[Music] Teresa Carpio -- If

Teresa Carpio

1. Teresa Carpio ("杜麗莎") was born in Hong Kong in 1956 to a Filipino father and a Hong Kong Chinese mother.

Her father Fernando Carpio was a noted jazz drummer in Hong Kong in the 1960s and 1970s.

Although she did well academically in elementary school, Teresa Carpio did not attend secondary school because her family was poor.

She started singing in her early teens to help out with family finances.

Teresa Carpio became a top Hong Kong singer in the 1960s and 1970s but she sang mainly English songs.

Terea did not began singing Cantopop until the 1980s.

Teresa has been teaching music since the 1990s and she is the singing teacher of many noted Cantopop singers.


2. If ("假如") is one of the signature songs of Teresa Carpio and the song came out in 1983.

"If" is the Cantonese version of the Mandarin song "Yes or Nay?” ("是否") sang by Julie Su.

I have blogged "Yes or Nay?” back in 2012:

http://culture-in-criticism.blogspot.ca/2012/01/music-julie-su-yes-or-nay.html

Teresa Carpio of Hong Kong and Julie Su of Taiwan are very good singers of the same calibre.

After listening to the many versions of "If" in YouTube, I have come to the conclusion that she completely defines this song and however she sings this song is an "official" version of the song.

This song is as touching as I first listened to it some 30 odd years ago.


3. Teresa Carpio in a Chinese TV show in 2017:

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

Isn't her voice amazing at 61 years old?

The last part of the video is a stanza from the original Mandarin "Yes or Nay?” .


4. The same video as "3" above with Jane Zhang of China singing a version of "Yes or Nay?” after Teresa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7p-yhwpihw


5. Teresa Carpio singing in a concert in 2017 celebrating the works of the lyricist Andrew Lam, whom wrote the lyrics for this song.

First of two songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvxyu6nRcaE

and another one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsL2QIKpJpY


6. Teresa Carpio in a charity concert in 2015.

The second song starting at the 1:40 minutes mark:

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


7. Teresa Caprio in a joint concert with Alan Tam in 2012.

Teresa sang a song of Alan's and he in turn sang "If".

Second of two songs starting at the 2:35 minutes mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h80vxZIYaYE


8. Teresa Carpio in a joint concert with George Lam in 2007:

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


9. Teresa Carpio appearing as a guest in a concert by her student Sammi Cheng in 2004:

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


10. Teresa Carpio and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2003 (?):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qhsS6IBljs


11. A CD from 1988:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BLhBTCZe_k


12. A TV music video from 1984:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ixXhuR6nbA


13. Others:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6ImIarg688

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm0U8cryWnA

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


14. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:

假如 -- 杜麗莎

作詞：林敏聰
作曲：羅大佑
編曲：Nathan Wang

假如   真的要我跟你分別
假如   真的要說分手
請求   把我愉快記憶都洗去
才能免我一生也在默默痛苦

假如   真的要我跟你分別
請求   不要讓我知道
假如   乾了淚水中的雙眼
可否   不再剩下我不顧

只求   再度尋獲你曾在心頭
留低的愛   跟那情深的維護
請容   我在期望有日在將來
能讓你會明白我仍在痛苦

假如   不許我再跟你生活
世上   不必存著有我
假如   天意讓我此生得不到你
不必   需要有天意

只求   再度尋獲你曾在心頭
燃燒的愛   跟那情深的維護
請容   我在期望有日在將來
能讓你會明白我仍在痛苦

假如   不許我再跟你生活
世上   不必存著有我
假如   天意讓我此生得不到你
不必   需要有天意


15. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:

假如 -- 杜丽莎

作词：林敏聪
作曲：罗大佑
编曲：Nathan Wang

假如   真的要我跟你分别
假如   真的要说分手
请求   把我愉快记忆都洗去
才能免我一生也在默默痛苦

假如   真的要我跟你分别
请求   不要让我知道
假如   干了泪水中的双眼
可否   不再剩下我不顾

只求   再度寻获你曾在心头
留低的爱   跟那情深的维护
请容   我在期望有日在将来
能让你会明白我仍在痛苦

假如   不许我再跟你生活
世上   不必存着有我
假如   天意让我此生得不到你
不必   需要有天意

只求   再度寻获你曾在心头
燃烧的爱   跟那情深的维护
请容   我在期望有日在将来
能让你会明白我仍在痛苦

假如   不许我再跟你生活
世上   不必存着有我
假如   天意让我此生得不到你
不必   需要有天意


16. Names, Words and Phrases

Alan Tam (Traditional Chinese: 譚詠麟; Simplified Chinese: 谭咏麟).

Andrew Lam (Traditional: 林敏驄; Simplified: 林敏骢).

George Lam (Traditional: 林子祥; Simplified: 林子祥).

Jane Zhang (Traditional: 張靚穎; Simplified: 张靓颖).

Julie Su (Traditional: 蘇芮; Simplified: 苏芮).

Sammi Cheng (Traditional: 鄭秀文; Simplified: 郑秀文).

Teresa Carpio (Traditional: 杜麗莎; Simplified: 杜丽莎).


References:

"Teresa Carpio", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_Carpio
(accessed 2017-10-30).

"杜麗莎", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%9D%9C%E9%BA%97%E8%8E%8E
(accessed 2017-10-30).

"杜麗莎", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%9C%E9%BA%97%E8%8E%8E
(accessed 2017-10-30).

End.

[Music] Theme Song of The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983) -- Roman Tam and Jenny Tseng

Poster for The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017)

Yang Xuwen (male) and Li Yitong (female)

Meng Ziyi (female) and Chen Xingxu (male)

Roman Tam

 Jenny Tseng

1. I have watched the first 12 of the 52 episodes of the Chinese TV drama "The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017)" and am very impressed by the beauty of the camera works.

It is a visual experience.

"The Legend of the Condor Heroes" ("射鵰英雄傳") is a Chinese novel by Louis Cha and this novel has been adapted into movies 6 times and into TV series 7 times.

In terms of TV series, the 1983 production by Hong Kong's TVB is the gold standard by which other TV series are compared.

The 2017 TV series is a remake of the 1983 Hong Kong TVB production.

I have watched the 1983 Hong Kong TV series and like what I have watched so far of this 2017 remake; I will probably finish watching the rest of it.


2. ("The Legend of the Condor Heroes", Wikipedia):

"The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). It is the first part of the Condor Trilogy and is followed by The Return of the Condor Heroes and The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. It was first serialised between 1 January 1957 and 19 May 1959 in Hong Kong Commercial Daily. Jin Yong revised the novel twice, first in the 1970s and later in the 2000s. The English title is a mistranslation since both species of the condor, the Andean condor and Californian condor, are not native to China. A more accurate translation is Story of the Eagle Shooting Hero."


3. ("The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017 TV series)", Wikipedia):

"The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title and a remake of the 1983 Hong Kong television series based on the same novel. The series was directed by Jeffrey Chiang and starred Yang Xuwen, Li Yitong, Chen Xingxu and Meng Ziyi in the lead roles. It started airing on Dragon TV in mainland China on 9 January 2017, and on TVB Jade in Hong Kong on 8 May 2017."


4. Since it is a remake of the 1983 TV series, the 2017 series also uses the theme song of the 1983 original as its opening and ending theme songs.

The 1983 series is produced for the Cantonese speaking Hong Kong market and the 2017 remake is produced for the Putonghua speaking China market and because the lyrics are written for Cantonese pronunciation, the song will not sound right if sung in Putonghua.

The producers for the 2017 TV series appropriately use an instrumental version of the song as the opening and ending theme songs; but I wish the opening and ending theme songs are longer like the original.


5. The name of the 1983 theme song in Chinese is "鐵血丹心".

"鐵" : Iron.

"血" : Blood.

"丹" : Red.

"心" : Heart.

The phrase "鐵血丹心" symbolizes patriotism and is an allusion to the background of the novel "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" which is set against the conflicts between the Sung dynasty (Chinese), Jin dynasty (Jurchen), and the Mongols.

This song is a duet by Roman Tam and Jenny Tseng.


6. The 2017 instrumental version of the song followed by the 1983 Cantonese original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFMT3tFiYsM

The video is consisted of scenes from the 2017 TV series.


7. The 1983 Cantonese original with pictures from the 1983 TV series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDGu0uYPunc

The lyrics sung in Putonghua with videos from the 2017 TV series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKAfjuMv6qg

Since Cantonese and Putonghua are pronounced differently and the lyrics written for Cantonese, the Putonghua version of the song does not sound right.


8. The 1983 Cantonese original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAh7nmvcXMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QDjUvbXkoo

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfKHpj02RE4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLhtVexM9SA

and many more in YouTube.


9. The 2017 instrumental version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPU8dUHu-T8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkT5B9zstW8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_9ve9C-fdA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBnn9fsQgG0

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

and many more in YouTube.


10. Other instrumentals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8mAgfQHPLA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uypb6IulyEs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGD4xAK98Mw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMIFxac0_yY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNSP4f2yZuU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhA01KpdQK4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEltThzXD8E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ2eDOgvzqE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q4tSBy7rKw

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

and many more in YouTube.


11. Three other songs from the 2017 TV series:

The Soul of Swords ("剑魂") by Well Lee:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiy7PJo2dqA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ce6JGM0MsU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1_cxSau4h8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9PI5zHRQrQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJBWq-vU50A


Whom Have You Loved ("爱过谁") by Shang Wenjie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEhc9A5QhUc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGA9MnjEwzc

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfs1taBOlyA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5trY_jjcGNY


Under the Heaven ("江湖天下") by Silence Wong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58xvTOtXqLk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t5u-Ns9X78

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq6wYks5Q-4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5hMbnKqts0

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


12. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:

鐵血丹心 -- 羅文 & 甄妮

作曲：顧嘉輝
作詞：鄧偉雄
編曲：顧嘉輝

女：依稀往夢似曾見   心內波瀾現
男：拋開世事斷愁怨
合：相伴到天邊

* 男：逐草四方沙漠蒼茫   那懼雪霜撲面
女：冷風吹   天蒼蒼   籐樹相連

# 男：射鵰引弓塞外奔馳   笑傲此生無厭倦
女：猛風沙   野茫茫   籐樹兩纏綿

@ 男：天蒼蒼   野茫茫   萬般變幻
女：應知愛意是流水   斬不斷理還亂

& 合：身經百劫也在心間   恩義兩難斷

Repeat *, #, @, &, &


13. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:

铁血丹心 -- 罗文 & 甄妮

作曲：顾嘉辉
作词：邓伟雄
编曲：顾嘉辉

女：依稀往梦似曾见   心内波澜现
男：抛开世事断愁怨
合：相伴到天边

* 男：逐草四方沙漠苍茫   那惧雪霜扑面
女：冷风吹   天苍苍   藤树相连

# 男：射雕引弓塞外奔驰   笑傲此生无厌倦
女：猛风沙   野茫茫   藤树两缠绵

@ 男：天苍苍   野茫茫   万般变幻
女：应知爱意是流水   斩不断理还乱

& 合：身经百劫也在心间   恩义两难断

Repeat *, #, @, &, &


14. Names, Words and Phrases:

Chen Xingxu (Traditional Chinese: 陳星旭; Simplified Chinese: 陈星旭).

Dragon TV (Traditional: 東方衛視; Simplified: 东方卫视).

Jeffrey Chiang (Traditional: 蔣家駿; Simplified: 蒋家骏).

Jenny Tseng (Traditional: 甄妮; Simplified: 甄妮).

Jin Dynasty (Traditional: 金朝; Simplified: 金朝).

Jin Yong (Traditional: 金庸; Simplified: 金庸).

Jurchen (Traditional: 女真; Simplified: 女真).

Li Yitong (Traditional: 李一桐; Simplified: 李一桐).

Louis Cha (Traditional: 查良鏞; Simplified: 查良镛).

Meng Ziyi (Traditional: 孟子義; Simplified: 孟子义).

Mongols (Traditional: 蒙古; Simplified: 蒙古).

Roman Tam (Traditional: 羅文; Simplified: 罗文).

Shang Wenjie (Traditional: 尚雯婕; Simplified: 尚雯婕).

Silence Wong (Traditional: 汪蘇瀧; Simplified: 汪苏泷).

Sung Dynasty (Traditional: 宋朝; Simplified: 宋朝).

The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (Traditional: 倚天屠龍記; Simplified: 倚天屠龙记).

The Return of the Condor Heroes (Traditional: 神鵰俠侶; Simplified: 神雕侠侣).

TVB Jade (Traditional: TVB 翡翠台; Simplified: TVB 翡翠台).

Well Lee (Traditional: 李煒; Simplified: 李炜).

Wuxia novel (Traditional: 武俠小說; Simplified: 武侠小说).

Yang Xuwen (Traditional: 楊旭文; Simplified: 杨旭文).


References:

"The Legend of the Condor Heroes", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_the_Condor_Heroes
(accessed 2017-05-31).

"The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017 TV series)", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_the_Condor_Heroes_(2017_TV_series)
(accessed 2017-05-31).

"射鵰英雄傳 (2017年電視劇)", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%B0%84%E9%9B%95%E8%8B%B1%E9%9B%84%E4%BC%A0_(2017%E5%B9%B4%E7%94%B5%E8%A7%86%E5%89%A7)
(accessed 2017-05-31).

End.

[Music] Adult's Law -- Doughnuts Hole

Poster for Quartet ("カルテット") (2017)

1. Adult's Law (Japanese: おとなの掟) (Otona no Okite) is the theme song of the Japanese TV drama Quartet ("カルテット") (2017).

This 10 episodes TV drama aired weekly in Japan between January 17, 2017 and March 21, 2017.

The four main characters formed a string quartet in the TV drama called "Doughnuts Hole" and the theme song is credited to Doughnuts Hole.


2. There are more Asian TV dramas produced each year than I can possibly watched and choosing what to watch is often a hit or miss affair.

I sometimes skim the first two episodes of a TV drama to see if I like it enough to watch the rest; other times I look at the user ratings on different websites to look for what to watch.

In the case of Quartet (2017), it was by word of mouth: One of my younger brothers recommended this TV drama to me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this TV drama.

Not only is one of the lead actresses, Takako Matsu, one of my favourite Japanese actresses, the script of this drama is very sophisticated.

When I watched the first episode for the first time, I knew I was missing some of the storylines.

I have to watch the first episode a second time to know what was going on.

As a matter of fact, I have watched the first episode a third and fourth time for the pure enjoyment of it.

And the rest of Quartet (2017) did not disappoint either.


3. The four actors that formed the string quartet Doughnuts Hole are:

Takako Matsu (松 たか子) (as Maki Maki);

Ryuhei Matsuda (松田 龍平) (as Tsukasa Beppu);

Hikari Mitsushima (満島ひかり) (as Suzume Sebuki);

Issei Takahashi (高橋 一生) (as Yutaka Iemori).


4. Adult's Law ("おとなの掟") (Otona no Okite) by Doughnuts Hole:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwg6ILsn8cI

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz7X_NtsuFg

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q7l0B4jZQQ


5. Other covers of Adult's Law: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6KFSiIXLeo
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TAXt7QQ7tg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIqXiOuCwd8

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_QYcE3VBn8


References:

"Quartet (TV Series)", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartet_(TV_Series)
(accessed 2017-05-16).

"Quartet (2017)", DramaWiki,
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Quartet_(2017)
(accessed 2017-05-16).

End.

[Music] Tempting Heart -- Shino Lin

Poster for Tempting Heart (1999)
 

Shino Lin

1. "Tempting Heart" ("心動") is the theme song of a 1999 Hong Kong movie of the same name.

The movie is directed by Sylvia Chang and stars Takeshi Kaneshiro, Gigi Leung and Karen Mok.

The music is composed and arranged by Kay Huang of Taiwan and the lyrics are by Albert Leung of Hong Kong.

The song is sung in Mandarin.

The movie and the song "Tempting Heart" (1999) were made by some of the best talents from Hong Kong and Taiwan of the time.

A more literal translation of "心動" would be "throbbing heart" or "fluttering heart".


2. I have known the song "Tempting Heart" for some time but I am not familiar with the original singer Shino Lin of Taiwan.

Reading her entry in Chinese Wikipedia makes me realized that Shino Lin did not had an easy life.

Shino Lin's parents divorced when she was young and she started working as a lounge singer in 1990 when she was only 16 years old.

The first four years of her lounge singing was in a restaurant in Japan where she took on the Japanese name "Shino".

After returning to Taiwan, Shino continued to sing in various pubs.

Shino Lin worked hard for many years and her first album come out in 1998 which was very well received.

Ironically, she won as "Best New Comer" in a 1999 Taiwanese music award.

Shino Lin music career has many ups and downs in the last twenty years due in part to her suffering from bipolar disorder.

A tragic event happened in 2007 when Shino Lin caused the death of a nurse while DUI.

Shino became a Christian not too long after this event.


3. There are a few notable observations about both the movie and the theme song:

(a) Sylvia Chang, the director and also being one of the script writers and actors, said there were some autobiographical elements of herself in the script.

(b) Beside the original singer Shino Lin, many people associated with the movie are also singers themselves: Sylvia Chang (Director), Kay Huang (Composer), Gigi Leung (female lead), and Karen Mok (another lead actor).

(c) This song has been covered by many singers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China.

Music is indeed something that transcends political differences.

(d) This Song is susceptible to many interpretations.

I like many of the cover versions in YouTube, even ones with very distinct interpretation.

But if I have to choose an outstanding interpretation from the many good ones, it is probably the cover by Kit Chan.


4. "Tempting Heart" by its original singer Shino Lin (Taiwan):

Music Video with scenes from the movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAXmU300DRc

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

The woman appearing between the 00:30 and 1:00 minute marks is Sylvia Chang, the Director of the movie "Tempting Heart".


Others:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LbIyGUkKWk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR1FH5pSRJ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWmwASpn1XQ

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



5. Covers by Kit Chan (Singapore):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVsRuLg1TYA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PMmLKspe_s

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TomUDn0EUkQ

First of two songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX-VoZms5jo

and many more in YouTube.


6. Cover by the director of "Tempting Heart" Sylvia Chang (Taiwan):

Sylvia Chang duets with Stella Chang in a 2015 concert:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYD1yW_WOmo


7. Covers by the composer of "Tempting Heart" Kay Huang (Taiwan):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K5OnQS1ykI

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbqpXSzrL8g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0qNluE60os


8. Covers by the lead actress of "Tempting Heart" Gigi Leung (Hong Kong):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUX6PYPYCkA

Second of two songs starting at the the 2:38 minutes mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3bchpfSh8s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOwoH89KjLQ


9. Cover by an actor in "Tempting Heart" William So (Hong Kong):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXwEZ8waUVg


10. Covers by Hins Cheung (Hong Kong):

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxvZWYV687c


11. Covers by A-Lin (Taiwan):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgwoA5ukooo

Starting at the 1:25 minutes mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaJ1hPWtSG8


12. Cover by Christine Fan (Chinese American) and Wang Qiwei (mainland Chinese):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VeGkz3vK0U


13. Cover by Jam Hsiao (Taiwan) (male) and Hong Jingjing (mainland Chinese) (female):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdsccMg7Y6g


14. Covers by Shuhei Nagasawa (Japanese):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uems9cFyvPE

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

Nagasawa's mother is Chinese.


15. Cover by LaLa Hsu (Taiwan) and Nana Liu (Taiwan):

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


16. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


心動 -- 林曉培

作詞：林夕
作曲：黃韻玲

有多久沒見你   以為你在哪裡
原來就住在我心底   陪伴著我的呼吸
有多遠的距離   以為聞不到你氣息
誰知道你背影這麼長   回頭就看到你

* 過去讓它過去   來不及
從頭喜歡你   白雲纏繞著藍天
哦
如果不能夠永遠走在一起
也至少給我們懷念的勇氣   擁抱的權利
好讓你明白   我心動的痕跡

Repeat *

總是想再見你   還試著打探你消息
原來你就住在我的身體   守護我的回憶


17. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


心动 -- 林晓培

作词：林夕
作曲：黄韵玲

有多久没见你   以为你在哪里
原来就住在我心底   陪伴着我的呼吸
有多远的距离   以为闻不到你气息
谁知道你背影这么长   回头就看到你

* 过去让它过去   来不及
从头喜欢你   白云缠绕着蓝天
哦
如果不能够永远走在一起
也至少给我们怀念的勇气   拥抱的权利
好让你明白   我心动的痕迹

Repeat *

总是想再见你   还试着打探你消息
原来你就住在我的身体   守护我的回忆


18. Names, Words and Phrases:

A-Lin (Traditional Chinese: 黃麗玲; Simplified Chinese: 黄丽玲).

Albert Leung (Traditional: 林夕; Simplified: 林夕).

Christine Fan (Traditional: 范瑋琪; Simplified: 范玮琪).

Gigi Leung (Traditional: 梁詠琪; Simplified: 梁咏琪).

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

Hong Jingjing (Traditional: 洪晶晶; Simplified: 洪晶晶).

Jam Hsiao (Traditional: 蕭敬騰; Simplified: 萧敬腾).

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

Kay Huang (Traditional: 黃韻玲; Simplified: 黄韵玲).

Kit Chan (Traditional: 陳潔儀; Simplified: 陈洁仪).

LaLa Hsu (Traditional: 徐佳瑩; Simplified: 徐佳莹).

Nana Liu (Traditional: 劉若英; Simplified: 刘若英).

Shino Lin (Traditional: 林曉培; Simplified: 林晓培).

Shuhei Nagasawa (Traditional: 長澤秀平; Simplified: 长泽秀平).

Stella Chang (Traditional: 張清芳; Simplified: 张清芳).

Sylvia Chang (Traditional: 張艾嘉; Simplified: 张艾嘉).

Takeshi Kaneshiro (Traditional: 金城武; Simplified: 金城武).

Wang Qiwei (Traditional: 王琪瑋; Simplified: 王琪玮).

William So (Traditional: 蘇永康; Simplified: 苏永康).


References:

"Shino Lin", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shino_Lin
(accessed 2017-02-28).

"心動", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%BF%83%E5%8B%95
(accessed 2017-02-28).

"林曉培", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%9E%97%E6%9B%89%E5%9F%B9
(accessed 2017-02-28).

End.

[Music] Vivian Lai -- Everyone Has a Dream

Vivian Lai

1. Vivian Lai won a local singing competition in 1989 when she was 16 years old and through it came to the notice of a music producer.

The following year she signed with BMG (Bertelsmann Music Group) and formally entered the Hong Kong music scene.

Vivian Lai subsequently changed management company and signed with PolyGram and became one of the "Seven Little Flowers of PolyGram".

(The other six "Little Flowers" are: Priscilla Chan, Vivian Chow, Shirley Kwan, Winnie Lau, Karen Tong, and Linda Wong.)

The song Everyone Has a Dream ("一人有一個夢想") came out in 1993 and was the peak of Vivian Lai's singing career.

After many years of courtship, Vivian Lai was married in 2002 to Ricky Tsang and she formally left Hong Kong music scene after marrying.

Vivian Lai and Ricky Tsang have a daughter and a son together.

Their marriage ended in divorce in 2014.

(Ricky Tsang is the third and youngest son of Tsang Hin-chi, the founder of Goldlion (Far East) Limited.)

(Vivian Lai has married into money so to speak.)

Vivian Lai started to sing and perform again in 2016.


2. From the August 24, 2016 Sing Tao Daily newspaper (BC Edition):

3. The front page of Ming Pao Sunday Supplement (August 28, 2016) (Western Canada Edition):

4. Vivian Lai singing Everyone Has a Dream (1993):

In a concert celebrating the works of the lyricist Jolland Chan in 2016
(Second of two songs starting at the 4:45 minutes mark):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79SpiY4qGtA


In a charity function in 2016:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvaXlysd5iY


In another charity function in 2016
(First of three songs):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4w-1S1E8Yk


In a charity function in 2013:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooVX5IEGQbA


In another charity function in 2013:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqfyyXIIfY8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY3TQm0rKW8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPffcLO5RG0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PvaBaiLC30


As a Guest in Karen Tong's 20th Anniversary Concert in 2012:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd0Sqyt3bB8

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbKvK9J7F4


This video is circa 1993-94:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTUg9vh37u0


5. A music video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR3EYULX2eo


These are just the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB0yb-SCPUY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_kaShsxMvA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NScVrPOw20g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n9n06EfHR0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcDvfI608Uo


6. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:

一人有一個夢想 -- 黎瑞恩

曲︰盧東尼
詞︰向雪懷

如告知某一些的戀愛結果會心傷
曾愉快一試何妨
如告知我的一些感覺你不會欣賞
誰共你一般思想

* 不知那裡風向又傳來了花香
再次編織心中的幻想

# 一人有一個夢想   兩人熱愛漸迷惘
三人有三種愛找各自理想
一人變心會受傷   兩人願意沒惆悵
三人痛苦戀愛不再問事實與真相

何以我每當開始戀愛你這麼緊張
誰令你心跳若狂
何以我每當終止戀愛你變得輕鬆
流露你心中所想

Repeat *, #, #, #


7. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:

一人有一个梦想 -- 黎瑞恩

曲︰卢东尼
词︰向雪怀

如告知某一些的恋爱结果会心伤
曾愉快一试何妨
如告知我的一些感觉你不会欣赏
谁共你一般思想

* 不知那里风向又传来了花香
再次编织心中的幻想

# 一人有一个梦想   两人热爱渐迷惘
三人有三种爱找各自理想
一人变心会受伤   两人愿意没惆怅
三人痛苦恋爱不再问事实与真相

何以我每当开始恋爱你这么紧张
谁令你心跳若狂
何以我每当终止恋爱你变得轻松
流露你心中所想

Repeat *, #, #, #

 
8. Names, Words and Phrases:

Goldlion (Far East) Limited (Traditional Chinese: 金利來集團有限公司; Simplified Chinese: 金利来集团有限公司).

Jolland Chan (Traditional: 向雪懷; Simplified: 向雪怀).

Karen Tong (Traditional: 湯寶如; Simplified: 汤宝如).

Linda Wong (Traditional: 王馨平; Simplified: 王馨平).

PolyGram (Traditional: 寶麗金唱片公司; Simplified: 宝丽金唱片公司).

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

Ricky Tsang (Traditional: 曾智明; Simplified: 曾智明).

Seven Little Flowers of PolyGram (Traditional: 寶麗金七小花; Simplified: 宝丽金七小花).

Shirley Kwan (Traditional: 關淑怡; Simplified: 关淑怡).

Tsang Hin-chi (Traditional: 曾憲梓; Simplified: 曾宪梓).

Vivian Chow (Traditional: 周慧敏; Simplified: 周慧敏).

Vivian Lai (Traditional: 黎瑞恩; Simplified: 黎瑞恩).

Winnie Lau (Traditional: 劉小慧; Simplified: 刘小慧).


References:

"黎瑞恩", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%BB%8E%E7%91%9E%E6%81%A9
(accessed 2017-01-11).

"一人有一个梦想", baike.baidu.com,
http://baike.baidu.com/view/3182262.htm
(accessed 2017-01-11).

End.

[Music] Annabelle Louie -- Do not Have to Remember the Old Dreams

Annabelle Louie

1. Annabelle Louie entered a Hong Kong music competition in 1980 and came to the noticed of music producers.

She was subsequently chosen to duet with Michael Kwan the theme song for a 1980 RTV TV drama.

This drama theme song made her known to the public.

Next year, with Do not Have to Remember the Old Dreams ("舊夢不須記"), Annabelle was established as a major Hong Kong singer.

Both the music and lyrics of Do not Have to Remember the Old Dreams (1981) were by James Wong.

Annabelle was married in 1983 and immigrated with her husband to Vancouver, Canada in 1988.

Although not very active, she still sings and performs when the occasions arise.


2. A Hong Kong interview in the October 7, 2016 Sing Tao Daily newspaper (BC Edition):

3. A recent TV performance on Hong Kong's TVB:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A15Zk7YISs

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

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

The erhu (i.e. two-stringed bowed instrument) is by Jessie Hou.


In a 2016 charity function in Hong Kong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdX1HPSVOf0


In a 2014 charity function in Vancouver:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On4Q-4mvhrI


In a 2010 concert in Hong Kong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wL6KNjYl0s

The erhu is also by Jessie Hou.


In a 2009 concert in Hong Kong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AhoGT_9IvY


In a 2003 Hong Kong theatre production:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqbkus5Po5c


In a 1991 charity function in Vancouver:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omam8EQ0gEM


4. This version is transferred from vinyl:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS7lpmlTFRE


5. Music videos:

Judging by her looks, this music video must be from the early 1980s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMJ9BTZbkcE


Other videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZSs0_SbV-Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uj3wLJ6Oq8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD8FybGMJe8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Zom9pLf2E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAHFrK1mVtg

and more in YouTube.


6. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:

舊夢不須記 -- 雷安娜

作詞：黃霑
作曲：黃霑

舊夢不須記   逝去種種昨日經已死
從前人渺   隨夢境失掉   莫憶風裡淚流怨別離

* 舊事也不須記   事過境遷以後不再提起
從前情愛   何用多等待   萬千恩怨讓我盡還你
此後人生漫漫長路   自尋路向天際分飛
他日與君   倘有未了緣   始終都會海角重遇你
因此舊夢不須記   亦不必苦與悲
緣來緣去   前事的喜與淚   在今天裡讓我盡還你

Repeat *


7. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:

旧梦不须记 -- 雷安娜

作词：黄霑
作曲：黄霑

旧梦不须记   逝去种种昨日经已死
从前人渺   随梦境失掉   莫忆风里泪流怨别离

* 旧事也不须记   事过境迁以后不再提起
从前情爱   何用多等待   万千恩怨让我尽还你
此后人生漫漫长路   自寻路向天际分飞
他日与君   倘有未了缘   始终都会海角重遇你
因此旧梦不须记   亦不必苦与悲
缘来缘去   前事的喜与泪   在今天里让我尽还你

Repeat *


8. Names, Words and Phrases:

Annabelle Louie (Traditional Chinese:雷安娜; Simplified Chinese: 雷安娜).

Erhu (Traditional: 二胡; Simplified: 二胡).

James Wong (Traditional: 黃霑; Simplified: 黄沾).

Jessie Hou (Traditional: 霍世潔; Simplified: 霍世洁).

Michael Kwan (Traditional: 關正傑; Simplified: 关正杰).


References:

"雷安娜", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%9B%B7%E5%AE%89%E5%A8%9C
(accessed 2017-01-08).

"霍世洁", baike.baidu.com.
http://baike.baidu.com/view/5502876.htm
(accessed 2017-01-08).

End.

[Music] Alan Tam -- Who Can Change?

Alan Tam

Poster for The Fearless Duo (1984)

1. In a previous post I mentioned that there were 4 books that brought me to tears while reading them when I was a teenager.

The first one was Lin Yutang's My Country and My People (1935).

I do not remember the order in which I read the other 3 books.

But among the three is the martial arts novel The Saga of the Jade Bow ("雲海玉弓緣") (1961) by Liang Yusheng.


2. Liang Yusheng is one of the "big three" martial arts (or "wuxia") novel writers in the second half of the 20th Century; the other two being Jin Yong and Gu Long.

I have read all the novels by Jin Yong and Gu Long and about 10 of the many works by Liang Yusheng.

Like other literature, The Saga of the Jade Bow (1961) is about human nature and human conflicts.

The strand of this novel that brought me to tears is the love triangle between a guy and two girls.

The Guy loves Girl A who is from an "upright" martial arts school.

Girl B, who is from a "corrupt" martial arts school, also loves this Guy.

But Girl B is very strong willed and she tried to bring the Guy to her by forcing him to his knees.

In the last chapter of the novel, Girl B has poisoned Girl A and Girl B will give the antidote to the Guy only if he will bow to her and marry her.

As the Guy was about to bow down, Girl B relented.

I have only given the briefest description of a very complicated situation and the actual writing about this episode in The Saga of the Jade Bow (1961) is very touching.


3. Who Can Change? ("誰可改變") by Alan Tam is the theme song of the 1984 Hong Kong TVB TV drama The Fearless Duo.

The love strand in this TV drama is also about a girl who loves this guy but the guy will not reciprocate her love; but as she gave up on him, the guy came to love her.

Unlike The Saga of the Jade Bow (1961), a happy ending!


4. Who Can Change? (1984) by Alan Tam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj7k7h9gmWY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTVaUkMvr3Y

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


Concerts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJQTeBWVC8Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s81uDW4srCk


Karaoke:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBYzRVHw31o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GMw8MrfmG4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCt6PqQFiew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvekqaYEa4A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH2H5pC2FzI


5. Alan Tam and Jacky Cheung:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4WkxudzWcw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dun7jjqXjlU


Alan Tam and Cecilia Cheung:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV2ZZdyVnUk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL0hQl8Hy44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aboi29MuWOI


Covers by Priscilla Chan:

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xtIsy5GSxw


A cover by Leon Lai:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS-k10GPCEs


A cover by Andy Lau:

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


6. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:

誰可改變 -- 譚詠麟

作詞：鄭國江
作曲：顧嘉煇
編曲：顧嘉煇

曾經說出   今生不愛你
我共你是但有份沒有緣
情切是你   癡癡相戀
將心中愛念   為我捐

如今我竟   竟將心意轉
那份愛念沒有盡沒有完
輪到你不瞅不睬
心中的愛念盡化煙   能否改變

* 還想再等   沒法息愛念
但偏偏你   回頭也倦
煩惱是我   流淚更無言
情逝去不再留半點

# 誰可以將   將光陰倒轉
再讓往日   復現眼前
能再共你   漫步田園
心中的愛念為你牽   求可改變

輪到你不瞅不睬
心中的愛念盡化煙　能否改變

Repeat *, #


7. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:

谁可改变 -- 谭咏麟

作词：郑国江
作曲：顾嘉辉
编曲：顾嘉辉

曾经说出   今生不爱你
我共你是但有份没有缘
情切是你   痴痴相恋
将心中爱念   为我捐

如今我竟   竟将心意转
那份爱念没有尽没有完
轮到你不瞅不睬
心中的爱念尽化烟   能否改变

* 还想再等   没法息爱念
但偏偏你   回头也倦
烦恼是我   流泪更无言
情逝去不再留半点

# 谁可以将   将光阴倒转
再让往日   复现眼前
能再共你   漫步田园
心中的爱念为你牵   求可改变

轮到你不瞅不睬
心中的爱念尽化烟   能否改变

Repeat *, #


8. Names, Words and Phrases:

Alan Tam (Traditional Chinese: 譚詠麟; Simplified Chinese: 谭咏麟).

Andy Lau (Traditional: 劉德華; Simplified: 刘德华).

Cecilia Cheung (Traditional: 張栢芝; Simplified: 张柏芝).

Gu Long (Traditional: 古龍; Simplified: 古龙).

Jacky Cheung (Traditional: 張學友; Simplified: 张学友).

Jin Yong (Traditional: 金庸; Simplified: 金庸).

Leon Lai (Traditional: 黎明; Simplified: 黎明).

Liang Yusheng (Traditional: 梁羽生; Simplified: 梁羽生).

Lin Yutang (Traditional: 林語堂; Simplified: 林语堂).

My Country and My People (Traditional: 吾國與吾民; Simplified: 吾国与吾民).

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

The Fearless Duo (Traditional: 天師執位; Simplified: 天师执位).

The Saga of the Jade Bow (Traditional: 雲海玉弓緣; Simplified: 云海玉弓缘).

Wuxia novels (Traditional: 武俠小說; Simplified: 武侠小说).


References:

"Liang Yusheng", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liang_Yusheng
(accessed 2016-09-28).

"梁羽生", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%A2%81%E7%BE%BD%E7%94%9F
(accessed 2016-09-28).

"雲海玉弓緣", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%9B%B2%E6%B5%B7%E7%8E%89%E5%BC%93%E7%B7%A3
(accessed 2016-09-28).

"武俠小說", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%AD%A6%E4%BF%A0%E5%B0%8F%E8%AA%AA
(accessed 2016-09-28).

"天師執位", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%A4%A9%E5%B8%AB%E5%9F%B7%E4%BD%8D
(accessed 2016-09-28).

End.

[Music] Roman Tam -- A Chinese Dream

Candlelight for the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre

 
1. Has reading a book ever brings you to tears?

In my teens, there was a period when I was quite emotional and I remember there were four books that brought me to tears when reading them.

The first book was Lin Yutang's My Country and My People (1935).

I did all my secondary school in Vancouver and I chanced upon Lin's book in the small library of my school when I was in Grade 8.

Like anyone in their teens, there were many psychological tasks one has to master and one of those was to establish one's identity.

Although very appreciative of the multi-culturalism of Canada, I was having difficulties relating my Chinese heritage to my identity.

Reading Lin Yutang's My Country and My People (1935) reinforced that my Chinese heritage was part of my identity.

But in what ways?

That took many years to work out.


2. A Chinese Dream ("中國夢") (1984) by Roman Tam is one song that always brings out the "Chinese feelings" inside me.

The lyrics are nationalistic but not triumphalist.

The lyrics speak to what Chinese hopes China will become.

This song has been sung many times over the years in the Candlelight Vigil for June 4 Massacre held annually at Victoria Park in Hong Kong.

Tears always well-up in my eyes when the lyrics come to:

要中國人人見歡樂
("That every Chinese will see happiness")

笑聲笑面長伴黃河
("Laughter and smiles will long be heard and seen along the Yellow River")

五千年無數中國夢
("Countless Chinese dreams in five thousand years")

內容始終一個
("Are but the same in content")


3. The late Roman Tam singing A Chinese Dream ("中國夢") (1984):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG3m46vnQkc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t4B4Z6Ny_I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX5fOvBr39w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf6Q0x29zCw


Roman Tam singing in Concert for Democracy in China (1989):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K7xMmSwVyQ


Music video by Roman Tam:

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


Roman Tam in concert:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0wJVJl9zYI



4. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


中國夢 -- 羅文

作曲：趙文海
編曲：趙文海
作詞：黃霑

我的夢和你的夢   每一個夢源自黃河
五千年無數的渴望   在河中滔滔過
那一個夢澎湃歡樂   那一個夢傾湧苦楚
有幾回唐漢風範   讓同胞不受折磨

* 那天我中國展步   何時睡獅吼響驚世歌
沖天開覓向前路   巨龍揮出自我
要中國人人見歡樂   笑聲笑面長伴黃河
五千年無數中國夢   內容始終一個

Repeat *

要中國人人每一個做 自由樂暢幸福我


5. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


中国梦 -- 罗文

作曲：赵文海
编曲：赵文海
作词：黄霑

我的梦和你的梦   每一个梦源自黄河
五千年无数的渴望   在河中滔滔过
那一个梦澎湃欢乐   那一个梦倾涌苦楚
有几回唐汉风范   让同胞不受折磨

* 那天我中国展步   何时睡狮吼响惊世歌
冲天开觅向前路   巨龙挥出自我
要中国人人见欢乐   笑声笑面长伴黄河
五千年无数中国梦   内容始终一个

Repeat *

要中国人人每一个做   自由乐畅幸福我


6. Names, Words and Phrases:

Candlelight Vigil for June 4 Massacre (Traditional Chinese: 維園六四燭光晚會; Simplified Chinese: 维园六四烛光晚会).

Concert for Democracy in China (Traditional: 民主歌聲獻中華; Simplified: 民主歌声献中华).

Lin Yutang (Traditional: 林語堂; Simplified: 林语堂).

My Country and My People (Traditional: 吾國與吾民; Simplified: 吾国与吾民).

Roman Tam (Traditional: 羅文; Simplified: 罗文).


References:

"Lin Yutang", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lin_Yutang
(accessed 2016-05-30).

"Roman Tam", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Tam
(accessed 2016-05-30).

"林語堂", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%9E%97%E8%AF%AD%E5%A0%82
(accessed 2016-05-30).

"羅文", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E7%BE%85%E6%96%87
(accessed 2016-05-30).

"吾國與吾民", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%90%BE%E5%9B%BD%E4%B8%8E%E5%90%BE%E6%B0%91
(accessed 2016-05-30).

"中國夢 (歌曲)", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E5%A4%A2_%28%E6%AD%8C%E6%9B%B2%29
(accessed 2016-05-30).

"中国梦 （罗文演唱歌曲）", baike.baidu.com,
http://baike.baidu.com/subview/1817221/9342602.htm
(accessed 2016-05-30).

"民主歌聲獻中華", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%B0%91%E4%B8%BB%E6%AD%8C%E8%81%B2%E7%8D%BB%E4%B8%AD%E8%8F%AF
(accessed 2016-05-30).

"維園六四燭光晚會", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E7%B6%AD%E5%9C%92%E5%85%AD%E5%9B%9B%E7%87%AD%E5%85%89%E6%99%9A%E6%9C%83
(accessed 2016-05-30).

End.

[Music and Opinion] Ghost in the Shell – Some Theme Songs

Posters for Ghost in the Shell

Scarlett Johansson vs. Motoko Kusanagi

 
1. A headline in today's BBC News app grasps my attention (BBC News 2016):

"Scarlett Johansson's casting sparks 'whitewashing debate' "

"Scarlett Johansson's latest role has caused a stir because she plays an Asian character."

"Johansson has been cast in the Hollywood remake of the Japanese anime Ghost in the Shell. It's led to a row about 'whitewashing'. "


2. ("Ghost in the Shell", Wikipedia):

"Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊 Kōkaku Kidōtai?, literally "Mobile Armored Riot Police") is a Japanese media franchise originally published as a seinen manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The manga, first serialized in 1989 under the subtitle of The Ghost in the Shell, and later published as its own tankōbon volumes by Kodansha, told the story of the fictional counter-cyberterrorist organization Public Security Section 9, led by protagonist Major Motoko Kusanagi, in the mid 21st century of Japan."


3. I have been a fan of the Ghost in the Shell anime franchise for a long time.

I watched Season 1 of the TV Series when it was first broadcasted on Canada's YTV channel in 2005.

I must have watched Season 1 of the anime, called Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, at least 5 times; also more than once of Season 2, the 4 anime movies, and the third TV series Ghost in the Shell: Arise.

In terms of the storyline, Ghost in the Shell: Arise is the prequel for the series.

There are some original video animations that have not been subbed or dubbed into English and I have not watch them.


4. A listing of the Ghost in the Shell anime TV series and anime films ("Ghost in the Shell", Wikipedia):

(a) Anime TV:

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002 - 2003) (26 episodes)

Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG (2004 - 2005) (26 episodes)

Ghost in the Shell: Arise (2015) (10 episodes)

(b) Anime Films:

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004)

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society (2006)

Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie (2015)


5. Ghost in the Shell (2017 film) starring Scarlett Johansson will be the first non-anime film in the franchise and irony of ironies, it will be a Hollywood production.

There is a controversy about the casting because Scarlett Johansson, a white person, is casted as Major Motoko Kusanagi, a very Japanese character and this leads to the controversy of "whitewashing".

What is also surprising is that the controversy is mainly a western affairs while the Japanese fans themselves seems more or less ok with it (Blair 2016).

Kwame Opam has a thoughtful discussion of the issues in (Opam 2016).


6. I find all the anime of the franchise to be very thoughtful.

Many themes are explored in the anime and they are wide ranging and some are in depth.

I will just mention one minor theme -- the Japanese animators' impression of the Chinese people.

(Since the anime franchise is spread over many years with many different animators, by "Japanese animators" I mean only a generalized group of Japanese people.)

(a) The Japanese animators’ impression of Hong Kong is one of exotic curiosities.

In the anime movie Ghost in the Shell (1995), there are two sequences that recognizably use Hong Kong as their backdrop: one is of Yau Me Tei District on the Kowloon peninsula and the other is of Causeway Bay District on Hong Kong Island.

The Causeway Bay sequence is obviously viewing Hong Kong while riding the tram line.

(b) The Japanese animators have a low opinion of the quality of mainland Chinese.

Season 1, Episode 14 of the TV Series is called "SA: Automated Capitalism – ¥€$" (Zenjidō Shihonshugi ¥€$" (全自動資本主義 ¥€$)).

("List of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex episodes", Wikipedia):

"Acting on a tip, Section 9 breaks up a cabal of thieves planning to rob a Japanese financial institution. Shortly after the raid, a Chinese intelligence official contacts Section 9 and informs them of suspicious activity that he believes may indicate an assassination attempt by Chinese Socialists on Kanemoto Yokose, a prominent, yet reclusive, Japanese billionaire."

The Chinese intelligence official talked with the head of Public Security Section 9, Aramaki, through video conferencing.

In the video conference, instead of the actual person, an avatar of the person speaking was displayed to the other side.

But the Japanese animators showed that the Chinese intelligence official was actually clipping his toenails while talking with section Chief Aramaki.

Not complimentary at all.

(c) The Japanese animators' impression of Taiwan is one of familiarity.

The backdrop for Season 2, Episode 17 of the TV Series, called "DI: Mother and Child – RED DATA" (Shūkō Boshi RED DATA" (修好母子 RED DATA)), is Taiwan.

Although the animators tried to depict some local distinctives of Taiwan, but the Taiwan in this episode seems like just another Japanese city.

Maybe this is due to Taiwan being a former Japanese colony?


7. The opening theme song of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is "Inner Universe":

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BJG2tQnwQw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWhM_x_g6p4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgP8YHHq1uY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovHnkKvYZ74


8. The closing theme song of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is "Lithium Flower":

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9byLoIsqeto

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


9. The opening theme song of Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG is "Rise":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqhDFYSlj0U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhHMI_0mFZ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOG-Bhrmn_0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxgCMh204Rc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIbP_cKwg24


10. The closing theme song of Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG is "Living Inside the Shell":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7t_BjXid-w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSj91yopjDg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWf8P00Fw7E


11. "I Do" -- A tribute to and lament for the love between Motoko Kusanagi and Hideo Kuze that was not meant to be:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqmofWAAh1U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UGRlJPmLrY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIR8UEpMUJQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wzb2pT05DQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXg5dm3lavA

 
12. Added: Wednesday, April 20, 2016

When introducing the songs of Ghost in the Shell, how can I forget the hauntingly beautiful introductory song for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z64HCi2rQkE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc53Hya6iO0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IGTiFuDjTI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh9TriiyVHY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJsEYwguuj8
 

References:

Ashcraft, Brian. 2016. "The Japanese Internet Reacts to Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell". Kotaku, April 18.
http://kotaku.com/the-japanese-internet-reacts-to-scarlet-johansson-in-gh-1771544034
(accessed 2014-04-19).

BBC News. 2016. "Is Scarlett Johansson casting Hollywood 'whitewashing'?". BBC News, April 19.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-36083113
(accessed 2014-04-19).

Blair, Gavin J. 2016. "Scarlett Johansson in 'Ghost in the Shell': Japanese Industry, Fans Surprised by 'Whitewashing' Outrage". The Hollywood Reporter, April 19.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/scarlett-johansson-ghost-shell-japanese-885462
(accessed 2014-04-19).

Chan, Melissa. 2016. "Photo of Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell Reignites ‘Whitewashing’ Controversy". TIME, April 18.
http://time.com/4297950/scarlett-johansson-ghost-shell-whitewashing/
(accessed 2014-04-19).

Child, Ben. 2016a. "‘Whitewashing’ row over Scarlett Johansson's Ghost in the Shell role reignites". The Guardian, April 15.
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/apr/15/scarlett-johanssons-role-in-ghost-in-the-shell-ignites-twitter-storm
(accessed 2014-04-19).

Child, Ben. 2016b. "Why Max Landis is wrong about Scarlett Johansson's 'whitewashed' Ghost in the Shell remake". The Guardian, April 18.
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/apr/18/scarlett-johansson-ghost-in-the-shell-max-landis
(accessed 2014-04-19).

Han, Angie. 2016. "Why Hollywood’s Whitewashing of ‘Doctor Strange’ and ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Is So Frustrating." Film - Blogging the Reel World, April 18.
http://www.slashfilm.com/doctor-strange-ghost-in-the-shell-whitewashing/
(accessed 2014-04-19).

Opam, Kwame. 2016. "Scarlett Johansson’s Ghost in the Shell casting is even worse than it seems". The Verge, April 18.
http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/18/11455160/ghost-in-the-shell-scarlett-johansson-hollywood-casting
(accessed 2014-04-19).

Romano, Nick. 2016. "Max Landis on Scarlett Johansson's Ghost in the Shell casting". Entertainment, April 16.
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/16/ghost-shell-scarlett-johnasson-casting-max-landis
(accessed 2014-04-19).

Sampson, Mike. 2016. "Exclusive: ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Producers Reportedly Tested Visual Effects That Would Make White Actors Appear Asian". Screen Crush, April 15.
http://screencrush.com/ghost-in-the-shell-whitewashing-scarlett-johnasson-vfx/
(accessed 2014-04-19).

"Ghost in the Shell", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell
(accessed 2014-04-19).

"List of Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG episodes", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ghost_in_the_Shell:_S.A.C._2nd_GIG_episodes
(accessed 2014-04-19).

"List of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex episodes", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ghost_in_the_Shell:_Stand_Alone_Complex_episodes
(accessed 2014-04-19).

"Music of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Ghost_in_the_Shell:_Stand_Alone_Complex
(accessed 2014-04-19).

End.

[Music] Long Nights like the Blue-Green Sky and Ocean -- Cheng Kam-Cheong

Cheng Kam-Cheong

1. First Chinese Poem of the Day:


李商隱 (813 - circa 858)


<< 嫦娥 >>

雲母屏風燭影深，長河漸落曉星沈。

嫦娥應悔偷靈藥，碧海青天夜夜心。


2. Second Chinese Poem of the Day:


張若虛 (circa 660 - 720)


<< 春江花月夜 >>

春江潮水連海平，海上明月共潮生。

灩灩隨波千萬里，何處春江無月明。

江流宛轉繞芳甸，月照花林皆似霰。

空裡流霜不覺飛，汀上白沙看不見。

江天一色無纖塵，皎皎空中孤月輪。

江畔何人初見月？ 江月何年初照人？

人生代代無窮已，江月年年只相似。

不知江月待何人，但見長江送流水。

白雲一片去悠悠，青楓浦上不勝愁。

誰家今夜扁舟子，何處相思明月樓。

可憐樓上月徘徊，應照離人妝鏡台。

玉戶簾中卷不去，擣衣砧上拂還來。

此時相望不相聞，願逐月華流照君。

鴻雁長飛光不度，魚龍潛躍水成文。

昨夜閒潭夢落花，可憐春半不還家。

江水流春去欲盡，江潭落月復西斜。

斜月沉沉藏海霧，碣石瀟湘無限路。

不知乘月幾人​​歸，落月搖情滿江樹。


3. Long Nights like the Blue-Green Sky and Ocean ("碧海青天夜夜深") by Cheng Kam-Cheong is one of my favorite songs from childhood.

Looking back, I am mystified why as a child I would like this song -- the lyrics are way beyond the comprehension of the I of that time; maybe it was because of the melody.

The name and melody of this song have a rather complicated pedigree.

Per Wikipedia ("春江花月夜"), the original is an ancient Chinese melody called Flute and Drum at Sunset ("夕陽簫鼓") and is for the string instrument pipa.

At the early years of Nationalist China (circa 1910s and 1920s?), someone rearranged the song into a duet for the instruments pipa and guzheng and the song title was changed to Moonlit Blossoms by the Spring River ("春江花月夜").

Moonlit Blossoms by the Spring River ("春江花月夜") itself is the name of a very famous Tang Dynasty's poem.

In the early 1950s, the composer Peng Xiu-wen (1931-1996) further rearranged the melody into orchestral music and it became popular in communist China.

Two Cantonese versions of this song came out in the late 1960s and early 1970s:

(a) Long Nights like the Blue-Green Sky and Ocean ("碧海青天夜夜深") by Cheng Kam-Cheong.

(b) Moonlit Night by Lover's River ("鴛鴦江月夜") by Liza Wang.

Furthermore, the song title "碧海青天夜夜深" is itself parasitic on a phrase of the late Tang Dynasty poem "嫦娥" ("Chang'e") -- "碧海青天夜夜心".

Chang'e ("嫦娥") is the Chinese goddess of the Moon.

("Chang'e", Wikipedia):

"In 2007, China launched its first lunar probe, a robotic spacecraft named Chang'e 1 in the goddess' honour. A second unmanned probe, named Chang'e 2, was launched in 2010. A third Chang'e spacecraft, a robotic lunar rover dubbed Chang'e 3, landed on the moon on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 at about 9:12 p.m., Beijing time, making China only the third country in the world to achieve such a moon feat after the former Soviet Union and the United States. The lander also delivered the robotic rover Yutu ("Jade Rabbit") to the lunar surface to begin its months-long driving mission. It has performed the first lunar soft landing since the Russian Luna 24 mission in 1976."


4. Long Nights like the Blue-Green Sky and Ocean ("碧海青天夜夜深") by Cheng Kam-Cheong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enyT78A51YI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-cka4PhmI0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVIVz3o_6fI


5. The music Flute and Drum at Sunset ("夕陽簫鼓"):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbYA_K9QoWc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoXXyiPa4Rg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5nSiJ9TljI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2S26P5VA5A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1Ie2n_icgc


6. The music Moonlit Blossoms by the Spring River ("春江花月夜"):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lykgg5phVJE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjGcMBi5zJY

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


by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8WWGyyfXrs


with singing by Tong Li:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwX4Kl2Ngpo


with singing by Peng Liyuan (= Mrs. Xi Jinping):
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVn_vT6VE2c

 
7. Moonlit Night by Lover's River ("鴛鴦江月夜"):

by Liza Wang:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDzo2g7FNqQ


by Liu Jun-er (female):

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


by Stephanie Gee:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjekW5-9wFk


by Yun Cai-hong (female):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hC4P8mpsdY


by Jin Chuan (male):

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


8. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


碧海青天夜夜深 -- 鄭錦昌

夜月照江前   倍覺波影動
願能渡過萬里山   泛輕舟涉水重重
鴛鴦生死也共   願她記取往日情
當初盡情共眷戀   今朝各分西與東

晚晚相思瘦   歎息分飛
怕看江邊柳   朝思晚想   暗把流長流
以往不堪記   人去後   春已逝
哪天再聚頭   夢中更情投   驚醒已經深秋

別恨更添愁   遠隔關山後
何年複見舊燕歸   慰癡心倆相愛情投
碧海青天依舊   夜間晚風送寒流
孤單寂寥恨句她   不知哪天歸我家


9. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


碧海青天夜夜深 -- 郑锦昌

夜月照江前   倍觉波影动
愿能渡过万里山   泛轻舟涉水重重
鸳鸯生死也共   愿她记取往日情
当初尽情共眷恋   今朝各分西与东

晚晚相思瘦   叹息分飞
怕看江边柳   朝思晚想   暗把流长流
以往不堪记   人去后   春已逝
哪天再聚头   梦中更情投   惊醒已经深秋

别恨更添愁   远隔关山后
何年复见旧燕归   慰痴心俩相爱情投
碧海青天依旧   夜间晚风送寒流
孤单寂寥恨句她   不知哪天归我家


10. Names, Words and Phrases:

Chang'e (Traditional Chinese: 嫦娥; Simplified Chinese: 嫦娥).

Cheng Kam-Cheong (Traditional: 鄭錦昌; Simplified: 郑锦昌).

Guzheng (Traditional: 古箏; Simplified: 古筝).

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (Traditional: 香港中樂團; Simplified: 香港中乐团).

Jade Rabbit (Traditional: 玉兔; Simplified: 玉兔).

Jin Chuan (Traditional: 金川; Simplified: 金川).

Liu Jun-er (Traditional: 劉珺兒; Simplified: 刘珺儿).

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

Peng Liyuan (Traditional: 彭麗媛; Simplified: 彭丽媛).

Peng Xiu-wen (Traditional: 彭修文; Simplified: 彭修文).

Pipa (Traditional: 琵琶; Simplified: 琵琶).

Stephanie Gee (Traditional: 佩儀; Simplified: 佩仪).

Tong Li (Traditional: 童麗; Simplified: 童丽).

Yun Cai-hong (Traditional: 雲彩虹; Simplified: 云彩虹)


References:

"Chang'e", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang'e
(accessed 2016-04-15).

"李商隱", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
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End.