音樂是這世界上最美好的事

若說要憶起我的高中生涯，我只記得幾台破舊腳踏車，失竊、爆胎、摔車、輪圈變形、煞車失靈，那是一段倒楣無比的歲月，在陰雨的日子奮力與氣候搏鬥，消耗的時光浪費在等待，等待公車、等待愛情、等待冗長的人生劇…

當時的我不明白，原來青春最迷人的特質之一，正是倒楣。這些迅速累積、集體爆發、接二連三的衰事，原來造就了一種難以模仿的人生體驗。參考蘇格蘭格拉斯哥樂隊Travis於1998年寫下的〈Why Does It Always Rain On Me?〉：「為何雨總是下在我身上？是因為我十七歲撒謊而被懲罰嗎？」（實情是他們連在隔年Glastonbury音樂祭表演這首歌，也都真的下起雨來）；而約莫與Travis當期成團的同鄉樂隊Camera Obscura則在〈Let's Go Bowling〉哀悼：「朋友啊你們不會相信，我的青春歲月都被我糟蹋了…」。




十年後我飛去格拉斯哥看Travis，大夥兒又唱又跳，似乎已忘懷當年的慘情；而十年後Camera Obscura也飛到台灣看我們，當我瞥見Tracyanne Campbell的霎那，我終於明白那些眉頭深鎖的歌為何從未離棄他們。她穿著樸素連身裙，未施脂粉，像是自鄰家走出來的老派少女，怯生生的避開人群，彷彿憂鬱永遠籠罩在她的天空上…即便Camera Obscura四張質量俱佳的專輯，早已征服英美兩地樂迷，不遜於前輩Belle & Sebastian。




從頭聽到尾、再忍不住倒帶重播，《My Maudlin Career》的流暢甜膩自是精彩，詞意動人。她說「我想要控制愛情，但卻無法留住它」（French Navy），她說「你親在我的額頭上，這個吻讓我腦震盪」（My Maudlin Career），她說「不用說服我要抓緊你（you were a catch），我早就買了這班車票」（You Told A Lie）…聽來八點檔的俗爛情節，卻緊湊得像是精心規劃的舞台劇，底下鋼琴、大提琴、中提琴、小提琴、號角、小喇叭等銅管樂器紛陳演奏，由製作人Jari Haapalainen坐鎮指揮，優美得叫人心碎，鼓掌稱是。

就算《My Maudlin Career》後來登上了英國榜與美國告示牌，突如其來的流行度也許令獨立樂迷手足無措也不大習慣，但暗房所攝入的畫面，仍是那麼Lomo的具有真實感，鑲嵌著美麗暗角；而且，一如往常的，倒楣。

（原文載於Hinoter 37）


Camera Obscura - Let's Go Bowling


註：這首歌是我最最最喜歡的Camera Obscura Top1，歌曲很短很短，但回憶總是無價的。取決於在那個時間點遇見了那首歌，把歌詞記得牢牢的，然後每次心情悶悶的時候（或是想起保齡球的時候 XD），不由自主的哼起來。


Camera Obscura - Let's Go Bowling歌詞
I don't believe in anything so you may as well forget about me
It's time you took it upon yourself to go join the other team
Forget about me
Anyway, I got myself some bowling shoes
an' they are all that I can see
With all my might I scored a strike
My friend you wouldn't believe
My teenage years were wasted all on me

On Saturday I watched a film
It was black and white with Clark Gable in
I've seen that film one hundred times or more
How am I going to tell my friends
I won't be coming out with them no more?

Don't you know that I feel sad?
You only know how to get mad


Camera Obscura - French Navy


Camera Obscura - French Navy歌詞
I spent a week in a dusty library
Waiting for some words to jump at me
We met by a trick of fate
French navy, my sailor mate
We met by the moon on a silvery lake
You came my way
I said 'I want you to stay'

You with your dietary restrictions
Said you loved me with a lot of conviction
I was waiting to be struck by lightning
Waiting for somebody exciting like you
Oh the thing that you do
You make me go woo
With the things that you do you do you do

I wanted to control it
But love I couldn't hold it
I wanted to control it
But love I couldn't hold it

I'll be criticized for lending out my art
I was criticized for letting you break my heart
Why would I stand for disappointed looks?
Fooling all but I'm on tenderhooks ooh with the looks
On tenderhooks
Ooh, with the looks, the looks, the looks

I wanted to control it
But love I couldn't hold it
I wanted to control it
But love I couldn't hold it

Relationships were something I used to do
Convince me they are better for me and you
We met by a trick of fate
French navy my sailor

I wanted to control it
But love I couldn't hold it
I wanted to control it
But love I couldn't hold it


Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career


Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career歌詞
You kissed me on the forehead (in Spain)
Now these kisses give me concussion
We were love at first sight
Now this crush is crushing
I retraced your steps through the city of romance lazily
I took to the desert with your harshest words
And they saved me

I'll bail you out again I've got the readies
I'm not a child I know we're not going steady
Your pain's gigantic
But [it's] not as big as your ego
I promise not to abandon you
Please let me go

I harbored worried feelings
Like they were worth protecting
You say I'm too kind and sentimental
Like you could catch affection
In your eyes there's a sadness enough
To kill the both of us
Are those eyes overrated?
They make me want to give up on love

I'll brace myself for the loneliness
Say hello to feeling[s] that I (despise) [detest]
This maudlin career must come to an end
I don't want to be sad again
This maudlin career must come to an end
I don't want to be sad again
[This maudlin career must come to an end
I don't want to be sad again

This maudlin career must come to an end
I don't want to be sad again
This maudlin career must come to an end
I don't want to be sad again

Camera Obscura - You Told A Lie


Camera Obscura - You Told A Lie歌詞
If you were a season you would be in bloom
I wish I had good reason to see you soon
(There's) No need to convince me that you're a catch
I bought my ticket I'm sold at last

Who was it that said that love conquers all?
He was a fool 'cause it doesn't at all
Should I believe you told a lie?
On the way to my heart and on the way back

Are my eyes the coldest blue?
You said once this was true
If it is I don't know what I'll do
'Cause I'm stuck with them
And they're stuck on you

Was I a quiet little nothing
Who never challenged anyone?
[Or] was I a lazy lazy snake?
Do you want me to be a gentle diplomat?
[Or] you can beg and you can plead

Are my eyes the coldest blue?
You said once this was true
[And] if it is I don't know what I'll do
'Cause I'm stuck with them
And they're stuck on you

Are my eyes the coldest blue?
You said once this was true
And if it is I don't know what I'll do
'Cause I'm stuck with them
And they're stuck on you
'Cause I'm stuck with them
And they're stuck on you

I'm stuck with them
When they're stuck on you
I'm stuck with them
And they're stuck on you


Camera Obscura - Honey In The Sun


Camera Obscura: A band beginning with C


photo credit:
http://www.camera-obscura.net/


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我的流淚生涯：Camera Obscura

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