27 feb 2014

Brano del giorno: "Those Were The Days"

Cantata da Mary Hopkin



Quarantacinque anni fa (nel 1968) questa canzone, che l'anno dopo sarebbe stata contenuta nell'album di debutto della Hopkin dal titolo Postcard, scalò il mondo sotto forma di 45 giri. Oggi è un evergreen, e riascoltarlo crea ogni volta le stesse emozioni, la stessa malinconia.

La cantante gallese allora...

... e quarant'anni dopo (2009)

La canzone e l'intero album vennero prodotti da Paul McCartney per la Apple Records. Gli autori di "Those Were The Days", Boris Fomin e Gene Raskin, si ispirarono a una melodia folkloristica russa.

"Those Were The Days" rimase il più grande successo della Hopkin, che nel 1971 sposò il famoso produttore americano Tony Visconti, dal quale divorziò nel 1981.

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Il testo di "Those Were The Days"

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Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dreamed of all the great things we would do


Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...


Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say


Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
La la la la...


Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely woman really me


Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
La la la la...


Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same


Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
La la la la...

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