關於西洋歌曲,尤其是情歌,我始終有個小小的偏好——比較喜歡聽女歌手唱。雖然歌詞的對象大都是從女性視角出發,代入感沒那麼強,不過,正因為如此,恰好能讓我專注在自己對「旋律」的愛好上。就如同《最美旋律與最美作詞》這篇文章提到的判斷標準,無論是中文歌或非中文歌,我聽旋律都是一次性的,只要第一次聽沒特別喜歡,我就不會拿出來推薦,除非是詞寫得非常好。
然而,西洋歌曲的詞呢……嗯,我向來就不是很在乎。因為,請容我非常大膽且不客氣地說,我覺得中文字的深度、能譜寫的意境與美感,實在比洋文強太多太多了!比如說《青花瓷》裡的「天青色等煙雨」這六個字,我不信這世上還有哪一種語言,可以像中文這樣,僅僅用六個「音」就描繪出如此複雜美妙的意境。(沒錯,中文不只是語言,還是一種藝術!)
因此,我只有在聽中文歌才會特別留意歌詞,非中文歌我向來只注重旋律與歌聲。所以,以下推薦的五首西洋歌曲,都是我在聽了第一遍旋律與歌聲之後,印象比較深刻的名單,分享給大家聽聽看。
※因歌詞字數過多,故拆成兩篇文章,剩餘三首歌請點擊:5首旋律動人的西洋歌曲(下)
5. Yesterday Once More
詞 / 曲:Richard Carpenter & John Bettis
演唱:The Carpenters
When I was young I’d listen to the radio
當我年輕時,我常聽著收音機
Waiting for my favorite songs
等待著我最愛的歌曲
When they played I’d sing along
當播出時我就會跟著哼唱
It made me smile
那總使我覺得開心
Those were such happy times
那真是一段快樂的時光啊
And not so long ago
而就在不久以前
How I wondered where they’d gone
我想知道它們到哪裡去了
But they’re back again
但它們終究是回來了
Just like a long lost friend
就像個失聯已久的朋友
All the songs I loved so well
每一首歌都是我的最愛
*
Every sha-la-la-la
每一句Sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o
每一句Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
依然閃亮動人
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
每一句shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they’re starting to sing
它們就是這麼開始唱的
So fine
真是好極了
When they get to the part where he’s breaking her heart
當它們唱到他傷了她的心那一段
It can really make me cry
真的會使我哭泣
Just like before
就像從前那樣
It’s yesterday once more
彷彿昨日重現
*
Looking back on how it was in years gone by
回顧著流逝的歲月
And the good times that I had
以及那些我擁有的美好時光
Makes today seem rather sad
相較之下,如今多麼悲傷啊
So much has changed
物事大都已非了
It was songs of love that I would sing to then
那是我當時會唱的情歌
And I’d memorize each word
我還記得每一句歌詞
Those old melodies
那些古老的旋律
Still sound so good to me
聽起來依舊甜美
As they melt the years away
就像把歲月都融化了
*
Every sha-la-la-la
每一句Sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o
每一句Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
依然閃亮動人
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
每一句shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they’re starting to sing
它們就是這麼開始唱的
So fine
真是好極了
All my best memories
我最美好的回憶
Come back clearly to me
清晰地回到我的身邊
Some can even make me cry
有些甚至會使我哭泣
Just like before
就像從前那樣
It’s yesterday once more
彷彿昨日重現
*
Every sha-la-la-la
每一句Sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o
每一句Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
依然閃亮動人
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
每一句shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they’re starting to sing
它們就是這麼開始唱的
So fine
真是好極了
*
Every sha-la-la-la
每一句Sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o
每一句Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
依然閃亮動人
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
每一句shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they’re starting to sing
它們就是這麼開始唱的
So fine
真是好極了The Carpenters
–
4. Way Back Into Love
詞 / 曲:Adam Schlesinger
演唱:Hugh Grant & Haley Bennett
I’ve been living with a shadow overhead
我一直活在陰影之下
I’ve been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
烏雲總是扮我入眠
I’ve been lonely for so long
長久以來我是如此寂寞
Trapped in the past, I just can’t seem to move on
受困於過去,我似是無法逃脫
*
I’ve been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
我已深藏所有希望與夢想
Just in case I ever need them again someday
以防哪天我會再需要它們
I’ve been setting aside time
我已經撥出了一些時間
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind
在我的心靈角落清出一點小空間
*
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
我所想要的,只是重新找回愛
I can’t make it through without a way back into love
若找不到愛,我就無法撐過一切
Oh oh oh
喔喔喔
*
I’ve been watching but the stars refuse to shine
我觀望著星空,但星星卻拒絕閃亮
I’ve been searching but I just don’t see the signs
我總是在尋覓,但就是看不見跡象
I know that it’s out there
我知道它就在那裡
There’s gotta be something for my soul somewhere
在某個角落,一定會有屬於我靈魂的東西
*
I’ve been looking for someone to shed some light
我一直在尋找某個能點亮我生命的人
Not somebody just to get me through the night
不是某個只能陪我度過夜晚的人
I could use some direction
我可以聽從一些指引
And I’m open to your suggestions
也包括你的建議
*
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
我所想要的,只是重新找回愛
I can’t make it through without a way back into love
若找不到愛,我就無法撐過一切
And if I open my heart again
如果我再次敞開心房
I guess I’m hoping you’ll be there for me in the end
我猜我會希望最後是你在等著我
*
There are moments when I don’t know if it’s real
有些時候我會懷疑這一切是否真實
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
或是其他人也有著跟我一樣的感受
I need inspiration
我需要一些啟發
Not just another negotiation
而不是另一場談判
*
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
我所想要的,只是重新找回愛
I can’t make it through without a way back into love
若找不到愛,我就無法撐過一切
And if I open my heart to you
如果我再次對你敞開心房
I’m hoping you’ll show me what to do
我希望你會告訴我該怎麼做
And if you help me to start again
若你能幫助我重新開始
You know that I’ll be there for you in the end
你知道我會是那個陪著你到最後的人Hugh Grant & Haley Bennett