LISTENING TO ALANIS

Oggi non ho molta voglia di parlare e nemmeno di raccontare qualcosa. Di impegnarmi, diciamo. Mi vedrei bene in macchina in giro, col finestrino giù, col venticello che entra sottile, con il nuvolo-semi-sole che scalda un pò. Così in silenzio.

C'è un disco che mi piace ri-ascoltare, spesso nei momenti come questo di non-impegno, lo trovo sempre attuale, vivace, anche un pò incazzoso ma nello stesso tempo forte, potente, che contiene una spinta che dovrà essere sprigionata, prima o poi (mi sto descrivendo forse?).

Eccolo, è Jagged Little Pill (1995) di Alanis Morissette. Grande tracklist. Grandi pezzi. Ruvidi e morbidi. Che un pò ti accarezzano ed un pò ti bastonano. (Si, mi sto descrivendo.... :) ). Testi che ti descrivono, che parlano di cose che senti quando tu non le riesci a focalizzare e descrivere. Dentro c'è tutto. La speranza. L'amore. Il viaggio. La consapevolezza. L'ironia e molte altre cose. Non smetterò mai di riascoltarlo, soprattutto pezzi come questi qua.


Perfect

Sometimes is never quite enough
If you're flawless, then you'll win my love
Don't forget to win first place
Don't forget to keep that smile on your face

Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
And make me prouder

How long before you screw it up
How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up
With everything I do for you
The least you can do is keep quiet

Be a good girl
You've gotta try a little harder
That simply wasn't good enough
To make us proud

I'll live through you
I'll make you what I never was
If you're the best, then maybe so am I
Compared to him compared to her
I'm doing this for your own damn good
You'll make up for what I blew
What's the problem, why are you crying

Be a good boy
Push a little farther now
That wasn't fast enough
To make us happy
We'll love you just the way you are
If you're perfect
_____________________________



Hand In My Pocket

I'm broke but I'm happy
I'm poor but I'm kind
I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah

I'm high but I'm grounded
I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed
I'm lost but I'm hopeful baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine fine fine
I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five

I feel drunk but I'm sober
I'm young and I'm underpaid
I'm tired but I'm working, yeah

I care but I'm restless
I'm here but I'm really gone
I'm wrong and I'm sorry baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be quite alright
'Cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette

What it all comes down to
Is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet
'Cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a peace sign

I'm free but I'm focused
I'm green but I'm wise
I'm hard but I'm friendly, baby

I'm sad but I'm laughing
I'm brave but I'm chicken shit
I'm sick but I'm pretty, baby

And what it all boils down to
Is that no one's really got it figured out just yet
But I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano

What it all comes down to my friends, yeah
Is that everything's just fine fine fine
'Cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxi cab
_____________________________



You Learn

I recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone, yeah
I recommend walking around naked in your living room, yeah

Swallow it down ( what a jagged little pill )
It feels so good ( swimming in your stomach )
Wait until the dust settles

You live you learn
You love you learn
You cry you learn
You lose you learn
You bleed you learn
You scream you learn

I recommend biting off more than you can chew to anyone
I certainly do
I recommend sticking your foot in your mouth at any time
Feel free

Throw it down ( the caution blocks you from the wind )
Hold it up ( to the rays )
You wait and see when the smoke clear

You live you learn
You love you learn
You cry you learn
You lose you learn
You bleed you learn
You scream you learn

Wear it out ( the way a three-year-old would do )
Melt it down ( you're gonna have to eventually anyway )
The fire trucks are coming up around the bend

You live you learn
You love you learn
You cry you learn
You lose you learn
You bleed you learn
You scream you learn

You grieve you learn
You choke you learn
You laugh you learn
You choose you learn
You pray you learn
You ask you learn
You live you learn
_____________________________



Ironic

An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon two minutes too late
Isn't it ironic, don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought, it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids good-bye
He waited his whole damned life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought
"Well isn't this nice"
And isn't it ironic...don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought, it figures

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything's okay and everything's going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up in your face

A traffic jam when you're already late
A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It's meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife

And isn't it ironic, don't you think
A little too ironic, and yeah I really do think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought, it figures

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out