Álbum: Human Touch
Artista: Bruce Springsteen
- Fecha de lanzamiento: 31 de Marzo de 1992
- Sello Discográfico: Columbia
- Compositores: Bruce Springsteen, Roy Bittan
- Productores: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Roy Bittan
Antecedentes: Un Nuevo Comienzo
El final de la década de los 80 fue un período de profundos cambios para Bruce Springsteen. Se había divorciado de Julianne Phillips, se había casado con su compañera de banda Patti Scialfa, se había mudado a Los Ángeles y, lo más sorprendente de todo, había disuelto la E Street Band en 1989. Tras casi cinco años de silencio discográfico, Springsteen regresó en 1992 con un movimiento sin precedentes: el lanzamiento simultáneo de dos álbumes de estudio, "Human Touch" y "Lucky Town".
"Human Touch" fue el resultado de un largo y difícil proceso de composición y grabación que comenzó en 1989. Springsteen se encontró luchando contra el bloqueo del escritor y decidió colaborar con músicos de sesión de Los Ángeles en lugar de su antigua banda. El álbum es un intento de crear un sonido de rock más contemporáneo y pulido, con letras que giran en torno a la búsqueda del amor, la confianza y la conexión humana en un mundo cada vez más aislado.
Proceso de Grabación sin la E Street Band
La grabación de "Human Touch" fue un proceso muy diferente para Springsteen. Trabajó principalmente con músicos de sesión de primer nivel, incluyendo al baterista Jeff Porcaro (de Toto) y al bajista Randy Jackson. El único miembro de la E Street Band que tuvo un papel importante fue el pianista Roy Bittan, quien coprodujo el álbum y ayudó a dar forma a su sonido.
El sonido del álbum es muy pulido, con una producción brillante típica del rock de principios de los 90. Hay un fuerte énfasis en los teclados y las guitarras limpias, creando un sonido de rock contemporáneo para adultos. Para algunos fans, la ausencia del sonido más crudo y orgánico de la E Street Band fue una decepción, pero el álbum fue un intento deliberado de Springsteen de explorar un nuevo territorio musical.
Análisis Musical y Temático
"Human Touch" es, en gran medida, un álbum sobre la felicidad encontrada. Después de la introspección y la duda de "Tunnel of Love", este disco explora el amor desde una perspectiva más optimista y satisfecha. Las letras hablan de la redención a través de una nueva relación y la alegría de encontrar una conexión genuina.
Musicalmente, es uno de los álbumes más accesibles y melódicos de Springsteen. Las canciones son principalmente de pop-rock de medio tiempo y baladas, con estribillos fuertes y arreglos pulcros. Es un disco menos complejo y temáticamente menos denso que sus trabajos de los 80, centrado en un sonido más directo y radiofónico.
Análisis de las Canciones Principales
"Human Touch": La canción que da título al álbum y el primer sencillo. Es un tema de pop-rock de medio tiempo que se convirtió en un éxito moderado. La letra es una súplica por la conexión y la intimidad, un tema central del disco. La canción fue nominada al Grammy a la Mejor Canción de Rock.
"57 Channels (And Nothin' On)": Una de las canciones más atípicas del álbum. Con un ritmo de bajo funky y una voz casi hablada, la canción es una sátira sobre la alienación de la era del cable y la cultura de la celebridad. Es un momento de crítica social en un álbum mayoritariamente personal.
"I Wish I Were Blind": Una balada melancólica que es una de las favoritas de los fans del álbum. La canción, sobre el dolor de ver a un antiguo amor con otra persona, muestra el lado más sensible de Springsteen como compositor.
"Real World": Una balada de piano épica que cierra el álbum en su versión original. Coescrita con Roy Bittan, la canción es una reflexión sobre la diferencia entre las fantasías románticas y la realidad del amor.
Rendimiento Comercial y Recepción Crítica
"Human Touch" fue un éxito comercial, debutando en el número 2 del Billboard 200, justo detrás de su álbum hermano, "Lucky Town". Fue certificado platino en Estados Unidos y tuvo un buen rendimiento en todo el mundo.
La recepción crítica, sin embargo, fue la más tibia de su carrera hasta ese momento. Muchos críticos y fans sintieron que el álbum era demasiado pulido y que carecía de la pasión y la urgencia de sus mejores trabajos. La ausencia de la E Street Band fue un punto de discordia para muchos. Con el tiempo, aunque todavía es considerado uno de sus trabajos menores, el álbum ha sido reevaluado por algunos por la calidad de su composición y su honestidad emocional.
La gira mundial de 1992-1993, con una nueva banda de acompañamiento, también recibió críticas mixtas, aunque fue un éxito de taquilla.
Posición en listas:
- Estados Unidos (USA): 2
- Reino Unido (UK): 1
- España: 1
- Alemania: 2
- Suecia: 1
Listado de Canciones
- Human Touch
Letra
You and me we were the pretenders We let it all slip away In the end what you don't surrender Well the world just strips away Girl, aint no kindness in the face of strangers Aint gonna find no miracles here Well you can wait on your blesses my darling I got a deal for you right here I aint looking for praise or pity I aint coming round searching for a crutch I just want someone to talk to And a little of that human touch Just a little of that human touch Aint no mercy on the streets of this town Aint no bread from heavenly skies Aint nobody drawing wine from this blood Its just you and me tonight Tell me, in a world without pity Do you think what I'm askins too much I just want something to hold on to And a little of that human touch Just a little of that human touch Oh girl that feeling of safety that you prize Well it comes at a hard hard price You can't shut off the risk and the pain Without losing the love that remains Were all riders on this train So youve been broken and youve been hurt Show me somebody who aint Yeah, I know I aint nobodys bargain But, hell, a little touch up and a little paint... You might need something to hold on to When all the answers, they don't amount to much Somebody that you could just to talk to And a little of that human touch Baby, in a world without pity Do you think what I'm askins too much I just want to feel you in my arms Share a little of that human touch Feel a little of that human touch Give me a little of that human touch - Soul Driver
Letra
Rode through forty nights of the gospels' rain Black sky pourin' snakes frogs And love in vain You were down where the river grows wider Baby let me be your soul driver Well if something in the air feels a little unkind Don't worry darlin' It'll slip your mind I'll be your gypsy joker your shotgun rider Baby let me be your soul driver Now no one knows which way love's wheel turns Will we hit it rich Or crash and burn Does fortune wait or just the black hand of fate This love potion's all we've got One toast before it's too late If the angels are unkind or the season is dark Or if in the end Love just falls apart Then here's to our destruction Baby let me be your soul driver - 57 Channels (And Nothin' On)
Letra
I bought a bourgeois house in the Hollywood hills With a trunkload of hundred thousand dollar bills Man came by to hook up my cable TV We settled in for the night my baby and me We switched 'round and 'round 'til half-past down There was fifty-seven channels and notin' on Well now home entertainment was my baby's wish So I hopped into town for a satellite dish I tied it to the top of my Japanese car I came home and I pointed it out into the stars A message came back from the great beyond There's fifty-seven channnels and nothin' on Well we might' a made some friends with some billionaires We might' a got all nice and friendly If we'd made it upstairs All I got was a note that said "Bye-bye John Our love is fifty-seven channels and nothin' on" So I bought a .44 magnum it was solid steel cast And in the blessed name of Elvis well I just let it blast 'Til my TV lay in pieces there at my feet And they bsted me for disturbin' the almighty peace Judge said "What you got in your defense son ?" "Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on" I can see by your eyes friend you're just about gone Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on Fifty-seven channels and nothin'... - Cross My Heart
Letra
First time I crossed my heart I was beggin' baby please At your bedside down on my knees When I crossed my heart When I crossed my heart I crossed my heart pretty baby over you Second time I crossed my heart Rain came in from the south I was lyin' there with something sweet and salty in my mouth When I crossed my heart When I crossed my heart When I crossed my heart pretty darlin' over you Well you may think the world's black and white And you're dirty or you're clean You better watch out you don't slip Through them spaces in between Where the night gets sticky And the sky gets black I grabbed you baby you grabbed me back And we crossed our hearts We crossed our hearts Yeah I crossed my heart... Little boys little girls They know their wrongs from their rights Once you crossed your heart You ain't ever supposed to lie Well life ain't nothin' But a cold hard ride I ain't leavin' 'til I'm satisfied I cross my heart Yeah I cross my heart Well I cross my heart pretty darlin' over you - Gloria's Eyes
Letra
I was your big man I was your prince charming King on a white horse hey now look how far I've fallen I tried to trick you yeah but baby you got wise You cut me cut me right right down to size Now I'm just a fool in Gloria's eyes Swore I'd get you back I was so sure I'd get you back life I done so many times before A little sweet talk to cover over all of the lies You came runnin' back but to my surprise Well there was somethin' gone in Gloria's eyes Well in the dark when it was just me and you I asked the question that I knew the answer to Is that a smile my little dolly on the shelf Tell me is that a smile Or is it somethin' else ? Now I work hard to prove my love is true Now I work hard and I bring it on home to you At night I pray as silently you lie Some day my love again will rise Like a shining torch in Gloria's eyes I was your big man I was your prince charming King on a white horse now look how far I've fallen - With Every Wish
Letra
Ol' catfish in the lake we called him Big Jim When I was a kid my only wish was to get my line in him Skipped church one Sunday rowed out and throw'd in my line Jim took that hook pole and me right over the side Went driftin' down past old tires and rusty cans of beer The angel of the lake whispered in my ear "Before you choose your wish son You better think first With every wish there comes a curse" I fell in love with beautiful Doreen She was the prettiest thing this old town'd ever seen I courted her and I made her mine But I grew jealous whenever another man'd Come walkin' down the line And my jealousy made me treat her hard and cruel She sighed "Bobby oh Bobby you're such a fool Don't you know before you choose your wish You'd better think first 'Cause with every wish there comes a curse" These days I sit around and laugh At the many rivers I've crossed But on the far banks there's always another forest Where a man can get lost Well there in the high trees love's bluebird glides Guiding us 'cross to another river on the other side And there someone is waitin' with a look in her eyes And though my heart's grown weary And more than a little bit shy Tonight I'll drink from her waters to quench my thirst And leave the angels to worry With every wish... - Roll of the Dice
Letra
Well I've been a losin' gambler Just throwin' snake eyes Love ain't got me downhearted I know up around the corner lies My fool's paradise In just another roll of the dice All my elevens and sevens been comin' up Sixes and nines But since I fell for you baby Been comin' on changin' times They're waitin' over the rise Just another roll of the dice I've stumbled and I know I made my mistakes But tonight I'm gonna be playin' for all of the stakes Well it's never too late so come on girl The tables are waiting You and me and lady luck well tonight We'll be celebrating Drinkin' champagne on ice In just another roll of the dice High-rollers lay down your bets and I'll raise 'em Well I know the odds ain't in my favor Maybe I'm just a clown throwin' down Lookin' to come up busted I'm a thief in the house of love And I can't be trusted Well I'll be makin' my heist In just another roll of the dice Just another roll of the dice Move on up Come on seven Roll me baby In this fool's heaven - Real World
Letra
Mister trouble come walkin' this way Year gone past feels like one long day But I'm alive and I'm feelin' all right Well I run that hard road outta hearbreak city Built a roadside carnival out of hurt and self-pity It was all wrong well now I'm movin' on Ain't no chuch bells ringing Ain't no flags unfurled Just me and you and the love we're bringing Into the real world Into the real world I built a shrine in my heart it wasn't pretty to see Made out of fool's gold memory and tears cried Now I'm headin' over the rise I'm searchin' for one clear moment of love and truth I still got a little faith But what I need is some proof tonight I'm lookin' for it in your eyes Ain't no chuch bells ringing Ain't no flags unfurled Just me and you and the faith we're bringing Into the real world Into the real world Well tonight I just wanna shout I feel my soul waist deep and sinkin' Into this black river of doubt I just wanna rise and walk along the riverside And when the morning comes baby I don't wanna hide I'll stand right at your side with my arms open wide Well tonight I just wanna shout I feel my soul waist deep and sinkin' Into this black river of doubt I just wanna rise and walk along the riverside 'Til the morning comes I'll stand right by your side I wanna find some answers I wanna ask for some help I'm tired or runnin' scared Baby let's get our bags packed We'll take it here to hell and heaven and back And if love is hopeless hopeless at best Come on put on your party dress it's ours tonight And we're goin' with the tumblin' dice Ain't no chuch bells ringing Ain't no flags unfurled Oh just me you and the hope we're bringing Into the real world Well into the real world Oh into the real world - All of Nothin' At All
- Man's Job
Letra
Well you can go out with him Play with all of his toys But takin' care of you darlin' Ain't for one of the boys Oh there's somethin' in your soul That he's gonna rob And lovin' you baby lovin' you darlin' Lovin' you woman is a man's man's job Lovin' you's a man's job baby Lovin' you's a man's job Lovin' you's a man's job baby Lovin' you's a man's job Well now his kisses may thrill Those other girls that he likes But when it comes to treatin' A real woman right Well all of his tricks No they won't be enough 'Cause lovin' you baby lovin' you woman Lovin' you darlin' is a man's man's job Lovin' you's a man's job baby Lovin' you's a man's job Lovin' you's a man's job baby Lovin' you's a man's job You're dancin' with him he's holding you tight I'm standing here waitin' to catch your eye Your hand's on his neck as the music sways All my illusions slip away Now if you're lookin' for a hero Someone to save the day Well darlin' my feet They're made of clay But I've got somethin' in my soul And I wanna give it up But gettin' up the nerve Gettin' up the nerve Gettin' up the nerve is a man's man's job Lovin' you's a man's job baby Lovin' you's a man's job Lovin' you's a man's job woman Lovin' you's a man's job - I Wish I Were Blind
Letra
I love to see the cottonwood blossom In the early spring I love to see the message of love That the bluebird brings But when I see you walkin' with him Down along the strand I wish I were blind When I see you with your man I love to see your hair shining In the long summer's light I love to watch the stars fill the sky On a summer night The music plays you take his hand I watch how you touch him as you start to dance And I wish I were blind When I see you with your man We struggle here but all our love's in vain Oh these eyes that once filled me with your beauty Now fill me with pain And the light that once entered here Is banished from me And this darkness is all baby that my heart sees And though this world is filled With the grace and beauty of God's hand Oh I wish I were blind When I see you with your man - The Long Goodbye
Letra
My soul went walkin' but I stayed here Feel like I been workin' for a thousand years Chippin' away at this chain of my own lies Climbin' a wall a hundred miles high Well I woke up this morning on the other side Yeah yeah this is the long goodbye Hey yeah this is the long goodbye Same old faces it's the same old town What once was laughs is draggin' me now Waitin' on rain hangin' on for love Words of forgiveness from some God above Ain't no words of mercy comin' from on high Oh no just a long goodbye Yeah yeah just one long goodbye Well I went to leave twenty years ago Since then I guess I been packin' kinda slow Sure did like that admirin' touch Guess I liked it a little too much The moon is high and here I am Sittin' here with this hammer in hand One more drink oughta ease the pain Starin' at that last link in the chain Well let's raise our glass and let the hammer fly Hey yeah this is the long goodbye Hey yeah this is the long goodbye Kiss me baby and we're gonna fly Hey yeah this is the long goodbye Yeah yeah this is the long goodbye Hey yeah this is the long goodbye Kiss me baby 'cause we're gonna ride Yeah yeah this is the long goodbye - Real Man
Letra
Took my baby to a picture show Found a seat in the back row Sound came up lights went down Rambo he was blowin' 'em down I don't need no gun in my fist baby All I need is your sweet kiss To get me feelin' like a real man Feelin' like a real man Well you can beat on your chest Hell any monkey can But you got me feelin' like a real man Oh feelin' like a real man Me and my girl Saturday night Late movie on channel five The girls were droppin' they're droppin' like flies To some smooth talkin' cool walkin' private eye I ain't got no nerves of steel But all I got to know is if your love is real To get me feelin' like a real man Oh feelin' like a real man Well you can beat on your chest Hell any monkey can Your love's got me feelin' like a real man Oh feelin' like a real man I ain't no fighter that's easy to see And as a lover I ain't goin' down in history But when the lights go down and you pull me close Well I look in your eyes and there's one thing I know Baby I'll be tough enough If I can find the guts to give you all my love Then I'll be feelin' like a real man Feelin' like a real man Well you can beat on your chest Hell any monkey can You got me feelin' like a real man Oh feelin' like a real man Yeah I been felin' like a real man Feelin' like a real man - Pony Boy
Letra
Pony boy pony boy Won't you be my pony boy Giddy-up giddy-up giddy-up whoa My pony boy Ride with me ride with me Won't you take a ride with me Underneath the starry sky My pony boy O'er the hills and through the trees We'll go ridin' you and me Giddy-up giddy-up giddy-away My pony boy Down into the valley deep 'Neath the eaves we will sleep Sky of dreams up above My pony boy