DON'T BRING ME DOWN - The Animals

 

 

"Don't Bring Me Down"

六十年代英國流行樂壇, 年輕一輩的樂手組合如 "The Who", "The Beatles", "The Kinks", "Rolling Stones", "The Hollies", "Pink Floyd" 等樂隊相繼冒起....

 

他們的歌曲大多是自己的作品, 成了歐洲樂壇的潮流之外, 並挾持著英國文化的歌曲內容, 結集美國的藍調, 鄉謠和搖滾歌曲於一身, 跨越大西洋, 踏足美國東岸的爵士樂和藍調, 遠至西岸的嬉皮士和民歌熱潮, 一度被 Don McLean 認為 "The day the music die" 再熾熱起來, 被稱為 "British Invasion 英倫入侵" 一鼓不可擋的動力。

"The Animals"  

來自英國, Newcastle 紐卡素的年輕樂隊, 1964年以不同風格演譯 "House of the Rising Sun", 而成為樂隊的 "Signature Song 標誌歌曲" 之後, 唱片監製 Mickie Most 嘗試為樂隊增添多一些美國歌曲色彩的作品, 他走到美國 New York City 紐約市, Broadway 百老匯劇院集中地, "Time Square 時代廣埸" 附近一幢集音樂創作、舞台演藝業界共冶一爐的 Brill Building 大樓,  當中一間音樂出版公司, 找到两位歌曲創作人 Gerry Goffin 和妻子 Carole King, 給樂隊 "The Animals" 撰寫一曲, 1966年五月十七日在美國, 與及四日後在英國同面世; 在美國登上六月至七月份的 "US Pop Single Chart" 榜上十二位, 在英國的 "UK Top Ten" 榜上第六位。 

DON'T BRING ME DOWN - The Animals 1966
When you complain and criticize
I feel I'm nothing in your eyes
It makes me feel like giving up
Because my best just ain't good enough
Girl, I want to provide for you
And do all the things that you want me to, but

Oh! Oh no, don't bring me down
I'm beggin' you darlin'
Oh! Oh no, don't bring me down

Sacrifices, I will make
I'm ready to give as well as take
One thing I need is your respect
One thing I can't take is your neglect
More than anything, I need your love
Then troubles are easy to rise above

Oh! Oh no, don't bring me down
Oh, no no no no no
Oh! Oh no, don't bring me down

You complain and criticize
I feel I'm nothing in your eyes
It makes me feel like giving up
Because my best just ain't good enough
Girl, I want to provide for you
Do all the things that you want me to, but

Oh! Oh no, don't bring me down
No no no no no no no
I'm beggin' oh no, don't bring me down
Oh no no, baby

Please! Oh no no, don't bring me down
I need your tender lovin'
So please, don't bring me down
Oh, baby baby baby don't hurt me
Don't bring me down
Oh no, please don't bring me down

Please baby, don't bring me down
You know I need you, oh woman
You can't do that to me, because, 'cause I love you
Don't hurt me, don't hurt me, please, I need you

有一天, 在美國 Los Angeles 洛杉磯 Beverly Hill 比華利山, 一個醫生的診所內, Eric Burden 坐下來等候時在翻着雜誌, 身傍坐着的一位女士跟他說: "你知道嗎?, 我實在不滿你這樣處理我的歌曲", 當時的 Eric 不知所措, 唯有隨意和禮貌地跟她說聲對不起作罷; 此刻, 這女士站起來, 正要走進醫生的診症室, 並回過頭來說: "我已習慣了!"; 這可能當年在醫生診所內的 Eric Burdon 並不認識 Carole King, 後來, Carole 更沒有想過這一篇作品會給 Burdon 的組合 "The Animals" 一唱而成為經典。

"Rolling Stone 滾石雜誌", 對 "Don't Bring Me Down" 的評語: "歌曲內容是年輕男子為了愛情, 懇求女友對他多些理解和尊重, 原是一篇低吟細訴的情歌, 卻給 Eric Burdon 以咆哮迴盪的唱腔, 加上突别顯著的 Hammond 電子琴聲, 是無法想像 "The Animals" 能把 Gerry Goffin 和 Carole King 的作品這樣演譯出來"。

DON'T BRING ME DOWN - Eric Burdon & The Animals - 2011

 

Tom Petty (1950-2017) and the Heartbreakers 

perform "Don't Bring Me Down" at Farm Aid on Sept. 22, 1985.