Al Jolson (1886-1950)
美國猶太裔喜劇雜耍藝人歌手, 在美國演藝界、政界均有影響力的人物, 可算是演藝萬能泰斗, 在他的高峰時期被譽為「世界上最偉大的藝人」。"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" 1927年面世, 一年內有記錄的翻唱版本共七個, 而節段的編排由男或女歌手演繹各有格調。1928年, 有 "Monologue 獨白" 的版本, 由英國知名歌唱家 Stanley Kirkby 的演繹。
1949年, Al Johnson 將 Stanley Kirkby 演繹的版本, 另加上富感情抒發的一段獨白, 又將歌曲節段重新編排, 第一節以背後和唱, 獨白由當年名唱片騎師 John McCormack 誦讀, 這嶄新的版本由 Bobby Beer 演繹, 唱片面世即登上1950年四月 "U.S. Billboard Hot 100" 流行榜, 引起樂壇一番漣漪, 成了至今仍大受歡迎, 有兩段 "Monologue 獨白" 演繹的版本。
1949年, Al Johnson 將 Stanley Kirkby 演繹的版本, 另加上富感情抒發的一段獨白, 又將歌曲節段重新編排, 第一節以背後和唱, 獨白由當年名唱片騎師 John McCormack 誦讀, 這嶄新的版本由 Bobby Beer 演繹, 唱片面世即登上1950年四月 "U.S. Billboard Hot 100" 流行榜, 引起樂壇一番漣漪, 成了至今仍大受歡迎, 有兩段 "Monologue 獨白" 演繹的版本。
Al Jolson 的另一段獨白, 靈感源自....
William Shakespeare 莎士比亞的劇作 "As You Like It 如你所願", 劇中的 "The melancholy Jaques 憂鬱積克" 在 "Act Two" 一段聞名的臺詞 "All the world's a stage....", 與及 "The Merchant of Venice 威尼斯商人", 劇中的富商 Antonio 在 "Act Two" 的臺詞 "A stage where every man must play a part...."; 啟發了 Al Johnson 1949年重新將 "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" 的獨白修飾至詳言抒發之外, 又將歌曲節段重新編排, 第一段以背後和唱, 而獨白由當年名唱片騎師 John McCormack 誦讀, 這嶄新的版本由 Bobby Beers 演繹, 唱片面世即登上1950年四月 "U.S. Billboard Hot 100" 流行榜, 引起流行樂壇一番漣漪, 成了至今仍大受歡迎的版本。
ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?
Monologue Lyric: Al Jolson, 1949
Vocal: Bobby Beers
Blue Barron & His Orchestra - April 1950.
Recitation: John McCormack
第一段 Monologue 獨白的第二句:
"You know, someone said that the world's a stage
And each must play a part"
"You know, someone said that the world's a stage
And each must play a part"
是源自 Shakespeare 莎士比亞的舞台劇作品 "AS YOU LIKE IT"《如你所願》第二幕, 第七埸景當中 "The melancholy Jaques 憂鬱積克" 的一段台詞:
"All the world's a stage and all men and women merely players,
they have their exits and their entrances.
And one man in his time plays many parts"
"All the world's a stage and all men and women merely players,
they have their exits and their entrances.
And one man in his time plays many parts"
1950年四月, Al Jolson 亦親自演繹與誦讀這段獨白, 完成錄音至唱片面世, 同年九月自費前赴南韓勞軍表演, 回國之後至十月二十三日因病離逝, 享年六十四歲。 "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" 這段獨白的墨寶和歌聲成了他的遺作和絕唱, 亦是在他一生演藝事業畫上的句號。
ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?
Monologue Manuscript: Al Jolson 1950
Al Jolson with Chorus and Orchestra directed by Gordon Jenkins
INTRO BACKING:
Are you lonesome tonight
Do you miss me tonight
Are you sorry we drifted apart
Is the memory still in your heart
Are you lonesome tonight
Do you miss me tonight
Are you sorry we drifted apart
Does your memory stray
To a bright summer day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart
Do the chairs in your parlor
Seems empty and bare
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there
Is your heart filled with pain
Shall I come back again
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight
MONOLOGUE:
I wonder if you're lonesome tonight
You know, someone said that the world's a stage
And each must play a part
Fate had me playing in love with you as my sweetheart
Act One was when we met, I loved you at first glance
You read your lines so cleverly and never missed a cue
Then came Act Two
You seemed to change and you acted strange
Why I've never know
Then came the day
When you went away and left me all alone
If you lied when you said you loved me
I had no cause to doubt you
But I'd rather go on hearing your lies
Then to go on living without you
Now the stage is bare and I'm standing there
In the part of a broken clown
And if you won't come back to me
Then they can bring the curtain down
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight
END BACKING:
Are you lonesome tonight ....
1924 -
Al Jolson 與美國第三十任總統柯立芝 Calvin Coolidge
1950 -
Al Jolson 自費前赴韓國勞軍
1950 -
Al Jolson 晤見二戰將軍巴頓 General George Patton
1951 -
時任國防部長 Defense Secretary George Marshall
頒予 Al Jolson "功勳勳章 The Medal for Merit"
Al Jolson 家人接受勲銜
1977 -
"50th Anniversary Year of Talking Picture"
"對白電影面世五十週年"
Al Jolson 紀念郵票與首日封
2006 -
紐約市街道命名 Al Jolson Way in New York City