November 8, 2022

FROM A DISTANCE - 3/2 : The American Dream





From a distance ....


1988年六月, 紐約市 Midtown Manhattan, "Carnegie Hall 卡內基音樂廰", Nanci Griffith 的個人演唱會, 她預早邀請了 Julie Gold 出席, 並要求同台合唱一曲 "From A Distance"; Julie 亦藉此機會, 邀請幾位遠道來自費城 Philadelphia, 同是移民美國的親友, 和自己的父母親同出席這盛會。像大多數外來到美國的移民, 各有不同的 "American Dream 美國夢"; 當夜, 她的夢境快將成真了 !


"From a Distance" Nanci Griffith & Julie Gold
From a distance the world looks blue and green,
and the snow-capped mountains white.
From a distance the ocean meets the stream,
and the eagle takes to flight.

From a distance, there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace,
it's the voice of every man.

From a distance we all have enough,
and no one is in need.
And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease,
no hungry mouths to feed.

From a distance we are instruments
marching in a common band.
Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace.
They're the songs of every man.
God is watching us. God is watching us.
God is watching us from a distance.

From a distance you look like my friend,
even though we are at war.
From a distance I just cannot comprehend
what all this fighting is for.

From a distance there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
And it's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves,
it's the heart of every man.

It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves.
This is the song of every man.
And God is watching us, God is watching us,
God is watching us from a distance.
Oh, God is watching us, God is watching.
God is watching us from a distance.

Carnegie Hall - Midtown Manhattan, New York
首次在紐約市駐名音樂廰演唱之後, Julie Gold 仍繼續其辦公室工作, 依然住在那細小和簡陋的房間, 埋首於歌曲創作, 彈奏、試唱; 照常以電話、郵寄把作品给業界。一年後, 第一次收到 Nanci Griffith 在外國期間, 所演唱 "From A Distance" 這歌曲的版稅支票; 1989年七月七日, 辭退 "HBO"的工作職位。當天, 跑到 "Sixth Avenue 第六街", 熱淚盈眶, 歡欣雀躍, 但瞬間即冷靜下來, 自覺從今要致力在創作和歌唱的方向。

Bette Midler
1990年中, 接到 Bette Midler 的音樂監製 Marc Shaiman 來電, 稱是 New York Times 工作的 Stephen Holden 推薦 "From A Distance" 給予 Bette Midler 演譯, 並要求 Julie 一份試唱範本的錄音聲帶。

1990 年十月, Bette Midler 的首次演譯, 收錄在她的專輯 "Some People's Lives" 當中, 面世發售即登上 "Billboard Hot 100" 第二位, "Adult Contemporary Chart" 榜首, 1991年 "Grammy Award 格林美奬" 全年最佳歌曲奬, 同時更贏得 "電台音樂廣播組織" 所颁予的 "3 Million Airs Award" 最高播放率的歌曲。


Bette Midler "From A Distance" The Grammy Awards - 1991


"FOUR BITCHIN' BABES"
1993年, Julie Gold 加入好友 Christine Lavin, 包括 Megon McDonough, Sally Fingerett 組成的四人歌唱組合 "Four Bitchin' Babes" 在當地各場所以表演為業。一年後, Julie Gold 離開並以創作歌手在樂壇發展。


NEXT .... FROM A DISTANCE - 3 : 愛與和平