在某一期的ICB我曾介紹過Annie Lennox給年輕的讀者。 今天我介紹一個我在年輕時就崇拜的詩人歌手－Leonard Cohen。
最近我終於圓了年輕時之夢想：“有一天能親身參與Leonard Cohen的演唱會。” 當得知他要在歐洲舉辦演唱會時，急忙上網 訂了他在柏林演唱會的票。也順便造訪我一直很喜歡的Berlin和 Copenhagen兩個城市。（我鼓勵大家要專注旅行，不要走馬看花，我通常都是在一個城市住一陣子，來真正認識這個城市的文化及一般人的生活。）
回到Leonard Cohen 柏林O2 Arena 的 sold out 演唱會，原來期待都是中年歌迷，很意外的有許多許多年青觀眾。真高興年青一代也開始追尋這種如詩如畫的歌詞及他特殊低啞 呢喃的聲音。（我發覺我更喜歡他現在老年的聲音。）我年輕時就是被他這種唱腔，批判及挑戰主流，充滿意境，有點黑色的歌詞所吸引。詩人所做的歌詞就是如此之豐富。不同的人會被不同的一句話所觸動和感動。
現在一起來欣賞一首Leonard Cohen 的歌“Anthem”。他最有名的歌曲是Suzanne和Hallelujah。
1。請仔細聽讀一遍 “Anthem”. Click Anthem by Leonard Cohen to listen (link will open in new tab or window, if the song doesn’t play automatically, click the PLAY button)
The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don’t dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government —
signs for all to see.
I can’t run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they’ve summoned, they’ve summoned up
a thundercloud
and they’re going to hear from me.
Ring the bells that still can ring …
You can add up the parts
but you won’t have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
That’s how the light gets in.
That’s how the light gets in.
2。有興趣可上網看演唱會的現場錄像。http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvcX5RMBwbk&feature=related
柏林演唱會小小心得：
- Leonard Cohen的長者風範。脫帽向他的樂手一一致敬，並用獨特的句子來介紹他們， 如he is the ambassador of the breath (saxophone player), he is the priest of precision (drummer), he is the guardian of the clock (bassist).
- 他的專注（閉眼），尤其他單膝跪在一位年長的吉他手前，崇拜這位吉他手的樣子。看到他們兩位長者樂手的互動，讓我感動不已。
- 被一位坐在後面的德國觀眾勸告，不要只顧拍照，要用心看，不要用照相機看。（謝謝他的提醒，於是將照相機收起來。）
真希望有更多人開始欣賞Leonard Cohen的歌。我相信他的歌會一直有人唱下去。他是我的英雄。
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.”
您對這句話 有甚麼回應及感想？
不知您喜歡Leonard Cohen嗎？歡迎分享。
