражения годы работы с Джеффеном, и только шесть из шестнадцати песен
были взяты из запасов компании «Big Pig», которая была основана после
расставания с «Dick James Music» — вероятно, из-за того, что главную роль в проекте играла «PolyGram».
Сопутствующий
«Two
Rooms» видеоклип,
который 23 ноября вошел в чарт музыкальных клипов американского журнала «Billboard» под номером 3, более полно отражал
творческий путь поэта и музыканта. В него были включены редкие и довольно
распространенные кадры концертных выступлений, воспоминания Элтона и Берни, а
также рассказы матерей об их детских годах. Точно так же наводили на размышления
лестные отзывы разных артистов, включая тех, кто не принимал участия в записи
альбома, например Алекса Роуза (он назвал музыку Элтона классикой) и Нейла Янга
(он вспоминал выступления Элтона в 1970 году в «Трубадуре»). Видеоклип был
показал в специальном выпуске передачи «In Concert '91», которую вел на канале ABC-TV Сильвестр Сталлоне.
Несколько песен из альбома «Two Rooms» транслировались по радио. В
Соединенных Штатах эфир был заполнен «Rocket Мап» в исполнении Кейт Буш, «Don't Let the Sun» Олеты Адаме, «Levon» Бон Джови и «Daniel» Уилсона Фил-липса. Их исполняли
достаточно часто, и они имели все шансы попасть в «Hot 100», если бы были выпущены в виде
синглов. «Your Song» в исполнении Рода Стюарта,
единственная песня из «Two Rooms», поступившая в коммерческую продажу
в Соединенных Штатах, не попала в «Тор 40», однако весной 1992 года поднялась
до 48-го места в хит-параде. В Британии «Rocket Маn» Кейт Буш стала настоящим хитом, в
Рождество приблизившись к первой десятке. Приемы, устроенные в Лондоне и
Нью-Йорке в честь нового альбома, позволили получить дополнительные хвалебные
отклики в прессе.
Благодаря всей этой шумихе альбом «Two Rooms» не мог остаться незамеченным.
Равнодушие музыкальных обозревателей, по-прежнему не замечавших достижений
Элтона и не воспользовавшихся выходом альбома, чтобы дать глубокий анализ его
сотрудничества с Берни или его сольной карьеры, не остановило любителей музыки.
9 ноября 1991 года альбом дебютировал в Соединенных Штатах под номером 28 в
чарте журнала «Billboard»,
который теперь назывался «200 Top Albums». В начале следующего года он
поднялся до 18-й строчки и стал платиновым. Благодаря шумной рекламе все три
сборника лучших хитов Элтона стали подниматься в списке лучших альбомов журнала
«Billboard», и 1
февраля 1992 года альбом «Greatest Hits» вышел на первое место. (Третий сборник
хитов, занявший скромное 84-е место в 1987 году, в ноябре 1991 года получил
платиновый сертификат.) В Британии «Two Rooms» занимал первую строчку в списке
двадцати лучших альбомов.
Label: Polydor
Комментариев нет :
Отправить комментарий