03
Aug
10

藉口 – 周杰伦

Well, this is my first post from behind the Grate Wall and I have to say it is very buggy. While Bl*gsp*t is outright prohibited wordpress on the other hand somehow squeaks by, but not without its lag and “connection reset” error boards. Really, who’s to say if this is at all successful?

Anyways, this song is an oldie but goodie for me. Sorry for the lack of a yootoob video, but I can’t access it here; as well, my whole blog has become a bunch of white squares where the videos ought to be.

Not much to say about this song except despite the fact that it is a simplistic radio-friendly love song, it is all the same done well, especially the drums. I could listen to this over and over again just for the drums. Well, I actually have. I don’t know who the studio session drummer is for this song, but Jay definitely paid good money for this guy.

Enjoy.

藉口 周杰伦

翻着我们的照片,想念若隐若现
去年的冬天,我们笑得很甜
看着你哭泣的脸,对着我说再见
来不及听见,你已走得很远

也许你已经放弃我,也许已经很难回头
我知道是自己错过
请再给我一个理由,说你不爱我

就算是我不懂,能不能原谅我
请不要把分手,当作你的请求
我知道坚持要走是你受伤的借口
请你回头我会陪你,一直走到最后

就算没有结果我也能够承受
我知道你的痛是我给的承诺
你说给过我纵容,沉默是因为包容
如果要走,请你记得我

如果难过,请你忘了我

藉口ji2kou3 evasion
若隐若现ruo4yin3ruo4xian4 indistinct, partly hidden and partly visible
来不及lai2buji2 there’s not enough time, it’s too late
请求qing3qiu2 v to ask, to demand, beg
坚持jian1chi2 to persist, to perservere
承受cheng2shou4 to bear, to endure, to support
承诺cheng2nuo4 to promise to do sth, to undertake sth
纵容zong4rong2 to connive, to collude, to scheme or plot secretly, to feign ignorance of or fail to take measures against a wrong, thus implying tacit encouragement or consent
包容bao1rong2 to pardon, to forgive, to contain, to hold

Evasion

Turning over our photograph, my reminiscence at times clear and at other times indistinct
In the winter of last year, we smiled very sweetly
I see your crying face as you turn towards me to say good-bye
I heard it too late, you’ve already gone far away

Maybe you’ve already abandoned me, maybe it is difficult for you to look back
I know that I have done wrong
Please give me one more reason again, say that you don’t love me

Even if it’s me that doesn’t understand, can you not forgive me?
Please don’t let us break up, consider that my request to you
I know you want to persevere in breaking up, it is you that has suffered the excuse
Please look back, I will accompany you, always right up until the end

Even if there isn’t a conclusion, I can still endure it
I know of your pain, it was me who gave the promise
You said you had connived with me, the silence is because of forgiveness
If you have to go, please remember me

If you have a hard time with breaking up, please forget me

29
Jul
10

the surprise is all mine…

Here I am in the motherland, and I am accessing teh internets and my blog. Has the world turned upside down? Sure, the Expo is on, but one day in the fall the Expo will be no longer.

Well, nothing to do but keep going with my posts, can’t stop now what with the absence of a good excuse.

More posting later.

26
Jul
10

Blogging to Cease…

I like to blog. Alot. And so, it’s a bummer that I’m going to a place tomorrow where there aren’t blogs. Well, at least free blogs.

I guess I’ll have to get a domain name of my own. Til then folks, enjoy.

25
Jul
10

沙拉裴林準備2012年選總統?Is Sarah Palin Gunning for 2012?

Here is another car-crash of journalism from NMA news.  Just from watching the video you will actually know what they are talking about, as it is amusing to read the English “jokes” left in (teabaggers, the news ticker) but it’s actually interesting to read and listen to the Chinese text to see how much they have gotten wrong in simplifying this news story.  For example, this news source makes it seem like Palin is some kind of internet star like Justin Bieber and not the creation of an organized right-wing conglomerate, as though she was just lucky in getting involved with Fox and not directly involved herself.

It’s upsetting to see news so distorted and simplified in this ocean of mediocrity and dispassion, but it’s funny to finally see Palin snipe at galloping bears from a helicopter piloted by John McCain and mud wrestle Barack Obama in a bikini.

I know NMA News has one about Apple and Steve Jobs wearing a Darth Vader costume, but I didn’t translate that one because there’s no slave Leia outfit anywhere to be seen.  NMA, you’re slipping in your exploitation!

沙拉裴林準備2012年選總統?Is Sarah Palin Gunning for 2012?
Is Sarah Palin Getting Ready for the 2012 Presidential Election?

2008年
In 2008

共和黨總統候選人麥肯選上裴琳做副手
Republican presidential candidate McCain chose Palin to be his assistant

當時,很少人知道她是誰
At that time, few people had heard of her

兩人敗選後分道揚鑣
The two went their separate ways after they had lost the election

裴琳成為保守右派的麻辣女王
Palin became the hot and spicy queen for the Conservative right

人氣越來越高
She became more and more famous

信譽卓著的電視台邀請她當名嘴
A television channel with a distinguished reputation invited her to be its famous television host

討論各種熱門話題
to discuss various current popular topics

像墨西哥灣BP漏油事件
like the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

她的家庭生活也成為公眾矚目的焦點
Her family life has become a public focus of attention

有傳言
There is a rumor

裴林的女兒及奶爸
That Palin’s daughter and father

將成為真人實境節目的主角
Will become characters on a reality TV show

有人擔心她經驗不夠
Some people are worried that she doesn’t have enough experience

但她自認很有國際觀
But she has said she has much international experience

裴林越來越有名
Palin is becoming more and more famous

也插手紐約市的地方政治
and has involved herself in local New York politics

她不但發明新的單子
Not only has she invented a new word

也拿自己跟莎士比亞相比
but also she has compared herself to Shakespeare

今年,她的政治行動委員會SarahPAC
This year, her political operation committee SarahPAC

已經募得美金130萬元
has already raised 1.3 million USD in funds

這麼積極的募款
Such vigorous fund-raising

引起人們猜測
has caused some people to wonder

她是否在準備2012年
whether or not she is getting ready for the 2012

的美國總統大選
American presidential general election

跟歐巴馬開戰
and start a war with Obama

如果裴林當選的話
If Palin is indeed elected

這將代表美國人民珍惜保守主義
This will represent that Americans value right-wing conservatism

而“refudiate”歐巴馬
And “refudiate” Obama

共和黨gong4he2dang Republican Party
候選人hou4xuan3ren2 candidate
副手fu4shou3 assistant
分道揚鑣fen1dao4yang2biao1 to each go their own way
保守bao3shou3 to guard, protect; to be (politically) conservative
右派pou4pai4 rightist (political); right wing
人氣ren2qi4 human spirit
信譽xin4yu4 prestige, distinction, reputation
卓著zhuo2zhu4 distinguished
名嘴ming2zui3 a famous TV or radio host
話題hua4ti2 subject (of a talk or conversation), topic
公眾gong1zhong4 public
矚目zhu3mu4 to focus on
焦點jiao1dian3 focus, focal point
插手cha1shou3 to involve oneself in
行動xing2dong4 operation, action; to move; mobile
委員會wei3yuan2hui4 committee
幕mu4 to canvass for contributions, to recruit, to collect, to raise
積極ji1ji2 vigorous, active, positive (outlook)
募款mu4kuan3 to raise funds, fund raising
猜測cai1ce4 to guess, to surmise
主義zhu3yi4 -ism, ideology
當選dang1xuan3 to be elected

24
Jul
10

漂移 – 周杰伦

I really have some memories with this one.  When I first started learning Chinese years ago, there was a time when I was very determined to learn despite the fact that I didn’t know anything.  It was a weird time when I wrote down many many things but didn’t understand them.  Now that I have this blog, it’s odd that I re-visit these former “lessons” with such a different understanding.

I understand the words now; perhaps not completely, but it isn’t like before when I actually wrote the dictionary definition for every single word.  I mentioned this before, and it’s embarrassing, but it’s true.  Now as I come back to review it all seems unnecessary, but at the same time I’ve only gotten to where I am now by studying the way that I have – which is insanely hard.

About the song – this is one of the two songs 周杰伦Jay Chou made for the 头曼子D (Initial D) sound track, a movie he made his film acting debut in.  It was the first time I’d ever seen him, as well as the first time I heard Chinese rapping.  While I think his acting in this movie is still among his best roles, no hard feat as it involves portraying a Keanu Reeves-type clueless slacker, this song has aged hard.  After the novelty has worn off and I can, you know, read Chinese now, I have to say this song is quite stilted and has bad flow.  I always thought his diction was syncopated and cool, but now I see that he was just following the short staccato pretentious phrases.  Dude, I am happy you’ve since moved on to better things, but I’m still not looking forward to the Green Hornet.

漂移 周杰伦

找支笔,写下日记,记录勇气
我可以,对着墙壁,绕圈兜半里
呼吸,天窗玻璃,打开我的身体
这里引擎声就像着一种乐器
所以,风呼啸的多刺激,
所以我在转弯漂移
加足了马力,开到底,看仔细
零到一百公里,谁敢与我为敌

我用第一人称,在漂移青春
输跟赢的分寸,计算的很精准
我踏上风火轮,在漂移青春
故事中的我们,在演自己的人生

实力没办法模拟,漂移人车一体漂移
笑看后视镜的自己啊
点火继续事关荣誉我除了第一,其他没有兴趣
得飘得飘得咿的飘,我安静地喝饮料,轻松地笑

得飘得飘得咿的飘
我绕过山腰雨声敲敲
得飘得飘得咿的飘
再开进隧道风声萧萧

记录ji4lu4 to take notes, to record
绕圈rao4quan1 round the buoy
绕rao4 to revolve, move round, circle etc
圈quan1 n circle, ring, group v to enclose, to circle
兜dou1 to move round; n pocket
引擎yin3qing2 engine (transliteration)
擎qing2 to raise hand
呼啸hu1xiao4 to scream, to whistle
仔细zi3xi4 careful, attentive, cautious
第一人称di4yi1ren2cheng1 “in the first person” (narrative, perspective)
分寸fen1cun4 tact, the limits of proper speech, propriety
精准jing1zhun3 exact, very accurate
踏上ta4shang4 to set foot on
人生ren2sheng1 life
实力shi2li4 actual strength, strength
模拟mo2ni3 imitation, v to simulate, to imitate
一体yi1ti3 whole, integral
点火dian3huo3 to light a fire; to agitate, to stir up trouble; ignition
荣誉rong2yu4 honor, credit, glory, honorable reputation
咿yi1 NA
萧萧xiao1xiao1 whistle, neigh, whinny

Find a pen, write in your diary about my heroism
I can face the wall and go around the bend in half a click
My body breathes, the glass of the sky roof is open,
Here the engine sounds like a musical instrument
And so the wind whistles past very excitedly, and therefore I drift around the corner
I add more foot to the horsepower until at last I look very carefully
From zero to one hundred Km/H, who is brave enough to be my enemy

I use a first person perspective in the youthfulness of my drifting
The tact of losing or winning is calculated very precisely
I step on wheels of wind and fire in the youthfulness of my drifting
In the story of us we perform again my life

There is no way to imitate my strength, man and machine together are one in drifting
I laugh as I see myself in the rear view mirror
Once the ignition has started it’s all about the glory, besides myself taking first place, no one else has any interest
Drifting, drifting, drift-ing, I calmly take a drink and have a relaxed laugh

Drifting, drifting, drift-ing
I circle the mountain as the rain splatters against my windshield
Drifting, drifting, drift-ing
As I once again go into the tunnel, the wind whistles past

21
Jul
10

Kung Fu Panda, Despite the Kung Fu and the Panda, Isn’t the Least Bit Chinese

I know “Kung Fu Panda”(2008) came out two years ago, and I also know that it actually doesn’t have anything to do with China specifically, but it hasn’t stopped Chinese from stopping me in the middle of the street all this time to specifically tell me, “Hey, did you know that ‘Kung Fu Panda’ is a Chinese movie?”  No, I didn’t know that because it isn’t true.

Meanwhile for the past two years I’ve tried to deny its existence because then at last I would have to accept the fact that this is China’s movie.  Well, it isnt’, and now since I’ve finally seen it I can say why.  Furthermore, since I’ve been teaching myself Chinese I can finally say it in Chinese.

Who’s to say if this argument actually penetrates the thick “中国加油!”part of the cerebellum, but I do have an argument.  Also, it’s worth reading because this movie is actually advertising the triump of Western values over Chinese ones.  Yes, this cartoon movie.  Anyways, enjoy.

两年前“熊猫功夫”(2008)的电影登出来了,很多中国人总是向我说,“你知道吗?这是一部中国的电影!”是吗?是中国的?除了成龙说两三句子以外,明星都是美国的。导演,制片人,编剧者,做音乐,差不多全部作电影的人都是美国的。!了钱都是美国的,不是中国的。怎么是“中国”的电影呢?

你可以说,“熊猫是中国的,所以熊猫功夫是中国的!”亲爱的读者,你说到哪儿去了?因为这个电影包括一个中国的因素,这是中国的?是吗?中国人看外国电影,买日本的电子东西,买外国的化妆,外国的红葡萄酒,请老外来叫英语,都是外国的因素,就是说,不多的本来事情是中国的,其实,国外的东西比国内的东西珍贵!最有名的例子是中国人常常说“阿凡达”(2009)的电影是中文的。什么?全部的电影是假的,是电脑数码的技术做出来的。中有蓝色皮肤猫人吗?中国有天空飞的山吗?大家,“阿凡达”不是中国的,还有,“熊猫功夫”不是中国的。别的例子是“木栏”(1998)和成龙的“Rush Hour”电影片。这样说,中国人应该不写关于其它国家的故事因为这是“他们的故事”。哪儿有公平?

我还听到了你说,“熊猫是中国的,所以任何的故事用熊猫用功夫是中国的”。对,“熊猫功夫”是关于中国的事情,是用熊猫的角色还有用功夫的因素。不过,虽然这些事情是关于中国的,这个电影不是中国的。为什么?简单地说,不是个中国做的电影,不是代表中国的观点。我说,“熊猫功夫”的故事不是一个中国的故事。电影的主角色,熊猫叫破,不是一个好汉子。

请让我来再说:“熊猫功夫”的主角色,熊猫破,不是个好汉子。“熊猫功夫”的故事不是一好种类的中文故事。

哪儿是“中国的电影”呢?

再说,“熊猫功夫”的主角色不是个好汉子。他不是一个孝顺的孩子。他是一位很懒很笨的孩子,不听爸爸的话,其实向爸爸说谎言。他不跟爸爸说的话,只想变成功夫英雄。亲爱的读者,你们可以这样做吗?你们可以随便做事,不听父母的话,自由地追求自己的愿望吗?你们不可以,因为你们都是孝顺的孩子,你们不跟那个猪角色一样因为他不是中国人。

哪儿是“中国电影”呢?

别的角色有中国文化的,尤其主角色的爸爸,平先生,和“师傅”的师傅,乌龟。这是自然的。可是我说,有一个角色比主角色更中文化的,是电影的反面人物,太龙。他是很中文的,从小时候太龙听师傅的话,努力地练习,相信师傅告诉他会变成下一个的“大龙士兵”。直到了这时候乌龟拒绝太龙,太龙完全是好汉子,好孝顺的人,只要师傅的表扬。虽然太龙变成坏人,他是本来一个好汉子。

为什么把英雄熊猫破同反面人物太龙比较?因为,亲爱的读者,“熊猫功夫”有一个很清清楚楚的意见:中文化不会成功。为什么?因为英雄熊猫破是西方文化的,对面人物太龙是中国文化的,他们是代表一个意见,一个地方的原理。谁赢了?英雄赢了。英雄有对面人物那么孝顺,那么努力,那么听话吗?没有。英雄在终结成功因为他是一个个别的人,不听爸爸的话做拉面的店,只听自己,只相信自己。“没有秘密的材料”就有什么意思呢?别依靠别人,别依靠家人,别依靠师傅,别依靠你同学,只依靠自己。这是中国文化吗?

哪儿是“中国电影”呢?

亲爱读者,这是一个国的电音,没美国人做了,所以有西方的原理,不是跟中国的原理。简单的说,“熊猫功夫”不是一个中国的电影。

因素yin1su4 element
数码shu4ma3 digital
反面人物 fan3mian4ren2wu4 villain (in a play)
原理yuan2li3 principles, theories

Hey China, does this bear belong to you too?

21
Jul
10

海闊天空 – Beyond

A Classic. Beyond, the awesome 80′s Hong Kong band that existed in an era of matinee idol crooners and pinup singers, once famously modestly declared that all they want to do is become the Beatles of Asia. Me, all I want to do become Beyond. In 80′s terms, they are bodaciously radical.

While they would hit the silver screen in their finest moments with Andy Lau in 天若有情 in that movie, this song will remain Beyond’s crowning glory. A thousand lit lighters is not enough to tribute this power ballad which must have been the “getting ready” music for tens of thousands of coiffed haircuts through the ages.

I’m joking, but it doesn’t diminish the amazing impact this song has had on Hong Kong culture. What is diminishing this song are the new Mandopop lyrics that makes every mainlander think this is a mainland song. You can do that with 月亮代表我的心 and 甜蜜蜜,but keep your hands off this Cantopop classic. I haven’t learned the Mandopop version and don’t care to, but can emphasize the meaning of the original song: only through freedom with the individual triumph. Take that, bland modern re-make.

Beyond: Now, then and forever. Whoohoo, I’m getting Jersey on ya!

海闊天空
作曲,作詞:黃家駒

今天我,寒夜裡看雪飄過
懷著冷卻了的心窩漂遠方
風雨裡追趕,霧裡分不清影蹤
天空海闊你與我,可會變(誰沒在變)

多少次,迎著冷眼與嘲笑
從沒有放棄過心中的理想
一剎那恍惚,若有所失的感覺
不知不覺已變淡,心裡愛(誰明白我)

原諒我這一生不羈放縱愛自由
也會怕有一天會跌到
背棄了理想,誰人都可以
那會怕有一天只你共我

仍然自由自我
永遠高唱我歌,走遍千里

駒keui1(ju1) fleet footed horse; the sun
冷卻laang5keuk3 cooling off
窩wo1 nest
風雨fung1yu5 the elements
追趕jeui1gon2 to pursue, to chase after
霧mou6 fog
影蹤ying2jung1 shadow, image, reflection; footprints, trail
冷眼laang5ngaan5 to give someone the eye
嘲笑jaau1siu3 to ridicule
放棄fong3hei3 to give up
心中sam1jung1 in one’s heart
理想lei5seung2 ideal
一剎那yat1saat3na5 a split second
恍惚fong2fat1 vaguely absently
若yeuk6 if
有所yau5so2 somewhat, to some extent
不知不覺bat1ji1bat1gok3 unconsciously
淡taam2 tasteless
不羈bat1gei1 uninhibited, unruly
放縱fong3jung3 to indulge, to let someone have their way
背棄bui3hei3 to abandon

Now, as I watch the drifting snow of the night
I remember the cooling off of my heart from afar
Through the elements I have pursued, as through the fog I have followed unclear footsteps
Under a wide sky and vast ocean, you and I may have changed (who would not change?)

How many times have I been welcomed with a cold stare and with jeering laughter
And yet never have abandoned the ideals within my heart?
Absently, in a split second, if there has been any loss of faith
Where unconsciously the love of my heart have become tasteless

Forgive me if my whole life I have indulged uninhibitedly in loving freedom
All while I fear of falling down
To abandon one’s ideals anyone can do
But I’m afraid one day there will be just you and me

Nevertheless, my free self
Forever will sing proud my song, everywhere for a thousand miles

16
Jul
10

东风破 – 周杰伦

I saw the new Green Hornet trailer for the movie coming out next year, and I was just floored.  While everybody else is confused whether or not this particular regurgitation of a previously used intellectual property of a major entertainment franchise will be successful — as in: Green Hornet – bad Batman rip-off, Seth Rogen – funny, Cameron Diaz – over the hill, gadgets and CGI – unlike, Diaz, doable — this just had me depressed. Jay Chou is in it starring as Kato.

The original Green Hornet was a star making vehicle for Bruce Lee, who made it so popular the show became re-named “The Kato Show” overseas.  However, the reason is pretty obvious: it was popular because Bruce Lee was in it.  Mr Lee could have starred in a piece of trash and it still would have succeeded.  Ladies and gentlemen, Green Hornet is that piece of trash.

While Jay Chou will now be seen as stepping into the role that made Bruce Lee a star, I think people forget Bruce Lee is a star because he just is.  Instead, people should see this movie for what it is: a movie and a story that succeeds on the back of a Chinese person carrying it.  Kato is the manservant that stereotypically serves his white master faithfully, even going so far as to be the better hand-to-hand combatant in both movies; on the other hand, the original Green Hornet fights like he looking for his keys while he juggles two bags of groceries outside his apartment door, and Seth Rogen is, well, fat and funny.  Also, while the original is solely memorable because of Bruce Lee, this current reiteration also has a Chinese person carrying more than his fair share of responsabilities: that is, Jay Chou is going to attract a lot of attention to this movie for being one of the biggest stars in Asia.

Yep, I’m not saying there isn’t other talent in this movie; this isn’t Jay Chou’s movie so much as it is Seth Rogen, who was funny in Superbad and 40 Year-Old Virgin and nothing else.  However, even if this is an astounding smash and breaks open the western market for Jay Chou, he’ll forever be known as Seth Rogen’s bitch.  Bruce Lee didn’t have this problem because he’s Bruce Lee.  Meanwhile, Jay Chou’s character in the movie is a motorcycling-kung fu-bad ass who is still loyal to some white guy he’s never met?  People are always going to remember you for being the yes-man to some fat funny loser, just as they are going to remember you Jay for being in that terrible Shaolin Soccer rip-off, Kung Fu Dunk.

(I’d honestly post the video here of the new Green Hornet movie to let yourselves decide, but as I just spent the last half an hour trying to learn how to embed video into a blog that seems fruitless, I’d just as soon not keep promoting a movie that doesn’t star me)

It wasn’t always so bad. Jay Chou is famous for writing really good songs like this one. This song brings back a lot of memories for me as I spent an inordinate amount of time learning the lyrics of this song.  I would be remiss to say that I honestly looked up every single word of this song in order to “crack open the hard outer shell ” to get at the “brains of soft, nougat meaning” within.  Yes.  Every. Single. Word.  Needless to say, it took me a long, long time to do.  As well, this was before I got savvy to using the internet to look up words (which is still actually not that great as compared to a book dictionary).

Compared to all the other songs that I was (am) still learning at the time, this song really had a lot of enjoyment and meaning to this.  I don’t quite completely understand all of the lyrics to this song (especially “荒烟漫草的年头”)but that okay – it a poem.  It’s up for interpretation.  This song alone gave me hope for Mandopop that there could possibly be some “art” to be had within the realm of modern popular culture.  I dug the way he kept a traditional Chinese five-tone harmonic scale and “jazzed” it up with a modern harmony with many chord substitutions (I don’t quite remember, but I think it’s a ii V of the seventh degree).

All the same, this is a “relaxing” song about how a man, once again, misses a woman because of a mistake he has done.  Traditional, you are here again.  Anyways, enjoy.

东风破 – 周杰伦

一盏离愁孤单伫立在窗口
我在门后假装你人还没走
旧地如重游月圆更寂寞
夜半清醒的烛火不忍苛责我

一壶漂泊浪迹天涯难入喉
你走之后酒暖回忆思念瘦
水向东流时间怎么偷
花开就一次成熟我却错过

谁在用琵琶弹奏一曲东风破?
岁月在墙上剥落看见小时候
犹记得那年我们都还很年幼
而如今琴声幽幽我的等候你没听过

谁在用琵琶弹奏一曲东风破?
枫叶将故事染色结局我看透
篱笆外的古道我牵着你走过
荒烟漫草的年头,就连分手都很沉默

盏zhan3 a small container
离愁li2chou2 sorrow caused by departure
伫立zhu4li4 to stand still for a long time, motionless, stand still
游(遊)you2 to walk, to tour, to sight see, to travel for pleasure, to swim, to wander, to roam
烛火zhu2huo3 candle flame
苛责ke1ze2 criticize severely
漂泊drifter, wanderer
浪迹天涯lang4ji1tian1ya2 to wander all over the world
浪迹lang4ji1 to lead a wandering life
天涯tian1ya2 the ends of the earth, the remotest part of the Earth
喉hou2 the throat, larynx
弹奏tan2zou4 to play music
岁月sui4yue4 time, time and seasons
剥落bo1luo4 to peel off, to strip, exfoliate
犹you2 just as, just like, as if (also: 犹如)
幼you4 young, immature
幽幽you1you1 faraway, faint, distant
枫叶feng1ye4 maple leaves
将jiang1 FUTURE TENSE, to support, bring; to do sth, to handle a matter; etc
染色ran3se4 to dye to color
结局jie2ju2 ending, final result, outcome
看透kan4tou4 understand thoroughly, see through
荒烟漫草
荒huang1 desolate, barren; waste
烟yan1 smoke, mist
漫man4 unrestrained, free
草cao3 drafted, not final; grass

The East Wind Breaks

A container, sad from departure, stands still alone at the window sill
From behind the door I pretend that you haven’t gone yet
The old familiar place is as if the moon has roamed over it even more silently
At midnight the sober candle flame can not bear but to criticize me severely

A wandering pot that has travelled all over the world is hard to drink from
After you have left the wine has gotten warm and my memoires of you have become dim
When the water flows to the east it is difficult to steal
Once flowers bloom they are mature just once, I however have still done wrong

Who here is using the pipa to play the “East Wind Breaks”?
The years peel off the wall to reveal our childhoods
As if to remember that year when we were still very immature
But these days the instrument sound is very dim, you have not heard my waiting

Who here is using the pipa to play the “East Wind Breaks”?
By the way the maple leaves have used the story made up of dyes, I have seen clearly the ending
I held your hand as we walked down the old road outside the hedge
The desolate smoke and restrained growth of the early years has made even breaking up seem very silent

10
Jul
10

别爱我,像个朋友 – 周笔畅

There is a profound difference between mandopop and cantopop: the former is very literal, while the latter (besides having a tonal restriction on the melody as set by the lyrics themselves) can afford to be much more poetic.  The obvious contradiction in this is that Cantonese language has clear differences between the spoken word and the written word, while on the other hand there exists no difference between written and spoken Mandarin.

It then casts a long shadow on society when the language of Mandarin in art is often a literal one; that’s right, besides no difference between written and spoken languages, there also appears to be little room for metaphor and poetry.  Case in point: this song and just about every mandopop song out there.  There is no art, really: what she sings in the song is just how people feel in real life.  Only once does 周笔畅 utilize a simile, and that’s just once.

Yep, it’s sad.  It’s depressing.  A rock is rock and a smile is a smile and I loves you baby and that’s enough.

Not all mandopop is like this, but there certainly is an air of simpleness to mandopop.  The structure is simple, and lyrics are often repeated; in fact, as we saw with 爱我别走 (okay, it’s Taiwanese) most of the time they’ll just write a really short song and repeat twice to make up a normal-sized 5 minute radio-ready song.  This song is different, however, in that the lyrics change throughout (mostly), but the 别爱我 will definitely stay with you on the drive home; it’s as catchy as AC/DC’s “She’s Got the Jack”.

Anyways, I am cleaning out my repetoire of songs I have been learning over the past years, and so I have finally published this to teh internets.

Enjoy.

别爱我,像个朋友 – 周笔畅

别爱我,像爱个朋友,
在友情和爱之间,你可曾为我想过
就在灰色地带你和我
是要不到,又给不了的爱

爱,如果悄然无声,为何心会澎湃,当你眼神看过来
也许,爱是美丽意外,哦
能不能对我说,说个明白

别爱我别爱我,像爱个朋友
你寂寞难忍耐,就来到我门外
别爱我别爱我,当你只会说:
我是这个世界最了解你的女孩。哦,yah

别爱我,像爱个朋友
在友情和爱之间,现在该有个选择
虽然痛在心折磨着我
爱已给了你,现在收不回来

爱,如果悄然无声,为何心会澎湃,当你眼神看过来
也许,爱就是美丽的意外
也为何不面对我的爱

别爱我别爱我,像爱个朋友
你有了新的爱,我就像不存在
别爱我别爱我,当你只会说:
你不能忍受失去的是我

别爱我别爱我,像爱个朋友
我输了我累了,不想再等待
别爱我别爱我,当你不能说
说你对我有同样的感情,哦
别爱我,别爱我

可曾为:”you may once before acted/served as”
可ke3 may, can [ho2]
曾ceng2 once, formerly, sometime ago [chang4]
为wei2 do, act, serve as, act as, become, turn into, be, mean [wai4]
悄然qiao3ran2 sorrowfully, sadly, quietly, softly [chiu3yin4]
悄qiao3 quiet, silent; sad, worried, grieved [chiu3]
为何wei4he2 why, for what reason [wai6 ho4]
澎湃peng1pai4 surging, racing (the sound of waves) [paang1 baai3]
忍耐ren3nai4 restrain oneself, patience; to endure, to be tolerant of [yan2noi6]
折磨zhe2mo to torment, physical or mental suffering [jit3mo4]
忍受ren3shou4 to bear, endure, suffer, stand [yan2 sau6]

Don’t Love Me, Be Like My Friend

Don’t love me, love me like a friend
In the middle of friendship and love, perhaps you once considered me so
We have both come to a grey area, you and I
It’s not wanted, and it’s love that can’t actually be give

Love, if it sorrowfully does not have any sound, why is there a surging of waves crashing in my heart? You seen it in your eyes
Perhaps, love is a beautiful mistake
Can you turn to me and say that you understand?

Don’t love me don’t love me, love me like a friend
Your silence is hard to endure, and it has arrived on my doorstep
Don’t love me don’t love me, won’t you please just say:
That I am the one girl in the whole world who can best understand you

Don’t love me, love me like a friend
In the middle of friendship and love, there should be a decision made now
Even though the pain in my heart torments me
I have already given you my love, and now I can’t take it back

Love, if it sorrowfully does not have any sound, why is there a surging of waves crashing in my heart? You seen it in your eyes
Perhaps love is a beautiful accident
So why not confront my love

Don’t love me don’t love me, love me like a friend
You have a new love, and now I don’t want to exist anymore
Don’t love me don’t love, won’t you please just say:
You can’t bear to lose me

Don’t love me don’t love me, love me like a friend
I’ve lost, I’m tired, and I can’t afford to wait any longer
Don’t love me don’t love me, please don’t ever say to me
Say to me that you have the same feelings as me
Don’t love me, don’t love me

10
Jul
10

小賈斯丁慘遭網友惡搞 – Internet Turns on Justin Bieber

Have you seen the Chinese Youtube video that illustrates all of Justin Bieber’s rumors come to life, but you didn’t know what they were talking about?  Well, internet friend, you’ve come to the right place because I have translated the entire short video from Taiwanese putonghua into English.

If you actually enjoy real news and objectivity, then this won’t be enjoyable for you.  However, if you are actually interested to find out how skewed a Chinese perspective can be upon popular culture, then this could be interesting.  “News organisation” NMA News answers the question “Do I honestly need to know everything outside the realm of good taste and morals?” with a resounding 百分之百是的! Here’s from their own description of the video:

“The Internet may have made Justin Bieber, but there are millions of people out there who want to knock him down just as quickly as his rise to fame. See Justin survive a car crash, visit an STD clinic, dance with Kim Jong Il and get beaten up by the Jonas Brothers.”

I don’t know of millions of people who want to knock down Justin Bieber, but I do know of a “news organisation” that loves to humiliate and destroy celebrities–you, NMA News.  Oh, and Apple Action News gets a worthy nomination as well.

Sure, the internet and the world at large don’t need to use their collective imaginations anymore to envision what Kim Jong-Il would look like as a back-up dancer (see 1:14) but this is trash; enjoyable trash, but trash nonetheless.  I suppose this is what happens when the free press of Taiwan meets the practical crass Chinese mentality to exploit every situation for material gain.  Myself, I don’t have an opinion on Little Justin as I don’t know him or his music, but it is universally accepted that he looks like an attractive lesbian.

Enjoy the translation.

小賈斯丁慘遭網友惡搞 – Internet Turns on Justin Bieber
Little Justin suffers from the evil meddling of online peers

加拿大金童歌手小賈斯丁
Canada’s golden boy of singing Little Justin
是個貨真價實的網路明星
is an undisputed internet star through and through
他能夠爆紅要多虧他的媽媽
He can attribute his massive fame thanks to his mother
把他早年的影片PO到YOUTUBE上
who had put his video up on Youtube at an early age
小賈斯丁在YOUTUBE上
The fame of Little Justin
名氣越來越大
Grew and grew on Youtube
不久他就被星探發掘
Not long after he was discovered by a talent scout
簽下唱片合約
And signed a recording contract
一般『小賈斯丁熱』
The ubiquitous “Little Justin Fever”
開始風靡世界各地的年輕女孩子
Started to become fashionable all around the world with young girls

但小賈斯丁同時也變成
However, at the same little Justin was becoming
宅男最愛惡搞的對象
The favorite target for evil meddling
今年六月網路上流傳一個謠言
In June of this year a rumor spread on the internet
說小賈斯丁出了車禍死亡
That said that little Justin had died in a traffic accident
粉絲們傷心欲絕
His fans were distraught with their hopes dashed
他趕快現身澄清謠言
But he was quick to appear and clear up this false rumor

一個叫做4chan的惡搞網站
A website that meddles in evilness called 4chan
成員聯合串連惡整賈斯丁
had its members unite together to punish Justin
把『小賈斯丁的梅毒』的字串
And made the phrase “the syphilis of Little Justin”
變成谷歌上最熱門的搜尋
Into Google’s most popular search
又有另外一個謠言說有本男性雜誌
And then there was another rumor that stated a men’s magazine
要小賈斯丁的媽媽五萬美元拍艷照
Offered Little Justin’s mom fifty thousand USD to pose for glamor shots
害他有得去滅火
This rumor hurt him and also had to be extinguished

有反賈斯丁的駭客
Some hackers opposed to Justin
竟然把他的MV連接接到色情網站
Unexpectedly connected [searches for] his music video to receive [search links for ] a pornographic web site

小賈斯丁問粉絲
Little Justin asked his fans
想他下一站到哪裡演唱的網路問卷
in an online questionnaire where they would like him to appear next to perform
也被灌票
Where he was pranked again (made to drink a coupon)
竟有五十萬人叫他去北韓演唱
When five hundred thousand people asked him to go to North Korea to perform

雖然小賈斯丁屢次被惡搞
Although Little Justin has repeatedly been targeted with evil meddling
他還是個很有自信的年輕男孩
He is still a confident young man
最近竟然還向喬納斯兄弟三人組嗆聲
Just recently he unexpectedly taunted the three Jonas brothers
說他一人可以打垮他們三個
And said that he alone can completely defeat the three of them

惡e3(噁心) nauseated
e4 evil, ferocious
wu4 to loathe
貨真價實huo4zhen1jia4shi2 high quality at a decent price; through and through
多虧(多亏)duo1kui1 thanks to, owing to, fortunately, luckily
星探xing1tan4 talent scout
發掘fa1jue2 to be unearthed, to be found
合約he2yue1 contract
一般yi4ban1 same, ordinary
風靡(风靡)feng1mi3 to be fashionable
宅zhai2 residence
對象(对象)dui4xiang4 target, object, boyfriend, girlfriend
車禍che1huo4 traffic accident
欲yu4 desire, to want
澄清cheng2qing1 to clear up, clarify, make clear
成員cheng2yuan2 member
聯合lian2he2 unite
字串zi4chuan2 character string
熱門re4men2 popular, hot, in vogue
搜尋sou1xun2 to look for, seach, hunt
艷(艳)yan4 gorgeous, romantic, envy
滅火(灭火)mie4huo3 to extinguish
駭客hai4ke4 “hacker”
駭hai4 astonish, startle
連接lian2jie1 to link, to connect
接到jie1dao4 to receive
問卷wen4juan3 questionnaire
灌guan4 to irrigate, to force to drink
屢次(屡次)lv3ci4 repeatedly, frequently, time and time again113
喬納斯qiao2na4si1 “Jonas”
嗆聲
嗆(呛)qiang4qiang1 to peck; stupid foolish; to cough because of choking
打垮da3kua3 completely defeat, to rout

What is PO?  P.O.? Po?  The po-po?  It isn’t in the dictionary.




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