it's always nice to know that we are not alone

I found a kindred spirit in this girl. As far as i could gather from her blog, her name's Merry and she is a Norwegian-American from Minnesota, and in her job as a historian specializing in US-China relations, she travels quite a bit esp to the East (she stayed in Taiwan for a couple of years too I think). I'm not sure how proficient her Chinese is, but i think it's nothing less than pretty darn impressive. She is a huge fan of Taiwanese rock outfit Mayday (whose all songs she has translated into English) -- even her website is named after the band.

She wasn't a Leehom fan until she listened to Beside the Plum Tree 在梅邊 (which I hope to translate someday soon), which was written by the lead singer from Mayday. one song led to an album, she ended up at one of his concerts, and in her own words: ...if you are determined not to become a Leehom fan, then you need to stay away from his concerts. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone who enjoys performing that much, or who does so that adeptly. (cue to self: bang head on desk for missing the March concert. sighh..)

I also love how the family was converted, one by one, first the mom, and then the sister (who she says is now the biggest leehom fan that side of the atlantic), and even the dad (who is 100% norwegian).. Anyways, you can read all of her leehom-tagged posts *here*

Amazing right?!

Anyways, today's song is NOT a ballad and it's called 十八般武藝, which translates to 18 Forms of Martial Arts (also the album's title, with the word "Forms" dropped; i prefer it with), and from how I understand it, it means versatility. as it is atypical of the love songs i've been translating, I can't vouch for this translation at all. haha..

I like the sprightly tune (I've set this as my phone's ringtone), and think that the chinked-out sound is done well here. Moving forward though, I think it's really unnecessary for him to continually mention that he's doing the c-o sound, just do it. We will get it. We can handle it. Subtlety ftw yo. ;)

Today's words:

創造未來 chuàngzào wèilái - creating/shaping a future
情緒 qíngxù - mood, sentiment, depression
觀眾 guānzhòng - audience
民族 mínzú - ethnic group
階級 jiējí - class
旋律 xuánlǜ - melody
單調 dāndiào - monotony/ous
交響樂 jiāoxiǎngyuè - symphony
精疲力竭 jīngpílìjié - exhausted
肯定 kěndìng - be sure of

Here ya go!

是 我是不是 又在創造未來 (又 站上了舞台)
是不是 我又在 讓情緒更 high
帶動全場 的觀眾朋友？是
am i reshaping the future (verse 2: standing again on the stage)
am i lifting the mood higher, and moving the whole audience
yes

是不是 還在不斷 學習
無論 什麼 民族 或什麼 階級
繼續 讓我 靈感 源源不絕？是
am i always pursuing learning/education
no matter which ethnicity or class
continue to let my sources of inspiration be endless
yes

唱(寫) 最動聽的旋律給你 讓你
所有的煩惱 所有的單調 往你 的 背後 扔掉
是 這是 chinked-out 交響樂 送到全世界
又更新一遍 什麼時候歇到你精疲力竭 嘿
am i singing (v2: writing) a moving melody for you
so that all your problems, all that's monotonous
be thrown away over your shoulders
this is the chinked-out symphony that i'm giving to the whole world
another new song to help you chill out

送你的十八般武藝
就是 無二獨一 世人都在注意
看傻的十八般武藝
多麼不可思議 其實都是為你
i'm giving you a gift of 18 forms of martial arts (i.e. a versatility)
it's unique, the whole world's paying attention to it
it might look silly
you might not think so, but it's all because of you

看傻 為你
得來多麼不易的十八般武藝
期盼你能點頭 來肯定我的努力
looking silly for you
it's something that does not come by easily, all these versatility
i hope that you will nod to affirm the hard work i've put into this





十八般武藝
王力宏

是 我是不是 又在創造未來 (又站上了舞台)
是不是 我又在 讓情緒更 high
帶動全場 的觀眾朋友？是

是不是 還在不斷 學習
無論 什麼 民族 或什麼 階級
繼續 讓我 靈感 源源不絕？是

唱(寫) 最動聽的旋律給你 讓你 所有的煩惱
所有的單調 往你 的 背後 扔掉
是 這是 chinked-out 交響樂 送到全世界
又更新一遍 什麼時候歇 到你精疲力竭 嘿

送你的十八般武藝
就是 無二獨一 世人都在 注意
看傻的十八般武藝
多麼不可思議 其實都是為你

看傻 為你 得來多麼不易的十八般武藝
期盼你能 點頭 來肯定我的努力

everyone's favorite night - are you looking forward to it?

i think i'm ready to confess that i'm a sucker for wlh's ballads. it's one of my favorite sounds i guess. maybe it's bearable, even enjoyable with repeated listen, due to the mellifluous nature of the Chinese language. but i'm still trying to come to terms with the quality of some of his lyrics. but there's always a place for simple songs right? :P

btw am i making a sweeping statement if i said (Malaysian) Chinese youth are an emotional lot? maybe that's why they are drawn to sappy music and tv shows. or maybe it's because they grew up on a steady diet of emo tunes that they become such. chicken and egg. and would you agree that if you look at the profile pictures of one Chinese youth after another, you would think that they ALL share the same stylist: for girls, it's that head tilt and glossed pout and doe eyes and for the dudes, it's a variation of Nicholas Teo hairstyle in pensive poses. you know i speaketh the truth. ahaha.. i hope no one's offended.

i don't mean to be condescending -- i can be as emo as they come. urgh. it's a constant battle for me. times like this i'm grateful for lh's non-emo songs.. maybe i'll share one next (those are more difficult to translate tho' but i'll try)..

anyways, i choose this next one called 星期六的深夜 Saturday Midnight for the apparent fact that I'm working on this post on a Saturday evening.. The simple lyrics kinda work here, so I'm not complaining.. but I can't imagine him staying in on a weekend night and thinking of a girl. knowing him, he's more likely to be tinkering on his music from his home studio, if he's not working away at some other places. yes, i know him that well *cough* ;)

I don't want to wait til the next Sat to post this thou'.. this is why you are reading this on a Thursday.. don't worry, Sat is just around the corner. just blink and you're there.. :)

first off, new words:

持續 chi xu - continued
發呆 fa dai - daze, stupor
感激 gan ji - grateful
形影不離 xing ying bu li - inseparable
形影 - i don't understand why Google Translate gives it as "overwhelmed by"; when 形 means shape and 影 is image. shadow would be a more accurate translation, no? i am confused.

星期六晚上 那兒都不想去 也無法入睡
看著電視機 持續在發呆 喝了七分醉
it's Saturday night, i've got nowhere to go, and i can't fall asleep
i'm watching the TV in a continual state of daze, somewhat inebriated
閉上了眼睛 試著不想妳 但已來不及
i close my eyes, trying not to think about you
but i was too late to stop myself
忘了如何讓眼淚 停止流下
還好沒人看見(到) 沒人會說話
i've forgotten how to stop the tears from flowing
it's a good thing no one's watching, and no one's saying anything

星期六深夜 我想起了妳
沒什麼特別 只是回憶
it's late into the night on a Saturday and i'm thinking of you
nothing special, just some memories
你讓我自由 我很感激
星期六深夜 喔~~
永遠不會有任何人能代替妳
you've let me be free, for that i am grateful
this late Saturday night ohh..
no one can ever replace you

這就是遺憾的滋味
陪著我形影不離
明天我會面帶微笑
但無法忘記妳
this is the taste of regret
it's hanging on to me like a shadow
i will face tomorrow bearing a smile
but i cannot forget you



星期六的深夜
王力宏

星期六晚上 那兒都不想去 也無法入睡
看著電視機 持續在發呆 喝了七分醉
閉上了眼睛 試著不想妳 但已來不及
忘了如何讓眼淚 停止流下
還好沒人看見(到) 沒人會說話

星期六深夜 我想起了妳
沒什麼特別 只是回憶
你讓我自由 我很感激
星期六深夜 喔~~
永遠不會有任何人能代替妳

這就是遺憾的滋味
陪著我形影不離
明天我會面帶微笑
但無法忘記妳

讓我自由 我很感激
星期六 喔~Yeah

永遠不會有任何人能代替妳

angels to keep watch over us

as i do these translation exercises, alternating between wlh and dt, i have to give it to dt for his songwriting skill.. the language is simple, and yet, i somehow "sense" (don't ask me how) the paradoxical pair of vulnerability and strength through them. maybe it's the insomnia speaking, it's 5am on a Sunday morning and i am obviously not sleep-blogging. heh.

i wish, oh how i wish, that wlh and dt would work on a project together.


陌生 mo sheng - stranger
黯淡 an dan - dim
牽動 qian dong - affect, moving
苦澀 ku se - bitter
嘴角 zui jiao - corner of the mouth
北斗星 bei dou xing - Big Dipper
疲憊 pi bei - exhausted
守候 shou hou - waiting, keep watch


鏡子中　看見一張陌生的臉　那眼神如此黯淡
笑一笑　只牽動苦澀的嘴角　我的寂寞誰知道
in the mirror, i see a stranger's face
the eyes were distant and lackluster
a smile is merely the pursing of this pair of bitter lips

像條船在海上漂　北斗星也看不到
誰能夠揚起了帆　遠遠離開這黑潮
like a ship adrift at sea, unable to see the Big Dipper (for navigation)
who is able to set sail, to escape this black tide (or Kuroshio)

Angel Angel 盼望你在我身邊
Angel Angel 請你緊緊抓住我的手
Angel Angel I wish you were by my side
Angel Angel please hold tightly onto my hand

有時候　我想不會有人了解　心裡面藏著的痛
我害怕　用真心面對這世界　只好越來越沉默
there are times, i don't think anyone would understand
the pain i've hidden in my heart
i fear to face this world with a sincere heart
it's probably best to remain silent

一個人 在人海漂　說話的人找不到
誰給我溫柔(擁抱我) 擁抱　當我感覺心快要碎了
one person, alone, adrift at sea
unable to find the person who is speaking
who is able to be gentle with me, to hold me close
the moment when i feel like my heart is breaking into pieces?

Angel Angel 盼望你在我身邊
Angel Angel 是否聽見我在呼喚你
Angel Angel I wish you were by my side
Angel Angel do you hear my calling out to you?

能不能　告訴孤單疲憊的我　你永遠為我守候
are you able to tell the lonely, exhausted me
that you will always be keeping a look out for me



Angel
陶喆

鏡子中　看見一張陌生的臉　那眼神如此黯淡
笑一笑　只牽動苦澀的嘴角　我的寂寞誰知道
像條船在海上漂　北斗星也看不到
誰能夠揚起了帆　遠遠離開這黑潮

Angel Angel 盼望你在我身邊
Angel Angel 請你緊緊抓住我的手

有時候　我想不會有人了解　心裡面藏著的痛
我害怕　用真心面對這世界　只好越來越沉默
一個人(一個人) 在人海漂　說話的人找不到
誰給我溫柔(擁抱我) 擁抱　當我感覺心快要碎了

Angel Angel 盼望你在我身邊
Angel Angel 是否聽見我在呼喚你

能不能　告訴孤單疲憊的我　你永遠為我守候

Angel Angel 請你留在我身邊
Angel Angel 請你不要放開我的手

my heart skipped a beat

i'm practically unstoppable, no? i've been scheduling the past 4 blog posts (i am writing this on a friday evening) cos i've been churning out so many pieces that i don't want to overwhelm the blog (that, and i like each post to have its own date). btw if you need to know, i often "tweak" my publish date and time.. you don't need to know why :)

the song i chose today [心跳] was one of the first few new ones i was introduced to in this fangirl phase. it's from the eponymous album; it's simple to translate, fewer new words to learn tee hee.. of all things, this song reminds me of my cat.. long story short, you know how i love posting pics of the furball onto instagram? yes, because there is just not enough cat photos on the internet! hehe.. anyways, I was stuck with the caption that one time, and this song came to mind.. i miss you cat cat! *loving sigh*

today's vocab:
发展 fazhan - develop/ment
逆转 ni zhuan - reversal
悬 xuan - lingering

想跟我吵架 我没那么无聊
you want to get into an argument with me?
i'm not that bored/silly
不懂得道歉 我没那么聪明
you say that i do not know how to apologise
it's because i'm not that smart
好想要回到我们的原点
i wish we could go back to where we began
你又在哭泣 我给不了安慰
我又在摇头 有那么点后悔
you are crying again, i am not able to comfort you
i am shaking my head in regret
爱情的发展已难以回头却无法往前走
our love is not going anywhere
we can't go back and there's no way to go forward

但身不由己出现在胸口
两颗心能塞几个问号
爱让我们流多少眼泪
i feel the dread in my chest
how many question marks can two hearts contain
love has made us shed so much tears

你的眼神充满美丽带走我的心跳
你的温柔如此靠近带走我的心跳
逆转时光到一开始能不能给一秒
等着哪一天你也想起
那悬在记忆中的美好
you eyes, filled will beauty, have carried away my heartbeat
your gentleness is so close, it carries away my heartbeat
i wish for time to turn back to where we began, even if it's just for a second
i'm waiting for the day when you'll remember the good memories that still a-linger




心跳
王力宏

想跟我吵架 我没那么无聊
不懂得道歉 我没那么聪明
好想要回到我们的原点
你又在哭泣 我给不了安慰
我又在摇头 有那么点后悔
爱情的发展已难以回头却无法往前走

但身不由己出现在胸口
两颗心能塞几个问号
爱让我们流多少眼泪

你的眼神充满美丽带走我的心跳
你的温柔如此靠近带走我的心跳
逆转时光到一开始能不能给一秒
等着哪一天你也想起
那悬在记忆中的美好

an intermission

dearest lee hom

now that i've been a diehard fan of yours for a FULL MONTH, i think it's time to "shake" this relationship up a bit, after all, you did sing "唯一永遠不改變是不停地改變". i can't stay a bright eyed bushy tailed fangirl forever. i mean, i adore you like any other fan would, but this has to be said; and if anyone hasn't told you this, allow me: you need to get a better lyricist -- for your ballads specifically.. i'm showing signs of lactose intolerant from the cheese level in some songs.

you have an amayyyzing voice (like when you held that note at the end of the bridge in 落葉歸根 or effortlessly hit those notes in 愛錯, i can't help but sigh in appreciation, and i was totally in awe of how smoothly - for a non-native speaker - you rapped the last part of 在梅邊) and you have a knack for creating catchy and memorable melodies; but those can be overshadowed by the likes of 依然愛你 or 我們的歌 or Everything with their banal lyrics. I cannot help but disagree with your sentiment that 聽了一百遍 怎麼聽都不會倦. there are listeners who prefer to beyond just melody.. i guess i just wish there was a bit more depth and more breadth to the lyrics; your songs could be so much more, ya know.

another thing, you should take a break already! it's one thing that life is short and you want to accomplish everything yesterday, and that it's in your perfectionist nature to be devoted (practically married) to your craft. i don't doubt it that you makan minum main music, but i do hope that you would give yourself rest and some space to replenish those creative juice. i just get the idea that you might have been overdrawing on that account. so.. take a year or two off, fall in love, go write a symphony, write/direct a better movie (your directorial debut was...n't very well executed :P), travel the world.. then when it's time, make a huge comeback :) don't worry about us, we'll make do with your 15 albums and youtube while you are away.

sorry if i sounded presumptuous and have unrealistic expectations. i probably am and i probably do, but for now, i would like to get that off my chest before resuming listening to your songs. it's been a good run, i only regret not knowing you earlier (my loss!), so imma keep going til the steam runs out (i'll be slotting in some David Tao in between. you guys were awesome *here*, so pretty please do something official together!)

do come back to our shore soon.

i'm-sure-i'll-be-a-fan-for-life,
me!

I am but a sinner saved by grace.

My Redeemer lives!

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8 NIV)

For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:10, 11 NIV)

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:6-11 NIV)

Blessed Easter!

A new dawn

This morning, the disciples wake up to a beautiful dawn wondering if the past three years of their lives has been a dream. Fresh in their minds too is the man who was hung on the cross yesterday, the one who got them leaving everything they had and were doing to follow him, one who has spoken with authority of God and his kingdom, who has stilled storms and mingled a little too liberally with the outcast, but overnight he's gone. What was that all about?

Hope has left, grace has yet to come. This is a dark, confusing time. Maybe it's easier to pretend that it didn't happen.

Let's go fishing, says one of them.

"that" phase

just as i mentioned in the previous post, i went through that phase where i dabbled in blog header design. not so much design than just matching the lyrics of some songs i like with pictures i nicked off the world wide web. i was experimenting with the combination and i stopped when i got the few ones that i really liked, one's here (above) and the other one at my other blog (i'm sure you know which one, dearly beloved :P) if only i have more blogs (oh but i do ;)

you might want to have a go at guessing which song these are from.. but i think they can be quite obscure (i'm never good at remembering words to a song). in any case, i'll hide the answer below each banner (just highlight the space beneath to see)..

Anberlin - Hello Alone

David Tao 陶喆 - Lullaby 摇篮曲

David Tao 陶喆 - I Like It 我喜歡

Death Cab For Cutie - Passenger Seat

I'm From Barcelona - Headphones

John Mayer - No Such Thing

Mae - Awakening

Owl City - This Is The Future

Copeland - Coffee

David Crowder Band - You Are My Joy

The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

Hush, little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird...

i love this song from David Tao, like love, love, love! it's a lullaby sang by a parent to a child. when i first heard it, a friend had just told me that she had a nightmare so i thought that the song is very apt and comforting. this is one of those songs i could loop the entire day and not get bored with. david tao, where are you?! sigh..

oh remember that phase i had with the different blog banners from different song lyrics (no? nvm :), i made this from the first couple of lines from the song. haish i lurrve DT's songs (except the rock tunes; i somehow don't think Chinese (the language) make for good rock sounds/lyrics)...

anyways... i think the translation exercise is good but i don't know know how long i can keep up with it haha.. persistency and i aren't exactly best buds. anyways, here's today's list of new words:

紫藍 zilan - hyacinth
無限美景的纏綿 wúxiàn měijǐng de chánmián -
無邪 wuxie - innocent
惡作劇 ezuoju - being mischievous
牆 qiang - wall
邊緣 bian yuan - edge
摘 zai - reach
冒險 maoxian - adventure
蓋上被 gaishangbei - cover with blanket


看那紫藍的天 快要消失在一瞬間
無限美景的纏綿 我的寶貝也盼著明天
look at the hyacinth sky
it's going to vanish in a moment
but its infinite beauty will linger
my precious can also look forward to tomorrow

看著你無邪的臉 這世界還像個樂園
孩子夢裡笑的甜 在我懷裡你可以安眠
beholding your innocent face
this world is like a playground
little child, smile sweetly in your dream
in my embrace you will sleep soundly

影子是恐龍玩具 你的想像在惡作劇
月光在牆上和你玩遊戲
真假有時難分清 到銀河邊緣摘星星
你的夢幻冒險我陪你去
the shadows are but a dinosaur toy
your imagination is being mischievous with you
the moonlight on the wall is playing a game with you
sometimes it's difficult to differentiate between what's real and what's not
reach for the stars at the edge of the milky way
i will go with you on your fantasy adventure

別再哭 我就在你身邊
不会讓你有任何危險
緊緊握著你的小手 陪你遠離一切的夢魘
為你做什麼我都情願
hush now, i am by your side
i will not let you be harmed
softly holding your small hands
going with you away from all nightmares
i'll do anything for you

寶貝 乖乖蓋上被
窗外微風吹 你要學著不怕黑
未來 你要自己面對
生命中的喜悅與傷悲
記得我的愛永遠相隨
precious, be good now and take cover under the blanket
the breeze is blowing gently outside the window
you need to learn to overcome the fear of darkness
in time to come, you need to face these on your own
the joy and sadness that life brings
remember my love will always be with you

surprisingly, i couldn't find the song on youtube (DT's version, not covers), so I decided to upload my own copy.. here it is:


摇篮曲
陶喆

看那紫兰的天
快要消失在一瞬间
无限美景的缠绵
ooh yeah...
我的宝贝也盼着明天

看着 你无邪的脸
这世界还像个乐园
孩子 梦里笑的甜
ooh yeah...
在我怀里你可以安眠

影子 是恐龙玩具
你的想象在恶作剧
月光在墙上和你玩游戏
真假 有时难分清
到银河边缘摘星星
你的梦幻冒险我陪你去
别再哭 我就在你身边
不会让你有任何危险
紧紧握着你的小手陪你远离一切的梦魇
为你做什么我都情愿

宝贝 乖乖盖上被
窗外微风吹 你要学着不怕黑
未来 你要自己面对
生命中的喜悦与伤悲
记得我的爱永远相随

Good night.

我的愛像落葉歸根

after last evening, i realised that i haven't been listening to david tao in a while now. looping one of my fav DT songs but for now i wanna share this one from wlh first (the boys would have to take turn, but there's plenty of blog space for the both of them :D)

the title of the song (落葉歸根) reminds me of adeline yen mah's bestselling book, Falling Leaves. i read that so many moons ago i needed to read the reviews to remind me. ahh, a sad story.. the same sentiment from listening to the melody. lee hom supposedly wrote this while he was in character post-Lust, Caution, that of Kuang Yu Min, one of the student leaders in the show. he's said it took him about six months to get out from being KYM and this song came to him during that time.

this track starts with a haunting melody on the violin reminiscent of the era of which the film portrayed (i think).. i think it's a beautiful sad song.. i'll talk more about it later. ok, today's list of vocab is a little long, like i said, i only needed that next song to tell me how limited my vocab is. putting them here for myself, but feel free to learn along :)

舉頭望無盡灰雲 ju tou wang wu jin hui yuin - i raise my gaze to gray clouds as far as the eyes can see
塞滿 sai man - filled
選擇 xuan ze - choose, select
寒冷 han leng - cold
遺憾 yi han - regrets
遵守自然的邏輯 zūnshǒu zìrán de luójí - comply with the logic of nature (luójí = logic? srsly??)
揭謎底 jie mi di - find the answer to the riddle
不勝唏噓 busheng xixu - lament
遺失 yishi - loss
墜 zhui - fall
剩 sheng - remnant, surplus
沉默 chen mo - silence

so many new words! because i learn via the shape of a character in a sentence and within context of the song, i'm afraid that i would not recognise all these in other sentences. nvm, i will, if it repeats itself enough. you know what, i think i am going to attempt translating the song. i hope it doesn't come across as being fed through google translate!

舉頭望無盡灰雲 那季節叫做寂寞
背包塞滿了家用 路就這樣開始走
i lifted my gaze to clouds of gray as far as the eyes can see
that season was one of loneliness
with a backpack filled with household expenses
thus my journey began

日不見太陽的暖 夜不見月光的藍
不得不選擇寒冷的開始 留下只擁有遺憾
i never saw the warmth of day
i never saw the night sky and its blue moon
i had no choice but to start off on a cold trail
else all i'm left with would be regrets

命運的安排 遵守自然的邏輯
誰都無法揭謎底
this is how fate would have it, a compliance the logic of nature
no one is able to get to the bottom of (uncover the answer to) the riddle

遠離家鄉不勝唏噓 幻化成秋葉
而我卻像落葉歸根 墜在你心間
my lament about leaving home to a place far away is turning into autumn leaves
and i am like a falling leaf returning to its roots, falling into a space in your heart

幾分憂鬱幾分孤單 都心甘情願
我的愛像落葉歸根 家唯獨在你身邊
no matter how painful it would be, or how lonely it would get, i am willing to endure it
my love is like a falling leaf returning to its roots
the only place i would call home is by your side

但願陪你找回所遺失的永恆
當我開口你卻沉默 只剩一場夢
i hope be with you as we recover the eternity that was lost
but when i speak you remain silent, leaving us with just a dream


ta-dah! i can't be certain of its accuracy, but i think i got the gist of it. alas, so much is lost in translation. one thing i appreciate about the Chinese language is how each character packs so much in it. this is why i prefer the traditional chars to the simplified ones; i find that the latter is unjustifiably stripped of its richness. the only people who wld appreciate the lesser strokes are students who are stuck with writing them. hehe..with the advent of technology, i don't see the need to simplify them, the computer does most of the input anyway. sigh... who am i to say anything anyway :/

anyways, understanding the song as it is makes me feel a little sad. this song seems to be a reflection his own journey, when he left home at a relatively young age to make a name for himself in a place, though far away from home, is where he came from (hence the expression 落葉歸根). he often worked (still do!) long hours and he's paid his dues; he's sacrificed a lot to be where he is, but he has known all along this is his passion and what he wanted to do.. he speaks of his love as a falling leaf returning to its roots, which i guess is about him embracing the culture of his people (btw i'm not making this para up -- i gathered all these from the various interviews he's given).

back to the title of the song. i've been thinking about the subject during my auto-drive mode. roots. unlike lee hom, i have no affinity nor ties with the dragon. other than it being where my ancestors came from (and i'm sorry i'm not "filial" or "loyal" like many of the Chinese diaspora), i am a Malaysian through and through. which is why it hurts and i get into a blind rage when blabbering idiots time and again tell me that i don't belong here. wteff are they talking about? disgusting! admittedly, i do find it hard to realign certain views we were fed with growing up but i hope that in my lifetime, we'd be able to overcome all that :) whoever was it that said change begins with me? oh, him. *yuck* haha..



落葉歸根
王力宏

舉頭望無盡灰雲 那季節叫做寂寞
背包塞滿了家用 路就這樣開始走
日不見太陽的暖 夜不見月光的藍
不得不選擇寒冷的開始
留下只擁有遺憾
命運的安排 遵守自然的邏輯
誰都無法揭謎底

遠離家鄉不勝唏噓 幻化成秋葉
而我卻像落葉歸根 墜在你心間
幾分憂鬱幾分孤單 都心甘情願
我的愛像落葉歸根 家唯獨在你身邊

但願陪你找回 所遺失的永恆
當我開口你卻沉默 只剩一場夢

我卻像落葉歸根 墜在你心間
幾分憂鬱幾分孤單 都心甘情願
我的愛像落葉歸根 家唯獨在你身邊

song sung blue, everybody knows one

before wlh took over, david tao was my de facto favorite Chinese song artist. any list of my fav tunes would surely have him in. haven't heard from/about him in a while; he's one to shun limelight so i think he's gone into hiding. hope to hear from him again soon. was youtubing and some random links brought me to this, to which i can only watch and draw a long sigh. so good.



沙灘 + Somewhere Over The Rainbow
陶喆

空無一人　這片沙灘　風吹過來　冷冷海岸
我輕輕抖落鞋裡的沙　看著我的腳印 OH
一個人　一步步　好寂寞

看海有些綠　天有些藍　那段愛情有些遺憾
像不知不覺游向海天　到最深的地方
才發現你　早已經　放棄我

我聽著海浪　溫柔的呼吸　我看著雲朵　飄來飄去
有什麼方法　讓自己真的忘記

somewhere over the rainbow way up high
in the land that I heard of once in a lullaby

someday I'll wish upon a star
and wake up where the clouds are far behind me
where troubles melt like lemon drops
away above the chimney tops
that's where you'll find me

somewhere over the rainbow way up high
there's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby

Only blue, only blue　
愛讓人好憂鬱
我的心　我的心　藍藍地

我真的好想找一條船　能遠遠離開這片沙灘
每次又回到同樣海邊　還是會對你想念
想念你　有點 blue
沒有人能像你　留給我的回憶　有點 blue ooh

a song for the rainy day

i couldn't sleep last night, so i learned these new words from this song:

溶解 rong jie - dissolve
襯出 chen chu - show off
晴朗 qing lang - sunny
形狀 xing zhuang - shape
芬芳 fen fang - fragrance
捱過 ai guo - survive; 捱 (suffer)

yup, i can pretty much read the rest. but each time i get a little smug, i only i need to go to the next song to realise that i am nowhere near competent. but i will be! rawrrr! ;)

it's pouring right now. i shudder to think about the after office hours traffic. i'll keep myself happy with this song for now.

分開之後另一年的春天
記憶也像下雪一樣溶解
那些有你在身邊的影片
呼的一聲飛的老遠老遠
it's the spring a year after we broke up
memories are now dissolving like the fallen snow
the movies we have watched together
are now gone with the wind to a place far away

愛在夏天過完之後鎖在秋天
捱過冬天之後的我好了一些
嘿 雨後的天 像彩虹出現 襯出一片藍天
our summer love is now locked in the autumn
after enduring through the winter, i am feeling a bit better
after the rain, there's the rainbow appearing and showing off the beautiful blue sky

我在淋過一場大雨之後的晴朗
那是春雨裡洗過的太陽
每個冬季帶來失落 傷得多深
然後忽然看懂雲的形狀 oh yeah...
after a torrential shower, the sky is now sunny
that's the sun awashed by the spring rain
every winter brings back disappointment and a painful wound
but then suddenly i understood the shape of the cloud

If you listen to the rhythm of the pouring rain
那是春雨裡洗過的太陽
每個冬季帶來失落 傷得多深
每個呼吸都是新的芬芳 oh yeah...
if you listen to the rhythm of the pouring rain
that's the sun awashed by the spring rain
every winter brings back disappointment and a painful wound
but with every breath there is a new fragrance

流下的眼淚 留下了智慧
愛情會天亮也一定會黑
世界會等我 它問我冬天過去了沒?
the tears that fell left behind some wisdom
that in love, there's bound to be light and also darkness
the world will wait for me; it asks me if the winter has passed



春雨裡洗過的太陽
王力宏

分開之後另一年的春天
記憶也像下雪一樣溶解
那些有你在身邊的影片
呼的一聲飛的老遠老遠

愛在夏天過完之後鎖在秋天
捱過冬天之後的我好了一些
嘿 雨後的天 像彩虹出現 襯出一片藍天

我在淋過一場大雨之後的晴朗
那是春雨裡洗過的太陽
每個冬季帶來失落 傷得多深
然後忽然看懂雲的形狀 oh yeah...

If you listen to the rhythm of the pouring rain
那是春雨裡洗過的太陽
每個冬季帶來失落 傷得多深
每個呼吸都是新的芬芳 oh yeah...

流下的眼淚 留下了智慧
愛情會天亮也一定會黑
世界會等我 它問我冬天過去了沒?

stranger on a bus

our paths crossed again just two days ago.. for a stranger, i've seen him more times than i can remember. he hasn't changed much over the years since i first saw him, when he alighted the Sri Jaya #13 bus from Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka that took us to town centre. that petite frame, that bushy silver beard, the simple get-up, a nondescript tote, you know it's him. i was probably 13 or 14 then, and he was 57, and in a week's time, he will be 77. still as feisty as ever.

i think this was the poem that got him into trouble during the Bersih 2.0 rally -- it obviously did not go down well with the authority (no matter what i think they should have accorded him with more respect). alas, my BM is super rusty so many of those lines went over my head. oh he got on facebook not long after B2.0 (here). Go Like his page if you want a dose of BM puisi now and again to remind you how inadequate your grasp of the language is haha.. or if you truly can enjoy Malay poetry, my hat's off to you.

so anyways, it was on Sunday at the Petronas Philharmonic Hall that i saw the familiar figure making his down the aisle to get to his seat. Pak Samad!, i called out to him in my head, hi sir, you are.. erm.. could I err.. have your autograph? #fail

here's an early happy birthday wish to you, sir: may your mind continue to be as clear as a blue sky day, may your words continue to clearly echo the spirit of the nation, may you live a long good life!

Dunia kita sekarang rata,
Thomas L. Friedman yang kata.
Di Malaysia lain congaknya:
Undi luar nak disula,
undi dalam silap mata.
A. Samad Said, Sasterawan Nusantara

coursing through my veins

my aimless lazy Sunday afternoon was saved by a call. Lil called me at 1.30pm asking if i was free then. I said I was, and she asked if I was interested in attending a show at MPO cos she has a free tic (her friend couldn't make it last min). FREE + MPO = sounds good! I agreed without even asking what the show was! Since the show was at 3, I quickly washed up and got to the Box Office in time to wait for Lil and her friend. I picked up a brochure, just to see what I got myself into (pic below). Oooh ahhhh.. :P

We caught this show. Fitz-Gerald was really engaging and funny as a conductor. Ellington was smooth and superb .

And I fell in love the moment I walked into the hall.And till the end of the show two hours later, I felt so much joy just bubbling over in my tummy. I don't remember the entire set list, but the ones I liked most are the ones I've heard before: Bernstein's theme song for The Magnificent Seven (a.k.a. the Marlboro song hehe..), Henry Mancini's Moon River (Breakfast at Tiffany), As Time Goes By (Casablanca), You'll Be in My Heart (Tarzan), Tan Dun's A Love Before Time (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), John William's Jaws theme song...

Throughout, my eyes swept the sight from left to right and left again, just mesmerised by the synchronous fiddles over the violins and cellos and double basses, and my ears trying not to miss the sounds from the harp and piano and trumpets and percussion and other instruments I couldn't name.. I tried to close my eyes to enjoy the show but I felt like I would be depriving myself of a visual feast. But I did, for one say. You could say all in all, I was very engaged. Haha truly a wide-eyed bushy-tailed n00b!

Ya know, the only other time I've seen an orchestra was at another free event back in... 2006? It was a youth jazz orchestra from.. I can't remember where, but it was the same exhilaration that I felt. Just amazing! With that, therefore, I cannot justify why I have not been to more shows! I am ashamed to admit that Sunday was my first show at the MPO. Having worked at KLCC for the past three plus years and never having stepped foot into the Philharmonic hall.. PREPOSTEROUS, I say! Haha.. Hope to make up for the discrepancy soon.. ^_^

I took this pic before I was told that it was prohibited to do so. Oops! ;) When I walked in to this, I felt like floating already -- there was an instant connection to the sight and sounds. Sigh.   

Come, Lord Jesus.

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 
[Revelation 22:20]

Soon
Brooke Fraser, 2009

Soon and very soon
My King is coming
Robed in righteousness and crowned with love
When I see Him I shall be made like Him
Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon
I'll be going to the place he has prepared for me
There my sin erased, My shame forgotten
Soon and very soon

I will be with the One I love
With unveiled face I'll see Him
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon
See the procession
The angels and the elders 'round the throne
At His feet I'll lay my crowns, my worship
Soon and very soon

Though I have not seen Him
My heart knows Him well
Jesus Christ the Lamb
The Lord of heaven