December 10, 2012

ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT? - 8/3 : Elvis Presley

 
 
ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT? 
1959年, 女歌星 Jaye Morgan 以不同節奏演譯原曲沒有獨白的版本, 面世後登上一月份 "Billboard's Pop Single Chart" 六十五位。當年, Elvis Presley 正仍在德國(西德)服兵役, 從軍中的電臺廣播聽到 Jaye Morgan 這一曲 "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", 另外 "Return To Sorrento" 與及 "O Sole Mio" 同樣觸發了 Elvis 回國後亦以這三首歌曲作唱片錄音。



JAYE MORGAN January 1959



"ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?" - Elvis Presley (1935-1977)
1960年, Elvis Presley 完成服役, 返回美國並開始唱片錄音工作, 在他的經理人 Tom Parker 遊說下, 並提議如要演譯此曲, 最佳選擇是 Bobby Beers 有獨白的版本; 當年 Elvis 不知道這亦是 Tom Parker 的妻子所喜愛的版本; 同年四月, Elvis Presley 完成這一曲的錄音, 唱片由 RCA Victor 唱片公司錄製,1960年十一月面世, 這版本的演繹, 至今成為樂迷難忘的經典金曲之一, 亦成了 Elvis 的 "Signature Song"!

Elvis Presley 的腔調和沉吟的獨白, 把舞台上的角色代入了愛情的處境, 對已失去的愛情仍充滿憧憬, 一段惦念摯愛的心聲。Stanley Kirkby 所描繪是舞台上一位 "小丑角色的片段 In the part of a broken clown", 而 Elvis 則有感愛情正是曲終人散, 舞台帷幕慢慢垂下, 並回復靜寂和 "一遍空泛 With emptiness all around"....

The Greatest Monologue, Remade & Cover Song
雖然原曲的作者 Lou Handman 和 Roy Turk 两人的名字不是太多人認識和記起, 而 Al Jolson 這大師的獨白和激情的演繹, 與及 Elvis Presley 動人和舒情的腔調, 深深留在樂迷的腦海裡, 在美國流行樂壇, 两人的名字會刻記在流行歌曲的歴史, 永垂不朽。

ELVIS PRESLEY November 1960
ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT? - 1927
Music:  Lou Handman
Lyric: Roy Turk
Monologue Manuscript: Al Jolson - 1949


Are you lonesome tonight?
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?

Does your memory stray to a bright sunny day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?

Do the chairs in your parlor seem 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 to love you as my sweetheart.


Act one was when we met, I loved you at first glance
You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue


Then came act two, 

You seemed to change and you acted strange
And why I've never know


Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
And I had no cause to doubt you.
But I'd rather go on hearing your lies
Then go on living without you.

Now the stage is bare and I'm standing there
With emptiness all around 一遍空泛 - Elvis Presley
In the part of a broken clown 零碎的小丑角色 - Al Jolson
And if you won't come back to me
Then make them bring the curtain down.


Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?