2019年7月4日 星期四

Gilbert O'Sullivan-Alone Again (Naturally)


   

  1970年代來自愛爾蘭的知名歌星Gilbert O'Sullivan下週將在美國開43年來第一場演唱會,這場演唱會預定79日在紐約Winery市,710日在費城World Café現場開唱,O'Sullivan告訴Billboard記者:離開美國幾十年時間還能回美國來開唱,是協助他登峰的經紀人當年的一個精準的計算,在成為一位受歡迎的現場演唱的歌手之前,他曾有機會在Moody Blues的演唱會裡表演,但後來決定自己巡迴各地大型表演場館做演唱會而成名。


  O'Sullivan表示大張旗鼓去各地大演藝場館巡演很麻煩,所以他決定放棄,儘管他曾經在紐約卡奈基音樂廳有過成功的演出。

  我有很棒的樂團和私人飛機,但我們繼續唱下去聽的人會變少,儘管唱片暢銷百萬張,但不保證演唱會就賣座,他強調:回憶往日的成就而復出是不對的,應該多利用幕後支援部份的經驗。

  O'Sullivan是美國排行榜上知名的top 10歌星,他在1972 73年以冠軍曲"Alone Again (Naturally)" 與獲得第二名的動聽歌謠 "Clair"成名。

  1970年代後期Gilbert的歌唱事業走下坡,但在2000年後,他又開始定期巡迴演唱,他最新的專輯是2018年與他同名的Gilbert O'Sullivan,他總是用一個編制完整的樂隊,他也和吉他手Bill Shanley搭檔二重唱,這次此人將和The Kinks合唱團的主唱Ray DaviesGilbert O'Sullivan的二場演唱會合作演出。

  他告訴Billboard雜誌:如果演唱會受歡迎,他考慮今秋在美國再安排一次演出。




Alone Again (Naturally)
Songwriters: O'sullivan

In a little while from now
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promise myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower
And climbing to the top
Will throw myself off
In an effort to
Make it clear to whoever
Wants to know what it's like When you're shattered
Left standing in the lurch at a church
Were people saying, My God, that's tough
She stood him up
No point in us remaining
We may as well go home
As I did on my own
Alone again, naturally
To think that only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay
Looking forward to who wouldn't do
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt
Talk about, God in His mercy
Oh, if he really does exist
Why did he desert me
In my hour of need
I truly am indeed
Alone again, naturally
It seems to me that
There are more hearts broken in the world
That can't be mended
Left unattended
What do we do
What do we do
Alone again, naturally
Looking back over the years
And whatever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died
Never wishing to hide the tears
And at sixty-five years old
My mother, God rest her soul
Couldn't understand why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start
With a heart so badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally



2019年6月27日 星期四

Roberta Flack-Killing Me Softly With His Song


  Roberta Flack最近成立了他自己的公益團體,名稱是the Roberta Flack Foundation想幫助很多她覺得很重要的事,現在她宣布了頭二位獲得基金會獎學金的得主。
 
  第一個獎學金將頒給SheLectricity,按照這個單位的網頁介紹,他們專案的目標是針對多彩多姿的女孩們,將科技、文化與社區結合去產生安全、線上培育與個人的環境,他們將協助年輕人學習、成長、創新與領先。

  the Roberta Flack Foundation打算今年秋季開始在三個樞紐都市加州奧克蘭、洛杉磯與田納西州孟非斯做一些活動,第二個計劃是推薦一位舊金山的教育家Carol Swainson,他為學校拍過一部紀錄片,片子讓家庭成員可以舒服地談種族偏差,讓負面的種族歧視有希望改變。

  Swainson 的紀錄片得到the National Association of Independent Schools the White Privilege Conference二個組織的支助。

  Flack七月1日將在紐約開記者會推薦該活動。

  Roberta Flack 1939年出生於北卡羅來納州,是一位鋼琴歌唱家,15歲就獲得鋼琴學位,然後當中學音樂老師,後來經由爵士樂手Les McCann介紹踏入流行音樂界。

  Roberta Flack 1972年以電影迷霧追魂的插曲"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"成名,1973年的"Killing Me Softly With His Song"確立了在歌壇的地位,這首連續五周獲得排行榜冠軍的歌是Grammy獎年度歌曲,在BMI最常播出百名歌曲榜獲得第11名。

Killing Me Softly
Roberta Flack
Songwriters: Norman Gimbel / Charles Fox

Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him to listen for a while
And there he was this young boy, a stranger to my eyes
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I felt all flushed with fever, embarrassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters and read each one out loud
I prayed that he would finish but he just kept right on
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
He sang as if he knew me in all my dark despair
And then he looked right through me as if I wasn't there
But he just came to singing, singing clear and strong
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his son

2019年6月20日 星期四

Santana - Smooth ft. Rob Thomas



      二十年前的這個週末,Santana獲得多項殊榮的專輯唱片Supernatural公開發行,這張專輯裡的單曲"Smooth"得到連續12週排行榜冠軍,後來一共獲得8Grammy獎,包括最佳專輯、年度最佳歌曲、最佳唱片…,專輯在美國一共賣了一千五百萬張。

  Supernatural這張專輯的概念來自傳奇吉他手Carlos Santana和他來自不同歌路的歌手好友,執行製作人Clive Davis當時到Santana的公司工作,他請到了Eric Clapton Lauryn HillCee Lo Green、墨西哥搖滾樂手 Maná Dave Matthews,嘻哈歌手EverlastR&B 二重唱The Product G&B Matchbox Twenty Rob Thomas

  "Smooth" 主唱是Rob Thomas,他也一起寫這首歌,很能抓住墨西哥流行風格的此曲,也成了Santanathe Billboard Hot 100排行榜上第一首冠軍曲,這首連續12週冠軍曲也跨界在各搖滾、流行、拉丁歌曲電台熱播。

  Supernatural這張專輯接著推出的單曲是"Maria, Maria",這首歌是和The Product G&B合作的,寫曲與監製都有Wyclef Jean的協助,後來獲得10週排行榜軍。

  Supernatural"Smooth"的成功,CarlosABC電台的訪問中表示錄音在優雅的氣氛下完成,我可清楚的表達,不管你信上帝、宇宙、天使甚麼,他們協力給你一個存在的質量。

  SantanaSupernatural Now Tour演唱會慶祝Supernatural專輯推出20週年和合唱團50週年紀念,演唱會六月20從加州Irvine起跑,Carlos表示:希望他的Supernatural專輯工作夥伴能在巡演中客串演出。

  Carlos Santana 1947年出生於墨西哥,是著名的拉丁搖滾吉他手,在加州舊金山組成Santana樂團,團員主唱吉他手Gregg Rolie後來自組Journey合唱團,1970年的"Black Magic Woman"使Santana成名,但1999年的Supernatural這張專輯讓他再創音樂事業高峰。


Santana - Smooth ft. Rob Thomas  
 Songwriters: Robert Thomas / Itaal Shur

Man, it's a hot one
Like seven inches from the midday sun
Well, I hear you whispering in the words, to melt everyone
But you stay so cool
My muñequita, my Spanish Harlem, Mona Lisa
You're my reason for reason
The step in my groove
And if you said this life ain't good enough
I would give my world to lift you up
I could change my life to better suit your mood
Because you're so smooth
And it's just like the ocean under the moon
Oh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from you
You got the kind of lovin' that can be so smooth, yeah
Give me your heart, make it real or else forget about it
But I'll tell you one thing
If you would leave it would be a crying shame
In every breath and every word
I hear your name calling me out
Out from the barrio
You hear my rhythm on your radio
You feel the turning of the world, so soft and slow
It's turning you round and round
And if you said this life ain't good enough
I would give my world to lift you up
I could change my life to better suit your mood
Because you're so smooth
And it's just like the ocean under the moon
Oh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from you
You got the kind of lovin' that can be so smooth, yeah
Give me your heart, make it real or else forget about it
And it's just like the ocean under the moon
Oh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from you
You got the kind of lovin' that can be so smooth, yeah
Give me your heart, make it real or else forget about it
Or else forget about it
Or else forget about it
Let's not forget about it
Give me your heart, make it real
Let's not forget about it
Let's not forget about it
Let's not forget about it
Let's not forget about it
Let's not forget about it
Source: Lyricfind


2019年6月13日 星期四

Jackson Browne-Running On Empty

  Jackson Browne1977年經典專輯 Running on Empty 75日將再版發行CD180克黑膠唱片與數位串流下載,Browne發表了他對這張專輯重新發行的看法。

  身為一位巡迴演唱的音樂人,他利用1977年八、九月巡迴演唱途中,替這張概念專輯錄了十首現場演唱的歌,包括在舞台上、在旅館房間裡、在後台排練場的空間及Browne的巡演巴士上。

  Running on Empty Billboard 200專輯排行榜最高獲得第3名,其中有二首暢銷單曲,招牌歌"Running on Empty""Stay/The Load-Out"Billboard Hot 100排行榜分別獲得#11#20,專輯中另一首耐聽的歌曲是"You Love the Thunder"

  Running on EmptyJackson成績最好的專輯,在美國銷售量超過七百萬張,在1979年的Grammy獎中得到年度最佳專輯獎,他個人還得到the Pop Male Vocal Performance流行歌曲男聲演唱獎。

  Jackson在專輯中有巡演樂隊的搭配,成員包括錄音室工作夥伴吉他手Danny Kortchmar,撥弦吉他及小提琴手David Lindley,主鍵琴手Craig Doerge,貝斯手t Leland Sklar與鼓手Russ Kunkel,這個組合還包括伴唱Doug Haywood Rosemary Butler

  Jackson六月底將開始全美夏季巡迴演唱,六月23, 24, 26 28日於紐約Beacon戲院將展開四場演唱會。

  Jackson Browne 1948年出生於德國Heidelberg的美軍基地,在洛杉磯長大,早年專注於作曲,他的作品曾給Linda RonstadtJoe Cocker Johnny RiversRonnie RaittThe Byrds這些名歌星與合唱團錄過,他也和The Eagles一同工作過,他是一位反核運動者。   


Running On Empty
Songwriters: Jackson Browne

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields
In sixty-five I was seventeen and running up one-oh-one
I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on
Running on, running on empty
Running on, running blind
Running on, running into the sun
But I'm running behind
Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive
Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive
In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own
I don't know when that road turned, into the road I'm on
Running on, running on empty
Running on, running blind
Running on, running into the sun
But I'm running behind
Everyone I know, everywhere I go
People need some reason to believe
I don't know about anyone but me
If it takes all night, that'll be all right
If I can get you to smile before I leave
Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
Look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through
Looking into their eyes I see them running too
Running on, running on empty
Running on, running blind
Running on, running into the sun
But I'm running behind
Honey you really tempt me
You know the way you look so kind
I'd love to stick around but I'm running behind
You know I don't even know what I'm hoping to find
Running into the sun but I'm running behind
                                                     

2019年6月6日 星期四

Peter Frampton-Georgia on My Mind



  Peter Frampton和他的伴奏樂隊所演奏1930Hoagy Carmichael的作品"Georgia on My Mind",將收錄在他們即將發行的藍調專輯All Blues當中。

  這首單曲將提供數位串流下載,歌迷們也可以在FramptonYouTube頻道找到這首演奏曲,Peter Frampton的重錄版"Georgia on My Mind"擁有他個人強烈的搖滾風味。

  Frampton:這是一首水準之作,我聽過Ray CharlesSteve Winwood 的演唱版,我不想再唱它,因為太多傑出的歌手唱過這首歌,我決定錄演奏版,而結果是很突出的,這張單曲也顯現了他的伴奏樂隊的多功能性。

  "Georgia on My Mind"Peter Frampton Band專輯All Blues推出的第三首單曲,前二首是"I Just Want to Make Love to You" "The Thrill Is Gone",曾預約專輯的歌迷們,67日推出時就可以先免費立即下載這三首歌。

  根據之前的報導,Peter最近罹患肌肉方面的毛病,那將影響他彈吉他,所以618 日他將於奧克拉荷馬州 Catoosa舉辦的Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening演唱會中宣布告別演唱會的各場次及地點。

  Peter Frampton 1950年出生於英格蘭肯特郡Beckenham1969年加入過重搖滾樂團Humble Pie 1976年他的專輯Frampton Comes Alive曾獲得10週排行榜冠軍,專輯中有二首他自己寫的作品1975年就曾分別推出單曲﹙錄音室錄製版﹚,但後來現場演唱版Show Me The Way獲得第6名,另一首Baby I Love Your Way獲得第12名。

  "Georgia on My Mind"這首1930年的老歌,Ray Charles翻唱版曾於1960年獲得熱門排行榜冠軍,而且是滾石雜誌500大歌曲榜第44名,BMI二十世紀最常播出的100首歌曲榜第10名的名曲,而鄉村歌星Willy Nelson版則於1984年獲得鄉村歌曲排行榜冠軍,Peter Frampton的搖滾﹑Willy Nelson的鄉村﹑Ray Charles的流行三種不同風味的表現方式各具特色。





Georgia on My Mind
Songwriters: Hoagy Carmichael / Stuart Gorell

Georgia, Georgia
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind)
I said Georgia
Georgia
A song of you
Comes as sweet and clear
As moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
I said Georgia
Ooh Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind)
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
Whoa, Georgia
Georgia
No peace, no peace I find
Just this old, sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
I said just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind

Dire Straits-Money For Nothing

〈Money For Nothing〉可能是1985年最具爭議的冠軍單曲。包括一些媒體人士在內的一些人反對馬克·諾弗勒在歌詞中使用「fag-pot」(同性戀者聚集地)一詞。 Knopfler 告訴記者 Liz Derringer ,他是在紐約上東區的一家家電商店裡受到啟發創作了這...