too since there's a German version of this one out there!
You know what track we are up to? The actual rate discovery for Le Berserky! Your all knowing (ha!) Dalida connoisseur actually has a blind spot only a fellow connoisseur like Disco Blister can repair, and that was through recommending
Captain Sky for rate inclusion in the
Dalida Thread in that pesky Comeback Corner of the forum (should we run rates directly from there like the K-Pop forum does, discuss!). To tell you the truth, without that prompt by Disco Extraordinaire – it is very unlikely I would ever have discovered Captain Sky!
What is surprising about this particular track is that
Captain Sky is from Dalida’s resurgence era – alongside her disco phase, making the oddity factor even more interesting. As you’ll recall
Salma Ya Salama saw Dalida take a risk in her musical direction at a similar time but her sense of adventure didn't stop there. She was firing from all cylinders with creativity and taking chances; and boy did it pay off! Look at that rich discography she left behind as a legacy for us!! Although
Captain Sky ‘only’ got a 9.1 from me this rate, there’s definitely potential from it to grow on me further and if I randomly heard it (with Dalida’s haunting delivery) in a Song Contest for the first time? All the points!!!!
As one would expect from such an oddity in a discography of almost 700 songs – there isn’t actually a whole ton of information available on
Captain Sky. It charted in some markets (#18 in Luxembourg and #16 in Monaco) but wasn’t pushed to the same degree as other releases from the era (
Femme Est La Nuit was the big hit, and funky #1 from the parent album in the main markets) though it still received some TV promotion and a German cover. Captain Sky is an adaptation from the original Italian track from Vito Pallavicini & composition by Pino Massara. The gorgeous music is almost that of a soft ballad but the creepy build with the children’s voices slowly harmonising in the background make it a standout, that goes much beyond the usual sounds of the 70s balladry.
What is also fascinating and makes
Captain Sky stand out further in this playlist (outside its sonic uniqueness) is how it reflected society’s obsession with extra terrestrial activity at that time. You’ll probably recall that as a society, we have been intrigued by what’s out there for decades (centuries really if you look at spirituality) but with the prominence of radio and eventually TV, there was a huge outlet for expression of thought on the subject from the 50s onwards. The mid-70s to mid-90s are a set of years I remember were of interest to me when I was consuming the media representation of the subject. Remember Fallon being kidnapped by aliens in Dynasty?? Ddddddd and then the X-Files of course, how perfectly would the
Captain Sky song have fit in that?
Outside all this though, it wouldn’t be a Dalida song without wonderful French lyrics (provided by Eddy Marnay), would it? The story told is of mankind sending children to war when invaded by aliens (heralded by feared Captain Sky). When the children got there, Captain Sky was touched and persuaded by the innocence of the children that mankind was not worth destroying and leaves Earth. The outro however reveals how mankind learns nothing and continues to kill each other despite being given salvation by a higher power. If this isn’t a timeless message we still need to hear today – what is, hey?
@əʊæ (10)
is all about this discovery being a familial affair - ddd I bet my mum knows this one. the German version goes off too.
@WowWowWowWow (6)
wants to Taylor Swift his way out of this narrative – Is that a CHILDREN’S CHOIR?!?!?!?
@Maki (8.25)
is all about the slow builds in these discoveries - I'm having trouble understanding whether this one is a cover or not. It doesn't start really strong, but as it progresses, it just gets better and better and I totally love it. The hook which children singing is really cute and beautiful, even a bit nostalgic. I have a certain feeling of heaviness and sadness to this song, no matter how innocent it sounds.
@Disco Blister (10)
gives it all to us, and please thank them for having Captain Sky here (especially you 11 givers!!) - Ah, le très mysterious
Captain Sky! This is such an interesting entry in Dalida’s repertoire, a good one, at least in my books, ahem. I find it fascinating how during the 70’s aliens and ufos inspired so many songs (and tv-series and movies of course). Give me the comeback of space disco immediately! Anyways, Captain Sky is not disco, but it’s filled with mystery and intrigue, plus a lovely melody.
@pop3blow2 (11)
is the one to sing the praises of our Queen's delivery - Throw a creepy kid chorus in anything & I’m tenning it. That said, this song is the discovery of the rate for me. It’s unsettling both sonically & lyrically. She sells the dramatics without making it hokey. It has that 70’s sci-fi/horror feeling where everything seems fine on the surface, but actually everything is just a bit off. What a song.
@Sprockrooster (9)
is having a heartfelt moment or two with this one (I hope you still enjoyed participating between discovering tearjerkers like this and Avec Le Temps here) - I love that spoken intro along with that piano so much. Also those key changes are amazing and lifting the song up to a 9,0. Tell me the story and make me sob queen.
@nnnumb (11)
reveals the beginning of his regrets, and might Paroles be the one to change one's 11 for? #bientôt! - Perfect! There was never really another contender for my 11, although Paroles Paroles did end coming very close. Aside from the vocals, this sounds curiously English. Not that that influenced my score.
:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-11156811-1510917569-2286.png.jpg)
