阿傑故事很秋天
臺灣填詞人陳樂融老師的這本書陪伴著我十一、二年之久，從外面租屋到回家住，一直到有了自住的地方，每次搬家都必定沒有漏掉這本書。說來奇怪，身邊很多東西包括喜愛看的書往往在不斷搬家的過程中漏東漏西，但是對我非常重要的幾十本書包括這本，是一直都沒有丟失過的。我想說的，可能是書與人也需要靠緣份吧。
平日除了翻譯、寫文案，師大畢業後的這些年以來，我也經歷過生活中的高低起伏跌宕，覺得自己需要振作的時候，除了好好游泳、聽音樂，就是靠讀書走出低檔時期。閱讀給我重新出發的力量，尤其是閱讀同為寫作人的書，例如陳樂融老師編寫的《我，作詞家》。 Continue reading “《我，作詞家》：搖筆桿路上的精神支柱 Me, a Lyricist: The source of mental strength of a writer”
注意這個低音吉他手的頻道好一段時間了。由於他懂得找比較冷門的歌來彈奏，其他很大路（很入屋）的歌曲基本忽略掉不玩，感覺像是彷彿找到了冷門音樂樂迷的知音人。
Beyond這首〈灰色軌跡〉是我四年大學生涯不斷聽的歌。事實上是我聽了二、三十年不會覺得膩的一首歌，其bassline我還算熟悉，但是沒有跟足原版的彈法。昨夜忽然大半夜聽到這段bassline演繹，自然想玩一玩。
Continue reading “The rhythm that gets me playing at wee hours 大半夜忍不住想彈的bassline”
劉卓輝填詞的這首《歲月無聲》是相當知名的Beyond金曲。這闕詞比較短，但我最喜歡的四句來自上下段的主歌2：「淚眼已吹乾／無力再回望」、「白髮已滄桑／無夢再期望」。
以詞句的推進來說，「淚眼已吹乾／無力再回望」的意思應當是：既然已經流乾了眼淚，那又何苦再回頭？「白髮已滄桑／無夢再期望」的意思應當是：已經到了兩鬢班白的年紀，再也沒有什麼夢想可以寄望了。
可惜Beyond在演唱會中常常唱錯詞，從有影音紀錄的演唱會來看，他們還蠻常唱成「淚眼已吹乾／無夢再期望」、「白髮已滄桑／無力再回望」。就字面意義來說，可能可以解釋成：既然已經流乾了眼淚，那也就再也沒有什麼夢想可以寄望了。既然已經到了兩鬢班白的年紀，那又何苦再用力回頭？ Continue reading “〈歲月無聲〉之歌詞考證學”
Speaking of a runaway place, I recall of this song Dear Margaret by Anthony Wong.
Creative writers are sensitive to environment around them. Some still produce good pieces when a lot of things are going on around them, and they need the ‘I-am-in-the-midst-of-things’ feeling to be productive. I think most Hong Kong writers belong to this category. This minute they are meeting friends in Tsim Sha Tsui or Causeway Bay, the next minute they find themselves at home producing the next piece of artwork.
I once learned from a film-making friend about this. The friends of Christopher Doyle (杜可風) described him as an insane artist. He drinks somewhere around downtown of Hong Kong Island during night time, after which he goes home in the middle of the night and works on his projects as a cinematographer. Known for his fondness and deep affection for Hong Kong, I believe being in downtown Hong Kong contributes tremendously to his artwork. Continue reading “A runaway place for writing (Republishing July 2017 Piece)”
農曆新年假期期間，友人從臺北帶回來《伍佰 and China Blue 雙面對決演唱會全紀錄》的ＣＤ，我從過年至今依然聽得很過癮。
伍佰說過不是經典不會唱，所以這四片ＣＤ收錄的都是相當份量的歌曲。雙面對決演唱會於2016年舉行，沒記錯應該祇有臺北場，就是週六全臺語、週日全國語，一口氣將經典呈現給樂迷。
我個人覺得臺語場比較精彩，可能是伍佰 and China Blue 演繹臺語歌特別有味道，演奏與演唱的部份特別揪心，或黯然神傷、或振奮人心，唯一不變的正能量就是臺灣特有的正港臺語搖滾。我尤其喜愛的臺語歌包括《少年吔，安啦！》、《空襲警報》、《臺灣製造》、《返去故鄉》、《樓仔厝》、《飛在風中的小雨》、《心愛的再會啦》，其中鼓手 Dino 穿插演唱的《小姐免驚》尤其趣味。 Continue reading “伍佰雙面對決之正港臺灣搖滾 (Republishing March 2018 Piece)”
對於伍佰歌迷來說，China Blue 樂團既熟悉又有一些距離，因為他們的訪談並不多，伍佰作為主音歌手常常單槍匹馬接受多數的電台電視台訪問，而其他三位團員一直都是戴著墨鏡扮演著永遠酷炫的樂手。
對China Blue 樂團的印象，就我個人來說，就是覺得他們演出水準一直非常穩定，尤其是鍵盤手大貓和貝斯手小朱。我們這些有福的樂迷，可能真的是被大貓寵壞了，在疫情以前的世界裡每當我在外面看到樂團有鍵盤手，我聽過之後通常都會在心裡想著「這個鍵盤音色的設定搭配其他樂器好像怪怪地」的感覺。然後回到家裡就會重溫伍佰演唱會，大貓老師優遊自在的鍵盤彈奏如行雲流水，那個暢快感是其他鍵盤手很難模仿的技巧。
團長小朱老師的貝斯非常穩健，我印象中的伍佰大型演唱會中，他和大貓看起來很少彈錯，不小心高了或低了半個音階我是無法確定，畢竟我不是一聽音樂就會馬上抓歌的人。身為臺灣音樂文化國際交流協會理事長，他非常照顧後輩樂手，是大家眼中的樂手長輩，真的很敬佩他的熱心與努力。 Continue reading “原來China Blue 樂團這麼健談 Fun talk by China Blue”
往事欲如何
詞曲：伍佰
What about bygones
Melody and Lyrics by WuBai
風吹影搖移 伴著 麻黃的樹枝
看見海面的 燒風 拆破了雲碎
(Blowing breeze and trembling shadows, accompanied by ephedra twigs.
I saw on the sea surface, the hot air, piercing through scattering clouds.)
難免轟轟叫 海螺 聽見你躊蹴
眼前離別時 妳是 波浪伊是水
(It was inevitably honking, even the sea snail, heard your hesitation.
The separation in front of us, you were, the wave, and it was the waters.) Continue reading “〈往事欲如何〉伍佰 What about bygones – WuBai”
〈投機者〉
作詞：陳昇
作曲：陳昇
Speculator by Bobby Chen
Melody and Lyrics by Bobby Chen
後來他究竟去了日本還是美國 就沒有再聽過村子裡的人們說
然而我心裡知道 他應該已經完成了夢想 不再是村民眼中的混球
我寶哥在部隊鬧事退下來以後
回到村子說要搞個BAND一刻也沒閒著
他說反攻大陸早已沒了希望 像我這樣的豆乾開計程車都嫌扯
(Did he go to Japan or USA, nobody in the village talked about it anymore.
Deep in my heart, I know he must have accomplished his dream.
And he is no longer a scum as perceived by neighbours in the village.
My Brother Bao created trouble in the army and retired since.
He planned to start a band when returning to village.
Not even a moment of free time.
He said counter attacking mainland is hopeless now,
and found himself to be unqualified, even just to drive a cab.)
我要做一個沒有羞恥心的投機者
誰又能夠看得出來 我是個忠貞的愛國者
我有我表現愛情的方式 卻沒有人能懂
效忠於我自己的 高貴的自由人
(I would like to be a shameless speculator.
Who could tell that I am a loyal patriot.
I have my own way of expressing love—which nobody knows.
I am the elegant freeman pledging loyalty only to myself.) Continue reading “〈投機者〉陳昇 Speculator by Bobby Chen”
Poet rocker Wu Bai is known for his music career with his band China Blue comprises dummer Dean “Dino” Zavolta, keyboardist Yu Ta-hao (nicknamed Big Cat) and bassist Chu Chien-hui.
The reason he picked up a camera to start shooting around – as he wrote on this book Wu Bai Story (《伍佰．故事》), was that he wanted to get himself a background on his computer. And he started with colour photos, only switching to black and white films, when he travelled in Angkor Wat, the Cambodian city where only black and white films are sold.
Apart from music and occassional acting opportunities, Wu Bai also travels extensively. In this book – as he put it, he went to Tokyo to take photos of Japanese office workers. From his perspective, he was curious if these office workers feel tired for their lifestyle – everybody follows the conformity of the society, puts on the same suits, walking in the same direction, eating at eateries after work. And he put it very bluntly – don’t they feel stupid? Continue reading “Wu Bai – the rocker cum traveller (Republishing Sep 2017 Piece)”
我曾經追蹤臺灣流行音樂，無意中在網路上發現滾石MTV前導演馬宜中寫的《他們的第一滴淚：馬宜中和那些有故事的人》，於是拜託友人從臺北幫我買，好讓我在國外的旅途中好好讀一番。
身為伍佰樂迷，第一個細讀的藝人故事當然就是他。馬宜中細數以前幫伍佰拍〈煞到你〉、〈返去故鄉〉的故事，我才發現原來伍佰真的在乎要保護家人的隱私。話說馬宜中與攝影團隊跟著伍佰 and China Blue 在嘉義走透透拍MTV，好像是伍佰老家附近的樣子，然後有個記者死纏爛打就是要拍照又怎樣的，原本答應拍照之後不會公開，結果還是在那記者服務的報紙上登了出來。 Continue reading “馬宜中筆下的第一滴淚 (Republishing Oct 2017 Piece)”