舉手之勞
前陣子 Liberty Mutual 推出新廣告，每次看到心裡就一股暖暖。
First Edition
Music by Hem, Half Acre
Second Edition
Music by Hem, The Part Where You Let Go
很多時候很多事真的都是舉手之勞，如果我們願意暫停莫名急切的心思，看一下周圍的環境，想一下別人的處境，將體貼兩字內化再體現於行動上，一定可以改變什麼。廣告中最令我澎湃的就是這些小小的舉手之勞都是有感染力的，行為者可能不知道，但默默之中周圍的觀看者﹝感受者﹞確實有將這樣的小小感動記在心裡，然後就像光一般傳了出去，要相信個人的小小力量啊。
除了明確的主題外，柔和動人的音樂也替這廣告加了許多分。兩首都是美國團體 Hem 的作品。Hem 成立於 1999 年，團員的音樂口味是傳統美國民謠，但以現代音樂方式編排，配合上女主唱 Sally Ellyson 溫柔真摯的嗓音，成就了 Hem 為現代忙碌社會提供一處休憩處的獨特調性。
樂團靈魂舵手 Dan Messé 曾經這麼說：
“As far I’m concerned, the songs are almost completely lyric driven.”
- Dan Messé, Crud Magazine, 13 March 2002
所以除了沉醉在流暢的旋律外，也要領會一下歌詞的深意。
It has been a while since Liberty Mutual which is an insurance company released their new commercials. Every time I watched it, I felt something warm inside.
It is just a piece of cake most of time. If we are willing to slow down, take a look around, and think of others, there must be something being changed in the world. We are not thinking consideration, but embodying consideration. The most moving part in the commercial is that the consideration is spreadable. The one who initiates it may not know, but indeed it has touched and influenced others. Then they spread it out like a circle. That’s the true power of an individual.
The commercials touched me not only the topic, but also the music. They are created by Hem. Hem is an American band formed in 1999. They are interested in interweaving traditional American music with more of a contemporary aesthetic. Besides of beautiful melody, you can’t ignore the sincere voice from Sally Ellyson. Hem’s music provides a comfortable place where busy modern people can really take a good rest.
Dan Messé , the captain of the band, once said that,
“As far I’m concerned, the songs are almost completely lyric driven.”
- Dan Messé, Crud Magazine, 13 March 2002
Therefore, in addition to floating with melody, we get to read the lyrics.
Half Acre from Rabbit Songs, 2000
(Dan Messé)
I am holding half an acre
Torn from the map of Michigan
And folded in this scrap of paper
Is the land I grew in
Think of every town you've lived in
Every room you lay your head
And what is it that you remember
Do you carry every sadness with you
Every hour your heart was broken
Every night the fear and darkness
Lay down with you
A man is walking on the highway
A woman stares out at the sea
And light is only now just breaking
So we carry every sadness with us
Every hour our hearts were broken
Every night the fear and darkness
Lay down with us
But I am holding half an acre
Torn from the map of Michigan
I am carrying this scrap of paper
That can crack the darkest sky wide open
Every burden taken from me
Every night my heart unfolding
My home
The Part Where You Let Go from Home Again, Home Again, June 2007
(Gary Maurer / Dan Messé)
When the rain breaks the road
Are you holding on
Are you holding on
To your last good day
When the stone breaks the wheel
Are you holding on
Are you holding on
Til the stone rolls away
And I don't know
Is this the part where you let go
And tumbling out of a window
Is this the part where you find out
I'm there for you
When the sun leaves the field
Are you holding on
Are you holding on
To the last sweet light
When the flame leaves your eyes
I still see you there
I still see you there
On your darkest night
And I don't know
Is this the part where you let go
And sinking under a shadow
Is this the part where you find out
I'm there for you now
As your hand's breaking free
I am holding on
I am holding on
As you've held on to me
And I don't know
Is this the part where we let go
Tumbling out of a window
Is this the part you're there for me
And I don't know
Is this the part where you let go
And sinking under a shadow
Is this the part where you find out
I'm there for you
You find out I'm there for you
You find out I'm there for you
Hem Official Website
Listen to selected tracks from the new EP 'Home Again, Home Again'
Listen to selected tracks from the previous album 'Funnel Cloud'
All About Hem
