El actual imperio británico

Viernes por la noche, leyendo "El Imperio Británico: como Gran Bretaña forjó el orden mundial", comodamente apoltronado en mi butacón y con una mantita en las rodillas. A eso de las 23,30 h, oigo ruido (alboroto me gusta llamarlo) en la calle. Me asomo por la ventana y en la lejanía veo a unos chavales ligeramente embriagados, vasos en mano, haciendo derrapar sus coches y llamándose a gritos. Mi mujer me pregunta que qué pasa y yo le digo: nada, la juventud. Por eso esta canción de Los Kaiser Chiefs, grupo originario de Leeds con nombre de equipo de fútbol surafricano (los Kaiser Chiefs de Johannesburgo), dignos herederos de Madness y de Blur. Una canción sobre la juventud descerebrada. No they never miss a beat, beat, beat-beat!




What did you learn today?
- I learned nothin'.
What did you do today?
- I did nothin'.
What did you learn at school?
-I didn't go.
Why didn't you go to school?
- I don't know.

It's cool to know nothin'
It's cool to know nothin'

Television's on the blink
- There's nothin' on it.
I really wanna really big coat
- with words on it.
What do you want for tea?
- I want crisps.
Why didn't you join the team?
- I just didn't.

It's cool to know nothin'
It's cool to know nothin'

Take a look, take a look,
take a look at the Kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat, beat, beat, beat
Take a look at the kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat

Here comes the referee
- the light's flashin'.
Best bit of the day
- now that's livin'.
Why don't you run away?
- are you kiddin'?
What is the golden rule?
- you say nothin'

It's cool to know nothin'
It's cool to know nothin'

Take a look, take a look,
take a look at the Kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat, beat, beat, beat
Take a look at the kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat

Take a look, take a look,
take a look at the Kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat, beat, beat, beat
Take a look at the kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat

La música de Reginald Perrin

En los setentas se emitió en Inglaterra la teleserie "The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin", narrando la historia de Reginald Perrin, un cuarentón que lo tiene todo: un empleo como ejecutivo, una casa en un barrio residencial y un matrimonio casi perfecto. En el primer capítulo se describe su vida aburrida mientras se dirige a trabajar a la City desde su casa suburbial armado con su traje, su maletín y su paraguas, pasando siempre por las mismas calles, agarrando el tren a la misma hora y sufriendo los mismos retrasos mientras comparte viaje con otros ejecutivos aburridos como él. Se emitió en España años más tarde bajo el nombre de "Caída y Auge de Reginald Perrin".

En 1982, yo creo que muy influenciados por esta serie (de hecho posteriormente sacaron un disco llamado "The Rise and Fall"), los componentes del grupo londinense Madness lanzaron su canción Cardiac Arrest. Como curiosidad, esta canción fue censurada en la BBC Radio 1 por la muerte de algunos familiares de pinchadiscos a causa de ataques al corazón. En espera del nuevo disco (The Liberty of Norton Folgate) del grupo británico más querido desde los Kinks, y que ha influenciado determinantemente a grupos como "Blur" o "Kaiser Chiefs", (ambos fueron calificados como los nuevos Madness), podemos disfrutar ahora de este divertido video y su curiosa letra.

Papers in the morning
Bowler hat on head
Walking to the bus stop
He's longing for his bed,
Waiting with his neighbours
In the rush hour queue
Got to get the first bus
So much for him to do.

He's got to hurry
Got to get his seat
Can't miss his place
Got to rest his feet.

Ten more minutes till he gets there
The crossword's nearly done.
It's been so hard these days
Not nearly so much fun.

His mind wanders to the office
His telephone, desk and chair
He's been happy with the company
They've treated him real fair.

Think of seven letters
Begin and end in 'C'
Like a big American car
But misspelt with a 'D'.

I wish this bus'd get a move on,
Driver's taking his time.
I just don't know, I'll be late
Oh dear what will the boss say?
Pull yourself together now
Don't get in a state

Don't you worry
There's no hurry
It's a lovely day
Could all be going your way
Take the doc's advice
Let up enjoy your life
Listen to what they say
It's not a game they play.

Never get there at this rate
He's caught up in a jam.
There's a meeting this morning
It's just his luck oh damn!

His hand dives in his pocket
For his handkerchief.
Pearls of sweat on his collar
His pulse-beat seems so brief.

Eyes fall on his wristwatch
The seconds pass real slow
Gasping for the hot air
But the chest pain it won't go.

Tried to ask for help
But can't seem to speak a word,
Words are whispered frantically
But don't seem to be heard.
What about the wife and kids?
They all depend on me!

We're so sorry
We told you not to hurry.
Now it's just too late
You've got a certain date
We thought we made it clear
We all voiced our inner fears
We left it up to you
There's nothing we can do.