Pulp 筆下的通俗世界

不得不承認 Jarvis Cocker 的聲音有一種特殊的魅力,透過他豐富的聲音表情,獨樹一格的肢體表演(特異的手勢動作可也是數十年如一日,ccc)我們似乎已經能感受他想表達的情緒,如果再搭配一段一段劇情性十足的歌詞,真的極容易不知不覺地陷入他所佈下的情境,和他一起感染這些又傷心又卑微甚至還有些可笑的悲慘故事。



面對這樣真實的 Jarvis Cocker ,實在很難不被他吸引,然而過去曾經歷很長一段不怎麼順遂的際遇,或許也間接造就他那非常不同於一般搖滾歌手的特殊氣質。

Jarvis Cocker 出道很早,早在15歲那年(1978年)還在唸中學的他就組了樂團。雖然早期的 Pulp 在簽入獨立唱片公司後也出了幾張專輯,但是他們的發展似乎並不順遂,80年代發行的專輯作品的確不怎麼引人注目,在樂壇苦熬多年的他們,直到加入EMI子公司Island Record,才終於在94年以" His'n'Hers "專輯初嶄露頭角。由於" His'n'Hers " 的詞曲創作都屬上乘,因此他們不僅獲得商業上的成功,也擄獲不少專家的耳朵。

隔年(95年), Pulp 再接再厲推出了專輯 "Different Class" ,而這張專輯則以凌厲的聲勢席捲整個英倫地區以及歐洲各國,其中一曲 "Common People" 更是如國歌般的紅遍大街小巷。(不禁回想起 Glastonbury 95 時的大合唱盛況)。在這張專輯裡, Jarvis Cocker 將自身的撰寫才華發揮的淋漓盡致,尤其他在歌詞方面的表現極其優異,最擅長描述悲憐小人物的際遇與內心衝突,於是他一面嘲諷英國時下社會的冷漠與矛盾,同時又不時剖析內心的情感衝突與人性脆弱。

Pulp 不僅在歌詞上的描述十分犀利,此外,他們在音樂素材上的採用也十分豐富。他們擷取了華麗搖滾的神隨卻不顯濃艷,而玩起強調節奏的Disco,Acid-House或甚至歐式舞曲都能不受格式局限的擷取他們所需要的部份。

儘管他們在98年發行的 "This Is Hardcore" 和 2001年的 "We Love Life" 也有不錯的評價,但是自從 "We Love Life" 專輯發行後, Pulp 就沒有再推出新作品,倒是主唱 Jarvis Cocker 還是繼續發表個人創作,他在2006年發行了一張名為 "Jarvis" 的專輯,3年後(也就是今年)他的最新專輯 "Further Complications" 也於5月18日正式推出。



p.s.在眾多號稱Brit-Pop樂團中,我最喜歡的就只有 Blur , Pulp 及 Radiohead 這三支樂團。事實上,我並不喜歡把這三支隊伍歸為任何樂派,若真要幫它們歸類,或許稱他們為 Alternative Rock Band 會來的較為自在些。

Pulp - Something Changed



I wrote this song two hours before we met
I didn’t know your name or what you look like yet
Oh, I could have stayed at home and gone to bed
I could have gone to see a film instead
You might have changed your mind and seen your friend
Life could have been very different but then
Something changed

Do you believe that there’s someone up above?
And does he have a timetable directing acts of love?
Why did I write this song on that one day?
Why did you touch my hand and softly say
“Stop asking questions that don’t matter anyway
Just give us a kiss to celebrate here today
Something changed”

When we woke up that morning we had no way of knowing
That in a matter of hours we changed the way we were going
Where would I be now, where would I be now
If we have never met?
Would I be singing this song to someone else instead?
I dunno but like you just said
Something changed


Pulp - Babies(Live at Reading, 2002)

這次應該是他們以 Pulp 之名在 Reading 上的最後演出吧!


Well it happened years ago when you lived on Stanhope Road.
We listened to your sister when she came home from school
'cos she was two years older and she had boys in her room.
We listened outside and heard her.
Alright. Well that was alright for a while but soon I wanted more.
I want to see as well as hear and so I hid inside her wardrobe.
And she came round four and she was
with some kid called David from the garage up the road
I listened outside I heard her.
Alright. Oh I want to take you home.
I want to give you children. You might be my girlfriend, yeah.
When I saw you next day I really couldn't tell 'cos you might go and tell your mother.
And so you went with Neve and Neve was coming on
And I thought I heard you laughing when his Mum and Dad were gone.
I listened outside, I heard you. Alright. Oh I want to take you home...etc.
Well I guess it couldn't last too long.
I came home one day and all her things were gone, I fell asleep inside.
I never heard her come. And then she opened up her wardrobe and I had to get it on.
Oh, listen we were on the bed when you came home, I heard you stop outside the door.
I know you won't believe it's true, I only went with her 'cos she looks like you.
Oh I want to take you home...

Pulp - Bad Cover Version



The word's on the street: you've found someone new.
If he looks nothing like me I'm so happy for you.
I heard an old girlfriend has turned to the church -
she's trying to replace me, but it'll never work.
'Cos every touch reminds you of just how sweet it could have been
And every time he kisses you it leaves behind the bitter taste of saccharine.
A bad cover version of love is not the real thing.
Bikini-clad girl on the front who invited you in.
Such great disappointment when you got him home -
the original was so good; the one you no longer own.
[ Pulp Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]
And every touch reminds you of just how sweet it could have been
And every time he kisses you, you get the taste of saccharine.
It's not easy to forget me, it's so hard to disconnect
When it's electronically reprocessed to give a more life-like effect.

Aah, sing your song about all the sad imitations that got it so wrong
It's like a later "Tom & Jerry" when the two of them could talk
Like the Stones since the Eighties, like the last days of Southfork.
Like "Planet of the Apes" on TV, the second side of "'Til the Band Comes in"
Like an own-brand box of cornflakes: he's going to let you down my friend.



Pulp - Mis-Shapes ( Live )


*** 附上誇張版演唱版 - Pulp - Mis-Shapes ***


Mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits.
Raised on a diet of broken biscuits, oh
we don't look the same as you,
we don't do the things you do,
but we live around here too, Oh really.
Mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits,
we'd like to go to town but we can't risk it, oh
cos they just want to keep us out.
You could end up with a smack in the mouth
just for standing out, Oh really.
Brothers, sisters, can't you see?
The future's owned by you and me.
There won't be fighting in the street.
They think they've got us beat, but revenge is going to be so sweet.
We're making a move,
we're making it now,
we're coming out of the side-lines.
Just put your hands up - it's a raid yeah.
We want your homes,
we want your lives,
we want the things you won't allow us.
We won't use guns,
we won't use bombs,
we'll use the one thing we've got more of - that's our minds.
Check your lucky numbers,
that much money could drag you under, oh.
What's the point of being rich,
if you can't think what to do with it?
Cos you're so bleeding thick.
Oh we weren't supposed to be,
we learnt too much at school now we
can't help but see,
that the future that you've got mapped out is
nothing much to shout about.
We're making a move,
we're making it now,
we're coming out of the side-lines.
Just put your hands up - it's a raid yeah.
We want your homes,
we want your lives,
we want the things you won't allow us.
We won't use guns,
we won't use bombs,
we'll use the one thing we've got more of - that's our minds
Brothers, sisters, can't you see?
The future's owned by you and me.
There won't be fighting in the street.
They think they've got us beat, but revenge is going to be so sweet.
We're making a move.
We're making it now.
We're coming out of the sidelines.
Just put your hands up - it's a raid.
We want your homes,
we want your lives,
we want the things you won't allow us.
We won't use guns,
we won't use bombs,
we'll use the one thing we've got more of - that's our minds.
And that's our minds. Yeah.



Pulp - Have You Seen Her Lately?
(Glastonbury 1994)


***附上誇張演唱版- Have You Seen Her Lately? ***


First you let him in your bed. Now he's moved inside your head.
And he directs all the dreams you are dreaming.
I saw a friend of yours today
She called me over just to say "I dunno if you've seen her lately but God she's looking rough".
No don't go round to see him tonite, he's already made such a mess of your life.
Find something else to do with your time & do it quickly while you've still got the chance.
'Do you think he'll fall apart? Do you think you'll break his heart?
If you leave him on his own.
You are dreaming 'cos he can fasten all his clothes, tie his laces, blow his nose.
It's time to teach him how to walk, yeah, teach your baby how to walk away.
No don't go round to see him tonite...[etc.]
You're not his mother & you're not sister & brother.
He's not even your lover. He's just a piece of luggage you should throw away.
No don't go round tonite...etc. No don't go round tonite, you'll never make it right.
He's already made such a mess of your life.
Find something else to do with your time & do it quickly while you've still got the chance.