译Pitchfork评Lily Allen 2018年单曲“Higher”

翻译：Nomanlandever

In the decade-plus since she coasted to stardom via Myspace, Lily Allen has tested quite a few variations of the same musical formula: chipper pop laced with venom. The results were winsome on “Smile,” her signature breakup jam, and “Not Fair,” the country ditty where she lamented the sexual performance of an otherwise Nice Guy; they were less so on songs like “Hard Out Here,” her miscalibrated stab at music industry sexism. At a glance, Allen’s upcoming album, No Shame, could easily be more of the same, its title reading like a no-fucks-given celebration of the singer’s well-documented sensational streak. But new single “Higher” is noticeably lacking in the singer’s signature snark.

在Myspace平台蹿红后的十多年里，Lily Allen一直都尝试在同一种音乐模式里做出不同成品：欢快的流行音乐中掺杂着恶毒讥讽。她的“分手神曲”代表作 “Smile”和“Not Fair”在该模式下都格外耀眼。“Not Fair”，一首讲述对男神的床能力感到失望的乡村小调，但在该模式下炮轰音乐界刻板印象的“Hard Out Here”等歌曲的效果都不理想。乍一看，Lily Allen即将发行的新专辑《No Shame》很可能出现更多类似的内容，专辑名读起来像是庆祝对过去轰动一时的爆炸新闻不屑一顾的姿态。但新单曲“Higher”显然抛弃了这位歌手过去标志性的刻薄嘲讽的风格。

The song sees Allen condemning a tainted relationship. But where the Lily of yore might have hurled insults and F-bombs at a deceitful lover, she’s keyed down here, laying out her grievances in plain, heartfelt language. “Sorry, but I know your type/I won’t be undermined,” she sings, solemn and steadfast, as a slow, snaking rhythm and syncopated percussion pulse around her. On the feathery chorus, she simply whispers the word “higher,” like an incantation to lift up any cerebral deadweight. Compare the track to “Smile,” and you’ll notice a lot of similarities: Both center on a breakup with an unworthy partner, who inevitably ends up in tears. But after hearing this songwriter wield her sharp tongue for so long, it’s nice to hear her lead with her heart.

歌曲中Lily Allen谴责了一段不光彩的交往关系。遇到类似情况，以前的Lily Allen会对偷吃的情人大声呵斥辱骂，F***级的炸弹伺候。但歌曲里，Lily降低腔调，用直白诚挚的语言表达她的不满。“Sorry, but I know your type/I won’t be undermined,”（我清楚你是什么东西/我不会再受影响了）她严肃又强硬地唱道，缓慢而曲折的节奏和切分的打击乐萦绕着她。在轻如羽翼的副歌中，她简单反复地浅唱着一个词“Higher”，如同一道铲除大脑创伤的咒语。把这首歌和“Smile”共同比较，你会发现有很多相似之处：两首歌都是在讲述与渣男分手的故事，男方懊悔莫及地以泪水收场。但在听过这位词曲作者那么多尖酸刻薄的话语后，很开心能听到她袒露真情的歌声。