[Music] Fearing Never to Meet Again -- Elisa Chan and Leslie Cheung

 Elisa Chan

1. Fearing Never to Meet Again ("只怕不再遇上") is an award winning song by Elisa Chan and Leslie Cheung.

The song came out in 1984 and the music video made an impression on the viewing public.

Elisa Chan is a very talented singer.

It is with regret that she did not try some acting.


2. Although the uploader did not say so, I believe this is the original 1984 music video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0AHDzmjGgw


3. Elisa Chan and Leslie Cheung in a 1984 music award ceremony:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWFBD5yPt6Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTiQ8-run54


This is posted by the song's composer Yung Ka-Tsai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FFn06NgvK8


4. A 1992 karaoke version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sc8wQN7prA


5. Elisa Chan singing the song live and solo in 2007:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxEEGKbwPi4

She skips over some of the lyrics meant for the male counterpart.

As some have commented in YouTube: The rose on the piano is symbolic of the missing Leslie Cheung.

(Leslie Cheung committed suicide in 2003.)

Still excellent.


6. Another 2007 solo version but without video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NgNZ6hMXuI

Excellent.


7. These are just the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLXGx_5wbtQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qSvAi5Jy8E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyPiJqxFkSI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89_wNupZrKQ


8. Karen Mok in a 2013 Memorial concert for Leslie Cheung: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhaK1MAmsRc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkB7DJj7tKo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPE3IDa9Jfc


9. Cover by Priscilla Chan and Aaron Kwok:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEatw_GKksM

They were lip-synching but they were not respecting the lip-sync. : - )

Priscilla Chan is in her usual loveliness.


10. Cover by Wayne Lai and Teresa Mo in Genting, Malaysia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVKcSB5ELEA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meCRK4SWYlE


11. Cover by Andy Hui and Ivana Wong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj-vufOFn-Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa7ejNGhGUU


12. Sheren Tang and Bowie Lam in Sentosa, Singapore:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rVyaYmRU4s


13. Cover by Lily Chan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsirVAp-9dc

Lily Chan has a very sweet voice.

But I have seen more than one comments in YouTube saying that she lacks passion in her interpretation of songs.


14. Cover by Kay Tse and Justin Lo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46ksIVk_rj8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a21OtXpJDoQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70T3dYN7YyM


15. A flute cover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PVPX5zuhtU

Very good.


16. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


只怕不再遇上 -- 張國榮 & 陳潔靈

(男) 誰人能料愛會這樣   盼你會體諒
從前承諾已變了樣   愛意那可強
默默望著滿面淚痕   仍然無怨
怎麼可將歉意奉上

(女) 隨時隨地與你再遇   我對你一樣
柔情常在永遠渴望   與你再戀上
默默步入愛路   甘心永遠路向
心只恐 不再會遇上

(合) woo woo 只恐怕不再遇上

(男) 雲飄飄散雨驟只跟風向
(女) 舊日憾事怕未能償
(男) 全世界變了樣
(女) 還憶否當天說   心只想得我倆

(男) 雲飄飄散雨驟只跟風向
(女) 舊日憾事怕未能償
(男) 全世界變了樣
(女) 還憶否當天說
(合) 心只想得我倆

(男) 完全明白我這決定   叫你太失望
唯求明白這個決定   我也有苦況

(女) 若是一後愛念未忘仍然懷念我
我定願將愛意奉上

(合) woo woo 只恐怕不再遇上
woo woo 只怕不再遇上
woo woo 只怕不再遇上


17. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


只怕不再遇上 -- 张国荣 & 陈洁灵

(男) 谁人能料爱会这样   盼你会体谅
从前承诺已变了样   爱意那可强
默默望着满面泪痕   仍然无怨
怎么可将歉意奉上

(女) 随时随地与你再遇   我对你一样
柔情常在永远渴望   与你再恋上
默默步入爱路   甘心永远路向
心只恐   不再会遇上

(合) woo woo 只恐怕不再遇上

(男) 云飘飘散雨骤只跟风向
(女) 旧日憾事怕未能偿
(男) 全世界变了样
(女) 还忆否当天说   心只想得我俩


(男) 云飘飘散雨骤只跟风向
(女) 旧日憾事怕未能偿
(男) 全世界变了样
(女) 还忆否当天说
(合) 心只想得我俩

(男) 完全明白我这决定   叫你太失望
唯求明白这个决定   我也有苦况

(女) 若是一后爱念未忘仍然怀念我
我定愿将爱意奉上

(合) woo woo 只恐怕不再遇上
woo woo 只怕不再遇上
woo woo 只怕不再遇上


18. Names, Words and Phrases:

Aaron Kwok (Traditional Chinese: 郭富城; Simplified Chinese: 郭富城).

Andy Hui (Traditional: 許志安; Simplified: 许志安).

Bowie Lam (Traditional: 林保怡; Simplified: 林保怡).

Elisa Chan (Traditional: 陳潔靈; Simplified: 陈洁灵).

Genting (Traditional: 雲頂; Simplified: 云顶).

Ivana Wong (Traditional: 王菀之; Simplified: 王菀之).

Justin Lo (Traditional: 側田; Simplified: 侧田).

Karen Mok (Traditional: 莫文蔚; Simplified: 莫文蔚).

Kay Tse (Traditional: 謝安琪; Simplified: 谢安琪).

Leslie Cheung (Traditional: 張國榮; Simplified: 张国荣).

Lily Chan (Traditional: 陳潔麗; Simplified: 陈洁丽).

Priscilla Chan (Traditional: 陳慧嫻; Simplified: 陈慧娴).

Sentosa (Traditional: 聖淘沙; Simplified: 圣淘沙).

Sheren Tang (Traditional: 鄧萃雯; Simplified: 邓萃雯).

Teresa Mo (Traditional: 毛舜筠; Simplified: 毛舜筠).

Wayne Lai (Traditional: 黎耀祥; Simplified: 黎耀祥).

Yung Ka-Tsai (Traditional: 翁家齊; Simplified: 翁家齐).


Reference:

“陳潔靈”, Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%99%B3%E6%BD%94%E9%9D%88
(accessed 2014-06-27).

End.

[Opinion] Defining Calvinism

John Calvin (1509 - 1564)

 
1. This blog post is an exercise in definition.

The purpose is to define "Calvinism".

The technique for this exercise is definition by genus and difference.

Calvinism can be defined in many ways.

This exercise is only one of many ways in defining Calvinism.


2. (Hurley 2012, 106):

"A definition by genus and difference assigns a meaning to a term by identifying a genus term and one or more difference words that, when combined, convey the meaning of the term being defined. Definition by genus and difference is more generally applicable and achieves more adequate results than any of the other kinds of intensional definition. To explain how it works, we must first explain the meanings of the terms genus, species, and specific difference."

"In logic, genus and species have a somewhat different meaning than they have in biology. In logic, genus simply means a relatively larger class, and species means a relatively smaller subclass of the genus. For example, we may speak of the genus animal and the species mammal, or of the genus mammal and the species feline, or of the genus feline and the species tiger, or the genus tiger and the species Bengal tiger. In other words, genus and species are merely relative classifications."

"The specific difference, or difference, is the attribute or attributes that distinguish the various species within a genus. For example, the specific difference that distinguishes tigers from other species in the genus feline would include the attributes of being large, striped, ferocious, and so on. Because the specific difference is what distinguishes the species, when a genus is qualified by a specific difference, a species is identified. Definition by genus and difference is based on this fact. It consists of combining a term denoting a genus with a word or group of words connoting a specific difference so that the combination identifies the meaning of the term denoting the species."


3. The first iteration:

Genus: Worldview.

Specific difference: Belief that God exists or that many gods exist.

Species: Theism.

Comments:

A worldview is the overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world.

The two major worldviews in western societies are theism and naturalism.

Naturalism can properly be understood as the denial of theism, the denial that God or god(s) exists.


4. The second iteration:

Genus: Theism.

Specific difference: There is only one God.

Species: Monotheism.

Comment:

The three major monotheistic religions are Judaism, Christianity and Islam.


5. The third iteration:

Genus: Monotheism.

Specific difference: The doctrine of Trinity.

Species: Christianity.

Comments:

The doctrine of Trinity is the claim that there are three persons in one Godhead.

Both Judaism and Islam denied the doctrine of the Trinity.


6. The fourth iteration:

Genus: Christianity.

Specific difference: The doctrine that the Holy Spirit processes from the Father and the Son.

Species: Western Christianity.

Comments:

Western Christianity affirmed the double procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son.

Eastern Christianity denied double procession and affirmed the Holy Spirit processes from the Father alone.


7. The fifth iteration:

Genus: Western Christianity.

Specific difference: Justification is by faith alone (without works).

Species: Protestantism.

Comments:

The two main branches of Western Christianity are Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.

Protestantism believes that Justification is by faith alone (without works).

Roman Catholicism believes that Justification is by faith and works.


8. The Sixth iteration:

Genus: Protestantism.

Specific difference: The doctrine of the Eternal Decree of God.

Species: Calvinism.

Comments:

Calvinism or Reformed Theology is mostly known by the doctrine of Predestination.

The doctrine of Predestination is a subhead or implication of the doctrine of the Eternal Decree of God.


Reference:

Hurley, Patrick J. 2012. A Concise Introduction to Logic. 11th ed. Boston, Massachusetts: Wadsworth.

End.

[Music] Preview for Love -- Sandy Lamb

Poster for The Happy Ghost (1984)

 Sandy Lamb

1. There are two female Hong Kong singers called "Sandy Lam":

Sandy Lam Yik-Lin (林憶蓮) and Sandy Lamb San-San (林珊珊).

"Lam" and "Lamb" transliterate the same last name: "林".

The singer for Preview for Love ("戀愛預告") is the latter: Sandy Lamb San-San.


2. Preview for Love originally came out in 1982 and then became the subtheme song for the 1984 Hong Kong movie The Happy Ghost ("開心鬼").

Sandy Lamb was one of the three female leads for this movie.

The song was composed by another well-known Hong Kong singer Danny Chan.

According to Hong Kong Movie Database, the three weeks theatrical run of The Happy Ghost (1984) netted a respectable HK$17.4 million.


3. Sandy Lamb comes from an artistic family.

Her maternal uncle is the well-known Hong Kong action actor Ti Lung.

Sandy is the oldest of four siblings.

Both her younger brothers are actor-singer, radio DJ, and TV host.

The "retired" singer Cass Phang is married to the elder of her brother Jan Lamb.

Sandy Lamb was active as a singer, actor and radio DJ for a few years in the 1980s.

In the 1990s, she became senior executive in various record companies and talent management companies.

In recent years, she again does some radio hosting and acting.


4. Preview for Love by Sandy Lamb is a very sweet love song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB-Gu84RXJI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7oOmSZ0coQ


5. A 1999 karaoke version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9wi_BPJa4U


6. A new interpretation and arrangement in 2011:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE0g_8rlTyU


7. Sandy Lamb as a guest in a 1988 Danny Chan concert.

First of two songs that started at the 2:00 mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI6dfAPW7Q4


8. Preview for Love by its composer Danny Chan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtKoYxThpOU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxSrcrYJ4e8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dIbcv1aIwo


9. Preview for Love has been covered by many singers:

Lily Chan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGIYljtjfQs


Hins Cheung (first of two songs):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1HUZD3AdQc


Ellen Loo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enOikj6DEPI

 
and many more in YouTube.


10. Piano covers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRNtQvpq5hU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpSB2FqaOj0


11. An instruments cover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pdv_0rJvxM


12. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


戀愛預告 -- 林珊珊

愛神也有苦惱
問他可知道
看看我的心
似是醉了櫻桃
人如熟了櫻桃

* 愛情常向窗邊低訴
恨他不知道
但願今夕在情人夢裡
寫下癡心記號
窗外天空每朵白雲
滿寫醉人曲譜
夜空星星向月兒說
甜蜜是這戀愛預告

Repeat *

窗外天空每朵白雲
滿寫醉人曲譜
夜空星星向月兒說
甜蜜是這戀愛預告


13. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


恋爱预告 -- 林珊珊

爱神也有苦恼
问他可知道
看看我的心
似是醉了樱桃
人如熟了樱桃

* 爱情常向窗边低诉
恨他不知道
但愿今夕在情人梦里
写下痴心记号
窗外天空每朵白云
满写醉人曲谱
夜空星星向月儿说
甜蜜是这恋爱预告

Repeat *

窗外天空每朵白云
满写醉人曲谱
夜空星星向月儿说
甜蜜是这恋爱预告


14. Names, Words and Phrases:

Cass Phang (Traditional Chinese: 彭羚; Simplified Chinese: 彭羚).

Danny Chan (Traditional: 陳百強; Simplified: 陈百强).

Ellen Loo (Traditional: 盧凱彤; Simplified: 卢凯彤).

Hins Cheung (Traditional: 張敬軒; Simplified: 张敬轩).

Jan Lamb (Traditional: 林海峰; Simplified: 林海峰).

Lily Chan (Traditional: 陳潔麗; Simplified: 陈洁丽).

Sandy Lam Yik-Lin (Traditional: 林憶蓮; Simplified: 林忆莲).

Sandy Lamb San-San (Traditional: 林珊珊; Simplified: 林珊珊).

Ti Lung (Traditional: 狄龍; Simplified: 狄龙).


References:

"Sandy Lamb", imdb,
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1800366/
(accessed 2014-06-08).

"The Happy Ghost", Hong Kong Movie Database,
http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=6597&display_set=big5
(accessed 2014-06-08).

"林珊珊", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%9E%97%E7%8F%8A%E7%8F%8A
(accessed 2014-06-08).

"開心鬼", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%96%8B%E5%BF%83%E9%AC%BC
(accessed 2014-06-08).

End.

[Opinion] Dedication for the 25th Tiananmen Anniversary

Source: Reuters

Source: AFP

 Source: BBC News

The following Chinese poem by Tan Sitong (1865 - 1898) is dedicated to those who died on June 4, 1989 at Tiananmen Square:




譚嗣同 (1865 - 1898)


《絕命詩》

望門投止思張儉，忍死須叟待杜根。

我自橫刀向天笑，去留肝膽兩昆侖。


 

References:

"Tan Sitong", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tan_Sitong
(accessed 2014-06-05).

"譚嗣同", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E8%B0%AD%E5%97%A3%E5%90%8C
(accessed 2014-06-05).

End.

[Opinion] When Tradition is Lost among the Nobles

 Tim Mrazek in the Canadian Prairies

 
1. Path to Shaolin (2010) was a documentary that follows the Canadian "Tim Mrazek on his journey to the Shaolin Temple in China's Songshan Mountains. Mrazek hopes to be given his official 32nd-generation Shaolin name – an unprecedented honour for someone not of Chinese descent." ("Path to Shaolin", JoyTV)

This documentary was originally broadcast on Canada's VisionTV in July, 2010; it was re-broadcasted on Canada's JoyTV two nights ago (Sunday, June 1, 2014).

A Russian version of this documentary is available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZwfpdnLxck

I missed the original broadcast but watched it on JoyTV.

What came immediately to mind after watching this documentary was the Chinese phrase: "禮失而求諸野" ("When Tradition is Lost among the Nobles, Seek It in the Common People.")

What I come away with after watching this documentary is that commercialization has eaten away the spirit of kung fu at Shaolin Temple on Songshan (Mount Song); anyone who is on a quest for the traditional spirit of Shaolin Temple should look elsewhere.


2. ("Path To Shaolin", DocuWiki):

"Beyond the movies, beyond the legends, The Path to Shaolin follows Canadian Tim Mrazek on an extraordinary journey. It is a philosophical and spiritual journey on a path into another culture, that leads him to the Shaolin Temple in China to become a 32nd generation Shaolin Warrior Monk. The Shaolin Temple - the birthplace of Kung Fu and Zen Buddhism - has a 1400 year history, marrying the peaceful and compassionate nature of Buddhism with one of the most effective fighting forms in human history. It has always been an enigma. Canadian Tim Mrazek has studied for years under 31st generation Shaolin lay monk Master Chi Wai Lee, whose connection to Shaolin Temple goes back five generations in the Lee family, over three hundred years. Master Lee represents the old guard, his connection is to the original core of monks who trained and lived at the Shaolin Temple. Now Tim Mrazek has become the first Canadian to be ordained through the Chung Wah International Shaolin program as a 32nd generation Shaolin warrior monk. But Timothy Mrazek also represents a paradox. He is a westerner, of European descent. The Path to Shaolin follows Tim Mrazek to the Songshan mountains in China, where, with his master Chi Wai Lee, he travels deep inside the heart of Chinese Kung Fu to the Shaolin Temple. But the pull of East and West has changed many things at the Shaolin temple, more than either can expect."


3. What DocuWiki hinted at but did not say explicitly was that Tim Mrazek and LEE Chi-Wai were given the cold shoulder at Shaolin Temple.

LEE Chi-Wai's Sifu was the previous Abbot of Shaolin Temple and has passed away.

The way the documentary was setup, I was expecting Lee and Mrazek will be granted an audience with the present Abbot of Shaolin Temple (or some of the higher-ups) and that some sort of ceremony to confirm Mrazek to be a 32nd generation Shaolin monk will take place.

Both these events did not materialize.

I suppose they should have been prearranged and the documentary did not properly explain why the cold shoulder took place.

The hints were that was due to the commercialization of the Shaolin brand name and the internal politics at Shaolin with the new Abbot.


4. I sympathise with the spiritual quest of Tim Mrazek.

Kung fu is more than just martial arts.

Besides its external form as a martial art, different styles of kung fu embody different philosophies and ways of life.

Having practice Shaolin martial arts with his Sifu for more than 20 years, Mrazek is on a quest to locate himself within the Shaolin tradition.

Tradition is important.

Sifu LEE Chi-Wai performing the Shaving-Head Ceremony on Mrazek before their trip to China officially confirms Mrazek as a 32nd generation monk.

Additional ceremony at Shaolin Temple would have confirmed Mrazek lineage in the trunk instead of from a branch of Shaolin.

The China portion of Path To Shaolin (2010) shows that many young people are still learning the form of Shaolin kung fu; equally obvious from the documentary is that many elders have lost the spirit that is behind it.

Since I can understand the Mandarin or Putonghua, I can tell for certain that nothing deep or meaningful about kung fu or Zen philosophy was discussed in the documentary.

The documentary indicated Mrazek was uncertain of the meanings of his visit to Shaolin Temple.

I can sympathise.

The nobilities of Shaolin Temple have lost the tradition, the spirit of Shaolin kung fu should be sought in the common people who live and practice it.


References:

"Documentary follows a Canadian’s quest to become part of a martial arts tradition", Channel Canada News,
http://www.channelcanada.com/canadian-channels/specialty-channels/vision-tv/documentary-follows-a-canadians-quest-to-become-part-of-a-martial-arts-tradition
(accessed 2014-06-03).

"Path to Shaolin", DocuWiki,
http://docuwiki.net/index.php?title=Path_To_Shaolin
(accessed 2014-06-03).

"Path to Shaolin", IMDb.com,
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1513088/
(accessed 2014-06-03).

"Path to Shaolin", JoyTV,
http://www.joytv.ca/shows/path-to-shaolin/
(accessed 2014-06-03).

End.