팝 음악에 있어서 장르간의 '크로스오버', 혹은 이를 넘어선 '장르의 해체'는 이미 새삼스러운 일이 아닐 정도로 일반화되어 있다. 이제는 어떤 음악을 특정 장르라는 척도를 가지고 분석한다는 것은 더 이상 무의미할 정도가 되었다. 최근 몇 년 사이 붐을 이룬 하드코어란 '장르' 역시도 랩과 메탈 등의 장르들이 뒤범벅된 돌연변이 아니었던가?
하지만 3년 전인 1998년 봄 커다란 인기를 얻었던 스위트박스의 경우는 비교적 순수한 의미의 크로스오버에 속했다고 할 수 있다. 클래식 선율을 관현악단의 연주로 깔고 그 위에 '거리의 음악'인 힙 합의 비트를 조화시킨 스위트박스의 음악은, 파헬벨의 '캐논'을 차용했던 쿨리오의 'C U When U Get There' 등이 시도했듯이 힙 합과 클래식의 조화라는 명제가 새로운 것은 아니었지만 워낙 깔끔한 클래식 멜로디의 비중이 컸기에 신선한 느낌으로 다가왔던 것이 사실이었다.
힙 합에서 다른 장르의 음악을 소위 샘플링으로 사용하는 것은 일반화되어있기는 했지만 기존 힙 합 아티스트들의 샘플링에 비해 클래식 멜로디의 비중이 워낙 두드러지게 나타났다는 점이 스위트박스 음악의 특징이었다고 할 수 있다(물론 스위트박스가 클래식 멜로디를 사용한 것은 '샘플링'이라고 할 수는 없다). 게다가 이들의 경우는 보컬과 랩을 맡았던 티나 해리스(Tina Harris)가 미국 출신이긴 했지만 독일을 중심으로 한 유럽 지역에서 주로 활동을 했던 덕에 유로 팝적인 감각이 가미되어 있었던 것도 이들의 음악에 독특한 세련미를 가미해주는 요소가 되었다.
이들의 첫 앨범 "Sweetbox"에서는 솔트 레이크 관현악단이 연주하는 알비노니의 '아다지오'의 귀에 익은 멜로디, 오보에의 선율과 티나 해리스의 랩, 합창단의 코러스 등이 조화를 이루었던 'Don't Go Away'와 독일 바벨스베르크 관현악단이 연주한 바흐의 'G선상의 아리아'의 멜로디가 흐르던 'Everything's Gonna Be Alright' 등의 곡들이 우리나라에서도 널리 사랑받았고 티나 해리스는 프로모션차 우리나라를 찾기도 했다.
스위트박스는 보컬 티나 해리스가 전면에 나서있었지만 사실상 프로듀서 겸 송라이터로 배후에서 얼굴을 드러내지 않고 활약하는 지오(Geo)의 프로젝트 그룹이다. 지오는 원래 에이스 오브 베이스(Ace of Base), 바나나라마(Bananarama) 등의 노래를 프로듀스하는가 하면 컬처 비트(Culture Beat)나 세상을 떠난 팔코(Falco) 등의 노래를 클럽 댄스용으로 믹스해내며 댄스계에서 이름을 날리던 인물인데 스위트박스라는 프로젝트를 1995년 결성해서 'Booyah-Here We Go'라는 댄스 넘버를 독일과 스칸디나비아, 이탈리아 등에서 히트시키면서 본격적으로 음악계 전면에 이름을 알리기 시작했다.
이 싱글은 이탈리아와 싱가포르에서 에어플레이 차트 1위를 기록하기도 했는데 이후엔 'Shakalaka'라는 또 다른 댄스 넘버로 뉴욕 등 세계 각국의 클럽 신에서 인기를 얻게 되었다.
이처럼 스위트박스로 이름을 날리던 지오는 1997년 티나 해리스를 발탁해 전면에 내세우고 'I'll Die For You'를 클럽 신에서 히트시켰고 앨범 "Sweetbox"를 발매해 'Everything's Gonna Be Alright'과 'Don't Go Away', 티어스 포 피어스(Tears For Fears)의 곡을 리메이크한 'Shout(Let It All Out)', 이본느 엘리만이 히트시켰던 'If I Can't Have You'의 리메이크 등으로 인기를 얻었다.
그로부터 3년여만에 선보이는 2집 "Classified"는 기본적으로는 전작인 "Sweetbox"의 연장선상에 있는 작품이라고 할 수 있다. 하지만 세부적으로 자세히 들여다보면 커다란 변화를 찾을 수 있다.
우선 보컬로 전면에 나서있던 티나 해리스가 팀을 떠나고 제이드 빌라론(JadeVillalon:1980.8.12일생)이란 새 얼굴로 바뀌었다는 점이다. 미국 샌디에이고 출신인 제이드 빌라론은 등의 TV 시리즈 등에 출연한 연기 경력과 코어스와 TLC, 레니 크래비츠 등의 뮤직 비디오에 얼굴을 비친 경력도 있다고 하는데, 물론 음악적 구심점은 프로듀서 지오이긴 하지만 제이드 빌라론은 지오와 함께 작사 작곡자로도 참여하며 음악적 역량을 과시하고 있다.
게다가 흑인 특유의 음색이 강했고 주로 래퍼의 이미지가 강했던 티나 해리스에 비해 보다 맑고 고운 음색을 지니고 있으며 보컬리스트로서의 역량을 지닌 제이드 빌라론의 가세는 스위트박스의 음악 색깔에 많은 변화를 주고 있다.
그리고 또 하나 두드러진 변화는 전체적으로 클래식 멜로디가 강하긴 했지만 힙 합 필을 감지할 수 있었던 전작에 비해 이번 음반은 팝과 R&B, 록, 클래식, 더 나아가 동양적 멜로디를 차용해 월드 뮤직적인 요소를 가미하는 등('Every Time') 보다 다채로운 음악적 요소가 결합되어 있다는 점이고 기존 음악을 차용해오는 소스도 클래식 곡 뿐만이 아니라 영화음악으로까지 폭이 넓어졌다는 점을 들 수 있다.
게다가 지오와 함께 에미상을 수상한 경력이 있는 마티아스 웨버(Mathis Weber)가 힘을 보탠 이번 음반에서 프라하 심포니 오케스트라(Prague Symphony Orchestra)의 연주가 전작에 비해 더욱 커다란 힘을 발휘하고 있다는 점은 음반 전체에 걸쳐 클래시컬한 느낌을 가미해주는 효과를 발휘하고 있다.
노르웨이 작곡가 겸 피아니스트 그리그(Edvard Grieg:1843-1907)의 '페르귄트 조곡' 중에 나오는 유명한 '솔베이지의 노래'의 선율을 주 테마로 차용한 첫 싱글 'Trying To Be Me'는 스위트박스를 특징지워주었던 클래식 멜로디와 팝/힙 합의 크로스오버란 명제를 충족시켜주고 있지만 이번 앨범에서 이들이 크로스오버의 주재료로 사용하고 있는 것은 이런 클래식 음악만이 아니다. 영화 음악의 테마가 광범위하게 쓰이고 있는 것은 이번 앨범에서 발견할 수 있는 커다란 변화의 모습이다. 물론 이들 영화음악들도 클래시컬한 느낌을 주는 스코어들이긴 하지만...
그 예로 두 번째 싱글인 'For The Lonely'에서는 한번만 들어도 가슴에 남는 멜로디를 뽑아내는 영화음악의 거장 엔니오 모리코네가 만든 1970년 영화 테마 음악이 사용되고 있으며 첫 트랙인 'Cinderella'에는 랜디 에델만의 스코어인 1996년 영화 <드래곤하트(Dragonheart)> 테마인 'The World Of The Heart'의 일부분이 사용되고 있다. 뿐만 아니라 R&B적 감각이 가미된 'Boyfriend'에서는 올드 팬들의 기억에 새로운 유명한 영화 <록키(Rocky)> 시리즈 1편의 테마인 빌 콘티의 'Gonna Fly Now'가 폭넓게 사용되고 있다.
이처럼 전편에서의 클래식 작품에 대한 의존에서 벗어나 보다 다채로운 음악들이 차용됨으로써 이번 음반은 전작이 지니고 있던 힙 합 필에서 탈피해 팝, R&B, 월드 뮤직 등 다양한 느낌을 주고 있다. 게다가 이런 기존 곡들의 테마가 멜로디로 깔린 작품 이외에도 나머지 창작곡들도 전편에 걸쳐 기능하고 있는 오케스트라 연주 덕에 고급스런 느낌을 주고 있는 것이 장점으로 작용하고 있다.
전편에 비해 보다 멜로디가 강조되고 훨씬 세련미가 깃든 이번 음반으로 인해 스위트박스는 어느 누구도 흉내내기 힘든 자신들만의 색깔을 지니게 되었다. 첫 곡인 'Cinderella'에서부터 마지막 트랙에 이르기까지 저마다 독특한 매력을 뿜어내는 스위트박스의 새 음반에서 히트를 예감하기란 어렵지 않은 일이다. .... ....
cinderella are you really that happy? cinderella are you really that lucky? i wanna know is your life like you dreamed?
here i am trying to find my way i’ve kissed so many frongs but i’ve never found a prince i think they lied i was promised much more than this where’s my happy ever after?
cinderella is the queen of the kingdom cinderella got the dream she was dreaming i wanna know where is my happy end cinderella got a prince and a kingdom cinderella got the dream she was dreaming i wanna know where is my fairy tale?
something’s wrong ’cause all my glass shoes break and no one’s helped this damsel in distress to hell with this im not gonna waste more time i wont wait to find prince show me
cinderella is the queen of the kingdom cinderella got the dream she was dreaming i wanna know where is my happy end cinderella got a prince and a kingdom cinderella got the dream she was dreaming i wanna know where is my fairy tale?
cinderella are you really that happy? cinderella are you really that lucky? i wanna know is your life like you dreamed? cinderella are you really that happy? cinderella are you really that lucky? i wanna know is your life like you dreamed?
here i am trying to find my way i’ve kissed so many frongs but i’ve never found a prince i think they lied i was promised much more than this where’s my happy ever after?
cinderella is the queen of the kingdom cinderella got the dream she was dreaming i wanna know where is my happy end cinderella got a prince and a kingdom cinderella got the dream she was dreaming i wanna know where is my fairy tale?
cinderella is the queen of the kingdom cinderella got the dream she was dreaming i wanna know where is my happy end cinderella got a prince and a kingdom cinderella got the dream she was dreaming i wanna know where is my fairy tale?
2005.6.7. This is for the lonely This is for the lonely Sometimes I feel wished on the wrong star Cause I always seem so far from the one that I dream of It’s hard to wait for love But I’ll make it on my own cause I’m learning to be strong, cause it’s never easy standing all alone This is for the lonely This is for the lonely We all live underneath the same blue sky This is for the lonely one’s tonight I’ll help you find the way to hold on At night I cry But no one’s by my side My tears they go unheard so I look for the words to raise my heart So now I’ll sing this prayer that somehow, someday, somewhere I will turn around and find love standing there This is for the lonely This is for the lonely We all live underneath the same blue sky This is for the lonely one’s tonight I’ll help you find the way to hold on This is for the lonely This is for the lonely We all live underneath the same blue sky Oh, my tears they go unheard cause no one’s by my side It’s hard to be unloved, it’s hard to wait for love Uh huh. Hey, ooh ah!! Lonely, hey yeah... This is for the lonely one’s tonight I’ll help you find the way to hold on This is for the lonely (I’ll help you lonely) This is for the lonely (I’ll help you lonely) We all live underneath the same blue sky (I’m gonna help you to hold on) This is for the lonely one's tonight I’ll help you find the way... This is for the lonely
Always hatin' on me when you talk, talk, talk Be steppin' to me on the block, block, block But I don't want your boyfriend I don't want your boyfriend
Hatin' on me when you talk, talk, talk Be steppin' to me on your block, block, block But I don't want your boyfriend I don't want your boyfriend
Oh yeah, come on girl All this hate you have has really got to go Cuz we both get phat, and he ain't all that And you don't seem to know What's wrong with you? Take a look around, see I got men to spare I'm doin' my thang, sorry 'bout your man But he just can't compare
Girls we need to stop doin' this All this mess has got to end I don't want your boyfriend
No, no, no, no
Always hatin' on me when you talk, talk, talk Be steppin' to me on the block, block, block But I don't want your boyfriend I don't want your boyfriend
Hatin' on me when you talk, talk, talk Be steppin' to me on your block, block, block But I don't want your boyfriend I don't want your boyfriend
Come on girl, what's it gonna take To make you realize that I'm in your shoes, I ain't hatin' on you So there's no need to fight And you see these guys, they be rollin' tight They're ?? you can't divide But a guy walks in and we can't be friends And it just isn't right
Girls we need to stop doin' this All this mess has got to end I don't want your boyfriend
Always hatin' on me when you talk, talk, talk Be steppin' to me on the block, block, block But I don't want your boyfriend I don't want your boyfriend
Hatin' on me when you talk, talk, talk Be steppin' to me on your block, block, block But I don't want your boyfriend I don't want your boyfriend
Look at me, that silly girl Gave all I had just to be in your world Now look at me, I’m not the same Don’t look so mad cuz a lot has changed, yeah
So you called, cuz you miss me You want me back and you say you love me Get over it, you’re such a fool My life is good and I ain’t thinkin’ ’bout you
1 - Ooh, how you gonna think I’m gonna sit around and wait for you? Ooh, find another girl to play
2 - How does it feel? When you’re the stupid one And all your games are done I really wanna know, how does it feel? To see me pass you by All hugged up with some guy I really wanna know, how does it...
Now look at you, who’s cryin’ now? Did you think that I’d never catch up To your lies, your life of shame You hold me tight then forget my name, yeah
Now I’m back, I’m feelin’ good Just runnin’ game that I learned from you You really think I’d take you back? My life is good and I ain’t thinkin’ ’bout you
Repeat 1 Repeat 2
How does it feel? I really wanna know Yeah, how does it feel To see me over you? I wanna know Yeah, how does it feel? How does it.. feel
Don’t give me that look You messed up, what can I say? I’m lettin’ you know
Sometimes i question you and me the reasons that im here are hard to see but when i feel your fingertips brush mine i swear i see heaven for a moment in time been running been hiding so scared of love
but everytime you look into my eyes and everytime you kiss my lips goodnight the honesty’s too much its in the way we touch it gets me everytime
everytime you look at me that way theres so much said when there’s nothing to say the sweetest thing i heard without a single word it gets me everytime it gets me everytime
MmmmmMmm
sometimes i wake up next to you and i wonder if you knew that you would change my mind with just one kiss that you would be the one from that night been running been hiding so scared of love
but everytime you look into my eyes and everytime you kiss my lips goodnite the honesty’s too much its in the way we touch it gets me everytime
anytime you look at me that way theres so much said when there’s nothing to say the sweetest thing i’ve heard the sweetest thing i’ve heard the sweetest thing i’ve heard it gets me everytime it gets me everytime Ooh Ooh
(echos) Ooh Ooh
Ooh Ooh Ooooh
(quietly) been running
yeahhhhhhhhhhh
Oohh ohh
but everytime you look into my eyes and everytime you kiss my lips goodnight the honesty’s too much its in the way we touch it gets me everytime it gets me everytime
Sometimes i question you and me the reasons that im here are hard to see but when i feel your fingertips brush mine i swear i see heaven for a moment in time been running been hiding so scared of love
but everytime you look into my eyes and everytime you kiss my lips goodnight the honesty’s too much its in the way we touch it gets me everytime
everytime you look at me that way theres so much said when there’s nothing to say the sweetest thing i heard without a single word it gets me everytime it gets me everytime
MmmmmMmm
sometimes i wake up next to you and i wonder if you knew that you would change my mind with just one kiss that you would be the one from that night been running been hiding so scared of love
but everytime you look into my eyes and everytime you kiss my lips goodnite the honesty’s too much its in the way we touch it gets me everytime
anytime you look at me that way theres so much said when there’s nothing to say the sweetest thing i’ve heard the sweetest thing i’ve heard the sweetest thing i’ve heard it gets me everytime it gets me everytime Ooh Ooh
(echos) Ooh Ooh
Ooh Ooh Ooooh
(quietly) been running
yeahhhhhhhhhhh
Oohh ohh
but everytime you look into my eyes and everytime you kiss my lips goodnight the honesty’s too much its in the way we touch it gets me everytime it gets me everytime
Mr. Big Shot, you''re gonna hate me Mr. Big Stuff, you''re gonna suffer Mr. Big Shot, you''re gonna learn your place
I used to think quite a lot of you Wished I could do all the things you do But honey, I''ve seen the light You''ve never been on a movie screen Hollywood you have never seen But you think you''re too good for me
No No No Who the hell you think you are No no, you''re not a superstar No No No Who the hell you think you are No no, you''re not a superstar
You walk around like you''re Brad Pitt Don''t even know that you''re full of shit There are no billboards of you So tonight, honey, say your prayers You''re gonna hate me but I don''t care ''cause now it''s your turn to cry
No No No Who the hell you think you are No no, you''re not a superstar No No No Who the hell you think you are No no, you''re not a superstar
Late at night when you close your eyes You''ll see me No no who do you think you are You''re not a superstar, no
Mr. Big Shot, you''re gonna hate me Mr. Big Stuff, you''re gonna suffer Mr. Big Shot, you''re gonna learn your place
Oh~ You''re gonna hate me
Mr. Big Shot, you''re gonna hate me Mr. Big Stuff, you''re gonna suffer Mr. Big Shot, you''re gonna learn your place
No No No Who the hell you think you are No no, you''re not a superstar No No No This time you really went to far No no, you''re not a superstar
Like a wind that’s slowly blowing Your breath upon my skin softly comforts me Like a dream that keeps you lounging I just hear your voice and I’m weak And I know it’s not just passion that’s touched me so deep Even though I try to hide Something’s changed in me
’cause we found something sacred I’m not scared anymore ’cause we found something sacred Something we can’t ignore When so many lovers never find each other I’ve found you ’cause we found something sacred So sacred And sweet
Like a kiss that keeps you yearning When I feel your lips I start to cry Baby, put your hands upon me Leave me breathless tonight I’m alive and unafraid Unashamed With you When so many lovers never find each other I’ve found you ’cause we found something sacred So sacred and sweet
One night in late July I saw you cross the room Then you asked me for a dance and I could hardly move (yeah) I’d never been so scared before, your touch was overwhelming Then you led me to the floor and I swore I was dreaming
*(That night) there was magic (That night) I was spellbound By your side, oh the first time I cried, I cried Yes, you changed my life (That night) there was magic (That night) I was spellbound By your side, oh the first time I cried, I cried This night changed my life
We sat and talked all night the starry sky above us You were nervous, I was shy The butterflies of first love Then I knocked on heaven’s door when you leaned in to kiss me I’d never been left wanting more, oh I was hardly breathing
*Repeat
I wanna know what might have been I want to have that night again First love just never ends, oh why do I still miss him
Now life has distanced us, that summer night’s long gone But I still feel your lips when I hear our old love song I’ve changed a lot since then, but I still sit and wonder I’d like to know what might have been if summer love had lingered
One day, summer afternoon Just hangin’, nothin’ much to do Then he swayed on by me Brown hair and ? body No words, cuz he was shy I winked, and just said hi He laughed, cuz he was speechless You’re cute, you wanna come with me?
1 - I said come here, move a little closer Leave me breathless Tuggin’ on my hips, he said...
2 - Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm My little brown haired boy Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm My little brown haired boy
All day, and then all night I kissed and loved him right I showed him a few tricks Gave him more than a first kiss He saw my tan lines Found out how to have a good time I can’t forget that boys hips Still smell and taste his sweet lips
Repeat 1 Repeat 2
Years later, I was getting off the subway train And I heard a sly, familiar voice whispering my name And then I felt his lips gently kiss my shoulder And I said,
I’m a wild one I’m lots of fun What can I say I betcha you’re gonna like it way yeah yeah Don’t really care I know I’m not the girl next door But I can give you much more and Make you scream make you lose control
Yeah, I’m gonna drive you crazy I’m crazy, real crazy What you think don’t even faze me I’m crazy, can’t tame me I’m crazy, real crazy What you think don’t even faze me I’m crazy, can’t tame me
I break the rules ’cause I don’t care Do what I wanna do I stay out late and wear what I wanna wear Have you ever had a girl like this So untamed I can break you down With just a kiss Gonna make you remember this So I like to have a little fun I’ve always been a real wild one And I know that you really like it that way
Did you know when you walked away Did you know that you broke my heart Did you know all that time that I was waiting for you Can't you see that I'm in pain Can't you hear when I call your name Can't you feel that inside that I'm hurting too I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you Why do we wanna hurt ourselves Why do we wanna close our eyes Why do we wanna be so proud and insensitive Can we try to open our minds Can we hear the other one's side Can we feel that we go much deeper than we choose to be I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you
We're all the same inside We feel and cry Like you
I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you
Did you know when you walked away Did you know that you broke my heart Did you know all that time that I was waiting for you Can't you see that I'm in pain Can't you hear when I call your name Can't you feel that inside that I'm hurting too I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you Why do we wanna hurt ourselves Why do we wanna close our eyes Why do we wanna be so proud and insensitive Can we try to open our minds Can we hear the other one's side Can we feel that we go much deeper than we choose to be I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you
We're all the same inside We feel and cry Like you
I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you I laugh I cry I need I try Sometimes I hide I'm not different from you