[Music] In Love and War -- Adam Cheng

Poster for In Love and War (1981)

Adam Cheng

1. "The surrender of the Empire of Japan was announced by Imperial Japan on August 15 and formally signed on September 2, 1945, bringing the hostilities of World War II to a close." ("Surrender of Japan", Wikipedia)

But for the Chinese people, World War II officially ended when the Empire of Japan surrendered to the Republic of China on September 9, 1945.


2. In Love and War ("烽火飛花") is the theme song of a 1981 Hong Kong TVB TV drama.

The background for this drama is occupied China during World War II.

The name of the TV drama and its theme song is the same in Chinese: "烽火飛花".

The official English translation for "烽火飛花" is "In Love and War" and it is a very good translation.

In Love and War (1981) is a good song but it is seldom heard nowadays.

I was having a conversation with some friends a few months ago in a lounge and the lounge singer, to my surprise, sang this song.

The original singer of this song is Adam Cheng and he is one the stars of this TV drama.


3. In Love and War (1981):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt6Ok08dssM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk379GrgV7c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl8mi4kDZUc


The first of 2 songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZelnZJZ8Ls

The first of 6 songs:

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


4. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


烽火飛花 -- 鄭少秋

* 河山滿目烽煙起   神州漫天風雨飛
雄獅醒覺顯威風   決心拼生死
縱有熱愛熱情兒女事   忍心不記起
獻上熱血熱腸男子氣   犧牲小我見仁義
人生性命本可貴   情癡亦一世回味
為保家國肯輕拋   兩者都不記起

Repeat *


5. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


烽火飞花 -- 郑少秋

* 河山满目烽烟起   神州漫天风雨飞
雄狮醒觉显威风   决心拼生死
纵有热爱热情儿女事   忍心不记起
献上热血热肠男子气   牺牲小我见仁义
人生性命本可贵   情痴亦一世回味
为保家国肯轻抛   两者都不记起

Repeat *


6. Names, Words and Phrases:

Adam Cheng (Traditional Chinese: 鄭少秋; Simplified Chinese: 郑少秋).


References:

"Surrender of Japan", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan
(accessed 2015-08-30).

"烽火飛花", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E7%83%BD%E7%81%AB%E9%A3%9B%E8%8A%B1
(accessed 2015-08-30).

"中國抗日戰爭", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E6%8A%97%E6%97%A5%E6%88%98%E4%BA%89
(accessed 2015-08-30).

"國民政府", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%9C%8B%E6%B0%91%E6%94%BF%E5%BA%9C
(accessed 2015-08-30).

"大日本帝國", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%A4%A7%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E5%B8%9D%E5%9B%BD
(accessed 2015-08-30).

"日本投降", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%8A%95%E9%99%8D
(accessed 2015-08-30).

End.

[Music] Adam Cheng -- Smiling at the Passing Scene

Adam Cheng and Liza Wang

1. Quotation of the Day:

 
The Holy Bible

(Micah 6:8 ESV):

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?


2. The title of this song is four simple Chinese words "笑看風雲" but they are rather difficult to translate into English.

The reason they are difficult to translate is because the words are being used figuratively - as an aphorism or terse formulation of a sentiment.

The sentiment is to not to grasp too tightly on life, but that as life changes to let go of all the conflicts, struggles and antagonisms.

There are certain Taoist (or Daoist) sentiments to the lyrics.

"笑" = laugh or smile.

"看" = look or watch.

"風" = wind.

"雲" = cloud.

As a phrase, "風雲" denotes changes.

A literal translation of “笑看風雲" would be "Smiling while Looking at the [Changing] Wind and Cloud".

I have chosen a more dynamic translation: "Smiling at the Passing Scene".


3. Smiling at the Passing Scene ("笑看風雲") is the theme song of the 40 episodes 1994 Hong Kong TVB's drama Instinct.

The name of the theme song and the drama is identical in Chinese: "笑看風雲".

Adam Cheng, who sings the theme song, is also the male lead of the drama.

Instinct was broadcast to both popular and critical acclaims.


4. Music videos with Adam Cheng:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R41k0FtH960

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGHd752u-pU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wvyl4C-aYo


5. The video are scenes from the 1994 TV drama:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXgp4rq0w-s


6. Adam Cheng in concert with musical arrangement by Kitaro (Masanori Takahashi).

The second of two songs which starts at the 3:20 minutes mark:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnLObidhgUU


7. Adam Cheng performing in 2013 on Shenzhen Star-TV in China:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=456_0OHnc0c

Adam Cheng was born in 1947.

He is 66 years old this year (2013).

Does he look his years?


8. Adam Cheng performing in 2012 for Hu Bei Star-TV (Hubei Province, China):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMRW_xCPN7A


9. Adam Cheng in concert in 2012 in Hong Kong:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3STTMCu35bo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYcuMmQ_nG8

The second of two songs which starts at the 3:42 minutes mark:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msAfeFiNBpE


10. Adam Cheng in concert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hQ1GSzAz2k


11. The first of two songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHNbpbjr0s8


12. These are just the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHqfuSmNqD8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9PVaWt_Iso

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvEq9WdgSwE


13. This is just the music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpbWjJCQcGg


14. A DJQQ Club Dance Mix of the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A93NzzUT4Y

Quite interesting.


15. A cover by Sam Tsang of Hong Kong:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzfBas28Rzs

This cover starts at the 1:36 minutes mark:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTKZX4hCZ-Y

And a Jazz version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53r_bvfiQaU


16. Covers by Pei-sha of Singapore:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgIRHxo6pJE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrTU5YT5U70


17. Covers by Guan Xue-er of Singapore:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTFLXuONBqo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11Dac6w14Gk


18. A karaoke version produced in China (?):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU8ZAuDGJvs

The singing is quite ok but just ignores the second part of the video.


19. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


笑看風雲 -- 鄭少秋

* 誰沒有一些刻骨銘心事
誰能預計後果
誰沒有一些舊恨心魔
一點點無心錯

# 誰沒有一些得不到的夢
誰人負你負我多
誰願意解釋為了甚麼
一笑已經風雲過

@ 活得開心心不記恨
為今天歡笑唱首歌
任胸襟吸收新的快樂
在晚風中敝開心鎖

& 誰願記滄桑匆匆往事
誰人是對是錯
從沒有解釋為了什麼
一笑看風雲過

Repeat *, #, @, &, @, &


20. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


笑看风云 -- 郑少秋

* 谁没有一些刻骨铭心事
谁能预计后果
谁没有一些旧恨心魔
一点点无心错

# 谁没有一些得不到的梦
谁人负你负我多
谁愿意解释为了甚么
一笑已经风云过

@ 活得开心心不记恨
为今天欢笑唱首歌
任胸襟吸收新的快乐
在晚风中敝开心锁

& 谁愿记沧桑匆匆往事
谁人是对是错
从没有解释为了什么
一笑看风云过

Repeat *, #, @, &, @, &


21. Names, Words and Phrases:

Adam Cheng (Traditional Chinese: 鄭少秋; Simplified Chinese: 郑少秋).

Guan Xue-er (Traditional: 關雪兒; Simplified: 关雪儿).

Hu Bei Star-TV (Traditional: 湖北衛視: Simplified: 湖北卫视).

Hubei Province (Traditional: 湖北省; Simplified: 湖北省).

Kitaro (Traditional: 喜多郎; Simplified: 喜多郎).

Liza Wang (Traditional: 汪明荃; Simplified: 汪明荃).

Masanori Takahashi (Traditional: 高橋正則; Simplified: 高桥正则).

Pei-sha (Traditional: 佩莎; Simplified: 佩莎).

Sam Tsang (Traditional: 曾航生; Simplified: 曾航生).


References:

"Adam Cheng", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Cheng
(accessed 2013-02-28).

"鄭少秋", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%84%AD%E5%B0%91%E7%A7%8B
(accessed 2013-02-28).

"笑看風雲", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E7%AC%91%E7%9C%8B%E9%A2%A8%E9%9B%B2
(accessed 2013-02-28).

End.