懷緬奧莉花紐頓莊

 

曾經以甜美歌聲風靡全球的奧莉花紐頓莊(Olivia Newton-John日前辭世。我這輩人，年少時得見她唱和演的Grease(油脂)和Xanadu(仙樂都)等電影而着迷。Xanadu電影的歌曲並且再發展成為小型音樂劇而傳誦後世，詳見前文。後來因為盛年得病而不能再投入演出。

曾錄下的有電視台於2007年4月播出的精華片段，當年用以宣傳她來港演出。今分享如下。

 

 

Xanadu電影(7, 完) – 片尾曲Xanadu

Xanadu電影的結局，是以Danny和Sonny打造的夢想表演場地(亦即是名為Xanadu的一間的士高)終於開幕，Kira在載歌載舞中唱出Xanadu主題曲返回天界而結束。這是一首嘉年華式的群舞歌曲，其受歡程度令它打入多國流行榜冠軍。但說實在這個場地看不到有重大的創意成份，和Sonny的描述的理想有點格格不入，難怪觀眾感覺不大。

改編為音樂劇後，改為Sonny勇闖天界，在宙斯面前向Kira表白，而眾神也在新加入的一曲Have you never been mellow中向宙斯求情，宙斯終容許Kira返回人間，並稱，所謂聖地Xanadu，其實是指一块讓人相親相愛，和諧創作的樂土，而這正是Sonny和Kira所實現的那地方。這安排可說比原電影有意思得多。

改造後的整個劇，演員陣容可以縮至很小規模，大約十個人也可以演，當然多起來上百之眾去合演也可，很能在任何校園演出中各適其式地安排。當然以最後這曲來說，是越多人演出越好看，所以應該是所有演員全部出場合唱的。今次選的版本，是一個青少年音樂劇節的演出片段，人多勢眾得真是夠熱鬧了，難得該男女角年紀小小也做得十分可人。

至此本篇對我小時即已熟悉的Xanadu故事和歌曲的回憶和跟進也算完結。影片的故事本身是由一個1947年的電影的故事改良而成，而所取的名字Xanadu，卻其實是另外移接上去，和故事原型完全無涉，Xanadu原本是指中國元朝的原首都上都，位置在北京以北長城外的內蒙古草原，現在已完全湮沒。因着馬可孛羅令人神往的描述，Xanadu在西方世界成為了類似無憂樂土的代名詞。到今天，大家提起Xanadu，就會是指Olivia的這不朽歌曲，和這音樂劇所圍繞的浪漫故事了。

A place where nobody dared to go

The love that we came to know

They call it Xanadu

And now

Open your eyes and see

What we have made is real

We are in Xanadu

A million lights are dancing

And there you are

A shooting star

An everlasting world

And you're here with me

Eternally

Xanadu, Xanadu,

(now we are here)

In Xanadu

Xanadu, Xanadu,

(now we are here)

In Xanadu

Xanadu, your neon lights will shine

For you, Xanadu

The love

The echoes of long ago

You needed the world to know

They are in Xanadu

The dream

That came through a million years

That lived on through all the tears

It came to Xanadu

A million lights are dancing

And there you are

A shooting star

An everlasting world

And you're here with me

Eternally

Xanadu, Xanadu,

(now we are here)

In Xanadu

Xanadu, Xanadu,

(now we are here)

In Xanadu

Now that I'm here

Now that you're near in Xanadu

Now that I'm here

Now that you're near in Xanadu

Xanadu...

Xanadu電影(6) – 凝在當下Suspened in Time

故事漸去到尾聲，Kira會被父親宙斯召回，電影就以一個全黑的異度空間場景讓Olivia獨唱Suspended in Time，表達她對Sonny難捨難離，希望宙斯可以讓時光凝在當下的感受。

這歌Olivia唱得溫婉可憐，旋律也極其優美。即便如此，電影也確是處理得單調了點。所以音樂劇中，通常安排Kira乘坐星座中的「飛馬座」(Pegasus)那匹天馬返回天界，也加插了Danny告訴Sonny他年青時曾經和上次下凡的Kira失之交臂，遺憾至今，勸勉Sonny不要錯過的對答。

今次所選的是奧莉花妞頓莊在原裝電影中的演出片段，再接上來自百老匯上演的版本：

Wasted the time away

Holding our love at bay
Now I can't last a day without you
Your smile is a thrill to see
Eyes hold me tenderly
They'll shine in my memory forever

[ But how can our love succeed

A miracle is what we need
And so I appeal to you
To keep me suspended in time with you
Don't let this moment die
I get a feeling when I'm with you
None of the rules apply
But I know for certain
Goodbye is a crime
So love if you need me
Suspend me in time ]  X 2

Xanadu電影(5) – 深情的挽留Don’t Walk away

Xanadu原電影基本是想以當紅的奧莉花妞頓莊掛頭牌，所以很多歌都是女主角有份唱出，Don’t Walk away是少數男聲獨唱的歌，大致是Kira在幫助完Sonny後，是時候要離去，Sonny要設法把她留住的心聲。

在舞台版本，加入了Kira兩個奸的姊姊向Danny擺弄，使Kira未必能抽身的情節。也一提的是可以有兩個姊姊轉為由男士「出任」，以使男女演員數目較均衡。改良的舞台版的確比原電影悅目，對它的評論比電影大為不同，且曾獲得最佳劇作獎。難得它還原封不動利用到電影中的歌詞。這是一齣輕喜劇，沒有如弧星淚等大劇目般宏大和沉重，詞也簡明易懂，可能因此令它更為校園表演所喜愛。

今次的選段是在北卡州歷史悠久的Thalian Hall的演出。

(Sonny)

Why do I say

Don't walk away

You'll be the way you were before

When you don't want me anymore

Don't turn around

Don't ever leave

A lonely room where empty days

Are gathering to meet me when you're gone, gone

How in the world will I go on

(Don't walk away)

All you gotta do is stay

(Don't walk away)

All you gotta do is stay

(Don't walk away)

Don't walk away (don't walk away),

Don't say goodbye (don't say goodbye)

Don't turn around (don't turn around),

Don't let it die (don't let it die)

When shadows fall (when shadows fall),

When day is done (when day is done)

All through the night (all through the night),

All of my life (all of my life)

Don't walk away

(Danny)

Is it a dream,

When will it end

When everything we've ever known

Has ended and I'm all alone

Where will I go

Where will I be

The feelings that I've never shown

Maybe I'll find the answer when you're gone, gone

How in the world will I go on

(Don't walk away)

All you gotta do is stay

(Don't walk away)

All you gotta do is stay

(Don't walk away)

(Sonny)

Don't walk away (don't walk away),

Don't say goodbye (don't say goodbye)

Don't turn around (don't turn around),

Don't let it die (don't let it die)

When shadows fall (when shadows fall),

When day is done (when day is done)

All through the night (all through the night),

All of my life (all of my life)

Don't walk away (don't walk away),

Don't say goodbye (don't say goodbye)

Don't turn around (don't turn around),

Don't let it die (don't let it die)

When shadows fall (when shadows fall),

When day is done (when day is done)

All through the night (all through the night),

All of my life (all of my life)

Don't walk away

Xanadu電影(4) – 提倡求同存異的Dancin

在Xanadu電影中有一首很奇怪的歌，它是專為電影的情節，而非為了灌唱片而作的，名為Dancin。這首歌的奇特編排，至今似乎未有同樣意念而效果勝過它的。

故事講到Kira牽線令場館業主Danny和Sonny合作打做心中的表演場地，可是他們的構想卻不一樣，Danny想設立懷舊色彩的歌舞節目而Sonny想的卻是搖滾音樂。於是Dancin這歌首先演繹三人女聲懷舊合唱，繼而表現搖滾風格的樂隊唱風，基本上絕對是兩隻不同的歌，可是最後竟然可以把兩首歌融合在一起唱，而兩隻歌的舞者也完全走在一起合跳，精彩的表現出Danny和Sonny求同存異的情節。

現今從新把這歌一聽，不無感概，當下的香港民眾存在的分歧，本來就應該是這樣的追求融合。如果Danny和Sonny像我們般各持己見，對方一定是錯的，也做不成搭檔了，即是連Kira都「神仙難救」。

在音樂劇版本當然也不會放過這首歌，而且不需要大堆頭，就算只是數個人，只要歌和舞步能夠成功表現出兩種風格的歌結合後的水乳交融效果，就會非常好看。以下所選的是百老匯的當年的現場演出，的確很成功的表現出這效果來，尤其最後回到只得Danny和Sonny呆立在暇想中的狀態，安排確是良佳：

Anybody blue

Anybody needin' someone too

Anyone feelin' cold,

No one there

You can hold

Don't wait to get old and gray

I'm gonna blow all the clouds away

'Cos there is nothing I would rather do

Forget about the blues tonight,

Sweet thing

Forget about the rules tonight

Sweet thing

I wanna dance with you

Until the sun comes creepin' through

I wanna dance with you

I won't stop pleasin' you

Ah...

[Rock:]

Lover I want to let you know

I won't take a back seat

Ain't willin' to let you go

I won't take a back seat

Don't wanna hear what you want

It's gotta be all my way

And I'm makin' sure you stay to see

Lover

I won't take a back seat tonight

Oooh...

Lover gettin' on my two feet tonight

Oooh...

Got some dancin' to do

Got some dancin' to do

Got some dancin' to do,

Got some dancin' to do

(Both:)

 Aaah...

Forget about the blues (Lover) tonight, (I won't take a back seat tonight)

Sweet thing (Oooh)

Forget about the rules (Lover) tonight (gettin' on my two feet tonight)

Sweet thing (Oooh)

I wanna dance with you..(Got some dancin' to do)

Until the sun comes creepin' through (Got some dancin' to do)

I wanna dance with you (Got some dancin' to do)

I won't stop pleasin' you (Got some dancin' to do)

Ah...

Xanadu電影(3) – Suddenly

在Xanadu原電影中，是沒有奸角的，倒是在舞台劇版中，則把Kira的其中兩位姊姊轉作奸角，她們因為聽說父親天帝宙斯將要把聖地Xanadu送給Kira，便施計要令Kira和Sonny墮入愛河，觸犯天條，來讓Kira受到懲罰。而電影中Suddenly 這一曲，就是表達這霎時心動的感覺。

在電影誕生的28年後的2007年，這故事才改編成音樂劇，並在紐約百老匯公演，這幕的場景設成了電話亭，在Kira引導Sonny聯絡他看中的場地的業主時唱出。

Suddenly這歌是一首合唱曲，旋律溫柔甜密，非常動聽，通常音樂劇的男女合唱曲，多會安排轉調，以配合男和女的不同音域，但這首Suddenly全曲卻有多達四次轉調，歌聲在不同的調性內遊走，聽着彷似雲遊了一回天上和人間。

今次所選的是該百老匯版的創始演員的一次電視上的演出，比在舞台時加入了更多的細節。男女聲在合唱時的配合，恰如完美的雙人跳水，簡直區分不開來：

(Sonny)
She walks in, I'm suddenly a hero
I'm taken in, my hopes begin to rise
(Kira)
Look at me, can't you tell I'd be so
Thrilled to see the message in your eyes (Sonny)You make it seem I'm so close to my dream And then suddenly it's all there
(Kira)
Suddenly--
(Both)
The wheels are in motion
And I, I'm ready to sail any ocean
Suddenly I don't need the answers
'Cos I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you
(Sonny)
And how can I feel you're all that matters
I'd rely on anything you say
(Kira)
I'll take care that no illusions shatter
If you dare to say what you should say (Sonny) You make it seem I'm so close to my dream And then suddenly it's all there
(Kira)
Suddenly--
(Both)
The wheels are in motion
And I, I'm ready to sail any ocean
Suddenly I don't need the answers
'Cos I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you
(Sonny)
Why do I feel so alive when you're near,
There's no way any hurt can get thru'
(Both)
Longing to spend
Every moment of the day with you--
With you
(Kira)
Suddenly--
(Both)
The wheels are in motion
And I, I'm ready to sail any ocean
Suddenly I don't need the answers
'Cos I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you

Xanadu電影(2) – Magic

一般在Xanadu音樂劇的第二幕，就會使用Xanadu電影中的歌曲MAGIC，這歌可說是該電影的靈魂歌曲，就算電影不濟，該歌甫出都已連據流行榜多周冠軍，可說在英語世界街知巷聞，而主唱者Olivia Newton-John(奧利花紐頓莊)更因此再創歌唱事業高峰。這歌主要是讓Kira神秘地在Sonny面前顯現，及訴說Kira帶來的魔力，所以其氣氛在帶點爵士的配樂下很是懸疑，前奏即已出現的標誌式「主七減五」和弦製造的這效果實在一聽難忘，絕對能令你將它和其他云云歌曲區分開！

在舞台上，一般是在洛杉磯海邊碼頭的場景下，Sonny意圖蹈海之際，為Kira所勸止。承襲電影的裝扮，Kira是要以踩雪屐的方式出場，而且要裝作帶點澳洲口音，這應該是因原唱者奧利花是澳洲籍人士之故。Kira會在邊唱邊說中，引導Sonny說出心中的構想和方向。

我們一生中，也可能會經過靈感如泉湧的時候、以及才思枯竭的階段，往往也想如果真有這樣一位「繆思」神仙來點破那就好了，經過這些磨歷，再聽聽MAGIC這歌，可能別有一番感受。

校園的製作中，要女主角做到邊踩雪屐邊演唱實在是難度很高，想當時這劇公演時，主角便在排練時跌傷而要換人。所以少年版並不要求一定要踩雪屐，以下的選段，雖然女主角唱得有點不穩，但在少年版可以做到踩着雪屐唱歌，練習的功夫也算不賴了！

Come take my hand
You should know me
I've always been in your mind
You know I will be kind
I'll be guiding you
Building your dream
Has to start now
There's no other road to take
You won't make a mistake
I'll be guiding you

You have to believe we are magic

Nothin' can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don't let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Destiny will arrive
I'll bring all your dreams alive
For you
I'll bring all your dreams alive
For you
----------------
From where I stand
You are home free
The planets align so rare
There's promise in the air
And I'm guiding you
Through every turn
I'll be near you
I'll come anytime you call
I'll catch you when you fall
I'll be guiding you

You have to believe we are magic
Nothin' can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don't let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Destiny will arrive
I'll bring all your dreams alive
For you
I'll bring all your dreams alive
For you

我和阿霞的少年歲月： Xanadu電影(1)

之前在Facebook表達了，最近想起一套內容是「一個潦倒的藝術家碰上一個鼓勵和啟發他的女子， 最終他成功在洛杉磯開立了一個夢想的表演塲地。」的歌舞電影，當然許多人也即時想到是當紅電影「星聲夢裏人」，雖然另有所指，但我確實也是看了這電影才想起該80年代的片，難怪其實絕大部份的朋友都猜不到，不過，居然有一個舊同事的朋友在facebook說中了 -- Xanadu，可見原片雖然導演質素十分不善，還得了爛片專享的草霉獎，和Lalaland的獲獎無數成雲泥之別，但也確令人印象深刻！

引領我認識Xanadu 的是和我年齡相若的阿霞，一天她看完這電影後，喜歡那些歌曲到不得了，即去買了原聲卡式帶回來聽，這一束歌曲也實在十分好聽，在後來有機會重看電影之前，那些優美歌詞的內容我早已很熟悉。

那時曾說笑的講，阿霞你那麼鍾意這些歌，應該自己唱吓出來，她說那些英文咁深，我點會唱到呵？ 我說那就將來叫你的女兒唱。

轉眼間，現在阿霞最小的女兒Darlene也已13歲，又差不多是那時我們小時候的年紀了。

不說不知，Xanadu 電影雖然票房不濟，然而它的故事終究還是積極樂觀，富有生命力，也許正因情節天真單純，多年以來，少年版已發展成一個很受歡迎的的音樂劇，每天，全球無數的在校少男少女，都在排演裏面的長青歌曲，阿霞的女兒果然是會很有機會，會練唱出這些久違的歌曲哩！ 乘此，以下幾篇我會把Xanadu(當時譯仙樂都)的故事和曲目略道一二。

Xanadu 是天界的靈感女神Kira下凡啟迪潦倒但富藝術天份的Sonny的故事。

Kira剛巧也和Darlene一樣，是眾靈感女神中最小的妹妹，但卻是各姊妹的領導者。故事的開始通常是說Sonny感到所畫的女神畫像不稱心，心灰意冷離去，而女神就由畫像現身人間，這就由開場歌曲「I’m alive」道出，常見的安排是由各姐姐輪唱出場，中段女主角Kira才插入獨唱。這是一首表達有幸降生人間，對未來應充滿希望的歌，和想自尋短見的少年Sonny形成強大反差，所以，很想分享給感覺灰暗的少年人聽聽，以下所選的版本是一個音樂營的演出，由少年唱出份外感到正面。女主角聲音圓潤穩定，對白發乎自然，我覺得是各少年版視頻中表現最好的：

I'm alive

And the world shines for me today
I'm alive
Suddenly I am here today
Seems like forever (and a day),
Thought I could never (feel this way)
Is this really me?
I'm alive, I'm alive,

I'm alive

And the dawn breaks across the sky
I'm alive
And the sun rises up so high
Lost in another world (far away)
Never another word (till today)
But what can I say?
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

Suddenly came the dawn (from the night),

Suddenly I was born (into light)
How can it be real?
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive 

-------

Suddenly came the dawn (from the night),

Suddenly I was born (into light)
How can it be me ?
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

I'm alive

And the world shines for me today
I'm alive
Suddenly I am here today
Seems like forever (and a day)
Thought I could never (feel this way)
Is this REALLY me?
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive !