翻譯：thesweetescape

原文鏈接：https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-songs-of-the-1990s/

Cher: “Believe” (1998)

“Believe” marked a new era, for Cher and for popular music. For the?first?time on Top 40 radio, Auto-Tune—producers’ open-secret weapon for perfecting vocal takes—was laid bare for all to hear, on purpose, a reversal of its typical clandestine use. As she sings about trying to regain her footing after heartbreak, Cher’s voice warbles with synthetic oscillation. Warner executives initially scoffed at the effect, but “Believe” became one of Cher’s biggest career hits, reaching No. 1 in the United States and more than a dozen other countries. Just as the song’s production revealed the guts of its operation, Cher’s wide-open vocals exposed her own emotional vulnerability. She isn’t too good to admit she’s not hurting, and she powers through toward salvation, declaring “I don’t need you anymore” as the song hits its peak. And coming from Cher—a confident, charismatic, and massively talented woman who’d been subjected to frequent public ridicule over her personal life—”Believe” took on an extra survivalist edge. Nearly 25 years later, it still dazzles in its defiance. –Allison Hussey

“Believe”預(yù)示著新時代的降臨，無論對Cher還是流行音樂。完善人聲表現(xiàn)的Auto-Tune—制作界內(nèi)的公開秘密武器——首次為大眾知曉，顛覆了業(yè)內(nèi)對Auto-Tune的大致認(rèn)知。當(dāng)唱道在心碎后重振旗鼓時（歌詞“Do you believe in life after love”），Cher的高顫歌聲中回蕩著合成器音效。華納高管最初對此嘗試不屑一顧，但“Believe”造就了Cher的又一事業(yè)巔峰期，在美國及多國榜單登頂。正如值得玩味的制作，Cher慷慨激昂的歌聲流露出內(nèi)心的脆弱。她沒有堅強到能熟視無睹的佯裝內(nèi)在的傷痛，她竭力尋求解脫，在歌曲高潮處揚言 “I don’t need you anymore” 。發(fā)自Cher的肺腑之聲——這為自信，魅力四射，才華橫溢，私生活常落為大眾笑柄的女人——“為歌曲Believe”又升華到絕處逢生的高度。在近25年后，歌曲里堅韌不拔的精神依舊光彩照人。?–Allison Hussey