作为专业的古代音乐诗歌艺术大师，爱尔兰早期居民凯尔特人极具音乐艺术才能，丰富多彩的爱尔兰音乐也就是在其发扬民族文化中的奋斗中逐渐发展起来的。十八世纪后，西欧古典音乐在爱尔兰绚丽绽放，爱尔兰首都-都柏林逐渐发展成为欧洲重要的音乐中心。没有任何一个国家像爱尔兰这般，每年举行诸多盛况空前的音乐节。本期分享内容将从爱尔兰乐队-西城男孩(Westlife)创造的金曲入手，带领同学们领略多姿多彩的爱尔兰音乐文化。
The early inhabitants of Ireland, the Celts, were very musically talented. They were masters of ancient music and poetry. The rich and colorful Irish music was developed during the growth of the national culture. After the 18th century, the Western European music was gradually boosted in Ireland. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, became an important center of music in Europe. And Irelandwas the only country that hosts so many music festivals every year in the world. Today’s sharing will start with the cheerful music from theIrish band-Westlife Boys, andshow you the colorful Irish music culture.
西城男孩（An introduction to Westlife）:
西城男孩，爱尔兰男子演唱组合，1998年成立于爱尔兰斯莱戈郡，以奇恩·伊根、尚恩·菲南、马克·菲海利、尼基·柏恩四名成员的组成形式展开演唱活动。西城男孩在英国官方单曲榜拥有14首冠军单曲，在英国官方专辑榜拥有七张冠军专辑。第26、27届全英音乐奖获“最佳流行表现”，也是在温布利体育场举行最多演唱会的组合（23场）。西城男孩，完全称得上是“一个时代的记忆”。
Westlife, an Irish male band formed in County Sligo, Ireland in 1998. It is composed of Kian Egan, Sean Finan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne. Westlife has 14 No.1 singles in the official UK Singles Chart and 7 No.1 albums in the Official UK Albums Chart. They won the Best Pop Performance at the 26th and 27th Brit Awards, which is also the band that has played the most concerts (23) at Wembley Stadium. Westlife shall be entitled as the memory of an era.
《My Love》—西城男孩永恒经典
由西城男孩演唱的这首歌已成为了经典的英文歌曲。看过歌名的人肯定会认为这是一首描写爱情的歌，加之歌中反复演唱My love (吾爱)，更让人觉得这是一首怀念已经逝去的爱情的歌。殊不知，这首歌的灵感来自于人们对祖国爱尔兰的挚爱，歌词中有许多描写爱尔兰家乡美景的部分，所以这首歌其实主要抒发了他们对家乡的热爱。
The song performed by Westlife has become a classic English song. People who just read the title would certainly consider itas a song about love.Besides that, the song repeats about My love, which would make people think that it is a song about missing the lost love. However, little did they know that this song was inspired by Irish people's love for their motherland. There are many descriptions of the beauty of their Irish hometown, this song is actually about their love for their hometown.
歌词欣赏：
An empty street
An empty house
A hole inside my heart
I am all alone
The rooms are smaller
I wonder how
I wonder why
I wonder where they are
当熟悉的旋律响起，你是否也忆起那梦中的远乡
《Swear it Again》—英国单曲榜冠军
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1994年4月9日，Westlife的首支单曲《Swear it Again》经过简单的宣传便问世了，《Swear it Again》评为VH1英国15年来100首英国最佳冠军单曲，还获得南非“最佳爱情歌曲奖”。这首歌采用了抒情流行风格，从歌词中也能体会到那浓浓的爱意。
On April 9, 1994, Westlife's first single,Swear it Again, was released with simple advertisement.Swear it Again was honored as one of the VH1 Top 100 UK No.1 singles in past 15 years and italso won the Best Love Song Award in the South African. This song used a lyrical pop style and it is easy to feel the love in the lyrics.
歌词欣赏：
I wanna know
Whoever told you
I was letting go
The only joy that
I have ever known
So you should know this love
We share was never made to die
I am glad we are on
this one way street
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《Season in the sun》—英国冠军单曲
爱尔兰口音的嗓音，风笛的运用，完美的配合，他们把这首歌推广到了顶峰。该曲在世纪之交的英国音乐排行榜上名列冠军4周之久。歌词描绘了歌者与老友们在天真烂漫的童年相识，那是最美好的时光。时过境迁，大家都有了自己需要负担的责任，但那份感情却一直没变。爱尔兰的美丽风景不仅净化了人们的心灵，还让感情变得更加纯粹，这是多么令人神往的一件事！天下没有不散的宴席，但那份感情与回忆，却会永远停留在记忆中，温暖他们的心灵。
The Irish accent, the use of bagpipes, and the perfect cooperation of the singers,these all promoted this song to the top. This song has been the champion of British music charts at the turn of the century for four weeks. The lyrics describe the scenarios that the singer met his old friends in their innocent childhood, which is the best memory ever. Time has changed,they have their own responsibility, but the feeling has not changed. The beautiful scenery of Ireland has purified people's hearts and made their feelings even more sincere. How desirable it is! People have to grow up and move on but the feelings and memories will always stay forever, warming their hearts.
歌词欣赏：
Goodbye to you my trusted friend
We have known each other since we were nine or ten
Together we have climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and ABC’s
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歌曲有着动人心魄的力量，通过音乐，我们了解到歌手的故事，体会到歌手的情绪，随之而来的，是带入自己情感后的与之共鸣。Westlife的歌曲并没有绝对固定的风格，这是爱尔兰音乐文化的缩影，有时是抒情流行，有时是诗史抒情流行曲风。希望本次分享能够点燃同学们对爱尔兰音乐的热情，也希望大家能在未来领略更多的音乐，感悟不一样的文化。
The power of the song is breathtaking. Through the music, we get to know about the singers’ stories andexperience their feelings, followed by the emotions and resonance of our own.Asthe epitome of Irish musical culture,there is no absolute style in Westlife's songs:sometimes lyrical pop, sometimes poetic lyrical pop.Hope today’s sharing can ignite your enthusiasm forIrish music and hopeyoucanexperience morein not only the musical culture but also vibrant life in the future.
资料收集：邵子豪、闫一铭
撰稿：邱珺旒、黄艺鑫
初审：郑晓晨
指导教师：张冬钰
终审：管含笑
