The whole topic of covers gets me all excited as I came across several fantastic ones but never got a chance to share. This is likely to be new feature in this blog beyond the usual new song offerings.
A-lin is singer who is rather under-rated in my view. She has a great voice and her nominations in Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards/ 金曲奖 as Best female singer award/最佳女歌手奖 is a way of affirming her capabilities.
In 2011, she covered a total of 5 songs in 7 odd minutes which are the songs of those nominated in the Best male singer award. This includes;
说了再见\ 周杰伦 (Jay Chou)
她说\林俊杰 (JJ Lin Jun Jie)
你不知道的事\王力宏 (Wang Lee Hom)
离开我\齐秦
慢慢等\韦礼安 (Wei Li An, William/Weibird)
只有懂幸福的人 才懂得进退一样精彩 一样精彩
This song about relationships is written by none other than a very talented lyricist, 林夕. Rather than attempting to encapsulate what this song is about in a single sentence, I would bring you through the song by verse. But before I do so, I would like to set some groundwork so you would know roughly what to expect/the central theme of this song.
This song reminded me of an old Sunday Times Life section by Sumiko Tan where she writes on how "Marriage is Freedom". She seeks to explain why so; "now that I’m tied to someone, I feel strangely, ironically, free." Do take a look at this interesting article here.
The song begins as our lead (could be either genders but for simplicity, I would say female) has finally started a stable relationship, one without surprises. It seems as though everything else thereafter has been arranged for; her expected perfect life is about to begin. She is finally the love of his life; there is a mutual reliance on each other. Leaving behind her dreams, she is "locked in", figuratively (a nicer term would be committed) into this relationship fortress bounded by promises made. Those who are inside may not be free but those lingering outside are not at ease.
These forms the first two verses of the song and perhaps the most meaningful takeaway here is its last line which goes; 里面不自由, 流浪在外却不自在. Isn't it somewhat ironic that those who aren't in relationships are always not at ease, yearning to be in relationships; yet those who are already in relationships want to have to have freedom and the feeling of being single. (The former scenario has been explained succinctly in Sumiko Tan's article.) Indeed, there is this fine line that needs to be balanced.
This irony is reflected in the subsequent chorus too. Those outside the relationship fortress cannot imagine how it is like inside. Those who are in, want it out; those who are out, want to be in. It is no wonder most people choose to linger around around the two realms. To me, all these are akin to the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side". Some people transit from being single to attached to single (cue vicious cycle) because they always feel that there is a next best alternative.
Jumping a verse, our lead has left the "sea of singles". She is satisfied but does not hold any further expectations. It feels like she has won the race out of single-hood and she is celebrating in her fortress. She has finally proven to the world that she has done it; she is no longer single. With the Chinese New Year coming up, there are probably many singles or couples who will face the golden question from their relatives; "when are you getting married?" or "are you attached?". If our lead is encounters this situation, she can proudly declare a big yes. Is getting into a relationship/getting married then a social responsibility expected of us or do we do so because we want to?
The song ends with a realisation; those who really know what true blissfulness is are probably the only ones who know that both realms (single or attached) are equally rewarding and satisfying. Put simply, you have the control to make the best (or worst) out of your own circumstances.
Credits: Music Baidu http://music.baidu.com/song/33465904
I have to admit, when I first heard this song, I was all too crazy about it. It is not a usual ballad offering I would expect from A-lin but I was pleasantly surprised and got hooked on this after a couple of spins.
This song has a pop-rock feel, especially towards the end as she repeats, 你是不是也记得多久没有说爱我; do you also remember how long you haven't said you love me. As discussed in previous postings, the central theme in this album is what happens after the supposed happily-ever-afters and this song captures what all that is about.
Before I end this post, I would like to promote A-lin's upcoming concert, 天生歌姬A-Lin 2013【Feel-Lin巡迴演唱會】in Taiwan, 小巨蛋 on the 9th of March 2013. Being an avid fan, I would really love to be there to hear her sing live, time permitting. Nevertheless, you can check out more details on her concert here; http://shop.dmarketnet.net/application/UTK02/UTK0201_.aspx?PRODUCT_ID=D091NN05
Credits: Music Baidu http://music.baidu.com/song/31626150
This is a more radio-friendly ballad with lyrics that aren't too difficult to understand. However, with the release of the MV, I realised that it could be interpreted in two ways. The beginning of the chorus goes, "in that very year, I lost both my best friend and the person I loved the most". I though that our leading lady meant that she lost her lover, who was of course, the person she loved the most and him being not just a lover but also her best friend. Cue, Colbie Caillat's Lucky.
Another way to interpret this song (aka MV version), was that she lost her best friend to her ex, meaning which she and her best friend fell in the love with the same guy at the same time and she decided not to be the third wheeler. This brings the meaning of this song to different level (even sadder really) just because hey, it's horrible to lose both your best friend and your lover at the same time.
The most poignant parts of this song for me were in the chorus; 而爱从不由人, 对错不会永恒. 但当时我只懂憎恨 and the very last chorus at the end of the song. For the former, it basically means that love cannot be controlled, there is no permanent right or wrong, during then, I could only hate. Hating your best friend and/or your lover at that point in time is understandable. You may have thought that it was wrong of them to behave this way, etc. but whichever the case, they are both important people to you and that should be cherished.
That brings us to the last bit of the song. Our lead really wants to bring up her courage to talk to her best friend, find out how she's doing in her (love-filled) life. How can she feel that her friend's happiness is being cruel (to her)? Even if she is feeling bitter, she should learn to let go. Eventually, she gives her blessings.
Perhaps the most meaningful takeaway from this song is really 爱从不由人, 对错不会永恒. Nothing is permanent, especially with regards to the rights and wrongs in love.
Credits: Music Baidu http://music.baidu.com/song/33465954
<<幸福了 然后呢>> was released on the 30th of December last year and I have to say, I always look forward to A-lin's latest albums. She is a fabulous singer with strong emotive vocals and her ballads are simply keepers for your playlist.
Quoted from her album description, this prose captures this album's theme of "What's next after the happily-ever-after". We are all familiar with fairy tales which end with "And they lived happily ever after..." The biggest irony of that statement is the "..." segment. The story continues and we find ourselves slipping back into the daily nuances of mundane life and as time passes by, the feeling of love disappears. Or on a more positive note, rather than saying it disappears, it is very much toned down or neglected and we find ourselves needing to re-affirm that affection.
The first song from her album that I will be covering in this post is entitled, 温柔累了and is my personal favourite.
A wonderful song is impossible without a fantastic lyricist and 姚若龙 has proven his writing chops once again with his insights into what I call the "Afters of the supposedly happily-ever-afters". The song begins with our leading lady hearing about a decision made by his other half from his friends. This line hints something; if they are as close as before/usual, why would she hear of such decisions from his friends and not from him personally.
Whilst we mull over that, our suspicions are confirmed; since a forgotten time, he has stopped sharing his inner feelings/thoughts, our lady has stopped hoping, because high hopes lead to greater disappointment. 姚若龙 subsequently parallels love with chewing gum; the longer you chew it, the more bland and tasteless it becomes. I thought that was pretty apt; some people continue chewing tasteless gum out of habit. Is staying together a mere sign of habit then?
By now, our lady is frustrated; why is he so insensitive and why is she so emotional? Men always say women are too sensitive and conversely, women say men are tactless.
In the chorus, our lady admits that she is tired; she has had enough of pretending that she is alright with the neglect she gets. Her partner rebuts by insisting that life is not all romantic. She stares blankly, not refuting but something in her heart has just died away. It is true that despite how much we enjoy the "happily-ever-story", it is just not realistic. But then and again, who doesn't hope for fairy tales to come true.
She used to enjoy this fortune feeling of being committed in a relationship aka cue lack of freedom. But it finally dawns upon her that love is but a dream and beauty lies in having that dream.
The song comes to an end with a twist in the chorus; she is tired of determining who has given the other a greater burden or who loves the other party more. All those independence and strength are but a façade; it was a gesture out of love towards him that she is playing the role of someone who understood.
Unknowingly, I ended up loosely translating this song with snippets of my own thoughts thrown in. This has only made me appreciate this well-penned song even more.
Credits: Music Baidu http://music.baidu.com/song/33465886
黄丽玲better known as A-lin's songs have been on my radar for some time now. I thoroughly enjoy her ballads and here is one of her more recent work in her album, 我们会更好的, released in Nov last year. I chanced upon this song again recently and found it endearing after listening to it several times. I was torn between highlighting this song and 等你, another song I love, released in Feb this year as part of 华丽的挑战电视原声带. Since 不是不满足 probably has much lesser publicity and is written by one of my favourite lyrist, 姚若龙, I will do my best to try to entice you into giving this song a try.
This song has an intriguing title, loosely translated as "It's not that I am not satisfied/contented". Now, how many times has that thought cross your mind in your daily lives? Many, I would presume. We are constantly in our materialistic pursuits; it's not that I am not happy with what I have currently but I want something better/more. Apply that concept to relationships and love and you get this tactfully crafted song.
The first line of the chorus, 我真的不是不满足 只是会想假如, nicely summarises what this song is about; "it's that I am not content with what I have, but what if..." . The whole concept of what if-s is interesting for me and if you are into this topic like me, do refer to my previous posting on 韦礼安's "We'll never know".
There are generally two kinds of relationships, those which are 轰轰烈烈/vigorous, exciting, full of ups-and-downs VS those which are 平平淡淡/milder, more consistent. The song seeks to give the listener some insight as to which option is better; hinting that perhaps simplicity and normalcy is the long-term aim of a relationship. Regardless, there isn't a preferred or best choice; ultimately, you (and your partner) are the ones who can decide and determine the pace of your relationship.
For those who are in the so-called "five year relationship slump" (as so commonly searched on in google), this song is the song for you.
