八十年代中期,非洲许多国家发生饥荒,饿殍遍野,难民无数。为了援救非洲难民,爱尔兰歌星鲍勃.吉尔多夫(BobGeldof)首先提议以义演的方式,号召全世界各国艺术家贡献自己的一份力量。美国著名歌星迈克尔.杰克逊(Michael Jackson)和莱昂内尔.里奇(Lionel Richie)立即响应,并于1985年1月合写了这首歌。他们邀请美国当时最为著名的54位歌星一夜之间录完了这首歌。这支歌队称为美国援非乐队“USA For Africa”,就是为援助非洲发生饥荒的难民募捐义演而专门组成的。1985年2月,迈克尔.杰克逊与莱昂内尔.里奇以及本歌俱荣获美国葛莱美音乐大奖。 歌曲中反复吟唱的第三段内容,给人留下了极为深刻的印象。这一段其实是乐曲第一乐段的副歌。第一乐段由三段歌词构成,在歌曲的结尾处,做为副歌的第三段歌词被反复重唱了六遍,使歌的主题得到了强化。由于在演唱中采用合唱,轮唱等形式,不但不使人觉得呆板乏味,反而有一种意境得到升华、灵魂得以净化的感觉,给人一种意犹未尽之感。 这首歌气势恢宏,充满了人类之爱。歌曲号召人们要团结互助,伸出友谊之手,爱才是我们人类共有的财富。的确,当一个民族受到危难,人们不得不舍弃家园的时候,当母亲在默默地抛洒泪水,孩子们饥寒交迫而痛苦地渴盼的时候,每一个人都应该伸出援助之手,因为我们扶助的不是别人,我们在自己救自己! We Are the World There comes a time when we heed a certain call, When the world must come together as one. There are people dying, oh And it's time to lend a hand to life the greatest gift of all. We can't go on pretending day by day. That someone somewhere will soon make a change. We are a part of God's great big family, And the truth you know, love is all we need. 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 make a better day just you and me. Send them your heart so they know that someone cares, And their lives will be stronger and free; As God has shown us by turning stones to bread, And so we all must lend a helping hand. 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 make a better day just you and me. When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all. But if you just believe there's no way we can fall, Woa, woa, woa, woa, woa Yes, realize, oh that a change can only come, When we stand together as one. 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 make a better day just you and me…
[此贴子已经被作者于2010-1-28 13:26:45编辑过] |