Álbum: Lodger
Artista: David Bowie
- Fecha de lanzamiento: 25 de Mayo de 1979
- Sello Discográfico: RCA Victor
- Compositores: David Bowie, Brian Eno, Carlos Alomar
- Productores: Tony Visconti, David Bowie
Lanzado en 1979, Lodger es el decimotercer álbum de estudio de David Bowie y la última entrega de su aclamada "Trilogía de Berlín", en colaboración con Brian Eno. A diferencia de sus dos predecesores, "Lodger" abandona la estructura de una cara de canciones y otra de instrumentales, y se presenta como un disco de art rock y rock experimental más accesible, con influencias de la new wave y la world music. El álbum está conceptualmente dividido en dos temas: la primera cara explora las ideas del viaje, mientras que la segunda es una crítica a la civilización occidental. Grabado en Suiza y Nueva York, "Lodger" es a menudo considerado el álbum más subestimado de la trilogía, pero es una obra fascinante y visionaria que anticipó muchos de los sonidos que dominarían los años 80.
Contexto y Grabación
Tras el final de su gira mundial de 1978, Bowie se reunió con Eno y el productor Tony Visconti para grabar el último capítulo de su colaboración berlinesa. Sin embargo, a diferencia de los álbumes anteriores, la grabación tuvo lugar en Montreux (Suiza) y Nueva York. Durante las sesiones, Bowie y Eno utilizaron intensivamente las "Estrategias Oblicuas" de Eno, unas cartas con instrucciones crípticas diseñadas para fomentar la creatividad y romper los bloqueos. Esto llevó a técnicas de grabación inusuales, como hacer que los músicos intercambiaran sus instrumentos o tocar acordes de canciones antiguas al revés.
Análisis Musical y Estilo
El sonido de "Lodger" es una mezcla ecléctica de art rock, new wave y las primeras incursiones de Bowie en la world music, con ritmos de reggae en "Yassassin" y melodías de Oriente Medio en "African Night Flight". Es un álbum menos electrónico y más basado en la guitarra que sus predecesores, con una producción más cruda y directa. Las letras son cínicas y observadoras, reflejando el punto de vista de un "lodger" (un inquilino o huésped), un viajero sin hogar que observa el mundo con una mirada distante.
Análisis de las canciones
El sencillo más exitoso fue "Boys Keep Swinging", un himno de glam rock y proto-punk con una letra que juega con la identidad de género. Su videoclip, en el que Bowie aparece vestido de drag, fue muy controvertido. "DJ" es una cínica reflexión sobre la vida de un disc-jockey. "Look Back in Anger" es un potente tema de rock. La primera cara del álbum está dedicada a canciones de viaje como "Fantastic Voyage" y "Move On".
Lanzamiento y Rendimiento en Listas
"Lodger" fue un éxito comercial, aunque no alcanzó las ventas de sus predecesores.
- UK Albums Chart: 4
- USA Billboard 200: 20
- Australia (Kent Music Report): 11
- Francia (SNEP): 11
Recepción Crítica
La crítica inicial fue mixta, con muchos considerándolo el trabajo más débil de la Trilogía de Berlín. Sin embargo, con el tiempo, ha sido reevaluado como un álbum visionario e influyente. Su fusión de rock con world music y su sonido de new wave anticiparon gran parte de la música de los 80. "Lodger" es el final de la etapa más experimental y aclamada por la crítica de Bowie, un disco que sigue sonando sorprendentemente moderno.
Listado de Canciones
- Repetition
- Look Back in Anger
Letra
(Lyrics by Bowie Music by Bowie/Eno) "You know who I am," he said The speaker was an angel He coughed and shook his crumpled wings Closed his eyes and moved his lips "It's time we should be going" (Waiting so long, I've been waiting so, waiting so) Look back in anger, Driven by the night Till you come (Waiting so long, I've been waiting so, waiting so) Look back in anger, See it in my eyes Till you come No one seemed to hear him So he leafed through a magazine And, yawning, rubbed the sleep away Very sane he seemed to me (Waiting so long, I've been waiting so, waiting so) Look back in anger, Driven by the night Till you come (Waiting so long, I've been waiting so, waiting so) Look back in anger, Feel it in my voice Till you come (Waiting so long, ahhh...) (Waiting so long, I've been waiting so, waiting so) (repeat ad inf.) - Red Money
- Boys Keep Swinging
Letra
Heaven loves ya The clouds part for ya Nothing stands in your way When you're a boy Clothes always fit ya Life is a pop of the cherry When you're a boy When you're a boy You can wear a uniform When you're a boy Other boys check you out You get a girl These are your favourite things When you're a boy Boys Boys Boys keep swinging Boys always work it out Uncage the colours Unfurl the flag Luck just kissed you hello When you're a boy They'll never clone ya You're always first on the line When you're a boy When you're a boy You can buy a home of your own When you're a boy Learn to drive and everything You'll get your share When you're a boy Boys Boys Boys keep swinging Boys always work it out - DJ
Letra
I'm home, lost my job, and incurably ill You think this is easy, realism I've got a girl out there, I suppose I think she's dancing Feel like Dan Dare lies down I think she's dancing, what do I know? I am a D. J., I am what I play Can't turn around no, can't turn around, no, oh, ooh I am a D. J., I am what I play Can't turn around no, can't turn around, no, oh no I am a D. J., I am what I play I got believers (kiss-kiss) Believing me, oh One more, weekend, of lights and evening faces Fast food, living nostalgia Humble pie or bitter fruit I am a D. J., I am what I play Can't turn around no, can't turn around no, ooh I am a D. J., I am what I say Can't turn around no, can't turn around, ooh I am a D. J., I am what I play I've got believers (kiss-kiss) Believing me I am a D. J., I am what I play Can turn around no, can't turn around I am a D. J., I am what I play Can turn around no, can't turn around I am a D. J., I am what I play Can turn around no (kiss-kiss) Time flies when you're having fun Break his heart, break her heart He used to be my boss and now he is a puppet dancer I am a D. J., and I've got believers I've got believers I've got believers I've got believers in me I've got believers I am a D. J., I am what I play I am a D. J. - Red Sails
- Move On
- Yassassin (Turkish for Long Live)
- African Night Flight
Letra
African nightmare one-time Mormon More men fall in Hullabaloo men I slide to the nearest bar Undermine chairman I went too far Bent on a windfall Rent a sony Wonder How the dollar went down Gotta get a word to Elizabeth's father Hey no, he wished me well Seemed like another day I could fly Into the eye of god on high His burning eye will see me through One of these days, one of these days Gotta get a word through one of these days Asanti habari habari habari Asanti nabana nabana nabana Getting in mood for a Mombassa night flight Pushing my luck, gonna fly like a mad thing Bare strip takeoff Skimming over Rhino Born in slumber less than peace Struggle with a child Whose screaming dreaming Drowned by the props all steely sunshine Sick of you, sick of me Lust for the free life Quashed and maimed Like a valuable loved one Left unnamed Seemed like another day I could fly Into the eye of god on high Over the bushland over the trees Wise like Orangutan that was me His burning eye will see me through One of these days, one of these days Gotta get a word through one of these days Asanti habari habari habari Asanti nabana nabana nabana - Fantastic Voyage
Letra
In the event That this fantastic voyage Should turn to erosion And we never get old Remember it's true, dignity is valuable But our lives are valuable too We're learning to live with somebody's depression And I don't want to live with somebody's depression We'll get by, I suppose It's a very modern world, But nobody's perfect It's a moving world, But that's no reason To shoot some of those missiles Think of us as fatherless scum It won't be forgotten 'Cause we'll never say anything nice again, will we? And the wrong words make you listen In this criminal world Remember it's true, loyalty is valuable But our lives are valuable too We're learning to live with somebody's depression And I don't want to live with somebody's depression We'll get by I suppose But any sudden movement I've got to write it down They wipe out an entire race and I've got to write it down But I'm still getting educated but I've got to write it down And it won't be forgotten 'Cause I'll never say anything nice again, how can I?