梦幻的世界 A wOrLd of ILLuSiOns

听寂寞说 Lonesome Talks (lyrics translation)

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 05:43:49 GMT

I love Winnie Hsin's voice. This is a track on her newest album just released this month.

辛晓琪 Winnie Hsin (Xiao Qi) - 听寂寞说 Lonesome Talks
Download mp3 here

Though the past is beautiful
It is but the past
Feelings from those years ago
Are probably just as half forgotten
And the 'us' of the future? We're still breathing
We bring along a suitcase of happiness
Where ever our travels take us

Leave those bittersweet times behind, people must move on
After a journey taken on rough gravel roads
Do we then realise the preciousness of the ordinary

Later, I would often listen to this loneliness alone
It said - sign your name and let me go
What about you? Will you be willing to wave goodbye to yesterday with a smile?
Destiny continues to move along, its enough to just try your best
No matter how far one flies, we have to descend (back to reality) eventually

The tears that evaporate?
Perhaps they don't matter no more
Time, it said to me -
It is time to be happy
Memories that remain in our hearts
Leave them be (Don't say)

Chinese

听寂寞说

过去是美丽的
但是都过去了
当年的感动呢
多半忘了
後来的我们呢　呼吸着
去哪里旅行呢
也要携带一皮箱快乐
酸甜的时光留下来　人得往前走
走过一路的碎石头
才知道平凡多难得
以後　我常常自己一个人听寂寞
它说　签上名字请把它给放走
你呢　你是否也肯微笑与过去挥手
命运在移动　努力过了就好了
飞的再远　最後还是需要降落
蒸发的眼泪呢
也许无所谓了
光阴它对我说
该幸福了
记忆摆在心中　别说

Romanised Pin Yin

tīng jì mò shuō

guò qù shì měi lì de
dàn shì dōu guò qù le
dāng nián de gǎn dòng ne
duō bàn wàng le
hòu lái de wǒ men ne 　hū xī zhe
qù nǎ lǐ lǚ háng ne
yě yào xié dài yī pí xiāng kuài lè
suān tián de shí guāng liú xià lái 　rén dé wǎng qián zǒu
zǒu guò yī lù de suì shí tóu
cái zhī dào píng fán duō nán dé
yǐ hòu 　wǒ cháng cháng zì jǐ yī gè rén tīng jì mò
tā shuō 　qiān shàng míng zì qǐng bǎ tā gěi fàng zǒu
nǐ ne 　nǐ shì fǒu yě kěn wēi xiào yǔ guò qù huī shǒu
mìng yùn zài yí dòng 　nǔ lì guò le jiù hǎo le
fēi de zài yuǎn 　zuì hòu hái shì xū yào jiàng luò
zhēng fā de yǎn lèi ne
yě xǔ wú suǒ wèi le
guāng yīn tā duì wǒ shuō
gāi xìng fú le
jì yì bǎi zài xīn zhōng 　bié shuō

盗墓笔记·张起灵·不朽 Diary of a tomb raider . Zhang Qi Ling . Eternity (lyrics translation)

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 05:34:15 GMT

A song by china band 音频怪物 Audiofreak (yin pin guai wu) based on a series of chinese books that are raving popular in china at the moment.

音频怪物 Audiofreak - 盗墓笔记·张起灵·不朽 Diary of a tomb raider . Zhang Qi Ling . Immortal
Download mp3 here

Let time etch your outline in forever

Clouds frozen in the air
Flipping through the books written by time
Handwriting clear yet blurred
The wind records -
This path winding from the unknown

The horizon below your feet gradually disappears
If I forget myself how will I reach (my destination)
The wind blowing from across valleys and mountains stings my face
I see the ultimate end but I hear no answers still

Rain falling downwards
Till the fire and blood go cold
Till no one remembers that you once existed
Snow falling hurriedly
Burying those silent secrets

Do not touch the flowers blooming from bone remains
Dozens of tattered images flash before that moment
Do not forget the cliff that stands in impassive silence in the dark night
Hesitation and disorientation are the consequence of having forgotten

Smiles flicker like breaths
The sun rises the moon wanes in your eyes
Trudging across how many a centuries
Pursuing the scars left behind

The one in the mirror, which is truly me?
Most unfamiliar yet most familiar, truths that cannot be touched upon

So let time etch your outline in forever
At that flash of moment the tattoo spreads across your chest
So let time carry the light in your eyes forever
Glancing back through the smog of lies and truths

[He may know all, but he will never know himself]

盗墓笔记·张起灵·不朽

就让永恒时间刻下你的模样

云都停住
去翻看光阴写的书
那些字迹清晰又模糊
风在记录
这段不知来处的路

渐渐消失的地平线在你脚下
如果忘了自己怎么去抵达
翻山越岭而来的风吹痛脸颊
看到了终极却听不到回答

雨落下去
直到火与血都沉寂
再没有人记得有过你
雪等不及
掩埋那些沉默的秘密

别去触碰从白骨里开出的花
多少破碎画面闪现那一霎
不要忘记黑夜里静默的悬崖
彷徨和迷失是遗忘的代价

笑意明灭像呼吸
日升月沉在你眼睛里
跋涉过多少个世纪
追逐存在的痕迹

镜子里面的人哪个才是自己
最陌生也最熟悉无法触及的谜底

就让永恒时间刻下你的模样
那一刹那刺青蔓延在胸膛
就让永恒时间承载你的目光
穿过谎言真相迷雾中回望

就让永恒时间刻下你的模样
那一刹那刺青蔓延在胸膛
就让永恒时间承载你的目光
穿过谎言真相迷雾中回望

「他洞悉一切，却无法洞悉自己。」

dào mù bǐ jì ·zhāng qǐ líng ·bú xiǔ

jiù ràng yǒng héng shí jiān kè xià nǐ de mó yàng

yún dōu tíng zhù
qù fān kàn guāng yīn xiě de shū
nà xiē zì jì qīng xī yòu mó hú
fēng zài jì lù
zhè duàn bú zhī lái chù de lù

jiàn jiàn xiāo shī de dì píng xiàn zài nǐ jiǎo xià
rú guǒ wàng le zì jǐ zěn me qù dǐ dá
fān shān yuè lǐng ér lái de fēng chuī tòng liǎn jiá
kàn dào le zhōng jí què tīng bú dào huí dá

yǔ luò xià qù
zhí dào huǒ yǔ xuè dōu chén jì
zài méi yǒu rén jì dé yǒu guò nǐ
xuě děng bú jí
yǎn mái nà xiē chén mò de mì mì

bié qù chù pèng cóng bái gǔ lǐ kāi chū de huā
duō shǎo pò suì huà miàn shǎn xiàn nà yī shà
bú yào wàng jì hēi yè lǐ jìng mò de xuán yá
páng huáng hé mí shī shì yí wàng de dài jià

xiào yì míng miè xiàng hū xī
rì shēng yuè chén zài nǐ yǎn jīng lǐ
bá shè guò duō shǎo gè shì jì
zhuī zhú cún zài de hén jì

jìng zǐ lǐ miàn de rén nǎ gè cái shì zì jǐ
zuì mò shēng yě zuì shú xī wú fǎ chù jí de mí dǐ

jiù ràng yǒng héng shí jiān kè xià nǐ de mó yàng
nà yī shā nà cì qīng màn yán zài xiōng táng
jiù ràng yǒng héng shí jiān chéng zǎi nǐ de mù guāng
chuān guò huǎng yán zhēn xiàng mí wù zhōng huí wàng

jiù ràng yǒng héng shí jiān kè xià nǐ de mó yàng
nà yī shā nà cì qīng màn yán zài xiōng táng
jiù ràng yǒng héng shí jiān chéng zǎi nǐ de mù guāng
chuān guò huǎng yán zhēn xiàng mí wù zhōng huí wàng

「tā dòng xī yī qiē ，què wú fǎ dòng xī zì jǐ 。」

你一定要幸福 Please be happy (lyrics translation)

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 05:05:01 GMT

This is one of the first songs that made China singer He Jie famous. It is also a song I have liked very much for a long time, and a must sing at karaoke :)

何洁 He Jie - 你一定要幸福 Please be happy
Download mp3 here

Following the street lamps I walk home alone
On the phone with an old friend
'How is the weather over there?'
'Any news that we can joke about?'

Memories and I don't like to talk much
Once in awhile I will think of him
A little tug of yearning in my heart
But certain feelings are inevitable lost to distance

In the middle of the soulless quiet night I think of him
The flowers he sent
And those heart wrenching words of love
Gambling for a bargain of happiness

In the street bustling with people I think of him
How is he doing now?
Although I couldn't give you the answer you sought
But please be happy

Chinese

你一定要幸福

沿着路灯一个人走回家
和老朋友打电话
你那里天气好吗
有什么新闻可以当作笑话

回忆与我都不爱说话
偶尔我会想起他
心里有一些牵挂
有些爱却不得不各安天涯

在夜深人静的时候想起他
送的那些花
还说过一些撕心裂肺的情话
赌一把幸福的筹码

在人来人往的街头想起他
他现在好吗
可我没有能给你想要的回答
可是你一定要幸福呀

Romanised Pin Yin

nǐ yī dìng yào xìng fú ya

yán zhe lù dēng yī gè rén zǒu huí jiā
hé lǎo péng yǒu dǎ diàn huà
nǐ nà lǐ tiān qì hǎo ma
yǒu shí me xīn wén kě yǐ dāng zuò xiào huà

huí yì yǔ wǒ dōu bú ài shuō huà
ǒu ěr wǒ huì xiǎng qǐ tā
xīn lǐ yǒu yī xiē qiān guà
yǒu xiē ài què bú dé bú gè ān tiān yá

zài yè shēn rén jìng de shí hòu xiǎng qǐ tā
sòng de nà xiē huā
hái shuō guò yī xiē sī xīn liè fèi de qíng huà
dǔ yī bǎ xìng fú de chóu mǎ

zài rén lái rén wǎng de jiē tóu xiǎng qǐ tā
tā xiàn zài hǎo ma
kě wǒ méi yǒu néng gěi nǐ xiǎng yào de huí dá
kě shì nǐ yī dìng yào xìng fú ya

你被写在我的歌里 You Are Written In My Song (lyrics translation)

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 07:49:29 GMT

A duet between Qing Feng from Sodagreen & Ella from S.H.E., recorded in Sodagreen's 2011 album '你在烦恼什么 What is troubling you?'.

苏打绿 Sodagreen & Ella - 你被写在我的歌里 You Are Written In My Song
Download mp3 here

The road traveled is a case of magic
Take all the good things, bad things to become mine
Even if we don't remember the bitterness in our hearts,
They have transformed into this gaze, and sang into a song

And you are like the rippling sound of water flowing into this poem
Knocking open the door to my heart, embracing all my hatred
Nourishing the drought, believing I can be yours

As though the sorrowful face from yesterday lingers still
Happiness can sometimes sting like a slap on the face
It is you who reminded me to not be afraid of dreaming
To not succumb to thoughts of habitual avoidance

As though we can just make out two trails of footprints on the corridor of tomorrow
Sadness has sometimes been flavoured by you into a piece of sweet
It is you who held tightly on to me, looking straight ahead
Looking towards the opposite shore of my inner thoughts filled with blossoming flowers
I am written all over your eyes, blinking

You are written in my song, to sing
We are written in each other's hearts, to love

Chinese
你被写在我的歌里

走过的路是一阵魔术
把所有的好的坏的变成我的
心里的苦就算不记得
都化作这目光吟唱成一首歌

而你像流进诗里的嘈嘈水声
敲进我心门拥抱了所有的恨
滋养了乾涸相信我能是你的

彷佛还看见昨日那张悲伤的脸庞
快乐有时候竟然辣得像一记耳光
是你提醒我别怕去幻想
想我内心躲避惯的渴望

彷佛能看见明日两串脚印的走廊
忧伤有时候竟被你调味得像颗糖
是你抓紧我往前去张望
望我内心夹岸群花盛放
我被写在你的眼睛里眨呀

你被写在我的歌里面唱呀
我们被写在彼此心里爱呀

Romanised Pin Yin
nǐ bèi xiě zài wǒ de gē lǐ

zǒu guò de lù shì yī zhèn mó shù
bǎ suǒ yǒu de hǎo de huài de biàn chéng wǒ de
xīn lǐ de kǔ jiù suàn bú jì dé
dōu huà zuò zhè mù guāng yín chàng chéng yī shǒu gē

ér nǐ xiàng liú jìn shī lǐ de cáo cáo shuǐ shēng
qiāo jìn wǒ xīn mén yōng bào le suǒ yǒu de hèn
zī yǎng le qián hé xiàng xìn wǒ néng shì nǐ de

páng fó hái kàn jiàn zuó rì nà zhāng bēi shāng de liǎn páng
kuài lè yǒu shí hòu jìng rán là dé xiàng yī jì ěr guāng
shì nǐ tí xǐng wǒ bié pà qù huàn xiǎng
xiǎng wǒ nèi xīn duǒ bì guàn de kě wàng

páng fó néng kàn jiàn míng rì liǎng chuàn jiǎo yìn de zǒu láng
yōu shāng yǒu shí hòu jìng bèi nǐ diào wèi dé xiàng kē táng
shì nǐ zhuā jǐn wǒ wǎng qián qù zhāng wàng
wàng wǒ nèi xīn jiá àn qún huā shèng fàng
wǒ bèi xiě zài nǐ de yǎn jīng lǐ zhǎ ya

nǐ bèi xiě zài wǒ de gē lǐ miàn chàng ya
wǒ men bèi xiě zài bǐ cǐ xīn lǐ ài ya

如果忘了，就不重要。 (It is no longer important, once forgotten.)

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:59:50 GMT

[Listening to - Cradle.mp3]

其实每一个在地球上感到孤独的生物，都是来自外星球的旅客。他们原本是在自己的星球参加了一个名为孤独之旅的旅行团，才会因此来到地球上的。所以那些常常会感到孤独的生物其实根本不必害怕。好好享受这场旅行吧，因为等你的孤独走到尽头的时候，你回家的时刻就到了。

Actually, every living being who feels lonely on this earth are travelers from another planet. Back on their own planet, they participated in a tour titled 'A Journey of Solitude'. As a result, they have come to this earth. Hence those that frequently find themselves lonely have no reason to be afraid. Enjoy this journey, because when your road in solitude ends, it is time to go home.

p.s. I am off to rural for 3 weeks for my rural rotation!

"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:32:30 GMT

~ Forest Gump

[Listening to - I'm Forrest... Forrest Gump.mp3]

Jenny Curran: Do you ever dream, Forrest, about who you're gonna be?
Forrest Gump: Who I'm gonna be?
Jenny Curran: Yeah.
Forrest Gump: Aren't-aren't I going to be me?

明天，你好 Tomorrow, hello (lyrics translation)

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:06:08 GMT

A hit song from this duo's latest EP 《Lost & Found 去→寻找》 released in July last year 2011.

牛奶咖啡 milk@coffee - 明天，你好 Tomorrow, hello
Download mp3 here

Watch as the 'us' of yesterday walk further away
In the center of the destiny's public square we wait
The fuzzy image of shoulders
Gradually shrinking as they run off into the distance

The friends that we once walked side by side with
After we drink to our happiness, are lost to one another
Though that particular night
Will always be buried deep within my heart

Once grown up, I can only but run
Afraid to tumble straight into the darkness
To tomorrow, hello. I smile with tears in my eyes
The more beautiful, the more afraid I am to possess it

After every cry, I will smile running forward
Losing and finding something as I go along
To tomorrow, hello. Even in a small voice
But it jolts me awake to the meaning of courage

When I walk in the opposite direction
Huddled in the corner of the stairway I seek courage
Shoulders visibly shaking as I weep
I ask myself, where am I?

The friends that we once walked side by side with
They wordlessly understood my suffering
Time, it lies constantly
Those shoulders have never been lost to me

Once grown up, I can only but run
Afraid to tumble straight into the darkness
To tomorrow, hello. I smile with tears in my eyes
The more beautiful, the more afraid I am to possess it

After every cry, I will smile running forward
Losing and finding something as I go along
To tomorrow, hello. Even in a small voice
But it jolts me awake...

Once grown up, I can only but run
Afraid to tumble straight into the darkness
To tomorrow, hello. I smile with tears in my eyes
The more beautiful, the more afraid I am to possess it

After every cry, I will smile running forward
Losing and finding something as I go along
To tomorrow, hello. Even in a small voice
But it jolts me awake to the meaning of courage

Chinese
明天，你好

看昨天的我们走远了
在命运广场中央等待
那模糊的肩膀
越奔跑越渺小
曾经并肩往前的伙伴
在举杯祝福后都走散
只是那个夜晚
我深深的都留藏在心坎
长大以后我只能奔跑
我多害怕黑暗中跌倒
明天你好含着泪微笑
越美好越害怕得到
每一次哭又笑着奔跑
一边失去一边在寻找
明天你好声音多渺小
却提醒我勇敢是什么

当我朝着反方向走去
在楼梯的角落找勇气
抖着肩膀哭泣
问自己在哪里
曾经并肩往前的伙伴
沉默着懂得我的委屈
时间它总说谎
我从不曾失去那些肩膀
长大以后我只能奔跑
我多害怕黑暗中跌倒
明天你好含着泪微笑
越美好越害怕得到
每一次哭又笑着奔跑
一边失去一边在寻找
明天你好声音多渺小
却提醒我
长大以后我只能奔跑
我多害怕黑暗中跌倒
明天你好含着泪微笑
越美好越害怕得到
每一次哭又笑着奔跑
一边失去一边在寻找
明天你好声音多渺小
却提醒我勇敢是什么

Romanised Pin Yin
míng tiān, nǐ hǎo

kàn zuó tiān de wǒ men zǒu yuǎn le
zài mìng yùn guǎng chǎng zhōng yāng děng dài
nà mó hú de jiān bǎng
yuè bēn pǎo yuè miǎo xiǎo
céng jīng bìng jiān wǎng qián de huǒ bàn
zài jǔ bēi zhù fú hòu dōu zǒu sàn
zhī shì nà gè yè wǎn
wǒ shēn shēn de dōu liú cáng zài xīn kǎn
zhǎng dà yǐ hòu wǒ zhī néng bēn pǎo
wǒ duō hài pà hēi àn zhōng diē dǎo
míng tiān nǐ hǎo hán zhe lèi wēi xiào
yuè měi hǎo yuè hài pà dé dào
měi yī cì kū yòu xiào zhe bēn pǎo
yī biān shī qù yī biān zài xún zhǎo
míng tiān nǐ hǎo shēng yīn duō miǎo xiǎo
què tí xǐng wǒ yǒng gǎn shì shí me

dāng wǒ cháo zhe fǎn fāng xiàng zǒu qù
zài lóu tī de jiǎo luò zhǎo yǒng qì
dǒu zhe jiān bǎng kū qì
wèn zì jǐ zài nǎ lǐ
céng jīng bìng jiān wǎng qián de huǒ bàn
chén mò zhe dǒng dé wǒ de wěi qū
shí jiān tā zǒng shuō huǎng
wǒ cóng bú céng shī qù nà xiē jiān bǎng
zhǎng dà yǐ hòu wǒ zhī néng bēn pǎo
wǒ duō hài pà hēi àn zhōng diē dǎo
míng tiān nǐ hǎo hán zhe lèi wēi xiào
yuè měi hǎo yuè hài pà dé dào
měi yī cì kū yòu xiào zhe bēn pǎo
yī biān shī qù yī biān zài xún zhǎo
míng tiān nǐ hǎo shēng yīn duō miǎo xiǎo
què tí xǐng wǒ
zhǎng dà yǐ hòu wǒ zhī néng bēn pǎo
wǒ duō hài pà hēi àn zhōng diē dǎo
míng tiān nǐ hǎo hán zhe lèi wēi xiào
yuè měi hǎo yuè hài pà dé dào
měi yī cì kū yòu xiào zhe bēn pǎo
yī biān shī qù yī biān zài xún zhǎo
míng tiān nǐ hǎo shēng yīn duō miǎo xiǎo
què tí xǐng wǒ yǒng gǎn shì shí me

Let's usher in the Year of the Dragon!

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:19:39 GMT

Happy Chinese New Year!

Oh no I'll be 24 soon. Dragon is my year :)

I wish everyone and their family to be happy and healthy in the year of the dragon. I hope I will be happy and healthy too. Let's try to keep our spirits up together, and continue to smile and enjoy life to its fullest.

Thoughts/Resolutions:
I hope I can care less of what others say.
I hope I will continue to learn to make myself happy.
I hope my final year in medical school will be a smooth one.
I hope to learn to relax more (and reduce my attacks of gastritis).
I hope I can have better control of my bad habits and flaws.
I hope to understand people better.
I hope others will accomodate my strengths and weaknesses.
I hope to find love and understanding.
I hope you reading this will be happy and healthy.

Michael Vincent on Penn & Teller: Fool Us

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:05:54 GMT

Michael Vincent is an amazing magician specialising in up-close magic, and these are his 2 appearances on Penn & Teller's Fool Us show. Classic and old school magic performed to perfection. Although he didn't fool Penn & Teller, his were my favourite performances.

The ending was marvelous for this one.

This last one isn't by Michael Vincent. He appeared on the same episode and I found it hilarious but the magic itself isn't as mind blowing (at least I didn't feel anything magic about it).

I've watched these many many times after catching them on TV and continue to be amazed XD

雨花石 Rain Flower Pebbles

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:02:14 GMT

I was watching one of china's CCTV night concerts for the English New Year (link) and one of the performances was this song - 雨花石 Rain Flower Pebbles, what I first thought was a duet between a woman (dressed in opera costume) and a man. They were reaching higher octaves as the song progressed I couldn't believe it was live singing, and so I went to find more of the same performances. This is one that was performed one year ago:

MUST WATCH! It's incredible.

3 things that make this song incredible:
1. '雨花石 Rain Flower Pebbles' was composed by Hu Li purposely for 石头 Shi Tou, the male voice in this song. He was runner up on one of China's many talent contest. He has a great and emotional (like very emotional, haha) voice, and very good at mimicking famous singers which I guess means he is very versatile. I think this song was originally released as a duet with another female singer.

2. The lyrics, simple and easy to understand, and very very sad.

The rain drizzle slightly
My heart burns like fire
Whose tears are those
Draped lightly on one's face

The love between the pebble and rain
Like the blue of the ocean
Though overflowed with innumerable words
They are all too difficult to express

Hey~ Where are you?
Hey~ I can't see you

I am a piece of tiny pebble
Buried deeply within the earth
Your shadow, no longer visible
I still search for your smile that was once here

I am a piece of tiny pebble
Buried deeply within the earth
Thousands of years later when the curtain calls
I continue to wait for you in the wind and rain

I continue to wait for you in the wind/earth

3. The female voice of this song sang by Li Yu Gang (read: Li Yugang: A Charming Woman on Stage, A Real Man in Life). He is equivalent to a nandan (男旦, female impersonator in Chinese Opera). His voice is mind blowing.

Another of his performance this time a fancam because it's still hard to believe it's live: 逐夢令, composed by Jay Chou, penned by Fang Wen Shan.

A Fresh Start.

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:55:31 GMT

I would have liked to sit down and write something more personal and thoughtful but unfortunately haven't got time at the moment. Hopefully I do get some time later to self-reflect. Glad to have survived another year :)

Credit: Calvin and Hobbes

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."

- Neil Gaiman

Never Give Up

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:30:42 GMT

Never Give Up.

'Suburban Street' by Katie Goes to Tokyo [dl]

tuesday night
closing time is getting closer
as we’re talking
you and me
are so alike one step behind
chasing rainbows but
maybe tonight
It’ll all be alright
or tomorrow we will meet
on the same suburban street
you say that
time is never really on our side
there′s nothing waiting for us
but I, I think every roads a possibility
let's take our chances
maybe tonight
It’ll all be alright
or tomorrow we will meet
on the same suburban street
maybe tonight
It’ll all be alright
or tomorrow we will meet
on the same suburban street
on the same suburban street

The Inner Fire of Reaching Higher

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:42:02 GMT

"Higher". A photograph by JoyHey.

Babel theme song: Bibo no Aozora (美貌の青空) by 坂本龍一 Sakamoto Ryūichi

When I look upon the tombs of the great, every emotion of envy dies in me; when I read the epitaphs of the beautiful, every inordinate desire goes out; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone, my heart melts with compassion; when I see the tomb of the parents themselves, I consider the vanity of grieving for those whom we must quickly follow; when I see kings lying by those who deposed them, when I consider rival wits placed side by side, or the holy men that divided the world with their contests and disputes, I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions and debates of mankind. When I read the several dates of the tombs, of some that died yesterday, and some six hundred years ago, I consider that great day when we shall all of us be contemporaries, and make our appearance together.

- Joseph Addison "Thoughts in Westminster Abbey"

[Best Hits Kayousai 2011] Yuzu - 翔 Sho

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:23:00 GMT

*jumps up and down and do the flips*

Not only is this the full song but a live performance too XD I think the full PV may already be out but I don't have enough home internet to stream another video at the moment.

I love this song!! So nice :) The camera did a great job in this, in my opinion. The guys look great. So happy~ The atmosphere could have been better, I'm sure it would be 100x much better at their concert. Hey, but the focus is the singing duo here ^^ Now, I just need to wait for the lyrics translation that will hopefully pop up somewhere soon.

Other news:
- I've revamped my profile. Yay!
- Exactly one more week till exams (again! It feels like just yesterday I had exams although it's been half a year already, another semester will soon be over)
- Hope everyone has been well ♥

So I’ll disguise myself as a flying fish jumping off the asphalt.

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:15:43 GMT

I'm giddily in love with this song & it's lyrics because of this live performance below.

The chorus is amazing! My favourite part, especially where the audience starts singing. But the lyrics of the entire song is just so Mr. Children. If it weren't for this performance, I wouldn't have thought of listening too much into the song.

This is one of the 4(?) clips on TOYSFACTORYJP youtube channel from their LIVE DVD ＆ Blu-ray「Mr.Children Tour 2011 "SENSE"」 that will be released today.

Hope puts on a gentle smile on its face and almost reaching its hand out to me from over the horizon.

So I’ll disguise myself as a flying fish jumping off the asphalt.
I’ll bleed so much but I’ll continue to try jumping higher and further.
If only I could absorb all the bullshits and sincerity, I’m sure I’ll be able to grow stronger.
And I’m sure I’ll be able to overcome my current struggles.

English Translation l Chinese Translation

111116 Yesung's Twitter Update

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:34:18 GMT

An excuse to repost Yesung's newest twitter post ;D

111116: Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

♥

你在烦恼什么 What is troubling you? (lyrics translation)

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:57:23 GMT

2011-11-11 is an auspicious day. Even musicians are caving in to the marvel of the date that many albums are being released today. Some big names include Jay Chou, Eason Chan and Sodagreen. I've only liked one song from Jie Lun's new album and I don't really listen much to Eason. Sodagreen's new album is very good though and I highly recommend it. Besides being the title of the album, '你在烦恼什么 What are you troubled about?' is also the last track on the album. The lyrics is simple and deep at the same time, one of my favourites.

苏打绿 Sodagreen - 你在烦恼什么 What are you troubled about?
Download mp3 here

There isn't a flower that will not wilt
There aren't waves that will not ebb
There isn't a light that will not dim
What is troubling you?

There isn't a scar that will not fade
There isn't a wound that will not heal
There aren't despairs that will not stop
What are you hesitant about?

Time will never give an answer
Life was never meant to be overtly chaotic
Even if only for a moment, I am not afraid
It is many moments that make up forever

Chinese
你在烦恼什么?

没有不会谢的花，没有不会退的浪，没有不会暗的光，你在烦恼什么啊？
没有不会淡的疤，没有不会好的伤，没有不会停下来的绝望，你在犹豫什么啊？
时间从来不回答，生命从来不喧哗，就算只有片刻我也不害怕，是片刻组成永恒啊.

Romanised Pin Yin
nǐ zài fán nǎo shí me ā ？

méi yǒu bú huì xiè de huā ，méi yǒu bú huì tuì de làng ，méi yǒu bú huì àn de guāng ，nǐ zài fán nǎo shí me ā ？
méi yǒu bú huì dàn de bā ，méi yǒu bú huì hǎo de shāng ，méi yǒu bú huì tíng xià lái de jué wàng ，nǐ zài yóu yù shí me ā ？
shí jiān cóng lái bú huí dá ，shēng mìng cóng lái bú xuān huá ，jiù suàn zhī yǒu piàn kè wǒ yě bú hài pà ，shì piàn kè zǔ chéng yǒng héng ā

魔鬼中的天使 An Angel Among the Devils (lyrics translation)

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 02:25:48 GMT

Hebe, as most will know, is one of the 3 girls in the chinese group S.H.E. To be honest, I never took much notice of her solo stuff until I started to notice some of her songs trending on top spots on various chinese music sites. She actually has a great voice and some of her songs are pretty good.

田馥甄 Hebe - 魔鬼中的天使 An Angel Among the Devils
Download mp3 here

Snip off the thinnest of nerves
Will that make sleep come easier
A grey prison cell resides in the depth of my heart
Shutting in a slip of dark thought roaring out

By getting rid of my stubborn temper
Will that shine a light through me
You can strike me down with heavy blows
But don't think you can make me beg for mercy

You are an angel among the devils
Hence you gift me a shattered of heart
You let me laugh till the very last second
Before I realise a knife stabbed into my chest

You are an angel among the devils
You make hatred seem like a boorish business
Two words of 'thank you' flow from my eyes
Go ahead and call me crazy, but never call me an idiot

Let others piece our story together
I don't care to explain, whatever the explanation is
When whoever looks to search for my battered image
I would have stoutly been reborn once again

Chinese
魔鬼中的天使

把太细的神经割掉
会不会比较睡得着
我的心有座灰色的监牢
关着一票黑色念头在吼叫

把太硬的脾气抽掉
会不会比较被明了
你可以重重把我给打倒
但是想都别想我求饶

你是魔鬼中的天使
所以送我心碎的方式
是让我笑到最后一秒为止
才发现自己胸口插了一把刀子

你是魔鬼中的天使
让恨变成太俗气的事
从眼里流下谢谢两个字
尽管叫我疯子不准叫我傻子

随人去拼凑我们的故事
我懒得解释爱怎么解释
当谁想看我碎裂的样子
我已经又顽强重生一次

Romanised Pin Yin
mó guǐ zhōng de tiān shǐ

bǎ tài xì de shén jīng gē diào
huì bú huì bǐ jiào shuì dé zhe
wǒ de xīn yǒu zuò huī sè de jiān láo
guān zhe yī piào hēi sè niàn tóu zài hǒu jiào

bǎ tài yìng de pí qì chōu diào
huì bú huì bǐ jiào bèi míng le
nǐ kě yǐ zhòng zhòng bǎ wǒ gěi dǎ dǎo
dàn shì xiǎng dōu bié xiǎng wǒ qiú ráo

nǐ shì mó guǐ zhōng de tiān shǐ
suǒ yǐ sòng wǒ xīn suì de fāng shì
shì ràng wǒ xiào dào zuì hòu yī miǎo wéi zhǐ
cái fā xiàn zì jǐ xiōng kǒu chā le yī bǎ dāo zǐ

nǐ shì mó guǐ zhōng de tiān shǐ
ràng hèn biàn chéng tài sú qì de shì
cóng yǎn lǐ liú xià xiè xiè liǎng gè zì
jìn guǎn jiào wǒ fēng zǐ bú zhǔn jiào wǒ shǎ zǐ

suí rén qù pīn còu wǒ men de gù shì
wǒ lǎn dé jiě shì ài zěn me jiě shì
dāng shuí xiǎng kàn wǒ suì liè de yàng zǐ
wǒ yǐ jīng yòu wán qiáng zhòng shēng yī cì

ゆず Yuzu's new single '翔' to be released on 30/11/2011

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:55:33 GMT

I remember the first time I heard about the news of their new single was towards the end of last month, and was lamenting to my sister that it would be more than one month later before it would be out. But what you know, we're entering the second week of November already D:

Finally we have the radio rip of the new song '翔 Soar':

I have probably wrote to the death of how I love their music so I'm just going to post what someone wrote about them on their post on tokyohive:

IMO, Yuzu will always be famous in Japan for as long as they want to be. Their songs, especially the lyrics are down-to-earth in such a uniquely Japanese way that it especially touches the good average Japanese hearts; their melodies, needless to say, are typically Japanese and sweet (some might say – I forbid, lol -- cheesy). I won’t be surprised if they’re relatively big in Taiwan(?) or China(?), as well.

I like it. I just can’t say no to Yuzu.

~Honma

Also, CONGRATULATIONS!!
♥ Iwasawa Koji married his longtime girlfriend at the end of September.
♥ Kitagawa Yujin married freelance announcer Takashima Aya, his girlfriend of 6 years on the 20th of October. TV report about it here.

傻瓜旅行 Travels of a fool (lyrics translation)

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 09:47:36 GMT

I remember posting another song by chinese folk singer Zhong Li Feng before, if you look at my tags, a song that I haven't listened in a long time but I think will forever be one of my favourites. Today, I am posting another of his songs. '傻瓜旅行 Travels of a fool' is the first track on his newest album released on the 24th. I was intrigued by the lyrics, and I wonder what did the inn-keeper's wife say to him.

钟立风 Zhong Li Feng - 傻瓜旅行 Travels of a fool
Download mp3 here

I awake in an unknown inn
The inn-keeper’s wife still asleep
Flowers in the backyard blooming briskly
Like a group of young girls

I walk alone on the blue cobbled stone path
Along the direction of the water flow
In the mist, a black dog barks at me
As though I am an unwelcomed visitor

Not even a tint of joy in my heart
Nor any feelings of sadness
But I remember a question by the inn-keeper’s wife last night
Tears like falling rain

In the centre of Square Street stand two little girls
Waiting for the first horse carriage to take them away
The one with short hair has a handsomely face
Very much like my older sister

I love your eyes, my friend on the road
And their flickering as they dart back and forth
I put my thoughts of longing softly by your pillow
Like a fable

She said she will forget me very soon
Otherwise she would die of sorrow even sooner
But as I remember the words of the inn-keeper’s wife last night
I am but a blithering fool

Chinese
傻瓜旅行

醒来在一个不知名的小栈
老板娘还没起床
院落里的花儿在竞相开放
好似一群姑娘

一个人走在青石板的路上
沿着流水去的方向
迷雾里一条黑狗冲我叫了几声
好似不欢迎我这个客人

我心里竟然没有一点儿喜悦
也没有任何悲伤
可是想起昨夜老板娘问起的一句话
眼泪好似雨下

四方街中央站着两个女孩
等着第一辆马车带她们离开
短头发的那个有张俊俏的脸
好似我的姐姐

我爱你的眼睛唷，我的路上的朋友
和它们的闪烁的转动
我把思念轻轻放在了你的枕边
好似一个寓言

她说她很快就会把我忘记
不然她很快会悲伤地死去
可是想起昨夜老板娘说起的一句话
我好似一个傻瓜

Romanised Pin Yin
shǎ guā lǚ xíng

xǐng lái zài yī gè bú zhī míng de xiǎo zhàn
lǎo bǎn niáng hái méi qǐ chuáng
yuàn luò lǐ de huā ér zài jìng xiàng kāi fàng
hǎo sì yī qún gū niáng

yī gè rén zǒu zài qīng shí bǎn de lù shàng
yán zhe liú shuǐ qù de fāng xiàng
mí wù lǐ yī tiáo hēi gǒu chōng wǒ jiào le jǐ shēng
hǎo sì bú huān yíng wǒ zhè gè kè rén

wǒ xīn lǐ jìng rán méi yǒu yī diǎn ér xǐ yuè
yě méi yǒu rèn hé bēi shāng
kě shì xiǎng qǐ zuó yè lǎo bǎn niáng wèn qǐ de yī jù huà
yǎn lèi hǎo sì yǔ xià

sì fāng jiē zhōng yāng zhàn zhe liǎng gè nǚ hái
děng zhe dì yī liàng mǎ chē dài tā men lí kāi
duǎn tóu fā de nà gè yǒu zhāng jùn qiào de liǎn
hǎo sì wǒ de jiě jiě

wǒ ài nǐ de yǎn jīng yō ，wǒ de lù shàng de péng yǒu
hé tā men de shǎn shuò de zhuǎn dòng
wǒ bǎ sī niàn qīng qīng fàng zài le nǐ de zhěn biān
hǎo sì yī gè yù yán

tā shuō tā hěn kuài jiù huì bǎ wǒ wàng jì
bú rán tā hěn kuài huì bēi shāng dì sǐ qù
kě shì xiǎng qǐ zuó yè lǎo bǎn niáng shuō qǐ de yī jù huà
wǒ hǎo sì yī gè shǎ guā

Calvin & Hobbes's Sandwich Theory

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:37:17 GMT

From an interview:

The song is basically about , you know when sometimes you sit and "people watch".
Like when you are sitting there,and you watch somebody and you are totally taken by them.
And that's all you need. You don't need to sort of approach them or anything like that .
I guess it's actually a strange song .
It's about getting all you need from somebody without actually sort of having them .
You know . . . like looking at somebody and they sort of feeding you, and you love them ,
And they don't know it .
It's about watching somebody and being fulfill by that .

credit

[Filipino song] Anak by Freddie Aguilar

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:21:50 GMT

'Anak' is the 1977 hit-song by Filipino folk-singer Freddie Aguilar, meaning 'child'. [From wiki: The song generated a hundred cover versions, was released in 56 countries and in 26 different foreign languages, and it has sold 30 million copies.] I'm not sure which countries they were referring to but it was definitely a hit through Asia, and apart from the English version which Freddie Aguilar sang himself, I've heard/seen the chinese, japanese, korean, arabic etc. versions floating around.

Everyone seemed to know this song, and as a child I heard this song a lot. 'Anak' is a remorse song to his parents composed by Freddie as part of realising and regretting his mistakes a few years later. I guess the lyrics rang very true in cultural context and touched the hearts of many parents & children. And today, I decided to youtube this song again :)

Download mp3.

Anak 'Child'，作者：Freddie Aguilar, 1978

When you were born into this world - 当你诞生到这个世上
Your mom and dad saw a dream fulfilled - 你的父母实现了一个梦想
A dream come true - 一个成真的美梦
The answer to their prayers - 他们所有祈祷的回报
　
You were to them a special child - 对他们来说，你是个特别的孩子
Gave 'em joy every time you smiled - 每当你微笑，就带给他们欢乐
Each time you cried - 而每当你哭泣
They're at your side to care - 他们都会在你身边照顾你

*Child, you don't know - 孩子，你不知道
You'll never know how far they'd go - 你永远不会知道他们会付出多少
To give you all their love can give - 来给你所有他们可以奉献的爱

To see you through, and God it's true - 来看到你平安，而上帝，那是真的
They'd die for you, if they must, to see you live - 他们会为你死，如果有必要，来让你活下去

How many seasons came and went - 多少个季节来了又去了
So many years have now been spent - 如今已经过了这麽多年
For time ran fast - 因为时光匆匆流逝
And now at last you're strong- 而今你终于已经壮大
　
Now what has gotten over you - 可是你究竟在想什麽
You seem to hate your parents too - 你还似乎憎恨着你的父母
Do speak out your mind - 请大声说出你的想法
Why do you find them wrong - 为什麽你觉得他们错了
Child, you don't know - 孩子，你不知道
You'll never know how far they'd go - 你永远不会知道他们会付出多少
To give you all their love can give - 来给你所有他们可以奉献的爱
　
To see you through, and God it's true - 来看到你平安，而上帝，那是真的
They'd die for you, if they must, to see you live - 他们会为你死，如果有必要，来让你活下去

And now your path has gone astray - 如今你的道路已经偏差
Child, you ain't sure what to do or say - 孩子，你不知道该怎麽办
You're so alone - 你好孤单
No friends are on your side - 身边没有任何的朋友
　
And child, you now break down in tears - 而孩子，你如今在哭泣中崩溃
Let them drive away your fears- 让他们赶走你的恐惧
Where must you go - 你还要到哪裡去
Their arms stay open wide - 他们的臂膀永远为你敞开

-- I'm pretty sure this is not the translation of the Tagalog lyrics but rather the lyrics to the english version of the song penned by Freddie Aguilar himself. I can't find the translation anywhere. So apologies to my filipino friends for the inaccuracies!

R U OK? Day

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:44:22 GMT

Thursday 15 September, 2011 is R U OK?Day in Australia. It’s a national day of action which aims to prevent suicide by encouraging Australians to connect with someone they care about and help stop little problems turning into big ones.

Are you ok? ♥

Find out more here :)

新萍踪侠影 Tracking Knights Phantom (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!)

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:41:26 GMT

A chinese period drama I marathon-ed recently. I love chinese period dramas whether they are cheesy or straight from history with a modern twist. I love period dramas, period :) '新萍踪侠影 Tracking Knights Phantom' features, I think, one of the prettiest chinese actresses out there - 董洁 Dong Jie. I first saw her in the famous drama '金粉世家 The Story of a Noble Family' back in 2002 that became the highest viewed drama on chinese TV that year. '新萍踪侠影 Tracking Knights Phantom' is quite your typical period drama plot featuring a love story between the 2 main leads, martial arts with wonderful computer graphics, people dying under the sword about every episode, but a good ending and not too bad acting. It is, as almost all JiangHu genre dramas, based on a book so there's no need to explain the plot line XD

新萍踪侠影 Tracking Knights Phantom poster

潘粤明 Pan Ao Ming as 张丹枫 Zhang Dan Feng

董洁 Dong Jie as 云蕾 Yun Lei

More pictures here

What is the sweetest thing about this drama, and I only found that out halfway through while watching, is the two main leads are husband and wife in real life. I think that really pushed the drama up in my books. Obviously, the wife (Dong Jie) is more well known then her husband (Pan Ao Ming) XD Met in another drama back in 2005, married in 2008, had a little boy in 2009, he got into a very bad car accident in late 2009 but they got through that period. This is her first movie after the pregnancy, and their 2nd together. They have also done an interview together on the chinese program 'A Date with Lu Yu'.

This is a performance by the couple back in 2009 at CCTV's mid-autumn festival celebrations, with english subtitles for your viewing pleasure :)

Fast forward 2 years, it's Mid-Autumn Festival today, I think one of the most beautiful chinese festivals to be celebrated. I have fond memories of this festival as a child carrying each a lantern with my family walking around the playground in the late evening. Bright round moon + lanterns + gathering of families. 中秋節快乐! Wishing everyone the best of happiness, and thoughts like the clear moon and the flickering of lantern lights ♥

Cute.

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:48:48 GMT

Cute is when your personality shines through your looks. Like, when you see someone’s personality in the way they walk and you just feel like hugging them every time you see them. – Natalie Portman

I tend to use the word 'cute' a lot, for everything - babies, old grannies & grandpas, people's gestures & expressions, mainly people but especially on my siblings whenever they make me laugh. My sister hated the word because in the old dictionary 'cute' was defined as ugly but adorable.

I never used 'cute' in the way of describing a cute guy (handsome was my word of choice!) but I never could explain why I used that word a lot until I chanced upon this quote by Natalie Portman. It expresses my feelings of the moment very eloquently and precisely, I thank Ms. Portman for her brilliance :)