NO.229
2003/04/19 (Sat)
Back Chorus on Midnight Train To Georgia
バックコーラス。

バックコーラスというのは、ソウル、R&Bの世界では特に魅力的なもののひとつです。一人のリードシンガーのバックを3ー4人のコーラス隊が歌ってひきたてる。コーラスがかっこよければ、リードも当然引き立ちます。特にドゥワップの時代からブラック・ミュージックのコーラスは、聞き逃せません。

そんなバックコーラスが見事な曲の一例として、73年のグラディス・ナイト&ピップスの大ヒット「ミッドナイト・トレイン・トゥ・ジョージア(邦題、夜汽車よジョージアへ)」があります。で、このコーラスがどうなっているか、ちょっと研究してみましょう。

ちなみにこの曲については、ご存知の方も多いかと思いますが、一応『車窓』で書いてあります。

http://www.soulsearchin.com/periodical/l&g/l&g01.html

この歌詞を探したんですねえ。すると、グラディスが歌ってる部分が書かれている歌詞はいくらでもでてくるんですが、ピップスのコーラス部分も含めた歌詞カードはなかなかでてこないですねえ。でも、探しました。

http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/mwsounds/mttg.html

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"Midnight Train To Georgia" by Gladys Knight & Pips
(written by James D Weatherly)

L.A. proved too much for the man
ロスは男にとっては、あまりに荷が重過ぎた

(too much for the man) (he couldn't make it)
(男には重すぎた、彼は成功できなかった)

So he's leaving the life he's come to know
厳しい現実を知った今、彼はロスの生活をあきらめる

(he said he's going)
He said he's going back to find
(going back to find)
Oooo, what's left of his world
彼は言う。彼の世界に残されたものを探しに戻る、と。

The world he left behind
Not so long ago.
ついしばらく前まで彼がいた世界

He's leaving (leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia
彼は、真夜中のジョージア行きの列車に乗って、去っていく。

(leaving on the midnight train)
(真夜中の列車で去っていく)

Yes, said he's going back (going back to find)
To a simpler place and time
彼は都会よりもっとシンプルで、ゆったりと時が流れる
場所に戻ると言った

(and when he takes that ride)
(彼がその夜汽車に乗る時)
Oh yes he is (guess who's gonna be right by his side)
(彼の傍らには、誰がいると思う?)

And I'll be with him (I know you will)
私は、彼と一緒に行くわ。(君はそうするさ)

On that midnight train to Georgia
(leaving on that midnight train to Georgia, whoo whoo)
(ジョージア行きの夜汽車に乗って去る)

I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
私は、彼なしの自分の世界よりも、彼の世界に住みたいの

(her, world is his, his and hers alone)
(彼女の世界は彼のもの、彼と彼女だけのもの)

He kept dreaming (dreaming)
Ooo, that someday he'd be a star
彼はいつかスターになることを夢見ていた
(夢、夢)
(a superstar but he didn't get far)
(スーパースターへの夢、でもそれは叶わなかった)

But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true
彼はその道が厳しいものだとわかった。
夢は必ずしも叶うものではないと知った。

(dreams don't always come true)
oh no (uh uh) uh uh (no uh uh)
(夢はいつも叶うもとは限らない)

So he burned all his hopes (woo, woo, woo)
だから彼は希望をすべて燃やし尽くした
(ウー、ウー、ウー)

And he even sold his own car (woo, woo, woo)
車も売り払った
(ウー、ウー、ウー)

Bought a one way ticket back
To the life he once knew
Oh yes he did, he said he would

彼はかつて知っていた昔の人生に戻るため、
片道切符を買った


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この曲は、グラディスが歌うリードの歌詞の一部をうまくコーラスにして重ねるのですね。たとえば、

L.A. proved too much for the man
(too much for the man) (he couldn't make it)

( )内がコーラスです。he couldn't make itも、うまく歌詞に沿ったバックコーラスになっています。グラディスの歌詞をなぞって、コーラスをいれるパターンもあれば、独自の歌詞をいれるときもあります。そして、コーラスは男声で来るので、ちょうど男と女がかけあいをしているように聞こえます。

ある種コーラスバトルが見られるところが、またこの曲の最大の魅力です。

I'll be with him (I know you will)

ここでは I'll be with him がグラディス、(I know you will)が男声コーラスになっています。「私は彼と行くわ」と女性のグラディスが歌うと、「君が行くことはわかってるよ」と男声が相槌を打ちます。男女のデュエットさながらです。

バックコーラスの素敵な部分は、ただ「う〜〜」とか、「あ〜〜」とかつけるのではなく、歌詞に沿ったコーラスが歌われる、という点にあります。その点、この曲は見事なコーラスがついているのです。

さあ、あなたもピップスのコーラスを真似してみましょう。



1)
MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA
sung by Gladys Knight & The Pips



L.A. proved too much for the man
(too much for the man) (he couldn't make it)
So he's leaving the life he's come to know
(he said he's going)
He said he's going back to find
(going back to find)
Oooo, what's left of his world
The world he left behind
Not so long ago.

He's leaving (leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(leaving on the midnight train)
Yes, said he's going back (going back to find)
To a simpler place and time
(and when he takes that ride)
Oh yes he is (guess who's gonna be right by his side)

And I'll be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(leaving on that midnight train to Georgia, whoo whoo)
I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(her, world is his, his and hers alone)

He kept dreaming (dreaming)
Ooo, that someday he'd be a star
(a superstar but he didn't get far)
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true
(dreams don't always come true)
oh no (uh uh) uh uh (no uh uh)

So he burned all his hopes (woo, woo, woo)
And he even sold his own car (woo, woo, woo)
Bought a one way ticket back
To the life he once knew
Oh yes he did, he said he would

I know he's leaving (leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(leaving on that midnight train)
Yeah, said he's going back to find
(going back to find)
Ooo, a simpler place and time
(whenever he takes that ride)
Ooh, yeah (guess who's gonna be right by his side)

And I'm gonna be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(leaving on the midnight train to Georgia, whoo whoo)
I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(her, world is his, his and hers alone)

Ooh, he's leaving (leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(leaving on that midnight train)
Yeah, ooh ya'll, said he's going back to find
(going back to find)
Ooo, a simpler place and time
(whenever he takes that ride)
Ooh ya'll, uh huh
(guess who's gonna be right by his side)

And I've got to be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(leaving on the midnight train to Georgia, whoo whoo)
I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(her, world is his, his and hers alone)

Hey hey hey (our love)
Our love (gonna board)
Gonna board on the midnight train and ride
Our love (our love)
Gonna board (gonna board)
Gotta board on the midnight train and go
Our love (our love)
Gonna board (gonna board)
Uh huh, on the midnight train and go

My world (our love)
His world (gonna board)
Our world (the midnight train to go)
Mine and his alone

My world (our love)
His world (gonna board)
Our world (the midnight train to go)
Mine and his alone

I got to go (our love)
I got to go (gonna board)
I got to go (the midnight train to go)
Hey!

I got to go (our love)
I got to go (gonna board)
Mmm mmm (the midnight train to go)

My world (our love)
His world (gonna board)
My man (the midnight train to go)
His girl

I got to go (our love)
I got to go (gonna board)
Oww (the midnight train to go)

My world (our love)
His world (gonna board)
Our world (the midnight train to go)
Mine and his alone

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