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年面世以來, 節段編排由男或女歌手演繹各有格調, 有記錄衹有二十個版本, 而唯一有 "Monologue 獨白", 就是1928年由英國知名歌唱家 Stanley Kirkby 的演繹而已。
Monologue Version 獨 白 版 本
1949年, Al Jolson 知道作品是啟發自意大利歌劇 "Pagliacci", 內容又是源自"AS YOU LIKE IT"《如你所願》William Shakespeare 莎士比亞的劇作, 劇中的角色 "The melancholy Jaques 憂鬱積克" 一段聞名的臺詞, 卻引起 Al Jolson 注意, 他重新將 "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" 的獨白修飾, 以 "Act One" 和 "Act Two" 的戲劇情節, 又將歌曲節段重新編排, 第一段以組合和唱開始, 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。
ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT? Monologue Lyric: Al Jolson, 1949
Vocal: Bobby Beers
Blue Barron & His Orchestra - April 1950.
Recitation: John McCormack
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"
Shakespeare 莎士比亞 "AS YOU LIKE IT"《如你所願》第二幕, 第七埸景
劇中 "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"
Al Jolson 亦於1950年四月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, 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