那些年

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It was blackish all around; the moon, pale and distant, and the night, balmy. The waves lazily washed the shore and our bare feet as we stood at the edge. But I was afraid of the sea at night, of strange monsters that would suddenly emerge and with one gulp swallow me whole, and I told you so. We giggled at how stupid that sounded. Still, my heart beat steadily grew rapid as my watchful eyes scanned the surface of hypnotizing waves for any suspicious movement. I made sure I was in the middle of the chain as we joined hands and took gingerly steps into the water. It was cold; I tightened my grip. Before long however, we were breaking into the chorus of every song we knew. How our laughter scared the monsters away.

那一年我們望著星空 有那麼多的燦爛的夢

以為快樂會永久 像不變星空陪著我

//五月天//星空//

//

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In jest, you promised her a star. That night as we descended from the hilltop, you stopped the car near a streetlight, got out, walked over, stood where it was the brightest, stretched up your right arm, made some weak effort to jump, pretended to grab the bulb, held it out to us and said, here's your star. That didn't make sense but we thought it was the funniest gesture ever. We were easily amused.

那一年我們望著星空 未來的未來 從沒想過

當故事失去美夢 美夢失去線索 而我們失去聯絡
//五月天//星空//

//

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至少回憶會永久 像不變星空 陪著我

最後只剩下星空 像不變回憶 陪著我
//五月天//星空//

Oh to be 18 again. If ever I was innocent and carefree, that was the last I knew what that was like, for the years since were anything but. Growing up was such a pain, but it was necessary. For a long time in my adult life, I didn't want to be one. Maybe I had held adulthood in such high esteem that when one grown-up after another kept distorting my ideals by being childish and irresponsible and selfish, so I told myself that I wasn't signing up for this. I thought one should only deserve to be called one if they've got their lives together, spoke only words of wisdom, and always making the right choices. So news flash: nobody is perfect. I was a foolish idealist.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a (wo)man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:11-12 NIV

Growing up is pretty fascinating. I was and still am a reluctant participant, but I got the full package nevertheless. And although I feel like I am the same person as I was 18 years ago, I know that I am a very different person. It would be pretty sad if I remained as I was back then. My encounter with God and with people have shaped me into the person I am today: a little less ignorant, a little more confident, a little less conceited, a little more perceptive, a little less selfish, a little more gracious.. and a long way to go till He's done with me. My flaws are glaring but God's power is made perfect in my weakness. And that's the kinda perfection I want.

It's been a really good long weekend thanks to the Hari Raya holidays. I hardly did anything more than eating and sleeping and laughing and lazing. Spent Raya evening at Z's house per custom every year, and had tonnes of fun playing Taboo (srsly, I need to buy a set of my own!) with Z, F, J, M and the husb, and helping myself to plates of Raya delicacies; spent the next couple of days with family cooking and eating as my bro and sis in law are back from Singapore; spent today having a lunch and coffee with S and the husb talking about theology and traveling plans. It doesn't get much better than that and I'm more than grateful. :)

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I haven't done much translating work recently, so this is my gift to myself to mark the end of a 96 hours well spent (plus, I'm doing well in blocking thoughts of having to go back to work tmrw). It's a short song, and I love how Ashin puts words together. Of course I really can't judge its quality, but by my standard, this is gold. So here's Mayday's Poetry of the Day After 后青春期的诗 and wishing everyone a good week ahead! XOXO.


當煙霧(yānwù)隨晨光(chénguāng)飄散 枕(zhěn)畔(pàn)的湖已風乾
期待已退化成等待 而我告別了突然
當淚痕勾勒(gōulè)著遺憾 回憶誇(kuā)飾(shì)著傷感
逝(shì)水比喻(bǐyù)時光荏苒(rěnrǎn)
終於我們不再為了生命狂歡(kuánghuān)為愛情狂亂
然而青春彼岸(bǐ'àn)盛夏(shèngxia)正要一天一天一天的燦爛
(口白：然後呢 一起走吧)

As the mist vaporizes with daybreak, the lake at the edge of the pillow (pool of tears) has already dried up
Anticipation is reduced to waiting, just as I bid farewell to the unexpected
As tear stains outline regrets, and memory boasts of how it conceals sadness
Time is slipping by like flowing water
Finally we are no longer merrymaking over life or go hysterical over love
However, the midsummer on the other side of youth is becoming more and more splendorous
(Spoken: What happens now? Let's go.)

誰說不能讓我此生唯一自傳 如同詩一般
無論多遠未來讀來依然一字一句一篇都燦爛
讓天空解釋(jiěshì)著蔚藍(wèilán)　浮雲(fúyún)定義著潔白(jiébái)
落花鋪陳(pūchén)一片紅色地毯(dìtǎn)迎接我們到未來 精彩未完的未來

Whoever was it that said my only autobiography cannot be like a poem?
No matter how far, the future reads the same:
Every letter, every word, every verse will be brilliant
Let the sky explain what 'azure' is, and the floating clouds define 'pure white'
And falling flowers arrange themselves into a carpet of red
To welcome our future; our wonderful, unfinished future



后青春期的诗
五月天

作词/曲：阿信

當煙霧隨晨光飄散 枕畔的湖已風乾
期待已退化成等待 而我告別了突然
當淚痕勾勒著遺憾回憶誇飾著傷感逝水比喻時光荏苒

終於我們不再為了生命狂歡為愛情狂亂
然而青春彼岸盛夏正要一天一天一天的燦爛
(阿信口白：然後呢 一起走吧)

誰說不能讓我此生唯一自傳如同詩一般
無論多遠未來讀來依然一字一句一篇都燦爛
讓天空解釋著蔚藍　浮雲定義著潔白
落花鋪陳一片紅色地毯迎接我們到未來精彩未完的未來

yay for mayday!

here's a shout-out and little congrats to the boys of Mayday for their massive win at the recent 23rd Golden Melody Awards Ceremony (Taiwan's version of the Grammy's) in Taipei last Sat, bringing home with them statuettes for Best Band, Best Composer, Best Album Composer, Best Arrangement, Best Song and Best Album! they have been in business for the past 13 years, but for whatever reason, has never really been recognised. some say this is wayyy overdue, but whatever it is, i'm happy for them! and let me say this again: their Second Round album really do rock! ^_^

of noah.

Today's theme is brought to you by the diluvian patriarch of old -- Mr Noah son of Lamech! -- because interestingly, my two favorite Chinese artists sang about him in their songs.

Some persistent youtubing on my part has unearthed this song by Lee Hom, written way back in 1996 (for his third album; he was 20!~ so young~), and having listened to a handful of his English songs (I honestly think that lyrics writing esp in his native tongue is not his forte, and I sure hope that he is aware of it too :P), I must say that this is one of the better ones.

Mayday's song, meanwhile, is from their latest album released late last year. I was looking through the track list of that album and realized that I've heard many of those songs on Youtube and liked them, so I erm.. download the whole album. *happy!* I think I'll purchase the album one of these days. :) I really like their music videos -- they are very.. well directed and cohesive [compared to *cough* Lee Hom's, which sometimes make me wanna pull my hair out (have mercy, monsieur Wang, for I have very little left). Yes, yes, I'm still a huge fan. Haha!]

Incidentally, these two songs reminded me of this fictional book by David Maine called The Flood that I was reading halfway sometime and never got to finish because I was.. distracted or something.. (And I have no idea where the book is now! *sad face*) It was an interesting book; each chapter was a first-person narrative by Noah and members of his family of the events leading up to and after The Great Flood. I tend to romanticize the entire endeavor when I read the Bible as it happened yonks ago (in Genesis!)(read the biblical account *here*) so the personal retelling of the story (albeit fictional) painted a clearer picture of what could have happened. Lee Hom's version reminds me of the book. Mm, where could the book be?!

Anyway, here are the songs. I didn't have to do the translation this time because (1) Lee Hom's song is in English (2) I nicked the translation from Mayday's song from another blog (link below) weehehe.. I'm putting them side by side because I like the way it's displayed and I like both songs equally. Plus I can't make a fair comparison, as they are written by different people in different languages at different stages of their lives. Lee Hom's song hints of a psalmist's lament while Mayday's Ashin is a contemporary poet. The only thing in common being the reference to that one ancient figure.. butttt if there was a gun to my head, I'd go with... Mayday Lee Hom Mayd.. mm, I honestly can't decide. Who say I got to in the first place? Hehe..

So I'll leave you to enjoy both songs while I go and listen to Mayday's latest album. Toodle!

Noah Wang Lee Hom 王力宏 On the first of December I was commissioned to sail away On a ship that was sinking Forty nights and forty days And while I went under The tears of a murdered land Were turning the earth into sand I'm too cold to be sleeping So I light up a candle of regret To burn the secrets I'm keeping And pray that someday I can forget The cries of my people The voices of doubt inside my head I think of the things that you said Am I alone here？ Are there others like me too Safe in my capsule Unable to move？ How long has it been now？ And where will this journey end? Will it end...ohhh.. Got the hands of a farmer The words of a preacher's tongue Got the heart of a sailor To believe till your work is done I will stand in the ocean With these wooden planks under my feet I will come to your table After my journey's complete I believe in the future I can feel the blood rising in my veins It's the sound of a battle cry When only the echo remains I will serve you forever I will build you a nation of love I'm relying on luck, oh God The four-leaf clover from a dove And isn't it crazy For me to start life brand new？ And when I find Ararat The first thing that I'll do is drive cross the country side And nap in that sweet sunlight...yeah I'll be singing a love song For my, my dear dear wife And nap in that sweet sunlight Before the night is over I'll be crying on your shoulder My wild imagination Is keeping me from losing patience Why did you make us Only to tear us away？ Why have you chosen me？ It was your fault anyway...

Noah's Ark 諾亞方舟 Mayday 五月天 再見 草莓甜甜圈 街角咖啡店 落下雨點 再見 黑白老照片 回憶電影院 埋進地面 Good-bye strawberry donuts, the corner coffee shop, falling rain Good-bye old black and white photos, the buried and nostalgic movie theater 再見 我們初識的那個公園 那天是誰先吻了誰 被誰遺忘的鞦韆 再見 那麼多名車名錶名鞋 最後我們只能帶走 名為回憶的花園 Farewell to the garden where we first met Remember who kissed whom first that day? And the forgotten swing set Good-bye, all those brand-name cars, designer watches and shoes In the end all we take with us is our garden of memories 如果要告別 如果今夜就要和一切告別 如果你只能打一通電話 你會撥給誰 If you have to take your leave, if this very night you have to take leave of everything If you could only make one phone call, whom would you call? 晚安 鸚鵡和孔雀 花豹和人類 望著海面 晚安 底片和唱片 沉浮在浪間 就像詩篇 Good night, parrots and peacocks, leopards and humans, look out toward the sea Good night, photonegatives and record albums, bobbing up and down on the waves, like a psalm 晚安 自由女神漂到華爾街 我們在甲板上摸到 杜拜塔頂的塔尖 晚安 海豚躍出西藏的屋簷 原來幻想中的這天 會比幻想更唯美 Good night, the Statue of Liberty drifts toward Wall Street, from the ship’s deck we can touch the tip of the tower in Dubai Good night, dolphins leap from the rafters of Tibet, as it turns out, this day is more beautiful than it ever was in our fantasies 還是要告別 還是放棄海拔以下的世界 你會裝進什麼回憶紀念 在行李裡面 終於要告別 終於沒有更多的明天要追 你有什麼遺憾依然殘缺 還沒有完美 You still must take your leave, you still must abandon the world beneath these waves You can keep some mementoes in your luggage It’s finally time to take leave, there are finally no more tomorrows to pursue What regrets do you still have that you have not made good? 當彗星燃燒天邊 隕石像雨點 當輻射比陽光還要熾烈 當愛變得濃烈 當每段命運 更加壯烈 當永遠變成一種遙遠 當句點變成一種觀點 讓人類終於變成同類 When comets streak across the sky, meteorites fall like rain When radiation blazes more powerfully than sunshine When love becomes concentrated, when every act of fate is fulfilled When forever becomes a kind of faraway, when a period becomes a point of view Making humanity finally become one 勇敢的告別 勇敢地向過去和未來告別 告別每段血緣身分地位 聰明或愚昧 Bravely taking leave, bravely taking leave of past and future Taking leave of every bloodline, rank, or position, intelligence or stupidity 最後的告別 最後一個心願是學會高飛 飛在不存在的高山草原 星空和藍天 At last take leave, at last a dream learns how to fly away Fly across the lost mountain grasslands, starry nights and blue skies 讓 諾亞方舟 航向了 海平線 讓 諾亞方舟 航向了 換日線 讓 諾亞方舟 航向了 天際線 讓 諾亞方舟 航向了 無限 Let Noah’s Ark sail toward the horizon Let Noah’s Ark sail toward the dateline Let Noah’s Ark sail toward the skyline Let Noah’s Ark sail toward infinity [I didn't do the translation this time, I just took the whole thing from *here*, with minor personal preference tweaks :)]

妈, 母亲节快乐!

I don't have the time to translate this whole song, but I can do the last para (which is the meaning behind the song):

好久以来 原来我衣服 全部都是妈妈洗
从来没有 一句的怨言 你丢多少她都洗
她却总是 全心又全力 直到颤抖了身体
多少年了 旋转又旋转 时间一眨眼过去
才发现了 妈妈一直是 我无声洗衣机
才发现了 她的皱纹是 无法偿还的借据
才发现了 她的背影是 无法释怀的风景

when all these times, my clothes are washed by my mom
she's never uttered a single complaint about how much she has to wash
she's ever so dedicated and worked til her body trembled
it's been years and years, and countless spins of the machine
time just went past in a blink of an eye
only to discover that mom has been my silent washing machine
and that her wrinkles are a debt i'm unable to repay
and that her back is a view that can not be forgotten

how moving is this song?! it's basically singing about the home washing machine and the loads it has taken over the years etc.. but the song is an ode to mothers, in that they are the ones who get the machine (and basically the entire household) running.

Le mom and me

Only God knows how much my mom has sacrificed over the years to bring the four of us up. She practically breaks her back to feed us and raise us...

Lord, thank you for my mom. For every sacrificial deed she's done, bless her a hundred times over. For every tear she cried, let there a thousand things for her to smile about. For every sigh she has released, may there be peace and contentment backing her. Grant her long life and good health and a heart of joy. In Jesus' name I pray - amen!

I'll end tonight with these words from the end of the video that so aptly reflect my thoughts (I shd get this to her in a card!):

也许我从来不是一个好孩子
也许我管不住自己的叛逆
也许我从来没有让你满意
但我还是想让你知道: 妈妈，我爱你！
maybe i've never been a good child
maybe i cannot control my rebellious attitude
maybe i've never satisfied you
but i still want to let you know: MOM I LOVE YOU! T_T

Starry, starry night, paint your palette blue and gray

It's May already! Looks like 2012 is going to mercilessly whiz pass. Someday, someday soon.. I won't have to mentally battle time and age. But for now, SIGH!

Since it's May, it is only apt that we tune in to... Mayday. :D I got to know this Taiwanese alt-rock band by way of wlh. I was reading about him from a blogger who adores this band (if you still remember). So I decided to check them out. This was the first of their songs I heard on youtube. And guess what, by virtue of writing about it here, I obviously like it! A lot!

The main singer, Ashin 阿信, is apparently a prolific songwriter. He has written many songs for many artists, and especially worth noting is none other than Lee Hom's Beside the Plum Blossoms 在梅邊. Ta-dah! ^_^

The background of [Beside the Plum Blossoms] is based on the story behind The Peony Pavilion, an old Chinese play written by Tang Xianzu in the Ming Dynasty. Wang gave tapes of this play to Ashin of Mayday, who later wrote the lyrics. Wang also wrote the rap lyrics which can be heard at the end of the song. He rapped 295 words in 50 seconds. The song is performed with ancient kunqu music.

That's one mammoth of a song I won't be ready to translate anytime soon. Especially when it requires knowledge of ancient Chinese written works. Anyone who can write something like that for lh has done good in my book. Hahaha.. I think he wrote another song for lh, but I'm too lazy to verify it right now. The band has been making music since 1997, about 2 years aft lh's debut, so they are up there with the other veterans on the Mandopop industry. That's a lot of music to check out, which I am not very inclined to doing... because I am a creature of comfort. And I am very comfortable with just listening to wlh day in and day out, still. I am sure I'm gonna get bored of it soon, and then maybe I'll rehash some Switchfoot or Relient K or some other very familiar sounds. But who knows... Oh btw Ashin is one of the four people I follow/stalk on Weibo :)

Update: I found it! The other song that Ashin wrote for Lee Hom, that is. It's called Boya Severs Strings 伯牙绝弦. Read the full article here (it's old but rather hilarious, I might add).

The new album has a song about ancient Chinese musician Bo Ya, a qin player from the Spring and Autumn period. There’s already a Beijing opera about the star, and Leehom adds his composition, “Boya’s Broken String (伯牙绝弦)” to the legend. It tells the story of Boya and Zhong Ziqi; the latter loved to listen to the former’s music, and when she died, he broke the strings of his instrument in mourning.
When Leehom wanted to write this song, he was quickly struck by the difficulty of getting it formulated into lyrics that would tell the whole story, but still be singable. It’s a major challenge, and one Leehom finally decided might be a job for the man who helped him put the Peony Pavillion story into lyrics: Ashin. He excels at bringing these old stories to life in song, so he was clearly the only man for the job. He went to work, and he left Leehom once again explaining over his genius. (In the interest of full disclosure, Ashin shares a writing credit on the song with a second lyricist.)

Back to the song, I have a weakness for songs that wax lyrical about the splendorous starry night that get my thoughts shuttling off to matters merry and melancholic, and this song, Starry Sky 星空, does just that. How could I not melt? And now that I've finished translating it, I have to confess that its beauty has taken me captive emotionally. *sighhh...*

...

Btw, on my often-spoke-off-but-non-existent wishlist of Things To Do Before I Die is to behold the glory of Aurora Borealis with my own naked eyes. Watching Lee Hom in concert is high on this list too. Star-struck, I am.

If it looks this great in picture, the real thing will reduce me to a sobbing worshiper 

习惯 xíguàn - accustomed to
初衷 chūzhōng - original intention, aspiration
苦衷 kǔzhōng - predicament, difficulty
陨落 yǔnluò - fall from the sky, decay, die
线索 xiànsuǒ - trail, clues
联络 liánluò - communication, contact
伸手 shēnshǒu - reach out
细数 xìshù - count down, list, enumerate
繁星 fánxīng - a sky full of stars
闪烁 shǎnshuò - flickering, twinkling, evasive, vague (of speech)
此生 cǐshēng - this life
奔波 bēnbō - constantly on the move
获 huò - catch, reap, harvest
触摸 chùmō - touch
仅 jǐn - barely, merely

摸不到的颜色 是否叫彩虹
看不到的拥抱 是否叫做微风
一个人 想着一个人 是否就叫寂寞
Colours that you can't touch - do you call them rainbow?
An embrace that you can't see - is it called a breeze?
When someone is thinking of someone else - is that loneliness?

命运偷走如果 只留下结果
时间偷走初衷 只留下了苦衷
你来过 然后你走后 只留下星空
Fate has stolen the maybes, leaving only conclusions
Time has stolen aspirations, leaving only predicaments
You came over and then you left, leaving behind only the starry sky

那一年我们望着星空 有那么多的 灿烂的梦
以为快乐会永久 像不变星空 陪着我
That year we were staring at the heavens above
We had so many brilliant dreams
We thought that happiness would last forever
Like the unchanging starry sky that accompanies me

猎户 天狼 织女 光年外沉默
回忆 青春 梦想 何时偷偷陨落
我爱过 然后我沉默 人海里漂流
Orion, Sirius, Vega (3 well-known constellations)
Light years of silence
Memories, youth, aspirations
When did they fall down from the sky?
I have loved, and later I kept silence
As I float about in a sea of people

那一年我们望着星空 未来的未来 从没想过
当故事失去美梦 美梦失去线索 而我们失去联络
That year we were staring at the heavens above
Thoughts about the future never crossed our minds
When the story loses its beautiful dreams
And the beautiful dreams its story line
And we lost touch with each other

这一片无言无语星空 为什么静静 看我泪流
如果你在的时候 会不会伸手 拥抱我？
This wordless, speechless sky
Why does it watch in silence as I cry?
If you were here, would you reach out and hold me?

细数繁星闪烁 细数此生奔波
原来 所有 所得 所获 不如一夜的星空
Counting the flickering stars across the vast sky
Counting the number of times we are on the move in this life
When in fact, everything that I have, everything that I've gained, everything I've captured
Is nothing compared to one night sky

空气中的温柔 回忆你的笑容
仿佛只要伸手 就能触摸
There's gentleness in the air as I remember your smile
It seems like I only need to hold out my hands to touch it

摸不到的颜色 是否叫彩虹
看不到的拥抱 是否叫做微风
一个人 习惯一个人...
Colours that you can't touch - aren't they called rainbow?
An embrace that you can't see - isn't called a breeze?
When someone is used to being alone...

这一刻独自望着星空 从前的从前 从没变过
寂寞可以是忍受 也可以是享受 享受仅有的拥有
At this moment, staring at the heavens by myself
History is unaltered
I can bear with the loneliness, and I can also enjoy everything that I barely have

那一年我们望着星空 有那么多的 灿烂的梦
至少回忆会永久 像不变星空 陪着我
That year we were staring at the heavens above
We had so many brilliant dreams
At least the memories will last forever
Just like the starry sky that accompanies me

最后只剩下星空 像不变回忆 陪着我
In the end, everything that's left is the starry sky
Like the unchanging memories that accompanies me



星空
Mayday 五月天

摸不到的颜色 是否叫彩虹
看不到的拥抱 是否叫做微风
一个人 想着一个人 是否就叫寂寞

命运偷走如果 只留下结果
时间偷走初衷 只留下了苦衷
你来过 然后你走后 只留下星空

那一年我们望着星空 有那么多的 灿烂的梦
以为快乐会永久 像不变星空 陪着我

猎户 天狼 织女 光年外沉默
回忆 青春 梦想 何时偷偷陨落
我爱过 然后我沉默 人海里漂流

那一年我们望着星空 未来的未来 从没想过
当故事失去美梦 美梦失去线索 而我们失去联络
这一片无言无语星空 为什么静静 看我泪流
如果你在的时候 会不会伸手 拥抱我？

细数繁星闪烁 细数此生奔波
原来 所有 所得 所获 不如一夜的星空
空气中的温柔 回忆你的笑容
仿佛只要伸手 就能触摸

摸不到的颜色 是否叫彩虹
看不到的拥抱 是否叫做微风
一个人 习惯一个人...

这一刻独自望着星空 从前的从前 从没变过
寂寞可以是忍受 也可以是享受 享受仅有的拥有
那一年我们望着星空 有那么多的 灿烂的梦
至少回忆会永久 像不变星空 陪着我
最后只剩下星空 像不变回忆 陪着我...