The Ballad of Narayama麦洛·曼海姆

《圣诞颂歌》是英国作家查尔斯·狄更斯的小说名篇，主人公史高哲（Scrooge,又译“斯克鲁奇”）是个远近闻名的吝啬鬼，他刻薄、冷漠而又视财如命的形象让人记忆深刻。史高哲经营者一家账房，可是，有一天，他那死去的生意伙伴雅各布的鬼魂出现，改变了一切。InthisadaptationoftheChristmasstorynarratedbyCharlesDickenshimself(playedbyGonzotheGreat)withtheoccasionalcommentaryofRizzotheRat,itisChristmasEvein19thcenturyLondon.ThemerrimentisnotsharedbyEbenezerScrooge(MichaelCaine),asurlymoney-lenderwhoismoreinterestedinprofitthancelebration.Socoldtotheseasonofgivingishethathisbook-keepingstaff,includingloyalemployeeBobCratchit(KermittheFrog),hastopleadwithhimjusttohavethedayoffworkduringChristmasbypointingoutthatScroogewouldhavenocustomersontheholidayandthatitwouldwastecoaltositaloneintheoffice.Scrooge’snephew,Fred,arrivestoinvitehisuncletoChristmasdinnerandtwogentlemenalsocometoScrooge’soffices,collectingmoneyinthespiritoftheseason.Scroogerebuffshisnephewandcomplainsthatitisn’tworthlookingafterthepoor,astheirdeathswilldecreasethesurpluspopulation.Fredisshockedathisuncle’suncharitableandcoldnature,butrepeatshisinvitation,makeshisowndonationanddeparts.Laterthatevening,Scroogefindshimselffacetofacewiththespiritsofhisformerbusinesspartners,JacobandRobertMarley(StatlerandWaldorf)whohavebeencondemnedtoshacklesintheafterlifeaspaymentforthehorribledeedstheycommittedinlife.Theywarnhimthathewillsharethesamefate,onlyworse,ifhedoesn’tchangehisways,andforetellthecomingofthreespiritsthroughoutthenight.Mr.ScroogeisfirstvisitedbytheGhostofChristmasPast,achild-likespectrewhotakesScroogeonajourneybackthroughtimetohisyouth.Herecallshisearlyschooldays,duringwhichhefocusedonhisstudies;themeetingofayoungwomannamedBelle(MeredithBraun),withwhomhewouldlaterfallinlove;andthefinalpartingbetweenBelleandScrooge,despiteScrooge’sproteststhathewouldmarryherassoonashehadenoughmoney.Later,ScroogemeetstheGhostofChristmasPresent,alarge,festivecreaturewithaboomingvoicewholivesonlyforthehereandnow.HegivesScroogeaglimpseintotheholidaycelebrationofothers,includingBobCratchitandhisfamilywho,althoughpoor,areenjoyingChristmastogetherandrevelingintheanticipationoftheChristmasgoose.TheSpiritalsoshowsScrooge’sownfamily,whoaren’tabovecrackingjokesatScrooge’sexpense.Later,ScroogemeetstheGhostofChristmasYettoCome,asilententity,whorevealsthechillingrevelationthatyoungTinyTim(RobintheFrog)willnotsurvivethecomingyear,thanksinnosmallparttotheimpoverishedexistenceoftheCratchitfamily.Furthermore,itisrevealedthatwhenScrooge’sowntimehaspassed,otherswillcertainlydelightinhisabsencefromtheworld,withlocalbusinessmenattendinghisfuneralonlyforthefreefoodandScrooge’sservantsstealingtheveryclotheshewastohavebeenburiedin.ItisthisfinalepiphanythatjoltsScroogebackintohumanity,andmakeshimvowtocelebratewithhisfellowman.Scroogegoesaboutthetownspreadinggooddeedsandcharity,plansafeastforBobCratchitandhiskin,andlearnstoadoptthespiritofChristmasthroughouttheyear.

1992年10月16日，为庆祝BobDylan进入歌坛三十周年的一场纪念演唱会在纽约麦迪逊广场展开，吸引了超过一万八千人的观众前往观赏。参与演出的歌者包括有：JohnMellencamp、盲人歌手StevieWonder、TheVelvetUnderground主唱LouReed、PearlJam的EddieVedder和MikeMccready、黑人民谣歌手TracyChapman、JohnnyCash与妻子JuneCarterCash（Johnny在’69年Dylan的专辑封面提了一首诗，而得到了葛莱美奖「BestAlbumNote」的殊荣）、老牌乡村乐手WillieNelson、另外一位横跨电影与音乐的乡村艺人KrisKristofferson、来自德州的已故蓝调吉他英雄StevieRayVaughan、老石头RonWood、曾经风靡了Woodstock演唱会的艺人RichieHavens、三位当代杰出的年轻女艺人ShawnColvin、MaryChapinCarpenter以及RosanneCash、伟大的词曲创作家兼歌手NeilYoung、Pretenders主唱ChrissieHynde、颇受此间欢迎的吉他之神EricClapton、和BobDylan有长久合作关系的TheBand和老披头GeorgeHarrison、著名的摇滚乐手TomPetty、老牌民谣摇滚乐团Byrds的一员RogerMcgainn等等相继以抢眼表现风靡全场；末了，Dylan和众乐手合唱了「MyBackPages」、「Knockin’OnHeaven’sDoor」结束了这场耐人寻味的演唱会。综观而言，这些乐手不俗的表现和Dylan词曲的功力，将演唱会带入了高潮而丝毫没有冷场，是一场值得一听再听的演唱会，Sony唱片公司特别录下了全部的过程，并加以重新付梓以飨大众,作为永久的典藏。