Isto somos nós

Os concertos em Portugal são cada vez mais estranhos. No pavilhão Atlântico, a fila para comprar cervejas é mais demorada do que a tentativa de chegar junto do palco. Falta pouco tempo para os REM iniciarem o concerto, mas tudo o que vejo é a ausência de expectativa, várias pessoas tiram fotografias de costas viradas para o palco, um grupo acende um charro e discute, em vozes estridentes, o jogo entre o Sporting e o Benfica do dia seguinte. Existem mais lugares sentados do que plateia de pé. Michael Stipe, Peter Buck e Mike Mills entram, vinte e cinco anos de música e canções nas costas, e tudo o que a sua audiência faz é cruzar os braços e olhar em frente. Estas são as novas canções de Around the Sun, ninguém sabe a letra, os portugueses não estão aqui para aprenderem ou experimentar o entusiasmo das coisas desconhecidas. Nós somos os mortos-vivos de pulsação fraca e curiosidade reduzida. Mas, ao contrário do que se passa nos filmes, nem sequer temos a capacidade de nos alimentarmos dos outros. Escolhemos a facilidade de devorar o próprio braço. Por vezes, uma melodia familiar soa e o corpo contorce-se, movimentos mecânicos, vozes em coro, agora sim, “eu conheço esta”, a validação pessoal e o sentimento de grupo, “eu conheço esta”, e percebo que as pessoas não estão interessadas em ouvir os REM. Não é essa a experiência que procuram. A maioria apenas quer estar lá. Não sabem que os eventos se devem viver, não somente presenciar.

Homenagem aos participantes da Quinta das Celebridades, figuras (agora) incontornáveis da sociedade portuguesa, vidas decoradas a plástico vermelho e personalidades construídas com frases feitas. A buçalidade pode ser um emprego. Mas toda a maquilhagem, fatos escuros e vestidos de noite, extensões de cabelo e cálices de prata, não disfarçam aquilo que é evidente. O vazio admirável. A prova da existência do vácuo. Não, talvez pior. Um tsunami cultural.

Common People - Pulp

She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge
She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College
That's where I caught her eye

She told me that her Dad was loaded
I said "In that case I'll have rum and coca-cola
She said "fine"

And then in 30 seconds time she said
"I want to live like common people
I want to do whatever common people do
I want to sleep with common people
I want to sleep with common people like you"
Well what else could I do?
I said "I'll see what I can do"

I took her to a supermarket
I don't know why
but I had to start it somewhere
so it started there
I said "pretend you've got no money"
but she just laughed
and said "oh you're so funny"
I said "Yeah
Well I can't see anyone else smiling in here"

Are you sure
you want to live like common people
you want to see whatever common people see
you want to sleep with common people
you want to sleep with common people like me?"

But she didn't understand
she just smiled and held my hand

Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school

But still you'll never get it right
'cos when you're laid in bed at night
watching roaches climb the wall
if you called your dad he could stop it all
yeah

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
and then dance and drink and screw
because there's nothing else to do

Sing along with the common people
Sing along and it might just get you through
Laugh along with the common people
Laugh along although they're laughing at you
and the stupid things that you do
because you think that poor is cool

Like a dog lying in a corner
they will bite you and never warn you
Look out
they'll tear your insides out
'cos everybody hates a tourist
especially one who thinks
it's all such a laugh
yeah and the chip stain's grease
will come out in the bath

You will never understand
how it feels to live your life
with no meaning or control
and with nowhere else to go
You are amazed that they exist
and they burn so bright
whilst you can only wonder why

Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
But still you'll never get it right
'cause when you're laid in bed at night
watching roaches climb the wall
if you called your dad he could stop it all
yeah

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
and then dance and drink and screw
'because there's nothing else to do
I want to live with common people like you.