Is Vangelis teaching us, like Sophocles did to the Greeks, the dangers of man? This album was made after Chariots of Fire. Thinking that the world is nuts into Vangelis, Vangelis made this album especially for the fans who love him just for Chariots of Fire. He gave us something that we never excepted... satire. This album is not only the first solo album he wrote after Chariots of Fire, but also the first album he wrote lyrics for. The idea is that... be careful on what you do.

[1] I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE
This one relates to a kind of stress one feels in the modern world. Whether you are in school or work, you often say to yourself (or out loud in public) "I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" The situation I can visualize is someone sitting in their cubicle (for Dilbert fans everywhere... the world will be ours! :>) screaming their heads off over the sound of Musak. Banging his head all over the place and causing a rucus, the fellow workmates observed and questioned. Is he listening to the wrong kind of music, they would say.

[2] MULTI-TRACK SUGGESTION
After looking at the lyrics, this is the hypothesis I've drawn up. Vangelis is pissed off at the recording studio. That may sound like a contradiction because of the nature of Vangelis himself with him basically living in his studio. What makes Vangelis distrought however about the studio is all of the technical and digital crap floating around. Music now has to be synchronized and follow the twisted percisions of studio technicans and producers. Well, drawn your own statements if you don't like mine! :)

[3] MEMORIES OF GREEN
"Memories of Green" is probably the most interesting and emotional pieces that Vangelis wrote and used a lot (like in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner and Someone to Watch Over Me). I have heard of different reactions to this piece from remembering the "good ol' days." I envision a dream someone has on the joys of life and how good it was to be free and living. It was almost like William Wordsworth's Ode: Inimations of Immortality. Now, it is almost like... oh, well, get on with it. (The "beeping sounds" were caused by a Japanese game played by Vangelis' assistant, Keith Spencer Allen, while Vangelis was playing this piece).

[4] NOT A BIT, ALL OF IT
This one gets me laughing because of the unusual nature of this song. It starts off with a voice advocating for the use of cosmetics for those stressful situations and for giving a "better impression." Another one is the bragging of what services she went to. You hear a blank where you either fill in the name or you think that the person doesn't really care what is happening. Then, you have Vangelis signing his "professional voice" (we think his voice will develop!). Then again, Vangelis and "Ms. Vangelis" makes themselves interesting again today... obviously!

[5] SUFFOCATION
This track is one with an emotional rush at the beginning but a sense of reflection or prayer at the end. This track commemorates the chemical accident at Seveso, Italy (in the Lombardy region). In July 1976, a reactor in a chemical plant exploded and leaked out dangerous chemicals. Seveso and surrounding towns were evacuated and treated. Fortunately, there were no seriously fatal scars and the town was rebuilt. Vangelis could still capture the cries for help or the sound of the bullhorn echoing distress and alarm. At the end, it is the feeling of panic or loss of friends.

[6] SEE YOU LATER
Even after reading (and translating) the lyrics, I have come to an understanding of the purpose of that song (and maybe the whole album). It basically attacks the commercial music industry and how unexpressive music has become. Like the child says (en francais)... "Parce que j'aime bien la musique. Parce que je trouve bien les instruments. Parce qu'il y a beaucoup de boutons et que j'aimerais bien jouer du piano." (Or "Because I like the music. Because I find the instruments well. Because there are many buttons and I would like to play the piano.") It also raises the old Hamlet speech (you know... "To be or not to be.."). The sound is very 70's and 80's as far as melody and synthesizers. See you later...