Xscape – letteralmente scappare – era uno dei titoli possibili per l'album di Michael Jackson, a lungo annunciato per fine 2007, poi rimandato al 2008 e alla fine mai pubblicato. I brani che avrebbe dovuto contenere, sebbene mai pubblicati ufficialmente, riempiono ora la rete e tra i fan è già caccia aperta alle tracce inedite disperse tra peer to peer e video di Youtube.
Negli ultimi tempi era circolato anche il titolo "Resurrection" per un disco che avrebbe dovuto uscire quest'anno in concomitanza coi concerti londinesi. Tuttavia, al di là dell'interesse che nasce intorno a tutta la produzione edita o inedita, di un cantante subito dopo la sua scomparsa, Xscape è degno di nota soprattutto per il testo che a leggerlo oggi suona quasi come un presagio.
Everywhere I turn, no matter where I look
The systems in control, it's all ran by the book
I've got to get away so I can clear my mind,
Xscape is what I need,
Away from electric eyes
Da ogni parte mi giri non importa dove io guardi.
Il sistema è in controllo, è tutto da manuale.
Devo andarmene per liberare la mente.
Scappare è ciò di cui ho bisogno.
L'apertura del brano scritto e composto da Michael Jackson verso la fine del 2002 mi pare significativa. Ma in fondo non era la prima volta che il cantante metteva il suo malessere in una canzone. Infatti, antecedente e ancora più indicativo di questo testo, secondo me, c'è Leave me alone inserito nell'album Bad del 1987 che, meglio delle sole parole e di Xscape, mette in scena gli incubi del cantante attraverso le immagini quasi oniriche del video.
Difficile dire se Michael Jackson fosse più vittima del mondo e del peso del successo o delle sue paranoie di persona malata a prescindere. Quel che è certo è che ne soffriva e questo basta a spiegarne anche la morte, indipendentemente dalle cause esatte che le varie autopsie in corso cercheranno di appurare.
Comunque giudicate voi quale brano vi suona meglio come presagio.
Qui di seguito anche il video di Xscape e i testi completi delle due canzoni.
Xscape
[ Prison guard]
Open up, 6
He's gone!
[ Michael]
Everywhere I turn, no matter where I look
The systems in control, it's all ran by the book
I've got to get away so I can clear my mind,
Xscape is what I need,
Away from electric eyes
No matter where I am, I see my face around
They then ask on my name, and push from town to town
Don't have a place to run, but there's no need to hide,
I've got to, find a place,
So I won't hide away
Xscape, got to get away from a system lose in the world today
Xscape, the pressure that I face from relationships that's gone away
Xscape, the man with the pen that writes the lies that hassle this man
Xscape, I do what I wanna cause I gotta face nobody but me
[Girl]
Sometimes I feel like
I've gotta get away
I tried to share my life with someone I could love
But games and money is all she ever thought of
How could that be my fault when she gambled and lost?
I'm tired of silly games,
It's time to make a change
Why is it I can't do whatever I want to? (oh)
Went in my personal life and I don't live for you (you)
So don't you try to tell me what is right for me
You be concerned about you,
I can do what I want to
Xscape, (hoo-hoo) (oh, no) got to get away from a system lose in the world today (I've got to get away)
Xscape, the pressure that I face from relationships that's gone away (don't you know I need it?)
Xscape, the man with the pen that writes the lies that hassle this man (I've got to get away)
Xscape, I do what I wanna cause I gotta face nobody but me (get away)
Xscape, (don't you try it) got to get away from a system lose in the world today
Xscape, the pressure that I face from relationships that's gone away (pressure that I'm facing every day)
Xscape, (hoo-hoo) the man with the pen that writes the lies that hassle this man (come on, now)
Xscape, (come on, now) I do what I wanna cause I gotta face nobody but me (hoo-hoo)
When I go, (oh, go) this problem world won't bother me no more
(This problem world won't bother me no more)
(problem world, bother me, yeah, oh, yeah, hoo)
Xscape
Xscape
Xscape
Xscape
Xscape, got to get away from a system lose in the world today (I've got find a way)
Xscape, the pressure that I face from relationships that's gone away (pressure that I'm facing)
Xscape, the man with the pen that writes the lies that hassle this man (why I wanna fly)
Xscape, I do what I wanna cause I gotta face nobody but me (I do what I wanna, hoo-hoo)
Xscape, got to get away from a system lose in the world today
Xscape, the pressure that I face from relationships that's gone away
Xscape, the man with the pen that writes the lies that hassle this man
Xscape, I do what I wanna cause I gotta face nobody but me (hoo-hoo)
Xscape, got to get away (I've got find a way)
Xscape, the pressure that I face (can't take it no more)
Xscape, the man with the pen (I can't take this no more)
Xscape, I do what I wanna cause I gotta face nobody but me
Xscape, (aow!)
Xscape, Got to get away
Xscape, The pressure that I face
Xscape, The man with the pen (get away)
Xscape, I do what I wanna
I do what I wanna cause I gotta face nobody but me (hee-hee-hee)
(Hoo)
Xscape
Leave me alone
Aaow! Hoo! Hoo!
I don't care what you talkin' 'bout baby
I don't care what you say
Don't you come walkin' beggin' back mama
I don't care anyway
Time after time I gave you all of my money
No excuses to make
Ain't no mountain that I can't climb baby
All is going my way
('Cause there's a time when you're right)
(And you know you must fight)
Who's laughing baby, don't you know
(And there's the choice that we make)
(And this choice you will take)
Who's laughin' baby
Chorus:
So just leave me alone girl – leave me alone
(Leave me alone)
(Leave me alone)
Leave me alone
(Leave me alone)
(Leave me alone)
(Leave me alone)
Leave me alone – stop it!
Just stop doggin' me around
(Just stop doggin' me)
There was a time I used to say girl I need you
But who is sorry now
You really hurt, you used to take and deceive me
Now who is sorry now
You got a way of making me feel so sorry
I found out right away
Don't you come walkin' – beggin' I ain't lovin' you
Don't you get in my way
'Cause
(There's a time when you're right)
(And you know you must fight)
Who's laughing baby – don't you know?
(And there's the choice that we make)
(And this choice you must take)
Who's laughin' baby?
Chorus
('Cause there's a time when you're right)
(And you know you must fight)
Who's laughing baby, don't you know girl?
(It's the choice that we make)
(And this choice you will take)
Who's laughin' baby
Chorus
