Good for your Soul : analyse et paroles de l'album d'Oingo Boingo

1983

Le troisième album du groupe est, d'après moi, le premier véritable indispensable. C'est avec Good For Your Soul que je suis entré pour la première fois en contact avec Oingo Boingo et je suis devenu quasi instantanément fan. Bon, le fait que je le considère comme le meilleur album du groupe est très subjectif, on pourra lui préférer son successeur Dead Man's Party ou Boingo. Mais je pense que Good For Your Soul est une certaine apogée de l'esprit Oingo Boingo. Tout y est et tout est au top niveau. Dynamisme, humour, textes exceptionnels, voix fabuleuses, influences innombrables et génialement digérées, chansons courtes et imparables, Good For Your Soul est un chef-d'oeuvre. Les morceaux sont très variées et possèdent tous un charme particulier. La production de Robert Margouleff est certes profondément ancré dans son époque, c'est la Pop des années 80, mais la Pop à son sommet. Un délice.

Who Do You Want To Be entame les hostilités à toute vitesse. Une chanson épileptique d'une énergie incroyable qui embarque l'auditeur dans l'univers Boingo en un clin d'oeil. Une merveille, un classique du groupe, totalement indémodable malgré des synthés et des cuivres obsolètes, Who Do You Want To Be est tellement irrésistible que l'on en oublie ces sonorités antédiluviennes.

Good For Your Soul est un chef-d'oeuvre. Nappe de synthés tout droit sortie de Joy Division, riff de guitare en béton, mélodie hallucinante, textes inspirés, voix faramineuse. Bon, ben, c'est parfait, tout simplement.

No Spill Blood, un autre grand classique. Inspiré par l'Ile du Docteur Moreau (précision qui éclaire nettement les paroles).Sonorités originales, ambiance décalée toute en finesse, tout est accrocheur. Bartek se paye un solo de guitare complètement cinglé, les chœurs sont martiaux (comme sur la plupart des chansons de l'album, annonçant en cela Frankie Goes To Hollywood et ce plus d'un an avant le raz-de-marée du collectif de Trevor Horn). Impeccablement génial.

Cry Of The Vatos est un intermède délirant à base de rythmiques de folie, de cuivres en liberté et de bidouillages techniques. Le morceau contient un gros clin d'oeil aux Beatles dans le fait qu'il faut écouter la chanson à l'envers pour comprendre les paroles.

Fill The Void. Fill The Void !!!! Peut-être ma chanson favorite de l'album (et peut-être carrément ma chanson favorite du groupe). Foulala, là on touche au sublime. Les paroles sont excellentes (comme souvent), très ironiques, très paranos. La musique des couplets est une harmonie chaloupée, une sorte de musique de plage en délire. Puis il y a cette accélération irrésistible qui change totalement l'ambiance de la chanson avant de revenir à cette rythmique chaloupée tellement décalée. Tout Oingo Boingo est là, Elfman à son top du top, mélodie, voix, textes, rythmiques, utilisation de tous les instruments, tout est magique.

Sweat, peut-être la chanson la plus célèbre de l'album et l'un des plus grands succès du groupe. Une chanson martiale très accrocheuse qui sera plagiée par toute la vague techno-pop européenne qui en est à l'époque à ses balbutiements. Elfman chante comme Elvis ou comme Pee Wee, cela dépend des moments. Elfman est unique de toute façon. Le refrain prend un magnifique envol avec des chœurs comme on les adore chez Oingo Boingo. Le riff de Bartek est imparable. Tout pour réussir.

Nothing Bad Ever Happens, l'archétype de la chanson qui prend toute sa dimension avec la lecture des paroles. Cynisme, humour noir, on dirait un extrait de Mars Attacks ! La mélodie fabuleuse se place une nouvelle fois en total décalage avec la méchanceté des paroles. Une comptine pour adultes en fait. Et une sorte de suite aussi bien thématique que musicale à Fill The Void.

Wake Up (It's 1984), encore un morceau martial, Good For Your Soul étant sans doute l'album le plus "dur" du groupe, moins sombre que Boingo mais proposant bien souvent un martèlement aussi bien rythmique que vocal. On parlera là encore de techno-pop mais en avance de quelques années sur la concurrence, c'est clair. D'ailleurs Elfman aborde le classique d'Orwell un an avant qu'Eurythmics ne s'y consacre à son tour.

Dead Or Alive, une nouvelle chanson dotée d'une énergie incroyable, Good For Your Soul est aussi l'album le plus dynamique du groupe. Dead Or Alive, comme qui dirait, cartonne tout sur son passage, certes tout cela sonne très années 80 mais franchement, là, on s'en moque un peu.

Pictures Of You est un nouveau pur chef-d'oeuvre. Paroles de folie, musique en complet décalage, pas étonnant qu'Oingo Boingo ait été un des groupes favoris de Tim Burton. Pictures Of You est encore une étrange comptine entre obscurité et sonorités clinquantes. Ce sont sans doute les harmonies vocales et la façon dont chante Elfman qui font de cette chanson l'une des plus belles du groupe.

Little Guns, toujours des textes au top du top du top. Une sorte de profession de fois du parolier Elfman. Des petits êtres (des jouets ?) viennent attaquer les humains et surtout VOUS en particulier. La parano à son état brut. Musique réjouissante et entraînante, le ska à l'ancienne de Little Guns achève en beauté le parcours sans faute de cet album fantastique.

Good For Your Soul est un court album carrément fabuleux. Du niveau d'un Blondie ou tiens, pourquoi pas ? aussi agréable qu'un disque des Beatles (la référence musicale absolue d'Elfman). En clair on ne peut pas se lasser de cet album très riche, léger (même si le son est assez daté), amusant sans être stupide, au contraire. C'est surtout le dynamisme imparable de l'ensemble qui peut appeler la comparaison avec LE Chef-d'Oeuvre Absolu de la musique Pop, Parallel Lines de Blondie. Comme l'album de Blondie, Good For Your Soul est un recueil d'impeccables petites chansons sautillantes et explosives que l'on passe en boucle sans même s'en apercevoir. Certes la musique est celle des années 80 triomphantes mais c'est vraiment la crème de l'époque. Et surtout Good For Your Soul semble synthétiser à la perfection le style Oingo Boingo. Indispensable.

1- Who Do You Want To Be

2- Good For Your Soul

3- No Spill Blood

4- Cry Of The Vatos

5- Fill The Void

6- Sweat

7- Nothing Bad Ever Happens

8- Wake Up (It's 1984)

9- Dead Or Alive

10- Pictures Of You

11- Little Guns

Who Do You Want to Be?

CHORUS
Who do you want to be today?
Who do you want to be?
Who do you want to be today?
Do you want to be just like someone on T.V.?

Oh boredom is so terrible, it's like a dread disease
Nothing could be worse
than when there's nothing on T.V.
I'd rather be a cowboy than to stare blank at the walls
I've been reborn so many times
I can't remember them all
(And I say)

CHORUS

Just like someone on T.V.!

I think I'll be a teddy boy, I think I'll be a hunk
I think I'll be a tough guy and I think I'll be a punk
I might just be a fashion star
All dressed in frilly rags
Or perhaps I'll cross the other side
and walk around in
Drag!

CHORUS

Just like somebody on T.V.!

Do you like to be just like a rock
in the middle of the sea
Do you want to suffer by yourself
in a pool of blissful misery
Do you want to feel like a saint in artists' clothes
With a rosary in your hand
Do you wanna be crazy like Van Gogh like a
stranger in a
Strange, strange land

Would you rather push the buttons
And be feared by all humanity
Or perhaps you'd like to be a bum
Do you wanna be stupid, just like me

CHORUS

Just like somebody on T.V.!
Who do you want to be . . . . . . .

Good For Your Soul

Have you ever felt that somehow
you were not yourself
That your body was the same
but everything around you wasn't right
And images so strange and foreign
Flooded in like raging water

Have you ever been in love
with someone you hardly knew
Whereas every time you closed your eyes,
you saw this person come alive
It kept you wide awake at night
You felt like you were burning up
In pain, you want to scream
Then you passed out in a dream

CHORUS
Just once or twice is good for your soul
Just once or twice is good for your soul
If you don't stop, you'll lose control
Just once or twice is good for your soul

Every lay there half asleep all hours of the night
With some nagging demon tugging at that tiny bell
Inside your mind
When suddenly that strange idea
Bursts into an inspiration
You grab for it and then
The whole thing slips right through your fingers

CHORUS

Just once or twice is good for your soul
Just once or twice is good for your soul
Just once or twice is good for your soul
Just once or twice is good for your soul
It's good for your soul
It's good for your soul
It's good for your soul
It's good for your soul

No Spill Blood

(What is the law?)
(What is the law?)

Animals came from miles around
So tired of walking so close toe the ground
They needed a chance, that's what they said
Life is better walking on two legs
But they were in for a big surprise
'Cause they didn't know the law!

CHORUS
(What is the law)
No spill blood
What is the law
(No spill blood)

(Who makes the rules)
Someone else
Who makes the rules
(Someone else)

The rules are written in the stone
Break the rules and you get no bones
All you get is ridicule, laughter
And a trip to the house of pain!

CHORUS (in reverse order)

We walk on two legs not on four
To walk on four legs breaks the law
What happens when we break the law?
What happens when the rules aren't fair?
We all know here we go from there
To the house of pain!
To the house of pain!

(What is the law)
What is the law

(Who makes the rules)
Who makes the rules

We walk on two legs not on four
To the house of pain
To the house of pain
To the house of pain
To the house of pain
To the house of pain
(No spill blood)

Cry of Vatos

[Backwards]
First part:
(?)Praise God brothers and sisters.
Just once or twice is good for your soul, Praise God!
Accept Jesus into your heart and you will saved.
You will receive everlasting life.
Listen to me, I've sinned, I know.

Second part:
Praise Jesus and you will be saved, saved, saved...
Praise God, you are healed, healed, healed...

Fill The Void

Once there was a man who decided he knew everything
Once there was a book that he threw in my face
Once there was an angry mob that marched
Up and down the street
Don't ya know they all called my name
What do they want from me?

CHORUS
What do they want from me?
What do they want from me?
What do they want from a poor boy who
Can't believe
They want to fill the void
They want to fill the empty spaces
But I won't let them consume me
With the rest of the lifeless faces

Once there was a little girl
who thought that she was a queen
And she thought the world was a playground
filled with sand
So with all her friends she created a fantasy
They all come to me with their demands
What do they want from me?

CHORUS

Every little thing is a piece of a larger thing
Ever little fish is a tyrant of the sea
Every little atom is a master of his family
Every single piece calls my name
What do they want from me?

CHORUS

Sweat

Sweat!
Sweat!
Sweat!
Born for trouble, poised for action
Ready to spring at a moment's notice
Nerves like a trigger, waiting to be pulled
Covered with sweat, it ain't nice

Sweat!
Help me please I'm burning up
I got this fire in my heart
Won't let me sleep, can't concentrate
Even when it's cold I'm dripping sweat
It ain't nice

Sweat!
Rivers running down my back
Makes me slippery, like a fish
If I don't stop, I might drown
Falling down, down, down, down, not dead yet
covered with
Sweat

CHORUS
The cool boys bit the dust
They couldn't take the pressure
The cool girls got knocked up
They only wanted to have fun
(Where did they go?)
They fell in low and suffered
(Where did they go?)
They picked up guns and hammers
(Where did they go?)
Without friction there's no heat
WIthout heat there's no fire
Without fire there's no desire
You're making me hot, hot, hot, hot!

Sweat! Sweat!
Take my baby, Saturday night
It's hundred and ten, it's alright
Close the door to my little room
Starting to sweat, fun starts soon

Sweat!
Principal caught me after school
Gave me hell, called me a fool
Pointed his finger, at my face
Started to sweat all over the place
Flowed like rivers, onto the floor
I can take it, give me some more

Sweat!
War breaks out throughout the land
Dodging bullets in the sand
Enemy's getting much to close
Sun beats down on the back of my neck
Fingers twitchin', covered with sweat
Covered with sweat

CHORUS

Sweat!

Nothing Bad Ever Happens

Nothing bad ever happens to me
Nothing bad ever happens to me
Why should I care?

A man broke into my neighborhood
He threatened the family with a loaded gun
He tied them all up and beat 'em real good
He took everything and he got away clean
And I can't believe that anyone would
Wanna do such a terrible thing
But why should I care?

Did ya hear about Fred, he's unemployed
They threw him away like a useless toy
He went down the drain after 20 long years
No warning, no pension and nobody's tears
And I can't believe that anyone would
Wanna do such a terrible thing
But why should I care?
Why should I care?

Every time I look around this place
I see them scream but I hear no sound
And the terrible things happen down the road
To someone else that I don't even know

CHORUS
Nothing bad ever happens to me
Nothing bad ever happens to me
Nothing bad ever happens to me
Nothing bad ever happens to me
Why should I care?

Have you heard about the Joneses, my, my, my
It happened so quick and no one knows why
Their teenage son, he seemed O.K.
But his suicide ruined everyone's day
And I can't believe that anyone would
Wanna do such a terrible thing
But why should I care?

CHORUS

(Nothing bad ever happens to me)
Nothing bad ever happens to me

Wake Up (It's 1984)

Wake up! won't you listen to me
Wake up! won't you listen to me
won't you listen to me
Wake up! won't you listen to me
Wake up! won't you listen to me
won't you listen to me

Big brother's watching, we watch him back
We see right through his disguise
He tries to scare us, with angry words
But we all know that they're lies
Whole world is waiting
Just see the fear in their eyes

Whole world is watching, observing every move
Is it beginning or the end?
Just like a chess game, but so intense
That I just don't understand
Anticipation
It's much to big to pretend

CHORUS
(Wake up), it's 1984
(Wake up), but we've been here before
(Wake up), it's 1984
(Wake up), but we've been here before, (here before)

Big brother's screaming but we don't care
Cause he's got nothing to say
Think of the future, think of the prophecy
Think of the children of today
Big brother's marching
So we all stand in his way
Open your eyes, sisters and brothers
Neatly disguised, so far away
Open your heart, try to remember
Two worlds apart, but so close

(Wake up), it's 1984
But we've been here before
(Wake up), it's 1984
But we've been here before
All our lives leading up to this day, watching and waiting

Wake up! Wake up!
Wake up! Wake up!

Open your eyes, sisters and brothers
Neatly disguised, so far away
Open your heart, try to remember
Two worlds apart, but so close

CHORUS

Whole world is watching
Anticipating
Big brother's marching
Is it beginning or the end?

CHORUS

Dead or Alive

There in the shadows, looks like a hand
Without its owner, to give it a command
It's got a purpose but I don't know what it is
I'm in trouble

There in the streets, looks like a man
But something wrong that I don't understand
His eyes are open but he don't see a thing
His skin is peeling off, his bones are sticking out
I'm getting scared

Oh my god (Is it dead?)
Is it living? (Is it dead?)
Is it dead or alive?
(Is it dead?), Is it dead? (Is it dead?)
Is it dead? (Is it dead?)
Is it dead or alive?

Hiding in the cupboards, like little mice
Hiding in the frigerator, that isn't nice
It's not an animal, it don't have legs
No one else can see it

It moves so fast, corner of my eye
Look again it's gone, it's hiding
Won't somebody help me, doesn't anybody care?
It waits so patiently, for me to lose my guard
I'm getting scared

Is it dead, is it
(Is it dead)
Is it dead
(Is it dead)
Is it dead or alive
(Is it dead)
Is it dead
(Is it dead)
Is it dead, is it

I remember there was a time
When dead and buried meant just that
Underneath the cold dark ground
Things stay put!

Oh them bones they make them bodies walk
Them bones, them bones
If they could only talk!

Is it dead (Fade)

Pictures of You

Pictures of you
It's just pictures of you, through the bedroom door
With that sly little grin, says you want it some more
But there's people around, and they don't look so nice
Tell me why don't they move, this has happened before
This has happened before
It's just pictures of you
In darkness

Pictures of you
I'd been sleeping for hours,
when you came to my house
You'd been lost in a crowd, said you had to get out
You were covered with tears and you said you were sad
So you wanted to play
Yes, you wanted to play
Well you touched me and smiled, as you let yourself go
Oh, but something was wrong, 'cause your touch was so cold
Like you'd been in the ground and you asked if you could
Stay
And I said no!
It's just pictures of you
In darkness

(Pictures of you)
In that lovely white dress, oh your skin was so white
With the moon in your eyes, on that cold winter night
When your lips were so soft, that I though they would
Melt,
And the sound of your breath and the way that you felt
And I said yes
And I said yes
It's just pictures of you with a knife in your hand
With a rose in your teeth lying nude in the sand
It's just pictures of you, standing high on a cliff
With the wind in your hair, and a smile on your lips
And your eyes were so wild, when you started to laugh
Blending in with the wind, sounded just like a scream
Why do pictures of you
Come to me when I dream
In darkness

Pictures of you
Pictures of you
Pictures of you

Little Guns

Tiny people, with little guns
Little armies march, to little drums
What do they want?
What do they want?

Tiny soldiers, with little guns
Little tanks, no bigger than your thumb
They want you

Little people, with tiny brains
Little bullets flowing, in their veins
What do they want?
What do they want?

Tiny people with little guns
Little armies march, to little drums
They want you, you
You, you, you, you

Little airplanes, with tiny bombs
Little squadrons, dropping thimbles of Napalm
They want you

What do they want?
What do they want?

Tiny people, with little guns
Little armies march, to little drums
You, you
You, you, you, you

Tiny people, little guns
Tiny people, little guns
Tiny people, little guns