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Lyrics
Nov 7, 2015 6:17:17 GMT
Post by siuyiu on Nov 7, 2015 6:17:17 GMT
i stopped following cantopop for over ten years, so i can't say whether this is a new trend. i definitely know that the younger lyricists like to cram as many words as possible into a song, which makes it a mouthful. for example, the very popular movie themesong for Young and Dangerous 友情歲月 could be at least 1/5 shorter in wordcount. (and if you're interested, i can show you how.) Yes, I'm interested to see how it can be shorten. ok!  here are the original lyrics: 友情歲月- 鄭伊健 作詞：劉卓輝 作曲：陳光榮 消失的光陰散在風裏 彷彿想不起再面對 流浪日子 你在伴隨 有緣再聚 ＊天真的聲音已在減退 彼此為著目標相距 凝望夜空 往日是誰 領會心中疲累 ＃來忘掉錯對 來懷念過去 曾共渡患難日子總有樂趣 不相信會絕望 不感覺到躊躇 在美夢裏競爭 每日拚命進取 △奔波的風雨裏 不羈的醒與醉 所有故事像已發生飄泊歲月裏 風吹過已靜下 將心意再還誰 讓眼淚已帶走夜憔悴 here is the pared down version 消失光陰散風裏 彷彿想不起再面對 流浪日子 你伴隨 有緣再聚 天真聲音已減退 彼此為著目標相距 凝望夜空 往日是誰 領會心中疲累 來忘掉錯對 懷念過去 共渡患難日子總有樂趣 不相信絕望 不感到躊躇 在美夢競爭 每日拚命進取 奔波風雨裏 不羈醒與醉 所有故事像發生飄泊歲月裏 風吹過已靜下 將心意再還誰 讓眼淚帶走夜憔悴 (ok, i know i exaggerated about the 1/5) not a huge change, but getting rid of those few words doesn't alter the meaning at all, proving they are redundant. |
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Lyrics
Nov 7, 2015 9:45:39 GMT
Post by caiyi on Nov 7, 2015 9:45:39 GMT
Ok, I tried to sing with your pared down lyrics, but it's not very smooth. Some words I have to drag out to fill up the melody. The original lyrics fill up the melody nicely.
These line is especially hard to sing. I have to modify the melody a bit to make it sound nice.
不相信絕望 不感到躊躇 在美夢競爭 每日拚命進取
Maybe I'm just used to the original version. I might feel differently if your version came out first.
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Lyrics
Nov 7, 2015 20:13:55 GMT
Post by siuyiu on Nov 7, 2015 20:13:55 GMT
Ok, I tried to sing with your pared down lyrics, but it's not very smooth. Some words I have to drag out to fill up the melody. The original lyrics fill up the melody nicely. These line is especially hard to sing. I have to modify the melody a bit to make it sound nice. 不相信絕望 不感到躊躇 在美夢競爭 每日拚命進取 Maybe I'm just used to the original version. I might feel differently if your version came out first. but that's my point: it is not a requirement for every note to have a word. so yes, the pared down lyrics have certain words sharing two notes instead of one. i'm not saying my pared down version is better; i just found the original unnecessarily wordy, that's all. i've added an underscore (_) after the word that occupies more than one note so you have an idea how it'd be sung with the pared down lyrics (NOTE: two spots where you can simply remove the extra note is marked with an "x"): 消_失光陰散_風裏 彷彿想不起再面對 流浪日子 你_伴隨 有緣再聚 天_真聲音已_減退 彼此為著目標相距 凝望夜空 往日是誰 領會心中疲累 來忘掉錯對 x懷念過去 x共渡患難日子總有樂趣 不相_信絕望 不感_到躊躇 在美_夢競爭 每日拚命進取 奔波_風雨裏 不羈_醒與醉 所有故事像_發生飄泊歲月裏 風吹過已靜下 將心意再還誰 讓眼_淚帶走夜憔悴 |
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Lyrics
Nov 17, 2015 14:50:14 GMT
Post by caiyi on Nov 17, 2015 14:50:14 GMT
siuyiu, what do you think of this lyrics? Good or not? When I listen to the song, I thought the lyric is quite easy. But, when I actually study it, I found many terms that are new to me and I even read some words wrongly. The lyricist must be very good at literary stuff or maybe the terms just rare for someone who didn't study proper chinese in school. i stopped following cantopop for over ten years, so i can't say whether this is a new trend. i definitely know that the younger lyricists like to cram as many words as possible into a song, which makes it a mouthful. for example, the very popular movie themesong for Young and Dangerous 友情歲月 could be at least 1/5 shorter in wordcount. (and if you're interested, i can show you how.) it was pointed out by one of the prominent lyricists--cheng kwok kong, i think--that the younger generation of lyricist purposely chose to use more difficult terms/words. because they could. i sincerely doubt this was because the entire population's education level just went up. and i think in that same interview, the host also complained about how difficult it is to learn the lyrics of any of the newer songs--if you don't have a prompter, it's impossible. also, despite the harder words, the pictures painted are hardly more beautiful. the songs are more like architectural constructions than works of art. so, getting back to the topic of whether i like the lyrics of 獨一無二, the simple answer is NO. for several reasons: [1] for such a soothing melody, there are too many words [2] the words don't flow, there's no rhythm to them (and i don't even mean the lack of rhyme scheme) [3] the difficult terms don't add impact or elegance to the story--they are just difficult words placed there to prove that the lyricist knows them [4] the rest of the words do not paint a particularly interesting story; the theme is about as mundane as it gets [5] there is a dissociation between the title and the lyrics--nothing in the lyrics explain why the lover is unique (that's what 獨一無二 means, right?) for me, a pop song needs to be memorable and easy to sing. i'm not looking for a mahler symphony or a rachmaninoff concerto. After you mentioned them, I did notice the weakness in the lyrics. I don't mind the crowded lyrics as long as it flows well, but, some line the the lyrics didn't, which made it even harder to memorise. Example: 仍惦記著昨日最美的一吻. I think using 仍念記著昨日最美的一吻 will flow better. The overall lyrics is also inconsistent. It's like the lyricist coming up with the lyrics line by line without referring back to what he wrote earlier. So, we have contradicting lines like these. 花會謝愛情會逝 夏與冬會更替情共愛卻可相傳萬世 So, is love ever-lasting or not? But, to fair, the first paragraph is to the point and right on target in reference to the series. The series is basically about 2 people having the same face but different personality and have some very touching love stories. So, this paragraph is suitable. 誰有他 多相似的臉龐 舊記憶 亦絕不會同樣 遺忘了肉身 參透了無常 人面縱是變幻愛也不變樣 |
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Lyrics
Nov 17, 2015 18:06:51 GMT
Post by siuyiu on Nov 17, 2015 18:06:51 GMT
@caiyi agree that your modified lyrics flow better than the original! and yes, it does seem that the lyricist pieced together the lyrics bit by bit, line by line, completely losing sight of the overall. difficult lyrics like these make the song immemorable, which defeats the point of being a pop song. ten years from now, people won't even remember the song. whereas i'm fairly certain you only need to strike up the intro of 世間始終你好 (as a random example) and people will be able to at least hum along if not remember the lyrics in full.
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Lyrics
Nov 17, 2015 18:43:14 GMT
Post by siuyiu on Nov 17, 2015 18:43:14 GMT
i've known these lyrics for a while now, though i usually listen to the alternate version (michael kwan's 星 Star shares the same melody). in light of recent attacks on beirut and paris, these were particularly poignant when i chanced upon the song again:
號角 (1980年) Battle Horn
主唱︰羅文 sung by: Roman Tam
作曲︰谷村新司 composed by: Tanimura Shinji
填詞︰鄭國江 lyrics by: Cheng Kwok Kong
號角吹起烽煙遍地
良民田園盡棄 顛沛流離
但見頹垣敗瓦 烽火滿地
怕看繁榮鬧市竟變一廢墟
啊 充滿血淚
恨痛莫名 嘆息唏噓
誰人要烽煙遍地
故都新市一朝粉碎
盼待和平 結束紛爭
再不要興殺機
期待仁愛
盼再睹一絲生氣
重獲仁愛
這世間佈滿生氣
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Lyrics
Nov 22, 2015 14:33:41 GMT
Post by caiyi on Nov 22, 2015 14:33:41 GMT
regarding LOCH83, there are actually 3 themesongs because it was made in three parts; already, the 1st themesong is the least romance-heavy. but agree that the focus is too much on the romance while ignoring other elements of the story. and LOL re: james wong missing out on the chance to write ROCH. well, he couldn't have the monopoly on tvb wuxia themesongs.  plus it's possible he was otherwise occupied. I know I have said many times that James Wong is too focus on love and romance when he wrote lyrics for wuxia series, but, I do like this themesong of the 3 LOCH themesongs. It's Guo Jing and Huang Rong's story. When I listen to the first line, I always see the scene of Guo Jing and Huang Rong first met. 一生有意義 My Life Becomes Meaningful 作詞：黃沾 Lyricist: James Wong 作曲：顧嘉輝 Composer: Joseph Koo 合唱：羅文/甄妮 Sinngers: Roman Tam/Jenny Tsang 女：人海之中找到了你 一切變了有情義 男：從今心中就找到了美 找到了痴愛所依 女：人生匆匆心裡有愛 一世有了意義 男：啊啊啊 此生有意思 女：萬水千山此生有人 男：啊啊啊 女：相攜又相倚 男：相靠倚 男：同聲 女：同心 男：同氣 女：同意 合：無分彼此 用盡愛與我痴 與你生死相依 女：情痴心痴 真意愛意 此世也永無異 男：啊啊啊 真心永無貳 女：共闖刀山不會辭 英雄俠義 男：啊啊啊 現仁義 女：射鵰英姿青史永留 英雄俠義 男：啊啊啊 現仁義 |
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Lyrics
Nov 22, 2015 20:34:46 GMT
Post by siuyiu on Nov 22, 2015 20:34:46 GMT
@caiyi agreed that of the 3 main themes of LOCH, this is the loveliest.  |
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Lyrics
Nov 9, 2016 3:55:59 GMT
Post by siuyiu on Nov 9, 2016 3:55:59 GMT
reviving this thread! and choosing two songs to point out a pattern of lyrics that's pretty unique to the chinese language: the use of repetition of single words. i don't know enough about chinese poetry to know why this repetition is used; certainly, they don't add to the meaning of the words, so seems to be an aesthetic. (correct me if i'm wrong!)
i'm deliberately highlighting the repeated words (colours are arbitrary choices).
春雨彎刀 Spring Rain, Curved Sabre
作詞：鄧偉雄 lyrics: Tang Wai Hung
作曲：顧家輝 melody: Joseph Koo
情情怨怨在春雨裏
仇仇恨恨在彎刀邊
耀目刀鋒光似冰霜
難斷春雨密綿綿
顰顰笑笑在春雨裏
名名利利在彎刀邊
斷石分金剛勝青霜
難斷心裏恨綿綿
心似絮還亂 恩似滅還現
萬般得失 萬般愛惡
盡在江湖了斷
情情怨怨消失春雨裏
名名利利滅卻彎刀邊
獨剩淒風吹冷肝膽
陪伴那春雨密綿綿
大內群英 Imperial Heroes
作詞：盧國沾 lyrics: Lok Kwok Tsim
作曲：黎小田 melody: Michael Lai
陣陣熱風昏昏吹
幕幕紛爭濺熱淚 濺熱淚
世間變幻說興衰
段段是非繞心間
默默低首說負累 說負累
我嗟歎大志不能遂
名利負累 傲氣一生竟多畏懼
面對絕境 難道我會頹然後退
勝負存亡難到冥冥中
早有命運落下聖旨判了罪
步步自感一驚心
道道刀光見暴戾 見暴戾
瞬息際遇也爭取
夜夜月光灑青輝
但願在花間抱月睡 抱月睡
我只盼夢裡真情共永許
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Nov 9, 2016 4:14:44 GMT
Post by chefying on Nov 9, 2016 4:14:44 GMT
Thanks for posting siuyiu. I have always the title theme from both these TV series. |
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Nov 9, 2016 4:46:25 GMT
Post by siuyiu on Nov 9, 2016 4:46:25 GMT
Thanks for posting siuyiu . I have always the title theme from both these TV series. yes, they're among my faves as well. such fantastic songs, both melody and lyrics! |
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Lyrics
Nov 10, 2016 9:31:23 GMT
Post by reinafu on Nov 10, 2016 9:31:23 GMT
I can't say anything regarding the lyrics, but I love so much the theme from God of sabre (I think that I already said that in a previous post...)!
Since I recognized David Chiang and Michelle Yim in the last clip (Imperial heroes), I guess that it comes from the ATV's series Dynasty, right ?
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Lyrics
Nov 10, 2016 23:58:08 GMT
Post by siuyiu on Nov 10, 2016 23:58:08 GMT
I can't say anything regarding the lyrics, but I love so much the theme from God of sabre (I think that I already said that in a previous post...)! Since I recognized David Chiang and Michelle Yim in the last clip (Imperial heroes), I guess that it comes from the ATV's series Dynasty, right ? yes, that's the theme song from ATV's Dynasty. the theme of God of Sabre is already exquisite melody-wise. the lyrics are just added poetry. i have a translation somewhere... |
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Lyrics
Nov 11, 2016 2:31:12 GMT
Post by siuyiu on Nov 11, 2016 2:31:12 GMT
aha! my poor translations don't do justice to the poetry of the lyrics, sorry.
春雨彎刀 Spring Rain, Curved Sabre
曲: 顧嘉煇 melody: Joseph Koo Ka Fai
詞: 鄧偉雄 lyrics: Tang Wai Hung
唱：甄妮 sung by: Jenny Tseng
情情怨怨在春雨裡 love and reproach amidst the rain
仇仇恨恨在彎刀邊 revenge and hatred by the sabre
耀目刀鋒光似冰霜 blinding, the sabre's flash is like frost
難斷春雨密綿綿 can't destroy the spring's rain
顰顰笑笑在春雨裡 laugh and cry amidst the rain
名名利利在彎刀邊 fame and fortune by the sabre
斷石分金剛勝青霜 splitting rock, breaking metal surpasses the frost
難斷心裡恨綿綿 can't destroy the heart's hatred
*心似絮還亂 恩似滅還現 the heart more tangled than thread, benevolence seems obliterated but reappears
萬般得失 萬般愛惡 all gains and losses, all love and evil
盡在江湖了斷 should be settled in jianghu
＃情情怨怨消失春雨裡 love and reproach disappear in the rain
名名利利滅卻彎刀邊 fame and fortune dispelled by the sabre
獨剩凄風吹冷肝膽 the cold wind freezes bravery
陪伴那春雨密綿綿 coupled with the dense spring rain
大内群英 Imperial Heroes
曲: 黎小田 melody: Michael Lai Siu Tin
詞: 盧國沾 lyrics: Lo Kwok Tsim
唱：葉振堂 sung by: Johnny Yip Chun Tong
陣陣熱風昏昏吹 gusts of wind blow tumultuously
幕幕紛爭濺熱淚 濺熱淚 episodes of conflict, spattered hot tears
世間變幻說與衰 changes in the times wax and wane
段段是非繞心間 every rumour plagues the heart
默默低首說負累 說負累 bowed head bespeaks burdens
我嗟歎大志不能遂 i bemoan my ambitions can't be abandoned
名利負累 burdens of fame and fortune
傲氣一生竟多畏懼 arrogance is intimidating
面對絕境 facing the precipice
難倒我會頹然後退 is it assumed i'll decay and retreat
勝負存亡難到冥冥中 win or loss, live or die: is it fated
早有命運落下聖旨 判了罪 the decree would be passed, the sentence given
步步自感一驚心 every step is fraught with fear
道道刀光見暴戾 見暴戾 each flash of the knife reveals fierce tears
瞬息際遇也爭取 brief intercourses to be gained
夜夜月光灑青輝 the moon's rays shimmer
但願在花間抱月睡 抱月睡 wishing to sleep in the garden embracing the moon
我只盼夢裏真情共永許 wishing to keep forever in dreams my love
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Lyrics
Nov 18, 2016 21:55:05 GMT
Post by reinafu on Nov 18, 2016 21:55:05 GMT
Thanks a lot for the translations !!
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plus it's possible he was otherwise occupied. 
