Patti Smith: La madrina del punk

Patti Smith es una poetisa y cantante estadounidense conocida como "la madrina del Punk", porque introdujo el feminismo y la intelectualidad en el movimiento cultural y musical. En los 70 y 80 Patti Smith rompió moldes por su imagen "poco femenina", su carácter rebelde, que se saltaba todas las convenciones, y la mezcla entre poesía beat y la música rock.

En su juventud tocó todos los palos: fue dependienta de una librería, actuó en la calle, posó de modelo para el fotógrafo Robert Mapplethorpe, fue periodista musical,  escritora, pintora, actriz teatral y artista visual.


Su primer álbum fue Horses, en 1975. La canción coescrita con Bruce Springsteen, Because the Night, es su canción más conocida, y ha sido versionada por grupos como U2 o REM:


"take me now baby here as I am
pull me close, try and understand
desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
love is a banquet on which we feed

come on now try and understand
the way I feel when I'm in your hands
take my hand come undercover
they can't hurt you now,
can't hurt you now, can't hurt you now
because the night belongs to lovers
because the night belongs to lust
because the night belongs to lovers
because the night belongs to us

have I doubt when I'm alone
love is a ring, the telephone
love is an angel disguised as lust
here in our bed until the morning comes
come on now try and understand
the way I feel under your command
take my hand as the sun descends
they can't touch you now,
can't touch you now, can't touch you now
because the night belongs to lovers ...

with love we sleep
with doubt the vicious circle
turn and burns
without you I cannot live
forgive, the yearning burning
I believe it's time, too real to feel
so touch me now, touch me now, touch me now
because the night belongs to lovers ...

because tonight there are two lovers
if we believe in the night we trust
because tonight there are two lovers ... "

Ghost Dance: esta canción es como un mantra indio; Smith vuelca su misticismo aquí. Bailarla es como permanecer en otra dimensión de la realidad durante un rato:

 Esta es una canción salvaje y punki, Rock 'n Roll Nigger, en directo:





Baby was a black sheep. baby was a whore.
Baby got big and baby get bigger.
Baby get something. baby get more.
Baby, baby, baby was a rock-and-roll nigger.
Oh, look around you, all around you,
Riding on a copper wave.
Do you like the world around you?
Are you ready to behave?

Outside of society, they’re waitin’ for me.
Outside of society, that’s where I want to be.

(lenny!)

Baby was a black sheep. baby was a whore.
You know she got big. well, she’s gonna get bigger.
Baby got a hand; got a finger on the trigger.
Baby, baby, baby is a rock-and-roll nigger.

Outside of society, that’s where I want to be.
Outside of society, they’re waitin’ for me.

(those who have suffered, understand suffering,
And thereby extend their hand
The storm that brings harm
Also makes fertile
Blessed is the grass
And herb and the true thorn and light)

I was lost in a valley of pleasure.
I was lost in the infinite sea.
I was lost, and measure for measure,
Love spewed from the heart of me.
I was lost, and the cost,
And the cost didn’t matter to me.
I was lost, and the cost
Was to be outside society.

Jimi hendrix was a nigger.
Jesus christ and grandma, too.
Jackson pollock was a nigger.
Nigger, nigger, nigger, nigger,
Nigger, nigger, nigger.

Outside of society, they’re waitin’ for me.
Outside of society, if you’re looking,
That’s where you’ll find me.
Outside of society, they’re waitin’ for me.
Outside of society. (repeat)

"Yo no estoy en contra de las drogas, pueden ser instrumentos valiosos para el conocimiento del mundo y de nosotros mismos. Lo que no soporto es el uso recreativo de sustancias peligrosas: hemos perdido el respeto por sus poderes. Las drogas son sacramentos y deben ser tomadas como parte de rituales sagrados, igual que en la antigüedad o en las tribus indias." Fuente: Mind-surf.net
entrevista de Burroughs a Patti Smith

Página oficial de Patti Smith: http://www.pattismith.net/intro.html
 
http://www.myspace.com/pattismith