Song of the Week, 2011-034, Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

這是我很喜歡的一套電影《Once》的主題曲，亦是2008年的奧斯卡最佳原創音樂獎得主。

《Once》是一套很特別的電影，雖然是低成本製作，卻一點也不馬虎，整套戲很自然很有真實感。導演 John Carney 稱它為一套音樂劇，這說法是挺準確的，而且電影的 Soundtrack 都要比很多 album 更有質素。相信這跟電影的參與者很多都其實是音樂人有關，男主角 Glen Hansard 是愛爾蘭 The Frames 樂隊的主音和結他手，女主角 Marketa Irglova 是來自捷克的音樂人並跟 Glen Hansard 另外組成了 The Swell Season, 就連導演 John Carney 本身其實也曾經是 The Frames 的低音結他手。這個背景不單肯定了電影的音樂質素，而且也確保了演員和導演的投入感，因為《Once》就是一個獨立音樂人的故事，我什至懷疑有些是他們的個人經歷。

我不打算說太多電影的情節，不過想說香港的譯名《一奏傾情》實在有點馬虎。的確《Once》的故事圍繞男女主角之間的曖昧及情感交流，但我認為那只是電影的部分，其實有另一重要部分是描寫夢想跟現實的角力和掙扎，男女主角各有自己的困難和障礙，而他們在追尋夢想時的互相扶持和提醒是最吸引我的地方。我覺得電影名稱《Once》並非只是說他們那段稍縱即逝的愛情，它其實包含著更深入有關夢想、回憶、情感、機遇等等各種的唯一的感受。

每一次都是唯一，但有些唯一將永遠留在心裡。


p.s. 因為《Once》而認識 Marketa Irglova ，實在太吸引了。是充滿氣質的美，發覺我對這些女生是完全沒有抵抗力的。

xxx xxx xxx

"games that never amount
to more than they're meant
will play themselves out"

For game like this
Futility and emptiness should be expected
Yet it is still tough when things fall apart slowly in front of your eyes
Things that you tried to make an effort
Things that you put your heart into
When it is time to close the curtain they don't really mean anything

I am not giving up yet
But I am waiting for the curtain call
Before that I will give my best and enjoy what's left of it

Song of the Week, 2011-033, Rock'n roll 的 style, 盧廣仲

發覺我一直都沒有在 Song of the Week 用上小隊長的作品，這是不被容許的，所以要立刻補上。

盧廣仲有很多作品我都很喜歡，沒有艱澀的詞曲，一切都來得很簡單很自然。有些題材生活化得很有喜劇感，例如這首《Rock'n roll 的 style》。讓我想起許冠傑的作品，現在香港這類型作品不多，我可以想到的有 My Little Airport 和小克之前的幾首改詞。這類型作品是挺令人開懷的，音樂真的不用常常都是優美動人，輕鬆頑皮也有其吸引之處。其實人類創作音樂之始應該都是很貼近生活的吧，或者盧廣仲的風格是很原始的哩，是一種返祖現象...

他真是一個把音樂當成玩具，演唱會當成遊樂場的鬼才。不過沒有天才般的伯樂這類鬼才多數早被埋沒了，鍾成虎的膽識和能力絕對讓人佩服。

p.s. 總覺得盧廣仲 (Crowd) 跟 陳綺貞 (Cheer) 的英文名有種莫名的配合，根本就是形容他倆同台時觀眾的反應吧！

Just woke up from an immensely bitter and painful dream.
I have to remember it, as it might come true one day.

Be prepared for any consequences that you can think of for the path that you have chosen.
Reality can be much tougher than every nightmares that you can ever dream of.

"Do not regret, move on."

Song of the Week, 2011-032, Sunday Morning, Velvet Underground

Actually there is not much to say about this song, but since I heard it the first time, it has always been one of my favorite morning tune. Some say the lyrics is about hangover after the Saturday night fever, some say it is about taking drugs. I don't know what are the reasons behind these interpretations, I just find the music makes a perfect match with the lazy, relaxing Sunday morning. The meaning is not really that important for me.

There is a video clip that contain precious footage of the band member when they were making the song (the first result in youtube when you search for "The Velvet Underground Sunday Morning"), however I found this MV aesthetically more pleasing. Let's enjoy a Sunday morning with this gem.

xxx xxx xxx

Sunday morning, praise the dawning
Its just a restless feeling by my side
Early dawning, Sunday morning
Its just the wasted years so close behind

Watch out, the worlds behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
Its nothing at all

Sunday morning and I am falling
Ive got a feeling I don't want to know
Early dawning, Sunday morning
Its all the streets you crossed, not so long ago

Watch out, the worlds behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
Its nothing at all

Watch out, the worlds behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
Its nothing at all

Sunday morning
Sunday morning
Sunday morning

Song of the Week, 2011-031, Vltava, Bedřich Smetana

When I heard it in the movie "The Tree of Life", it sounded very familiar and I tried real hard to recall its name and its composer. But I really had no idea, as the movie went on, I just gave up. Finally, I tracked it down and found this brilliant version.

However, I still have no idea why it sounds familiar to me.

The great thing about this masterpiece is that the Czech composer, Bedřich Smetana, was completely deaf when he composed Má vlast Vltava. It is very hard to imagine how this could be done. I guess for these musical genius, music do not live with them, but live in them, that way music is truly everywhere in their life.

On a side note, when I was looking for this piece of music on youtube, I stumbled upon this brilliant Czech Beer advertisement.



English Translation of the ad:

- I can't write a national song, because I can't hear anything.
- But master...
- I CAN'T HEAR... a pen!
- "My Country" by Bedrich Smetana
- Go away!
- Pilsner Urquell inspiration taste.