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Ball Of Confusion [That's What The World Is Today]

The Temptations
Lingua: Inglese


The Temptations

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[1970]
Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
Scritta da Norman Whitfield e Barret Strong
Album: “Motown Hitsville, USA”, Volume 1, disco 4.

The Temptations, Motown Legend.
The Temptations, Motown Legend.


"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" is a 1970 hit single for the Gordy (Motown) label, recorded by The Temptations and produced by Norman Whitfield.

ballofconfusionLike "Psychedelic Shack" before it, "Ball of Confusion" delves head-on into psychedelia, this time with a strong political message. The lyrics list a multitude of problems that were tearing the world apart in 1970: the Vietnam War, segregation, white flight, drug abuse, crooked politicians, and more. "Round and around and around we go", the Temptations sing, "where the world's headed/nobody knows." The end of each section of the Temptations' lists of woes is pucntuated by bass singer Melvin Franklin's line, "And the band played on."

"Ball of Confusion's" lyrics are delivered over an up-tempo instrumental track with two drum tracks (one for each stereo channel), multitracked wah-wah guitars, and an ominous bassline by Funk Brother Bob Babbitt that opens the song. Norman Whitfield's dramatic count-in, always recorded at the very start of a recording for synching purposes only, was left in the mix for this record.

Despite its strong political themes, the record consciously avoids implying a definitive point-of-view or a defiant stance. This is because the Temptations song "War", which Norman Whitfield intended as a spring 1970 single release, was not released because Motown felt the song's forward message could alienate more conservative listeners. Whitfield took "War" and reworked it as a single for Gordy solo artist Edwin Starr (for whom it became a number-one hit), while he and lyricist Barrett Strong wrote the more subtle "Ball of Confusion" for the Temptations.

When they first saw the sheet music for the song, The Temptations didn't think they would be able to pull off the rapid-fire delivery required for the song. Lead singer Dennis Edwards had the quickest tongue in the group, and was assigned to deliver the more difficult lines in the song.

"Ball of Confusion" is among the Temptations' most covered songs, with versions by Tina Turner, Love and Rockets, Duran Duran, and Anthrax, among others. It was used to anchor the 1970 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 LP. The song reached #3 on the US pop charts and #2 on the US R&B charts.

Wikipedia
People moving out,
People moving in.
why, because of the color of their skin
run, run, run but you sure can't hide

An eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth,
vote for me and I'll set you free
rap on, brother, rap on

The only person talking about love thy brother is the preacher
and it seems
nobody's interested in learning
but the teacher

segregation, determination, demonstration, integration,
Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation

Ball of confusion, oh yeah
That's what the world is today, hey

The sale of pills are at an all time high
young folks walking round with their heads in the sky
the cities ablaze in the summertime, and oh
the beat goes on

evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul
shooting rockets to the moon
kids growing up too soon
politicians say more taxes, will solve everything
and the band played on

So, round and around and around we go
where the world's headed, nobody knows

Oh, Great GoogaMooga, can't you hear me talking to you
just a ball of confusion, oh yeah
that's what the world is today, hey

Fear in the air, tension everywhere
unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new record's a gas
and the only safe place to live, is on an Indian reservation
and the band played on

Eve of destruction, tax deduction
city inspectors, bill collectors
mod clothes in demand,
population out of hand,
suicide, too many bills
hippies moving to the hills
people all over the world are shouting end the war
and the band played on

Oh, Great GoogaMooga, can't you hear me talking to you
just a ball of confusion,
that's what the world is today, hey

Adlib and close

inviata da Riccardo Venturi



Lingua: Italiano

Versione italiana di Riccardo Venturi
23 gennaio 2008
Si vedano le Note alla traduzione
UNA PALLA INCASINATA
Così è il mondo d'oggi

Gente che viene,
gente che va.
Eh, è per il colore della pelle,
corri, corri, corri ma di certo non puoi nasconderti

Occhio per occhio e dente per dente,
vota per me e ti libererò,
continua a brontolare, fratello, continua

Il solo che dice "ama il fratello tuo" è il predicatore
e sembra
che nessuno sia interessato a impararlo
a parte chi lo insegna

Segregazione, determinazione, azione, integrazione,
esasperazione, umiliazione, obbligo verso la nazione

Una palla incasinata, oh yeah,
così è il mondo d'oggi, eh

La vendita di pillole è al massimo storico
i giovani vagano con la testa fra le nuvole
le città bruciano in estate, e
il casino continua

Evoluzione, rivoluzione, controllo degli armamenti, suono dell'anima
razzi mandati sulla luna
bambini che crescono troppo presto
i politici dicono che più tasse risolveranno tutto
e la banda continuava a suonare

E così si vaga, si vaga e si vaga
ma diretti verso dove nessuno lo sa

Oh, sant'Iddio*, non senti che ti sto parlando
proprio una palla incasinata, oh yeah,
così è il mondo d'oggi, eh

Paura nell'aria, tensione dappertutto
la disoccupazione che cresce veloce, il nuovo disco dei Beatles è uno sballo
e l'unico posto sicuro dove vivere è in una riserva indiana
e la banda continuava a suonare

Vigilia della distruzione**, riduzione delle tasse
ispettori municipali, esattori di bollette,
vestiti da "mod" in richiesta,
popolazione allo stremo,
suicidio, troppe bollette
hippies che vanno su in collina
gente in tutto il mondo che grida basta con la guerra
e la banda continuava a suonare

Oh, sant'Iddio*, non senti che ti sto parlando
proprio una palla incasinata, oh yeah,
così è il mondo d'oggi, eh

Ad libitum e fine
NOTE alla traduzione

* "GoogaMooga" è il padreterno; come esclamazione, "great GoogaMooga" corrisponde sia all'italiano "sant'Iddio", "Dio santo", ma può indicare anche grande stupore frammisto a indignazione. Sulla storia e sull'origine dell'espressione si veda questa pagina.

** Ovvia la citazione della canzone più famosa di Barry McGuire, Eve Of Destruction.

23/1/2008 - 13:08




Pagina principale CCG

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