Más que inspiración...

En la entrada de hoy, más que una canción con la misma base, se trata de un tema reversionado. El rapero californiano Coolio tomó el single del bueno de Stevie Wonder "Pastime Paradise" y lo adaptó creando el tema que le dio a conocer y que está incluído en la banda sonora de la peli Mentes Peligrosas. El título de esta última, como muchos sabréis, es "Gangsta Paradise". Resulta que los directivos de Tommy Boy Records pensaron que no vendería apenas y sin embargo alcanzó el número 1 en las listas de Estados Unidos y Reino Unido. De hecho, en Inglaterra fue el primer single de rap en vender un millón de copias.

Weird Al Yankovic, humorista y cantante californiano también, parodió la canción de Coolio con "Amish Paradise". Este se pilló un buen cabreo porque se le había ocultado el hecho de que Weird Al había sido autorizado a hacer la parodia, pero finalmente los dos artistas hicieron las paces. Os dejo por aquí los tres temillas... Para que luego digáis.

Stevie Wonder - Pastime Paradise

They've been spending most their lives
Living in a pastime paradise
They've been spending most their lives
Living in a pastime paradise
They've been wasting most their time
Glorifying days long gone behind
They've been wasting most their days
In remembrance of ignorance oldest praise

Tell me who of them will come to be
How many of them are you and me
Dissipation
Race relations
Consolation
Segregation
Dispensation
Isolation
Exploitation
Mutilation
Mutations
Miscreation
Confirmation... to the evils of the world

They've been spending most their lives
Living in a future paradise
They've been spending most their lives
Living in a future paradise
They've been looking in their minds
For the day that sorrows gone from time
They keep telling of the day
When the savior of love will come to stay

Tell me who of them will come to be
How many of them are you and me
Proclamation
Of race relations
Consolation
Integretion
Verification
Of revelations
Acclamation
World salvation
Vibrations
Stimulation
Confirmation... to the peace of the world

They've been spending most their lives
Living in a pastime paradise
They've been spending most their lives
Living in a pastime paradise
They've been spending most their lives
Living in a future paradise
They've been spending most their lives
Living in a future paradise
We've been spending too much of our lives
Living in a pastime paradise

Let's start living our lives
Living for the future paradise
Praise to our lives
Living for the future paradise
Shame to anyones lives
Living in the pastime paradise

La canción original de Stevie suena así...

Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothing left
Cause I've been blastin and laughing so long that
Even my mama thinks that my mind is gone

But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
May be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of
You better watch how you talking, and where you walking
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk

I really hate to trip, but I gotta lope
As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool
I'm the kinda G that little homies wanna be
Like on my knees in the night
Sayin' prayers in the street light

Been spending most our lives
Living in a Gangsta's Paradise (x2)
Keep spending most our lives
Living in a Gangsta's Paradise (x2)

Forgot the situation, they got me facin
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the strip
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watching got me chasing dreams

I'm an educated fool, with money on my mind
Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a loped-out gangsta, set-trippin banger
And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool

Death ain't nothing but a heart beat away
I'm livin life do-or-die ah, what can I say?
I'm twenty-three now will I live to see twenty-four?
The way things are goin I don't know

Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me

Been spending most our lives
Living in a Gangsta's Paradise (x2)
Keep spending most our lives
Living in a Gangsta's Paradise (x2)

Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's running, but half of them ain't lookin
What's goin on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cookin

They say I got to learn, but nobody's here to teach me
If they can't understand it, how can they reach me?
I guess they can't I guess they won't
I guess they front that's why I know my life is out of luck, fool

Been spending most our lives
Living in a Gangsta's Paradise (x2)
Keep spending most our lives
Living in a Gangsta's Paradise (x2)

Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me

Aquí el vídeo de la conocida versión...

Weird Al Yankovic - Amish Paradise

As I walk through the valley where I harvest my grain
I take a look at my wife and realize she's very plain
But that's just perfect for an amish like me
You know I shun fancy things like electricity
At 4:30 in the morning I'm milkin' cows
Jebediah feeds the chickens and jacob plows... fool
And I've been milkin' and plowin' so long that
Even Ezekiel thinks that my mind is gone
I'm a man of the land, I'm into discipline
Got a Bible in my hand and a beard on my chin
But if I finish all of my chores and you finish thine
Then tonight were gonna party like its 1699

We been spending most our lives
Living in an amish paradise
I've churned butter once or twice
Living in an amish paradise
It's hard work and sacrifice
Living in an amish paradise
We sell quilts at a discount price
Living in an amish paradise

A local boy kicked me in the butt last week
I just smiled at him and I turned the other cheek
I really dont care, in fact I wish him well
cause Ill be laughing my head off when hes burning in hell
But I ain't never punched a tourist even if he deserved it
An amish with a tude?
You know thats unheard of
I never wear buttons but I got a cool hat
And my homies agree
I really look good in black... fool
If you come to visit, youll be bored to tears
We haven't even paid the phone bill in 300 years
But we ain't really quaint, so please don't point and stare
We're just technologically impaired

There's no phone, no lights, no motorcar
Not a single luxury
Like Robinson Caruso
It's as primitive as can be

We been spending most our lives
Living in an amish paradise
We're just plain and simple guys
Living in an amish paradise
There's no time for sin and vice
Living in an amish paradise
We don't fight, we all play nice
Living in an amish paradise

Hitchin' up the buggy, churnin' lots of butter
Raised a barn on monday, soon I'll raise anutter
Think you're really righteous?
Think you're pure in heart?
Well, I know I'm a million time as humble as thou art
I'm the pious guy the little amlettes wanna be like
On my knees day and night scorin' points for the afterlife
So don't be vain and don't be whiny
Or else, my brother, I might have to get medieval on your heinie

We been spending most our lives
Living in an amish paradise
We're all crazy mennonites
Living in an amish paradise
There's no cops or traffic lights
Living in an amish paradise
But you'd probably think it bites
Living in an amish paradise

Si quieres verlo, AQUÍ tienes el videoclip de la parodia.