很多樂迷認識共和時代樂隊(OneRepublic)估計都是從2007年的單曲《道歉》(Apologize)開始。那首與楊坤的《空城》旋律頗有幾分相似的歌使這支樂隊初出茅廬就得到大家的認可和好評。所謂“成也蕭何，敗也蕭何”，成名太早的副作用就是要超越以往就必須付出加倍的努力，需要更加天才的想象。共和時代等了六年，直到《繁星幾許》(CountingStars)發行，才讓樂迷們忘了Apologize的影子，并在這首富有濃濃迪斯科樂風的民謠裡再次驚訝于主創RyanTedder的音樂才華。
CountingStars诠釋的主題跟時下流行的一句話很像：生活不止眼前的苟且，還有詩和遠方。歌詞一開始就描述了主角彷徨、無望的苟且畫面：人生如風中搖擺的柳藤一樣無常而無奈，失眠迷茫時常常追問生活的初心，感歎年華老去卻心有不甘，想向天再借五百年卻又患得患失，難複當年之勇。聽到此處時你是不是有種似曾相識的感覺？原來中年危機在全球都有相似的症候。要麼在苟且中沉淪，要麼在苟且中爆發。所以歌者向天祈禱，不要數美元，一起數星星。提到錢就傷感情，在文藝作品中尤其如此。無論在歌曲還是電影裡，美元幾乎就是世俗、欲望等一切負能量的代名詞。而星星則代表了被凡塵俗世包裹、被柴米油鹽驅逐因而離我們越來越遠的那份詩情畫意、閑雲野鶴。Tedder或許也是希望通過這首歌提醒我們為什麼而活，為什麼而存在，提醒我們不要被金錢迷惑了雙眼，而忘了還有比金錢更美好的詩和遠方。
這首歌更可貴的一點就是它沒有僅僅停留在熬制一碗普天皆宜的心靈雞湯。歌曲當中，作者也抛出了很多富有哲理又充滿矛盾的思考，比如：“Ifeelsomethingsoright,bydoingthewrongthing.Ifeelsomethingsowrong,bydoingtherightthing.”而“Everythingthatkillsmemakesmefeelalive”和“Everythingthatdrownsmemakesmewannafly”兩句不僅體現了作者破繭重生的決心，更賦予歌曲強大的爆發力。
從Apologize到CountingStars，RyanTedder在歌曲主題上從男歡女愛拓展到了生活形态更廣闊的領域。正如Tedder自己所說：“Ifeltaresponsibilitytoactuallywriteandsingaboutthingsthathavealevelofhumangravitytothem…Ifeverybodyelsesingsaboutsexandloveandlustandmoney,thensomebody’sgottabesingingaboutlifeandfaithandhopeandthingsofthatnature.”對于一名音樂人所承擔的社會責任，Tedder也有自己的想法：“I’dratherhaveasongthatpeaksat#15that’smeaningfulandembeddedintheculturalframeworkweliveinthana#1songthatexplodesforfiveseconds,becomesthedancehitofthesummer,thengoesaway.”那麼恭喜Tedder，這首CountingStars做到了。
CountingStars
LatelyI’vebeen,I’vebeenlosingsleepDreaming’boutthethingsthatwecouldbeButbabyI’vebeen,I’vebeenprayin’hardSaid,nomorecountingdollarsWe’llbecountingstarsYeah,we’llbecountingstars
IseethislifelikeaswingingvineSwingmyheartacrossthelineInmyfaceisflashingsignsSeekitoutandyeshallfind
Old,butI’mnotthatoldYoung,butI’mnotthatboldAndIdon’tthinktheworldissoldI’mjustdoingwhatwe’retold
IfeelsomethingsorightBydoingthewrongthingIfeelsomethingsowrongBydoingtherightthingIcouldn’tlie,couldn’tlie,couldn’tlieEverythingthatkillsmemakesmefeelalive
★LatelyI’vebeen,I’vebeenlosingsleepDreaming’boutthethingsthatwecouldbeButbabyI’vebeen,I’vebeenprayin’hardSaid,nomorecountingdollarsWe’llbecountingstars
LatelyI’vebeen,I’vebeenlosingsleepDreaming’boutthethingsthatwecouldbeButbabyI’vebeen,I’vebeenprayin’hardSaid,nomorecountingdollarsWe’llbe,we’llbecountingstars★
IfeeltheloveAndIfeelitburnDownthisriver,everyturnHopeisafourletterwordMakethatmoneyWatchitburn
Old,butI’mnotthatoldYoung,butI’mnotthatboldAndIdon’tthinktheworldissoldI’mjustdoingwhatwe’retold
IfeelsomethingsowrongBydoingtherightthingIcouldn’tlie,couldn’tlie,couldn’tlieEverythingthatdrownsmemakesmewannafly
(Refrain★)
●Ohtakethatmoney;watchitburnSinkintheriver;thelessonsI’velearnedTakethatmoney;watchitburnSinkintheriver;thelessonsI’velearnedTakethatmoney;watchitburnSinkintheriver;thelessonsI’velearnedTakethatmoney;watchitburnSinkintheriver;thelessonsI’velearned●
Everythingthatkillsmemakesmefeelalive
(Refrain★)(Refrain●)
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