Monday – 竇靖童 Monday – Leah Dou / Dou Jingtong

Drumroll please – Leah Dou is back!

It’s a little strange listening to her (I guess it’s “her”?! But the pronoun could be “them”!) singing a heterosexual love ballad hahaha (?!), but Lionman (CHN) did a great job at the Cantonese rap as the co-lyricist and co-arranger for “Monday,” and he is very convincing as the super shy “Super Mario living on the next block.” I can picture them together on funky, goofy romantic dates!

So…great dates consist of orangeade, sunset, awkward convos and BURNING desires to be together lol for Leah? Noted √

Back to Leah – I love her vibe. She’s really chill and laid-back. Maybe this interview explained it all – she is indeed a kid who doesn’t lack candy and hence the calm demeanor and the secure attachment style noticeable in every song and every interview…Leah was born in 1997 to musicians Wang Fei / Faye Wong and Dou Wei. She’s got incredible genes AND wisdom beyond her years! This is her last album. Listen! Isn’t that dreamy and a bit psychedelic?

Let’s also talk about Chen Jiaying / Katie Chan, the woman behind Leah and Faye. She’s their agent and also Leah’s “gran” because she took care of baby Leah during Faye’s Yuezi [puerperium, the traditional one-month convalescence period following childbirth, during which the mother follows a special diet and observes various taboos to protect the body from exposure to the “wind”] as well as her divorce from Dou Wei in 1999. Ms. Chan treats her artistes as her own children. She’s the unsung heroine in Leah’s and Faye’s career achievements.

Hopefully we’ll have the great fortune to hear more of Leah’s and Faye’s success stories in the years to come as they continue to be managed and supported by Katie!

词：竇靖童 & 獅子俠
Lyricists: Leah Dou / Dou Jingtong & Lionman (CHN)
曲：竇靖童
Composer: Leah Dou / Dou Jingtong
编曲：竇靖童 & 獅子俠
Arrangers: Leah Dou / Dou Jingtong & Lionman (CHN)
厂牌：Grey Waters
Record Label: Grey Waters

[Verse 1]
剛剛我站在路口
Just now I was standing at the crossing
空氣裡的快樂因子很多
The happy elements abounded in the air
聽著mp3 播范特西
Listening to the MP3 playing Fantasy [Note: Fantasy is a cool 2001 album by Jay Chou.]
我又想到你
I thought of you again
想到你無法抗拒
Thinking of you is something irresistible
Stuck in my dreaming baby
Stuck in my dreaming baby [Note: I think it’d be better if this line were “Stuck in my dream my baby.”]
金色的天空 雲朵片片劃過
In the golden sky, clouds slid by
好像心裡頭 是一樣
It seemed to match what’s going on in my heart

[Pre-Chorus]
如果說 風和雨化做是你
If the wind and the rain morphed into you
我願化成大地 在一起
I’d like to turn into the ground [so we’d be] together

[Chorus]
Monday
Monday
和你走到Sunday
I’d walk with you till it’s Sunday
坐最後一班電車
to ride the last streetcar
和你看日落
to watch the sunset with you
我們去喝橘子汽水
We’d go drink orangeade
我想和你浪漫約會
I’d like to go on romantic dates with you

[Verse 2]
不需要去說太多
No need to say much
此刻這一分鐘 心還在跳動
This moment, this minute, the heart’s still racing
聽著聲音 畫著這旋律
Listening to the sounds, drawing this melody
腦海裡都是你
my mind is filled with you
一個 sunny day 那個場景很電影
One sunny day – that scene was so cinematic
在山路駕著跑車 畫面全部八毫米
[We were] driving a race car on the mountain road – the footage was all shot on an 8-mm film
海邊的晚風 有你的溫柔
The breeze by the ocean contained your gentleness
好像在心裡頭 是一樣
It seemed to match what’s going on in my heart

[Pre-Chorus]
如果說 太平洋化成是你
If the Pacific Ocean turned into you
我願化成微風陪伴你
I’d like to morph into a breeze to accompany you

[Interlude]
我們第一次見面
The first time we met
我這人一直很靦腆
I was shy as I’d always been
你問我為什麼戴頭盔
You asked me why I was wearing the helmet
可能我是Super Mario住在臨街
Maybe because I’m Super Mario living on the next block
總之不會是你的真命天子
Anyway it’s impossible that I could be your Mr. Right
哪兒有那麼好的事兒
How come there be such a great thing
孫悟空都沒我調皮
Even Monkey King is not as naughty as I am
來的花花世界 我都不知道為什麼
Coming to this teeming world – I don’t even understand why I’m here
開車兜兜轉轉
Driving around
和你又來到了海邊
I came again to the seaside with you
帶你看日落城市
Taking you to see the city basking in a sunset
山頂的夜景好像霓虹燈閃爍
The night view on the mountaintop is like [a sea of] flickering neon signs
很高興初次見面
Nice to meet you
遇到你時光倒轉
Meeting you is like having the clock turned back

[Chorus]
Monday
Monday
和你走到Sunday
I’d walk with you till it’s Sunday
坐最後一班電車
to ride the last streetcar
和你看日落
to watch the sunset with you
我們去喝橘子汽水
We’d go drink orangeade
我想和你浪漫約會
I’d like to go on romantic dates with you

靜止-杨乃文 Still-Yang Naiwen / Faith Yang

Wowkie Zhang and Faith Yang sure know how to describe depression, decadence and loneliness.

Living in the shadow of COVID-19, don’t we all feel that life stopped at some point?

詞：大張偉
Lyricist: Da Zhang Wei / Wowkie Zhang
曲：大張偉
Composer: Da Zhang Wei / Wowkie Zhang
演唱：杨乃文
Singer: Yang Naiwen / Faith Yang

寂寞圍繞著電視 垂死堅持 在兩點半消失
Loneliness surrounded the TV, dying yet persisting, [until it] disappeared at 2:30 am
多希望有人來陪我 度過末日
How I wish to have someone keep me company, to survive doomsday
空虛敲打著意志 彷彿這時間已靜止
Emptiness kept striking the willpower, as if time was still
我懷疑人們的生活 有所掩飾
I suspected that people were hiding something about their life
啊 啊 啊 垂死堅持
Ah ah ah, dying yet persisting
啊 啊 啊 已靜止
Ah ah ah, it stopped already
衝動在瞬間消失 夢被稀釋 不停轉動著手指
The impulse disappeared in a split second. Dreams were diluted. I kept twirling my fingers
我幻想美麗的生活 何時開始
I imagined when a beautiful life would start
時光不經意流逝 像顆在耗費的電池
Time elapsed when I wasn’t paying attention. It’s like a battery in use
我感到有點失落 無法抑制
I felt a little at loss. I couldn’t suppressed that feeling
啊 啊 啊 垂死堅持
Ah ah ah, dying yet persisting
啊 啊 啊 已靜止
Ah ah ah, it stopped already
啊 啊 啊 垂死堅持
Ah ah ah, dying yet persisting
啊 啊 啊 全部消失
Ah ah ah it’s all gone
啊 啊 啊 垂死堅持
Ah ah ah, dying yet persisting
啊 啊 啊 全部消失
Ah ah ah it’s all gone
啊 啊 啊 垂死堅持
Ah ah ah, dying yet persisting
啊 啊 啊 已靜止
Ah ah ah, it stopped already
寂寞圍繞著電視 垂死堅持 在兩點半消失
Loneliness surrounded the TV, dying yet persisting, [until it] disappeared at 2:30 am
多希望有人來陪我 度過末日
How I wish to have someone keep me company, to survive doomsday
空虛敲打著意志 彷彿這時間已靜止
Emptiness kept striking the willpower, as if time was still
空虛敲打著意志 彷彿這時間已靜止
Emptiness kept striking the willpower, as if time was still
我懷疑人們的生活 有所掩飾
I suspected that people were hiding something about their life

毛雪汪-毛不易 & 李雪琴 Mao Xue Woof – Mao Buyi & Li Xueqin

Li Xueqin is such a great writer! Her voice goes well with Mao Buyi’s. They are so compatible on the heartwarming friendship reality TV show as well as in this performance.

词：李雪琴
Lyricist: Li Xueqin
曲：毛不易
Composer: Mao Buyi

毛不易：
Mao Buyi:
欢迎回家 我的朋友
Welcome home, my friend
疲惫脱下 放在门后
Put off your exhaustion, and drop it behind the door
李雪琴：
Li Xueqin:
一些闲话 一些闲愁
[Let’s have] some chitchats, [and let’s discuss] some trivial concerns
合：
Together:
一群人一堆梦一只狗
A group of people, a pile of dreams, and a dog
李雪琴：
Li Xueqin:
车水马龙灯如昼
The traffic is heavy, the lamplight is as bright as daylight
毛不易：
Mao Buyi:
家与霓虹隔重楼
[Our] place is skyscrapers away from the neon signs
李雪琴：
Li Xueqin:
远行人停在街头
Travelers stop at street corners
合：
Together:
张望去留
looking around, departing or staying
李雪琴：
Li Xueqin:
你给的感同身受
The apt empathy you offer
毛不易：
Mao Buyi:
刚好抚平执拗
smoothes over [my] stubbornness
合：
Together:
一见如故似少年游
[We] feel like old friends at the first meeting, [carefree] like roving teenagers
说你想说的话 你说的话
Say what you wanna say – the words you say
种你想种的花 你种的花
Grow the flowers you wanna grow – the flowers you grow
看一只笨狗它 睡着啦
Look at that silly dog – it fell asleep
笑我枉费年华 就笑我吧
Laugh at me for squandering my life – go ahead and laugh at me
笑他徒留牵挂 就笑他吧
and laugh at him for caring for [someone] in vain – go ahead and laugh at him
千金不换是 相逢啊
Wouldn’t trade our meetup even for 1,000 pieces of gold
李雪琴：
Li Xueqin:
就让夜色浓过酒
Just allow the shades of dusk to be deeper than wine
毛不易：
Mao Buyi:
就让晚风独自愁
Just let the evening breeze savor its own sorrow
李雪琴：
Li Xueqin:
就让风雨慢慢走
Just allow the storms to pass slowly
合：
Together:
走下眉头
to walk down your furrowed brow
李雪琴：
Li Xueqin:
最后一杯敬左右
and the last toast goes to [the friends] next to you
毛不易：
Mao Buyi:
祝今宵离别后
After we part ways tonight
合：
Together:
温柔依旧好梦依旧
May you stay gentle, [and your] dreams stay sweet
在昏黄灯光下 喝一杯茶
Under the dim light, drink a cup of tea
在温暖的沙发 随便坐吧
Sit casually on the warm sofa
有人轻轻躺下 别吵他
Someone [just] lay down quietly – don’t disturb him
送你城市晚霞 就送你吧
[I’ll] give you the urban sunset glow. It’s all yours

送你窗前月下 都送你吧
[I’ll] give you [the relaxing setting that’s] by the window under the moonlight. It’s all yours
送我不改的 重逢啊
[And please] give me the reunions that would never be canceled
毛不易：
Mao Buyi:
欢迎回家 我的朋友
Welcome home, my friend
你的照片 留在门口
Your photo is left at the door
李雪琴：
Li Xueqin:
还有闲话 还有闲愁
There’re still chitchats, there’re still trivial concerns
合：
Together:
依然有两个人一只狗
[And] there are still two people and a dog

突然发生的爱情故事 – 汪苏泷 The Sudden Love Story – Wang Sulong / Silence Wang

“Love Story wa Totsuzen ni,” or literally “Sudden Love Story” (ラブ・ストーリーは突然に) was the theme song for the popular Fuji TV drama Tokyo Love Story.

Silence Wang’s 2020 cover of the song is by far my favorite version.

词：小田和正&崔轼玄
Lyricists: Kazumasa Oda & Cui Shixuan
曲：小田和正
Composer: Kazumasa Oda

当时间就像落叶枯萎散落风里
When time is like fallen leaves withering and scattered in the wind
很多话藏在心底不知该从何说起
Many words are hidden at the bottom of my heart; I don’t know where to start
最美的记忆 都是关于你
All my beautiful memories are about you
你近在咫尺 却遥不可及
You are close at hand but out of reach

因为你太过美丽 全世界都沉寂
Because you are so beautiful, the whole world falls silent
我变得小心翼翼 不敢表白我心迹
I became cautious and timid, not daring to profess my feelings
多想告诉你
How I want to tell you-
在这场大雨停息之前 告诉你
tell you before this heavy rain stops:

某一天某一秒在喧嚣的街角
On a certain day, at a certain second, in the bustling street corner
如果我从不曾 和你相逢
If I had never met you
汹涌人群中 陌生的观众
in the moving crowds, with strangers as witnesses
我们就像风一样 匆匆
We’d be like the wind, [missing each other]. in haste

从今后无论谁说什么花言巧语
From now on, no matter who sweet talks you
你都不要相信别轻易被蒙蔽
Please don’t believe them, don’t be deceived easily
全世界只有我 对你最珍惜
In the whole world, nobody cherishes you more than I do
不想骗自己 再苦苦压抑
I don’t want to lie to myself or struggle to repress [my feelings]

从昨天到今天 从明天到永远
From yesterday to today, from tomorrow to forever
我对你的喜欢 每一天多一点
My love for you, will increase day by day
想陪在你身边
Wanna stay by your side
想生出翅膀陪你飞 比翼并肩
Wanna grow wings to fly with you – [we’ll] fly side by side

某一天某一秒在喧嚣的街角
On a certain day, at a certain second, in the bustling street corner
如果我听不到 你的心跳
If I didn’t hear your heartbeat
以后会不会 再紧紧拥抱
Would we never hold each other close ever again?
或者 再继续寻找
Or, would I keep searching?

这一天这一秒在命运的转角
On this day, at this second, at a turning point of destiny
落入爱的漩涡 无处可逃
falling into the whirlpool of love-there’s nowhere to escape
突然爱上你 没任何征兆
I suddenly fell in love with you, without receiving any signs prior
你是 无价的珍宝
You are a priceless treasure

沉默 什么都不用说 依偎着我
Silent, no words needed. Lean against me
全世界 安静了 只剩下你和我
The whole world quiets down. There’s only you and me left.
在我 心底的角落 有一团火
In a corner at the bottom of my heart, there’s a flame
那是我 爱的炽热 只为你执着
That’s me loving passionately, persisting for you only

某一天某一秒在喧嚣的街角
On a certain day, at a certain second, in the bustling street corner
如果我听不到 你的心跳
If I didn’t hear your heartbeat
以后会不会 再紧紧拥抱
Would we never hold each other close ever again?
或者 再继续寻找
Or, would I keep searching?

这一天这一秒在命运的转角
On this day, at this second, at a turning point of destiny
落入爱的漩涡 无处可逃
falling into the whirlpool of love-there’s nowhere to escape
突然爱上你 没任何征兆
I suddenly fell in love with you, without receiving any signs prior
你是 无价的珍宝
You are a priceless treasure

某一天某一秒在喧嚣的街角
On a certain day, at a certain second, in the bustling street corner
如果你如果我 听不到彼此心跳
If you or if I, no longer heard each other’s heartbeat
生命多无聊
How boring would life be
只有 再继续寻找
We could only keep searching

这一天这一秒在命运的转角
On this day, at this second, at a turning point of destiny
落入爱的漩涡 无处可逃
falling into the whirlpool of love-there’s nowhere to escape
突然爱上你 没任何征兆
I suddenly fell in love with you, without receiving any signs prior
你是 无价的珍宝
You are a priceless treasure

Li Keqin/Hacken Lee and Zhou Shen/Charlie Zhou’s version:

Yang Pei’an/Yang Pei-An’s version:

在夜里跳舞-单依纯 Dancing at Night – Shan Yichun

In 2020, Shan Yichun became the youngest champion of “The Voice of China.” In 2021, she released “Dancing at Night” – a song about longing and devotion.

Delivered with ease by the 19-year-old Shan Yichun, the song is classy and meaningful. Listen to it for one hour, and you’ll feel peace, peace, peace…

Shan Yichun deserves a brilliant future in the music industry!

词：唐汉霄
Lyricist: Tang Hanxiao
曲：唐汉霄
Composer: Tang Hanxiao
编曲：黄雨勋
Arranger: Huang Yuxun

我已做好了所有准备
I’ve been all ready
随时将自己燃尽成灰
for consuming myself till I turn into ashes
一场美梦对不对
It’s all but a beautiful dream, right?
一句可惜会不会
[Say] “What a pity,” would you?
其实没什么可贵
Actually there’s nothing precious about it

云层遮盖落日的余晖
Clouds cover up the afterglow of the setting sun
身体需在入夜前麻醉
The body needs to be hypnotized before nightfall
理性的话太尖锐
Words of rationality are too incisive
冲动终将会消退
The urge will eventually diminish
不如就随它破碎
Might as well let it shatter

我在夜里跳舞
I’m dancing at night
在夜里跳舞
dancing at night
我不想要所有不属于我的归宿
I don’t want any place where I don’t belong
一边在流泪
Shedding tears on the one hand
一边在掩护
Hiding [my sorrow] on the other hand
最后打消心里对你所有的企图
Eventually I give up on all the plans I have about you

在夜里跳舞
Dancing at night
我在夜里跳舞
I’m dancing at night
献给这座城市司空见惯的孤独
Devoting it to the loneliness this city has witnessed all too often
总有人在乎
There are always people who care
总有人羡慕
There are always people who envy
总有人与我同舞
There are always people who dance with me

将你溶解在我的身体
I let you melt away in my body
深入骨髓和每个缝隙
seep into my bone marrow and every crevice
淋着七月的雨滴
Let the rain of July drop on me
上野和布鲁克林
Ueno and Brooklyn –
回到事发的源地
back to the places when things started

我在夜里跳舞
I’m dancing at night
在夜里跳舞
dancing at night
我不想要所有不属于我的归宿
I don’t want any place where I don’t belong
一边在流泪
Shedding tears on the one hand
一边在掩护
Hiding [my sorrow] on the other hand
最后打消心里对你所有的企图
Eventually I give up on all the plans I have about you

在夜里跳舞
Dancing at night
我在夜里跳舞
I’m dancing at night
献给这座城市司空见惯的孤独
Devoting it to the loneliness this city has witnessed all too often
总有人在乎
There are always people who care
总有人羡慕
There are always people who envy
总有人与我同舞
There are always people dancing with me

我在夜里跳舞
I’m dancing at night
在夜里跳舞
dancing at night
用我支离破碎换你一刻的眷顾
Exchanging my shattered self for a moment of your concern
不归的归途
The way home that’s not taken
不落的夜幕
and the night that doesn’t fall
统统陷入一场大梦之中再虚度
all sink in a long dream and (let me) fritter away my time

在夜里跳舞
Dancing at night
我在夜里跳舞
I’m dancing at night
留给这个城市不值一提的风度
Leaving this city with a kind of grace that’s not worth mentioning
不要人在乎
I don’t want people to care
不要人羡慕
I don’t want people to envy
若我能与你同舞
as long as I can dance with you

热爱105°C的你-阿肆 Love You at 105°C-A Is

I like this song so much that I often play it on repeat and even found a one-hour version of it on YouTube. A Si released the song in 2019 as a commercial jingle for Watson’s soda water. The phrase “105 degrees” describes the water temperature.

Normally, water boils at 100°C or 212°F, but it’s possible to get boiling water at 105°C under added pressure, for example, in a pressure cooker.

In 2021, two years after its release, the song went viral as a Bilibili background soundtrack. The song is well-liked in mainland as well as Taiwan.

Why is it popular? Maybe because of the bouncing triple metre. Maybe because of the cute sound effects of dripping water drops. Maybe because of the loving connection between “you” and “I” in the song. Maybe because of the charisma of the two individuals who are both brave, determined, and passionate!

词曲：阿肆
Lyricist & Composer: A Si

Super idol的笑容
A super idol’s smile
都没你的甜
is not as sweet as yours
八月正午的阳光
The midday sunshine in August
都没你耀眼
is not as dazzling as you
热爱 105 度的你
Love you at 105°C –
滴滴清纯的蒸馏水
distilled water in limpid drops

你不知道你有多可爱
You don’t know how adorable you are
跌倒后会傻笑着再站起来
After falling down, you’d giggle and get back on your feet
你从来都不轻言失败
You never give up easily
对梦想的执着一直不曾更改
And your dedication to your dreams never changes

很安心 当你对我说
You set my mind at rest when you told me:
不怕有我在
Don’t be afraid. I’m with you
放着让我来
Leave it there – I’ll handle it
勇敢追自己的梦想
[You] bravely chase your dreams
那坚定的模样
Oh how steadfast you look

Super idol的笑容
A super idol’s smile
都没你的甜
is not as sweet as yours
八月正午的阳光
The midday sunshine in August
都没你耀眼
is not as dazzling as you
热爱 105 度的你
Love you at 105°C –
滴滴清纯的蒸馏水
distilled water in limpid drops

在这独一无二
In this unique era
属于我的时代
that’s mine
不怕失败来一场
I don’t fear failure
痛快的热爱
I’ll put impassioned effort into my passion
热爱 105 度的你
Love you at 105°C –
滴滴清纯的蒸馏水
distilled water in limpid drops

在这独一无二
In this unique era
属于我的时代
that’s mine
莫忘了初心常在
Don’t forget that our original aspiration are always there [waiting for us to achieve]

Note: In Buddhism, 初心 [chū xīn] refers “beginner’s mind (i.e having an attitude of openness when studying a subject just as a beginner in that subject would.

Here, 初心 [chū xīn] is a popular Chinese Internet slang term referring to one’s original intention, aspiration, etc. It’s often used to remind oneself not to be frustrated or distracted when pursuing dreams.

莫忘初心 [mò wàng chū xīn]: Don’t forget about the dreams you had at the very beginning of this journey.

痛快去热爱
Let’s put our impassioned effort into our passions
热爱 105 度的你
Love you at 105°C –
滴滴清纯的蒸馏水
distilled water in limpid drops

喝一口又活力全开
Take a gulp, and we’ll become full of vigor again
再次回到最佳状态
We’ll get back in our prime again
喝一口哟
Take a gulp

你不知道你有多可爱
You don’t know how adorable you are
跌倒后会傻笑着再站起来
After falling down, you’d giggle and get back on your feet
你从来都不轻言失败
You never give up easily
对梦想的执着一直不曾更改
And your dedication to your dreams never changes

很安心 当你对我说
You set my mind at rest when you told me:
不怕有我在
Don’t be afraid. I’m with you
放着让我来
Leave it there – I’ll handle it
勇敢追自己的梦想
[You] bravely chase your dreams
那坚定的模样
Oh how steadfast you look

Super idol的笑容
A super idol’s smile
都没你的甜
is not as sweet as yours
八月正午的阳光
The midday sunshine in August
都没你耀眼
is not as dazzling as you
热爱 105 度的你
Love you at 105°C –
滴滴清纯的蒸馏水
distilled water in limpid drops

在这独一无二
In this unique era
属于我的时代
that’s mine
不怕失败来一场
I don’t fear failure
痛快的热爱
I’ll put impassioned effort into my passion
热爱 105 度的你
Love you at 105°C –
滴滴清纯的蒸馏水
distilled water in limpid drops

在这独一无二
In this unique era
属于我的时代
that’s mine
莫忘了初心常在
Don’t forget that our original aspirations are always there [waiting for us to achieve]
痛快去热爱
Let’s put our impassioned effort into our passions

热爱 105 度的你
Love you at 105°C –
滴滴清纯的蒸馏水
distilled water in clean and clear drops
喝一口又活力全开
Take a gulp, and we’ll become full of vigor again
再次回到最佳状态
We’ll get back in our prime again
喝一口又活力全开
Take a gulp, and we’ll become full of vigor again

无问-毛不易 Don’t Ask-Mao Buyi

“Don’t Ask” was the theme song of the 2017 movie “Forever Young” (literally “Don’t Ask Whether It Is East or West”). The film is about four generations of Tsinghua University graduates, spanning a hundred years of modern Chinese history since World War I. Whether they lived in the 1920s, the 1940s, the 1960s or the current era, and whatever life paths they took, they all faced hard choices in the pursuit of their dreams.

The song is about their confusions and persistence. Mao Buyi’s relaxing voice has the power to quiet your mind and put you in the zone.

My favorite part of the song:

就像手边落满了灰尘的 某一本书
Just like a dusted book close at hand
它可曾 单薄地 承载了 谁的酸楚
Did it once carry, albeit feebly, someone’s grievance?

When your mind was bubbling with questions, when you lived in angst, did you ever meet a book or a person who made you feel understood and supported?

词曲：毛不易
Lyricist & Composer: Mao Buyi

你问风为什么托着候鸟飞翔
You asked why the wind supported the migratory birds in flight
却又吹的让他慌张
and startled them at the same time
你问雨为什么滋养万物生长
You asked why the rain nurtured everything to grow
却也湿透他的衣裳
but also thoroughly wet his clothes

你问他为什么亲吻他的伤疤
You asked why he kissed his scars
却又不能带他回家
but wasn’t able to take him home
你问我为什么还是不敢放下
You asked why I still didn’t dare to let go
明知听不到回答
even though I knew I would never get an answer

如果光已忘了要将前方照亮
If the light forgot to illuminate the way forward
你会握着我的手吗
Would you hold my hand?
如果路会通往不知名的地方
If the road were to lead to a place unknown
你会跟我一起走吗
Would you walk with me?

一生太短 一瞬好长
Life is too short, yet that second lasted for a long time
我们哭着醒来 又哭着遗忘
We woke up in tears and forgot in tears
幸好啊 你的手曾落在我肩膀
Luckily your hand once landed on my shoulder

就像空中漂浮的 渺小的 某颗尘土
Just like a tiny grain of dust floating in the air
它到底 为什么 为什么
Why, why on earth doesn’t it
不肯停驻
want to land on the ground?
直到乌云散去 风雨落幕
When dark clouds clear up and the storm passes
他会带你找到 光的来处
He will lead you to the source of light

就像手边落满了灰尘的 某一本书
Just like a dusted book close at hand
它可曾 单薄地 承载了 谁的酸楚
Did it once carry, albeit feebly, someone’s grievance?
尽管岁月无声 流向迟暮
Although the river of time silently flows into twilight years
他会让你想起 你的归途
It will remind you of your way home

如果光已忘了要将前方照亮
If the light forgot to illuminate the way forward
你会握着我的手吗
Would you hold my hand?
如果路会通往不知名的地方
If the road were to lead to a place unknown
你会跟我一起走吗
Would you walk with me?

如愿-王菲 As You Wish-Faye Wong

Faye Wong aka Wang Fei’s “As You Wish” was the theme song of the 2021 movie “My Country, My Parents.” “You” refers to the revolutionaries who died young for the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the generations that came before us, and “I” represents the Chinese people living in today’s China.

Patriotic. Poetic. Soulful.

词：唐恬
Lyricist: Tang Tian
曲：钱雷
Composer: Qian Lei
编曲：钱雷
Arranger: Qian Lei

你是 遥遥的路
You are the path afar
山野大雾里的灯
the lamp amongst the mountain fog
我是孩童啊 走在你的眼眸
And I’m a child, walking in your eyes [in your view]

你是 明月清风
You are the bright moon, the cool breeze
我是你照拂的梦
And I’m the dream you shine on, you brush by
见与不见都一生 与你相拥
Whether we meet or not, I’ll embrace you all my life

而我将 爱你所爱的人间
And I’ll love the world that you loved
愿你所愿的笑颜
wish for the smiling faces that you desired
你的手我蹒跚在牵
I’ll hobble along to hold your hand
请带我去明天
Please take me to the future

如果说 你曾苦过我的甜
If you suffered for the honey that I savor now
我愿活成你的愿
Then I’d like to live your dream life to the fullest
愿不枉啊 愿勇往啊
May I not let you down, may I march courageously
这盛世每一天
every single day in this golden age

你是 岁月长河 星火燃起的天空
You are the sky lit up by little sparks above the river of time
我是仰望者 就把你唱成歌
And I’m an admirer who sings about you in my songs

你是 我之所来
You are the place I come from
也是我心之所归
and the place I wish to return to
世间所有路都将 与你相逢
All roads in the world will meet you at some point

而我将 爱你所爱的人间
And I’ll love the world that you loved
愿你所愿的笑颜
wish for the smiling faces that you desired
你的手我蹒跚在牵
I’ll hobble along to hold your hand
请带我去明天
Please take me to the future

如果说 你曾苦过我的甜
If you suffered for the honey that I now savor
我愿活成你的愿
Then I’d like to live your dream life to the fullest
愿不枉啊 愿勇往啊
May I not let you down, may I march courageously
这盛世每一天
every single day in this golden age

山河无恙 烟火寻常
Now the country is fine and life is peaceful
可是你如愿的眺望
Is this the same as what you looked forward to?
孩子们啊 安睡梦乡
Oh rest in your dreams, children
像你深爱的那样
Rest the way you loved so much

而我将 梦你所梦的团圆
And I’ll dream of the reunion that you dreamed of
愿你所愿的永远
pray for the eternity that you prayed for
走你所走的长路
and take the long road that you took
这样的爱你啊
I love you so much

我也将 见你未见的世界
I’ll also meet the world you weren’t able to meet
写你未写的诗篇
write the poems your weren’t able to write
天边的月 心中的念
[You are] the moon on the horizon, the thought in my mind
你永在我身边
You’ll always stay by my side

与你相约 一生清澈
I’ll make a pact with you to stay uncorrupted all my life
如你年轻的脸
Just like your youthful faces

世界上的另一個我-阿肆&郭采潔 Another Me in the World-A Si & Amber Kuo

This is a beautiful song about friendship, or one’s wish for beautiful friendship. The concept of twin flames or mirror souls came to my mind when I first listened to the song.

The song title has now turned into an Internet meme – 世另我 [shì lìng wǒ], short for 世界上的另一個我 [shì jiè shàng de lìng yí gè wǒ], “another me in the world.”

Since the singers A Si (Wang Miao) and Amber Kuo (Guo Caijie) are both female, it’s tempting to think the song is about friendship between two people of the same sex.

I’d like to think that this song is about the deep connection between two people of any gender, especially heterosexual friendships. Patriarchy has made heterosexuals believe that it’s almost impossible to form deep friendships with people of the opposite sex, even though that’s not true and does not serve people well.

This song encourages listeners to believe that true friends understand each other and stay with each other through thick and thin. What a beautiful message to keep in mind!

What makes the song even more beautiful is A Si’s use of Chinese idioms. Those idioms are concise but rich in meaning.

詞：阿肆
Lyricist: A Si
曲：阿肆
Composer: A Si
編曲：韋偉
Arranger: Wei Wei

郭：
Kuo:
上一秒我在台北看煙火
Last second I was watching fireworks in Taipei
下一秒你在上海喝Mojito
Next second you’ll be drinking Mojito in Shanghai
你感覺我 就像我感覺你
You sense me, just like I sense you
世界上的另一個我
[You are] another me in the world

肆：
Si:
上一秒我在柏林落大雨
Last second I was in Berlin and it was raining heavily
下一秒你在曼谷天氣晴
Next second in you’ll be in Bangkok and it’ll be sunny
你感受我 就像我感受你
You sense me, just like I sense you
世界上的另一個我
[You are] another me in the world

郭：
Kuo:
人生到處是假正經
Hypocrisy can be spotted everywhere in life

肆：
變幻莫測捕風捉影
[Things are] erratic, [and people] act on hearsay evidence
有幾個陪我等雨停
How many people can wait with me until the rain stops?

郭：
Kuo:
難得真性情
Genuinity is hard to come by

肆：
Si:
天高海闊我的淵明 誰傾聽
The sky is high, and the sea is boundless, but who will listen to my Tao [Yuanming]?

Note: Tao Yuanming (365–427), also known as Tao Qian (Hanyu Pinyin) or T’ao Ch’ien (Wade-Giles), was a Chinese poet who was known for living a peaceful life in reclusion.

This line probably means: The world is big but who will share my inner desire to have a simple life?

郭：
Kuo:
歲月爲我大浪淘沙
Time [filters people] for me, [just like] billows rush way sand and stones
而你被留下
And you are one of those that are left [with me]
我的世界流轉變化
My world is one the move; changes occur [all the time]
你卻沒時差
But there’s no time difference between us
啦啦啦啦 我親愛的你呀
La la la la oh you [are] my dear

肆：
Si:
歲月待我晴雨交加
Time treats me to good days and rainy days
而你被孵化
And you came out of those days
我的心事紛亂複雜
My mind is laden with worries, chaotic and convoluted
你卻能解碼
But you can decode them
啦啦啦啦 我親愛的你呀
La la la la oh you [are] my dear

上一秒我在斑馬線奔跑
Last second I was running across the crosswalk
下一秒你在路口看手表
Next second you’ll be watching your watch at the street crossing
你感覺我 就像我感覺你
You sense me, just like I sense you
世界上的另一個我
[You are] another me in the world

郭：
Kuo:
上一秒我在爲某事煩惱
Last second I was worried about something
下一秒你在人群中嬉笑
Next second you’ll be frolicking in the crowd
你感受我 就像我感受你
You sense me, just like I sense you
世界上的另一個我
[You are] another me in the world

肆：
Si:
人生到處是太聰明
Life is full of [people who] play petty tricks

郭：
Kuo:
隨波逐流翻山越嶺
Drift with the tide, tramp over hill and dale
有幾個陪我數星星
How many people are counting stars with me?

肆：
Si:
難得傻兮兮
It’s rare to be silly [and still loved]

郭：
Kuo:
深藏不露一顆真心 誰懂你
Deeply hidden is a genuine heart – who understands you?

肆：
Si:
歲月爲我大浪淘沙
Time [filters people] for me, [just like] billows rush way sand and stones
而你被留下
And you are one of those that are left [with me]
我的世界流轉變化
My world is one the move; changes occur [all the time]
你卻沒時差
But there’s no time difference between us
啦啦啦啦 我親愛的你呀
La la la la oh you [are] my dear

郭：
Kuo:
歲月待我晴雨交加
Time treats me to good days and rainy days
而你被孵化
And you came out of those days
我的心事紛亂複雜
My mind is laden with worries, chaotic and convoluted
你卻能解碼
But you can decode them
啦啦啦啦 我親愛的你呀
La la la la oh you [are] my dear

喜怒哀樂
Happiness, anger, grief and joy
第一時刻
In the first moments [of them happening]
傾訴我非你不可
I will tell nobody but you
難以形容的
Even things that are hard to describe
你也全懂得
You also understand them all
你是我的靈魂讀者
You are the reader of my soul

肆：
Si:
再聚時依然親熱
When we get together again, I still find you dear and near
心有靈犀的
Two hearts beat as one

Note: This is an idiom meaning “hearts linked as one, just as the proverbial rhinoceros communicates emotion telepathically through his single horn.”

彼此多難得
How precious we are to each other

合：
Together:

命運设下重重關卡
Fate sets up many hurdles
我依然潇灑
But I stay cool and poised
風塵仆仆而你是我
I’m travel-worn and weary [endured hardships], but you are my
治愈的方法
way to healing
啦啦啦啦 我親愛的你啊
La la la la oh my dear – you
我們並非單槍匹馬
We are not really sailing single-handed
世界那麽大
The world is so big
風塵仆仆我會化作
When you are travel-worn and weary [endure hardships], I will turn into
天邊的晚霞
the sunset glow in the sky
啦啦啦啦 我與你同在啊
La la la la I’ll stay with you
啦啦啦啦 我與你同在啊
La la la la I’ll stay with you
啦啦啦啦 我與你同在啊
La la la la I’ll stay with you

CityPop-江海迦 CityPop-Agatha Kong aka Jiang Haijia

I was first drawn to Agatha Kong because she covered the classic “Plastic Love” in Japanese, English and Cantonese. Then I clicked on her “CityPop” on YouTube. Wowza!

The MV of “CityPop” is magnificent! The desire to be reclusive is often expressed in the form of complaints. We complain about not being understood and we lament the burden of overstimulation. It’s rare to hear a nonjudgmental, non-defensive and unapologetic song of enjoying solitude, but “CityPop” did a great job in that regard.

The protagonist does not have social anxiety. Nor is she a secret narcissist. She is alone because she feels “happy because of the gentle solitude.” The vociferous crowd against the backdrop is an indispensable part of her life philosophy. Too much interaction makes her feel trapped, but she can’t really feel unique if she doesn’t live in an environment where many things are unchanged.

Every now and then, we want to feel detached, and this song portrays the beauty of me time without severing the connection with a bustling world.

The English version of this song is not as good as the Cantonese version in my opinion, because it falls into the predictable category of seeking heterosexual relationships.

作詞：林若寧
Lyricist: Riley Pong / Lin Ruoning
作曲：AGA江海迦
Composer: Agatha Kong / Jiang Haijia
编曲: 波多野裕介(Yusuke Hatano)
Arranger: Yusuke Hatano
監製: 舒文
Producer: Schumann Lee / Shuwen

我有我的感覺鬧市裡四處穿梭
I have my feelings; I traverse the busy city streets
喧嘩的聲音似 CityPop
The bustling sounds are like CityPop
我有我雙手抱著我那個也不拖
I cross my arms; I don’t hold hands with anyone
喜歡孤僻感覺 CityPop
I like the feeling of being unsociable and aloof – CityPop

流浪最好 不怕走錯路
It’s best to roam about; I fear not walking on the wrong street
只想一個 不修邊幅穿起波鞋獨立地舞蹈
I only want to be alone, slovenly in my sneakers and dancing on my own
見過的 互相不仰慕 獨處冰島
We met, [but] we don’t admire each other. We are as cold as Iceland, [living] in solitude

But I’m used to lonely
我喜歡一個 我喜歡一個人 聽一首歌 (I’m moving)
I like being alone, I like being alone, listening to a song (I’m moving)
沒有被發覺 喜歡這種一個人的歌 (I’m moving, honey lonely, honey are you lonely)
Nobody notices me. I like such songs about being alone (I’m moving, honey lonely, honey are you lonely?)

Now I’m falling
也喜歡一個 這孤單的美學 簡單得多
I also like such lonesome aesthetics of being single; it’s much simpler
於沙漠找心靈 快樂
Searching for spiritual bliss in the desert

Ba ba ba

派對這麼多怕就怕派對那麼多
So many parties – that’s exactly what I fear – too many parties
喧嘩的聲音似 CityPop
The bustling sounds are like CityPop

寧願冷清 一個人好靜
I’d rather it was desolated; it’s so quite when I’m alone
不想反應 一呼一吸好好保留獨特性
I don’t want to respond; [I] breathe in and breathe out; I want to preserve my uniqueness
怕每天 甚麼都固定 大煞風景
I fear having a life where everything is unchanged every day; that’d spoil the fun

But I’m used to lonely
我喜歡一個 我喜歡一個人 聽一首歌 (I’m moving)
I like being alone, I like being alone, listening to a song (I’m moving)
沒有被發覺 喜歡這種一個人的歌 (I’m moving, honey lonely, honey are you lonely)
Not being noticed. I like such songs of about being alone (I’m moving, honey lonely, honey are you lonely)

也喜歡一個 這孤單的美學 簡單得多
I also like such lonesome aesthetics of being single; it’s much simpler
寫一人的生活 哲學
Write about the philosophy of being alone

留下更多空間 自己過
Leaving more space for me to live alone
一個人華麗地寂寞 一班人熱烈地冷漠
One person can be splendidly lonely and a group of people can be passionately apathetic
關係太多 鎖住我
There are too many relationships, keeping me trapped

But I just wanna stay lonely
最喜歡一個 (喜歡一個)
Being alone is my favorite thing to do (I like being alone)
我只想一個人 聽這首歌 (I’m moving)
I just want to be a lone, listening to this song (I’m moving)
沒有被發覺 喜歡這種一個人的歌 (I’m moving, honey lonely, honey are you lonely now I fall)
Not being noticed. I like such songs of about being alone (I’m moving, honey lonely, honey are you lonely)

Now I’m falling
也喜歡一個 這孤單心理學 解釋不多
I also like this psychology of being alone, not having to explain much
因溫柔的孤獨 快樂
[I] feel happy because of the gentle solitude

I would never tell you if you’re way over the top
Love and hate this kind of CityPop

The song’s English version: