About a year ago what we heard for the first time The adults are talking of the strokes. It was during the concert that the New York band offered at the Wiltern in Los Angeles. But it was today, with the studio version on the occasion of the release of The New Abnormal, when we have finally been able to enjoy The adults are talking in all its glory. Just one listen is enough to fall in love with what, automatically, has just become one of the best songs by The Strokes in their entire discography. SPECTACULAR.
The adults are talking: instant classic by The Strokes
The song is easily one of the best rock songs of 2020 so far. Rick Rubin's production dominates every corner of this new album, with an impeccable and even strange sound for The Strokes, known since their origins for their underground sound (although those days are a long way off, especially after the publication of the very electronic Angles). The adults are talking is a formidable example of this pristine new Rick Rubin sound.
Impressive melody that progresses towards the musical orgasmic madness of Casablancas and his trademark falsetto, all wrapped up by the dominant bass line. The sound of The adults are talking reminds something of One way Trigger, and certain sections of the chorus could easily fit into Hawaii, another masterpiece (this one very unknown, since it hasn't been released on any record) by New Yorkers.
With everything, The adults are talking it has enough ingredients to be a gem with its own personality. And that ending… please. We would have loved to hear how that guitar progression ended. so happy that it slowly dies on us (and that we could hear something more in the live version than a fan cleaned for Youtube).
Meaning of The adults are talking
As in so many other songs by the band reptile, The Strokes masks a much darker message in a love story. The same thing happens in bad decisions.
Too bad we get along with the top record executives.
The main theme of The adults are talking (ironic title where they exist, in which the adults are said executives of RCA, Sony or any other label), is the constant dilemma of a group and its sound.
A group that released an immortal 1st album that refounded the rock genre indie (Is this it, 2001) and that, since then, has only met with knocks from critics and a group of pigs (we could already see said executives with pig masks in the video of Threat of joy) telling them how they have to sound. The stormy relationship that Julian and the rest (but especially Julian) have with the heads of their record label is a constant in almost all of their work. Furthermore, it is important to remember the musical evolution they have had throughout their albums, as detailed in the analysis of the album.
By the way, let's not forget the title of the Basquiat painting that illustrates the cover of The new abnormal: BIRD ON MONEY.
Lyrics and Translation of The Adults are talking by The Strokes, 1st song by The New Abnormal
[Verse 1]
They've been sayin' you're sophisticated
They're complainin', overeducated
You are saying all the words I'm dreaming
Say it after me
Say it after me
They will blame us, crucify and shame us
We can't help it if we are a problem
We are tryin' hard to get your attention
I'm climbin' up your wall
Climbin' up your walls
They've been saying you're sophisticated
They're complaining, overeducated
You're saying all the words, I'm dreaming
repeat after me
repeat after me
They will blame us, cross us and humiliate us
We can't fix it, if we're the problem
We are working hard to get your attention.
I'm climbing your wall
climbing your walls
[Chorus]
Don't go there 'cause you'll never return
I know you think of me when you think of her
But then it don't make sense when you're trying hard
To do the right thing but without reward
And then you did something wrong and you said it was great
And now you don't know how you could ever complain
Because you're all confused 'cause you want me to
But then you want me to do it the same as you
Don't go there cause you'll never come back
I know you think of me when you think of her
But then there's no point when you try hard
Do the right thing but without a reward
And then you did something wrong and you said it was great
And now you don't know how you could explain it
Cause you're all confused and you want me to
But then you want me to do it just like you
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 2]
You were waitin' for the elevator
You were sayin' all the words I'm dreaming
No more askin', questions, or excuses
Information's here
here and everywhere
You were waiting in the elevator
You were saying all those words that I'm dreaming
No more questions or excuses
The information is here
here and everywhere
[Chorus]
Don't go there 'cause you'll never return
I know you think of me when you think of her
But then it don't make sense when you're trying hard
To do the right thing but without reward
And then you did something wrong and you said it was great
And now you don't know how you could ever complain
Because you're all confused 'cause you want me to
But then you want me to do it the same way as you, and then
Don't go there cause you'll never come back
I know you think of me when you think of her
But then there's no point when you try hard
Do the right thing but without a reward
And then you did something wrong and you said it was great
And now you don't know how you could explain it
Cause you're all confused and you want me to
But then you want me to do it just like you
[Bridge]
I don't, I don't want anything
I know it's not
It's not your fault
I don't want anyone
Has been
It's not for you
I don't want, I don't want anything
I know it's not your fault
I do not want anybody
how i want
It's not for you
[break]
Ah ah ah ah ah
Ah-ah, ooh, ooh
[Outro]
Stockholders
Same shit, a different lie
I'll get it right sometime
oh maybe not tonight
oh maybe not tonight
oh maybe not tonight
oh maybe not tonight
oh maybe not tonight
Shareholders
Same shit, different lie
someday i'll get it right
maybe not tonight
maybe not tonight
maybe not tonight
maybe not tonight
maybe not tonight
[spoken]
Yeah boy, here we go
And a one, and a two, and a three
Here we go friends (Hold on, I can't)
Maybe that's a kooky situation
So let's go back to the low key, old tempo, everything