a song that sings a thousand words

i've not heard of sodagreen before this (now i have, thanks to a link from onedayinmay.net), but if this song is any indication, i might just end up being a fan. :) they are a taiwanese folk-rock-pop band that has been around since the beginning of this century, and released their first album in 2005. according to wiki, the band's main vocalist and songwriter is known for his "poetic lyrics, unique performing style and wide vocal range". you had me at poetic lyrics. what is there not to like about that! :) oh well, we shall see.

this one of those songs i liked at first listen. maybe i was intrigued by the title 城市 (City). working up here on the 42nd floor of one of the taller buildings in KL makes me heady sometimes. it's a strange mix of emotions, a simultaneous affinity and repulsion for its sterility (i just bagged me another paradox)(i only have pure repulsion for the city's filth). this song somewhat embodies my sentiments neatly with both its melody and words. i love it.

這座城市一般
讓你在夢中不停的衰老
人像落葉一般
冬天的空中冰冷的容貌
this city, for most part, makes you continuously degenerate in dreams
we are like falling leaves, our appearance icy as the air of winter

城市面目猙獰 駕著光速奔跑
我們是沉默機器 對照著時間表
the facade of the city is ferocious
running away by riding on its lights
we are silent machinery, running by schedule

我們就像溫室的花朵
麻木的心 刷白的瞳孔 彩色的臉
混亂的慾望和顫抖
we are like a flower blooming in a greenhouse
our hearts are numbed, our pupils whitewashed, our face colourful
desires that are confusing and we are trembling

現在是謠言侵略事實的時代
必須偷看哪個誰是不是在偷看
this is a time of aggressive rumors and facts
there is no need to take a peep at who is or is not peeping
(現在是現在侵略過去的時代
必須悲哀快樂所帶來的更悲哀)
(v2)(this is a time of past intrusion
there is no need for more sorrows brought by grief and joy)

這座城市一般
享受著奢侈卻莫名失落
人像稀釋一般
在鬧區列車上逐漸沉默
in this city, we are experiencing luxury and an inexplicable loss
our lives are diluted
in a inner city train, there's a gradual fade to silence
我們囚禁在格林威治的規則裡
在數位的銀色浪花中喘不過氣

這座城市裡面
試著讓自己沒有那麼糟
人像落葉迎面
在一座ㄧ座孤獨島中間
我微笑
in this city, i try to make myself better
we are like leaves falling head on
in the middle of a cluster of lonely islands
i smile


like wow, i'm practically 喘氣 from this whole exercise. :) hope you'll enjoy the song as much as i do. ok, a longgg list of new words ahead:

衰老 shuāilǎo - senescence
(wow, i don't even understand the english word! but here it is:

se·nes·cence /səˈnesəns/
- the condition or process of deterioration with age
- loss of a cell's power of division and growth)

容貌 róngmào - appearance
猙獰 zhēngníng - hideous, ferocious, savage
駕 jià - drive
光速 guāngsù - light
奔跑 bēnpǎo - run
機器 jīqì - machine
麻木 mámù - numb/ness
刷白 shuàbái - whitewashed
瞳孔 tóngkǒng - pupil (eyes)
混亂 hǔnluàn - confusion
慾望 yùwàng - desire
顫抖 chàndǒu - tremble
謠言 yáoyán - rumour
侵略 qīnlüè - aggression, invasion, encroachment (also, verb)
奢侈 shēchǐ - luxury
稀釋 xīshì - dilute/ion
鬧區 nào qū - district/downtown
逐漸 zhújiàn - gradually
囚禁 qiújìn - captivity, imprison, chain
格林威治 Gélín wēi zhì - Greenwich
規則 guīzé - rules
數位 shùwèi - digital
喘氣 chuǎnqì - breathless, panting
糟 zāo - bad, waste




城市
蘇打綠 (sodagreen)

這座城市一般
讓你在夢中不停的衰老
人像落葉一般
冬天的空中冰冷的容貌

城市面目猙獰 駕著光速奔跑
我們是沉默機器 對照著時間表

我們就像溫室的花朵
麻木的心 刷白的瞳孔
彩色的臉 混亂的慾望和顫抖
現在是謠言侵略事實的時代
必須偷看哪個誰是不是在偷看

這座城市一般
享受著奢侈卻莫名失落
人像稀釋一般
在鬧區列車上逐漸沉默

我們囚禁在格林威治的規則裡
在數位的銀色浪花中喘不過氣

我們就像溫室的花朵
麻木的心 刷白的瞳孔
彩色的臉 混亂的慾望和顫抖
現在是現在侵略過去的時代
必須悲哀快樂所帶來的更悲哀

這座城市裡面
試著讓自己沒有那麼糟
人像落葉迎面
在一座ㄧ座孤獨島中間
我微笑