灌錄大合唱單曲的風潮,可以追溯至1984年。當年英國歌手菲爾柯林斯(Phil Collins)看到新聞中非洲依索匹亞等地區的人民,長期處於飢荒與營養不良而死亡,遂在聖誕節之前提出構想,由鮑伯蓋朵夫(Bob Geldof)擔任召集人,由數十位當紅藝人以「Band Aid」為名共同灌錄單曲「他們知道現在是聖誕節嗎?」(Do they know it's Christmas ?)義賣,將義賣所得援助非洲饑民。英國歌壇的此項義舉,刺激美國歌唱界也不落人後,由黑人歌手哈利貝拉方提(Harry Belafonte)提出建議,之後獲得眾大牌歌手的鼎力支持,由昆西瓊斯(Quincy Jones)擔任製作人,在1985年2月28日,45位當紅歌星雲集洛杉磯的錄音室,灌錄了「四海一家」(We are the world)這首義賣單曲。不久後,台灣也跟隨風潮,由60位歌手共同灌錄了「明天會更好」這張單曲----這也是我人生第一張花錢買的唱片。
多年過去了,再回過頭重溫這兩首單曲,就音樂性、情感面而言,我對「明天會更好」的接受度還是高過 We are the world ,但持平而論,We are the world 的歌詞內容要比「明天會更好」來的優秀。不知是否「明天會更好」的創作時間還在威權年代的尾巴,「明天會更好」不論是曲風、文字,都有濃濃的校園民歌風味----溫軟、細膩、過多的修辭。歌裡「春風」「熱情」「青春」「祝福」「祈禱」等詞彙構築了意境上的主旋律,感性有餘,卻擔當不足----像軟綿綿甜膩膩的棉花糖,順口是順口,就是少了點嚼勁。
We are the world則不然。就內容言,從「認知苦難」開端(There are people dying \Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life),歷經「反省自我」(We can't go on pretending day by day\That someone, somewhere will soon make a change)、「確認價值」(We're all a part of God's great big family\And the truth - you know love is all we need)、「提出作法」(We are the ones who make a brighter day \So let's start giving;Well, send'em your heart \So they know that someone cares \And their lives will be stronger and free )、「相信自己」(There's a choice we're making \We're saving our own lives \It's true we'll make a better day\Just you and me )等層次,逐步引導聽者、激發聽者興起「We are the world」的信念,願意共同為全球承擔一部分苦難的責任感。雖然為了推廣這首歌,歌詞的創作上作者刻意淺顯,但完全無損於這首歌在精神面上的崇高。
請欣賞 We are the world 以及「明天會更好」。
There comes a time when we hear a certain call (Loinel Richie) When the world must come together as one There are people dying Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon) The greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers) That someone, somewhere will soon make a change (James Ingram) We're all a part of God's great big family (Tina Turner) And the truth - you know love is all we need (Billy Joel)
We are the world, we are the children (Michael Jackson) We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving There's a choice we're making (Diana Ross) We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me
Well, send'em your heart (Dionne Warwick) So they know that someone cares And their lives will be stronger and free (Willie Nelson) As God has shown us By turning stone to bread And so we all must lend a helping hand(*) (Al Jarreau)
We are the world, we are the children (Bruce Springsteen) We are the ones who make a brighter day (Kenny Loggins) So let's start giving There's a choice we're making (Steve Perry) We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day (Dryal Hall) Just you and me
When you're down and out (Michael Jackson) There seems no hope at all But if you just believe (Huey Lewis) There's no way we can fall Well, well, well, let's realize (Cyndi Lauper) That one change can only come When we stand together as one (Kim Carnes)
We are the world, we are the children (Chorus) We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children (Chorus) We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving There's a choice we're making (Bob Dylan) We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children (Chorus) We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day (Bob Dylan) Just you and me
(Let me hear you) (Ray Charles) We are the world, we are the children We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children (Steive Wonder We are the ones who make a brighter day & Bruce Springsteen) So let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children (Steive Wonder We are the ones who make a brighter day & Bruce Springsteen) So let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children (Chorus) We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children(James Ingram) We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving There's a choice we're making(Ray Charles) We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children (Chorus) We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me