香港长期是英国的殖民地,经济上对外开放,文化上对欧西特别宽容,西洋时尚,早在上世纪二三十年代,已经由中环一带,向外散播。
1950年代,西洋潮流进一步渗入平民生活。
新一代的潮,由电影带动。日战前洋电影在本地放映的数字每年平均超过二百部。黄湛森抵港后,数字有增无减。慢慢,读番书,看洋戏,玩舶来的呼拉圈和摇摇,在年轻人之中,变得理所当然。
新一代的潮,也由电台带动。多谢前卫主持人Aileen Woods和Uncle Ray的忘情推介,黄湛森和同辈的年青人,天天靠近电台,面向欧西,贴近流行,学懂将Frank Sinatra、Bing Crosby、Elvis Presley与Benny Goodman一起兼听,并且在摇头摆脑之间,确认欧西流行曲在创作、演奏、歌唱、录音,都不是香港或上海所能望其肩背。
电台广播欧西流行歌曲,由听觉开始,经过身躯,制造了新一代的口味和人格。
Old Black Joe (1930)
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Composer: Stephen Foster
Lyricist: Stephen Foster
Vocalist: Paul Robeson
Gone are the days when my heart was young and gay
Gone are my friends from the cotton fields away
Gone from the earth to a better land I know
I hear their gentle voices calling "Old Black Joe"
I’m coming, I’m coming, for my head is bending low
I hear those gentle voices calling, "Old Black Joe"
Why do I weep when my heart should feel no pain
Why do I sigh that my friends come not again
Grieving for forms now departed long ago
I hear their gentle voices calling “Old Black Joe”
I’m coming, I’m coming, for my head is bending low
I hear those gentle voices calling, "Old Black Joe"
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