

1977年,美國(guó)著名的鄉(xiāng)村音樂(lè)歌手Kenny Rogers創(chuàng)作了歌曲《濃情歌手》(Sweet Music Man)。歌曲一經(jīng)推出便廣受歡迎,在美國(guó)鄉(xiāng)村音樂(lè)排行榜上爬到了第九名,在加拿大更是奪下頭名。這首歌也成為Rogers音樂(lè)事業(yè)中的一座里程碑,后來(lái)又被Dolly Parton、Billie Jo Spears、Waylon Jennings以及Millie Jackson等歌手翻唱,風(fēng)格從鄉(xiāng)村音樂(lè)到流行音樂(lè)再到靈魂音樂(lè),讓眾多歌手欲罷不能。
一首歌不會(huì)無(wú)緣無(wú)故地走紅。《濃情歌手》能在美國(guó)鄉(xiāng)村樂(lè)壇留下濃墨重彩的一筆,還是因?yàn)橐魳?lè)本身所蘊(yùn)藏的現(xiàn)實(shí)意義在歌手和聽(tīng)眾中產(chǎn)生了強(qiáng)烈的共鳴。歌聲響起,緩緩的吉他伴奏聲引出歌詞中的兩個(gè)主人公:一個(gè)是如日中天的歌手,一個(gè)是如癡如醉的歌迷。而其中的歌迷才是真正的講述者,歌手的一生以及與歌手有關(guān)的故事都是通過(guò)這位歌迷呈現(xiàn)在聽(tīng)者面前的。就像現(xiàn)實(shí)中歌手與歌迷的關(guān)系一樣,不同的定位、懸殊的差異決定了兩者不平等的地位:歌迷對(duì)于某位歌手來(lái)說(shuō),只是眾多人中的一個(gè);而歌手對(duì)于某些歌迷來(lái)說(shuō),卻是生命中的唯一。正如歌中所唱:“在你身邊圍繞的是對(duì)你無(wú)所求的人,但對(duì)于我,你卻成了觸及靈魂的人。”正所謂“情不知所起,一往而深”。盡管這個(gè)歌手玩弄了歌迷的一片癡心,并用同樣的花言巧語(yǔ)周旋于床笫花間,但這個(gè)歌迷仍執(zhí)迷不悔,甘心墜落情網(wǎng)而不可自拔。
但人無(wú)千日好,再紅的歌手終有一天也會(huì)變老,同時(shí)淡去的還有他頭上的光環(huán)和歌迷的呼喊。當(dāng)他發(fā)現(xiàn)獲得某個(gè)女孩的心已不再那么易如反掌,那些曾經(jīng)前呼后擁的人慢慢遠(yuǎn)離的時(shí)候,他才頓悟人生中最重要的是能擁有一個(gè)真正被他的音樂(lè)感動(dòng),愿意在他的音符里沉淪,無(wú)論貴賤都與他相守的知音。而此時(shí),那個(gè)曾經(jīng)癡情的歌迷終也無(wú)法忍受歌手的風(fēng)流,最后心灰意冷,選擇放手。
這首歌曲講述的與其說(shuō)是一個(gè)歌迷的愛(ài)情悲劇,不如說(shuō)是一個(gè)歌手的悲劇人生。聯(lián)想到現(xiàn)實(shí)生活,一些普通人在一夜成名后,生活中接踵而來(lái)的往往是夫妻勞燕分飛,原本清白的人生沾上墮落、濫情、吸毒等污點(diǎn),所以這個(gè)歌手的經(jīng)歷也應(yīng)該不是特例。而在名利場(chǎng)里起伏的Rogers深諳娛樂(lè)圈光鮮背后的陰暗,他以歌迷向歌手傾訴的方式,表達(dá)了對(duì)一些迷失自我、流連聲色的藝人的告誡,以及對(duì)他們最終淪落之后的同情。歌名及歌曲中反復(fù)出現(xiàn)的單詞sweet,既可指歌手本身的甜美嗓音,也可指歌手的花言巧語(yǔ),可謂一語(yǔ)雙關(guān)。而歌手最后的結(jié)局卻與sweet沒(méi)有絲毫關(guān)系,這形成了強(qiáng)烈的反差。Rogers之用心不可謂不良苦。
莫等一切成空,再去尋找那些失散在生命中的知音。所以,且唱且珍惜。
Sweet"Music Man
I wouldn’t listen and I couldn’t see.
And all I have left now are words you said to me.
Sing your song sweet music man,
’Cause I won’t be there to hold your hand like I used to.
I’m through1) with you.
You’re a hell of a singer and a powerful man.
But you surround yourself
With people who demand so little of you.
You touched my soul with your beautiful song.
You even had me singing along right with you.
You said, “I need you.”
You changed the words and added harmony.
And you sang the song you had written for me
To someone new.

But nobody sings a love song quite like you do.
And nobody else could make me sing along.
And nobody else could make me feel
That things are right when I know they’re wrong.
Nobody sings a love song quite like you.
Sing your song sweet music man.
You travel the world with a six-piece band
That does for you what you ask ’em to.
And you try to stay young,
But the songs you’ve sung to so many people,
They’ve all begun to come back on you.
So sing your song sad music man.
You’re making your living doing one-night stands
That prove to you they don’t need you.
You’re still a hell of a singer but a broken man.
But you’ll keep on looking for one last fan
To sing him to.
But nobody sings a love song quite like you do.
And nobody else could make me sing along.
And nobody else could make me feel
That things are right when you’re wrong with the song.
Nobody sings a love song quite like you.
So sing your song sweet music man.
I believe in you.