Let's help the world understand Chinese music!

[Album] 牛奶@咖啡 Milk@Coffee - 越长大越孤单 It gets lonelier as you grow up (Released 18th March 2008)

2008-07-08T04:37:11Z

I have translated the lyrics to four songs from this album. Hope you will enjoy it ^_^

Track list:

1. 穿越珊瑚海 (Through the Coral Sea)
2. 越长大越孤单 (It Gets Lonelier As You Grow Up) lyrics translation
3. 如果明天 (If Tomorrow)
4. 我不是 Rock N Roll (I am not Rock N Roll)
5. 咖喱咖喱 (Curry Curry)
6. 蝶恋花 (Butterfly in love with a Flower) lyrics translation
7. 爱的旋律 (The Melody of Love)
8. 小丑 (Clown)
9. 完美生活 (Perfect Life) lyrics translation
10. 夜 (Night) lyrics translation
Hidden track: 快乐星猫 (Happy Star Cat)

Individual Links for song download here

Sodagreen - you are, you will

2008-07-06T11:39:21Z

A short and easy translation that I just felt like doing, because Sodagreen won another Golden Melody award yesterday.

TRADITIONAL:
蘇打綠 - you are, you will

覺得暈眩覺得厭倦
小心提煉綻放在心中點
覺得很炫覺得很玄
不想再添感情偶發事件

I want, I want to go to where you are,
you are waiting for
I want, I want to go to where you are
coming telling me you will
you will always right here stay with me

SIMPLIFIED:
苏打绿 - you are,you will

觉得晕眩觉得厌倦
小心提炼绽放在心中点
觉得很炫觉得很玄
不想再添感情偶发事件

I want I want to go to where you are
you are waiting for
I want I want to go to where you are
coming telling me you will
you will always right here stay with me

PINYIN:
Su1da3lv4 - you are, you will

jue2 de yun1xuan4, jue2 de yan4juan4
xiao3xin1 ti2lian4, zhan4 fang4 zai4 xin1zhong1 dian3
jue2 de hen3 xuan4, jue2 de hen3 xuan2
bu4 xiang3 zai4 tian1 gan3qing2 ou3fa1 shi4jian4

I want, I want to go to where you are
you are waiting for
I want, I want to go to where you are
coming telling me you will
you will always right here stay with me

ENGLISH:
you are, you will

feeling giddy, feeling weary
carefully refining what's bursting within [my] heart[1]
feeling dazzling, feeling obscure
[I] don't want any more emotional accidents[2]

I want, I want to go to where you are
you are waiting for
I want, I want to go to where you are
coming telling me you will
you will always right here stay with me[3]

1. tilian means to refine, to purify, or process something, such as metal. The image I'm getting is of "separating the wheat from the chaff" as one might say in English; that is, looking at his feelings and figuring out what's important and what's not.
2. Not accident like a car accident. Accident like "oops, we're in love, oh crap."
3. Translated from Chinglish to English: "You will always stay with me right here." In Chinese the grammatical order would be like it is in the song.

Xiao Gui (Alien) - Gui Hun (Fool Around)

2008-07-06T08:38:02Z

for: cpop and chinesesongs

LYRICS INFO
ARTIST: 黄鸿升/Huáng Hóng Shēng/Alien (小鬼/Xiǎo Guǐ)
TITLE: 鬼混/Guǐ Hùn/Fool Around
ALBUM: 鬼怒穿/Guǐ Nù Chuān
COMMENT: Very daring, honest and conceited in its own way.

(LYRICS+LINK UNDER FAKE CUT;)

Anyway, I made a post listing down some resources/websites that I use/go to to brush up my Chinese and I thought it'd be pretty useful for those who are learning Chinese, for both the beginners and the advanced learners. It's here, if anyone's interested.

Bangbangtang (Lollipop) - Wo Yijing Zhangda (I'm Already Grown-Up)

2008-06-20T13:41:46Z

A request! A request! *tears of joy* I was so happy to receive like... five comments after I made a comment in cpop. THAT IS FIVE TIMES THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS MY TRANSLATIONS NORMALLY GET. :3
Here you are jiachong!
Please request more! It's good for me. When I try to translate just for my own practice, I'm lazy and slack off, but if someone is counting on me I do it. ^_^

I find this song kinda ironic because the youngest member of Bangbangtang is 23. So... yeah. You ARE already grown-up. XD
But, Lollipop is a teen idol group, you say? Why aren't they teens?
I've never actually heard anyone talk about it, but I have my own theory. Taiwan, like many countries (Singapore, South Korea and Germany being three off the top of my head), has compulsory national service for all males.
Consider the scenario of a teen superstar. Said teen becomes of age and must, legally, perform over a year of military training and service. Does he do it? If he does it, that's 14 months of all the money the record label has pumped into him going to waste. And if he does it, imagine what it will be like for him trying to work normally. Imagine how his fellow soldiers will react to him: probably some will suck up, some will give him a hard time--but definitely no one will treat him just as a normal person.
And that's saying he does perform military service. There's also the possibility of scandal if he doesn't do it (by leaving the country for example). Jay Chou had a pretty big scandal because he was exempted from military service for health issues related to his spine, and many people called BS. I mean have you SEEN Jay Chou's music videos??? Why is he flipping all over the place if he's got a spinal condition?
Korea shows this quite nicely. They have a lot of boy bands and boy stars and they are constantly having scandals about military service evasion, and people get really pissed off about it. I mean if you (or your boyfriend/brother etc if you're female) have to do this, why should people with money and power get off. Last year, PSY had a scandal about this.
So I think this is why the majority of male stars in Korea don't start (ie don't receive major label backing) until after they have done military service, that is, early twenties.
It's the same deal in Singapore except the military service there is even longer!

Ahem. Now onto the actual song!
It was written by Adia who like MC Hotdog has a reputation of being very "台客 tai ke" which is the Taiwanese version of trailer trash, I suppose. XD
This is my first draft of the translation. I didn't do the pinyin; I copied what jiachong already supplied. If someone wants simplified characters I can rustle them up easily.

TRADITIONAL:
我已經長大

作詞：阿弟仔
作曲：阿弟仔

(各位同學有問題的舉手)
老師報告報告老師
關於青春痘的繁殖, 我要怎麼控制
頭髮的樣子髮臘的牌子
魔獸的金幣被敖犬偷吃

還有很多問題需要重視
關於我上籃的姿勢
妙傳了幾次扭到了手指
上了健康教室幻想有小護士
我要報告老師

Let's Do It
小煜乖
等你翻過了牆你會感到自由
Let's Do It
威廉乖
等你爬上了坡你會有所成就
Let's Do It
王子乖
跌倒站起來後你會更加神勇
Let's Do It
老師說
等你長大之後你就一定會懂

CHORUS:
哇哇我已經長大
我知道我想幹嘛
哈哈你不知道嗎
未來是我的天下
哇哇我已經長大
不用在餵我想法
哈哈你不知道嗎　　
哈　我已經長大

老師老師
我要怎麼辦
活到現在還沒談過一次戀愛
我不是天才手上沒有王牌
我的過去太平凡未來很茫然
我的世界很奇怪跟你不在同一代
我覺得我很帥你覺得我很爛
我愛上一個女孩誰能告訴我答案
春天什麼時候來她愛上了教官

Let's Do It
小傑乖
等你翻過了牆你會感到自由
Let's Do It
阿緯乖
等你爬上了坡你會有所成就
Let's Do It
敖犬乖
跌倒站起來後你會更加神勇
Let's Do It
老師說
等你長大之後你一定會懂

(repeat chorus)

你是不是想知道
還是真的不知道
你到底知不知道你給我的我要不要
我要開始奔跑
碰到障礙就跳
我要一路衝到目標直到最後一秒
(repeat)

(repeat chorusx2)

PINYIN:
(ge wei tong xue
you wen ti de ju shou)

Let’s Do It…
Let’s Do It Yo Yo
lao shi bao gao bao gao lao shi
guan yu qing chun dou de fan zhi
wo yao zen me kong zhi

tou fa de yang zi　
fa la de pai zi
mo shou de jin bi
bei ao quan tou chi

hai you hen duo wen ti xu yao zhong shi
guan yu wo shang lan de zi shi　
miao chuan le ji ci
niu dao le shou zhi　
shang le jian kang jiao shi

huan xiang you xiao hu shi　
wo yao bao gao lao shi

Let’s Do It xiao yu guai
deng ni fan guo le qiang ni hui gan dao zi you
Let’s Do It wei lian guai
deng ni pa shang le po ni hui hen you cheng jiu
Let’s Do It wang zi guai
die dao zhan qi lai ni hui geng jia shen yong
Let’s Do It lao shi shuo
deng ni zhang da zhi hou ni jiu yi ding hui dong

* wa wa wo yi jing zhang da　
wo zhi dao wo xiang gan ma
ha ha ni bu zhi dao ma　
wei lai shi wo de tian xia
wa wa wo yi jing zhang da　
bu yong zai wei wo xiang fa
ha ha ni bu zhi dao ma　
wo yi jing zhang da /

lao shi lao shi　
wo yao zen me ban
huo dao xian zai　
hai mei tan guo yi ci lian ai

wo bu shi tian cai　
shou shang mei you wang pai
wo de guo qu tai ping fan　
wei lai hen mang ran

wo de shi jie hen qi guai　
gen ni bu zai tong yi dai
wo jue de wo hen shuai　
ni jue de wo hen lan

wo ai shang yi ge nuu hai　
shei neng gao su wo da an
chun tian shen me shi hou lai　
ta ai shang le jiao guan

Let’s Do It xiao jie guai
deng ni fan guo le qiang ni hui gan dao zi you
Let’s Do It a wei guai
deng ni pai shang le bo ni hui you suo cheng jiu
Let’s Do It ao quan guai
die dao zhan qi lai ni hui geng jia shen yong
Let’s Do It lao shi shuo
deng ni zhang da zhi hou ni yi ding hui dong

(Repeat *)

** ni shi bu xiang zhi dao　
hai shi zhen de bu zhi dao
ni dao di zhi bu zhi dao
ni gei wo de wo yao bu yao

wo yao kai shi ben pao　
peng dao zhang ai jiu tiao
wo yao yi lu chong dao mu biao
zhi dao zui hou yi miao //

(Repeat **, *)

wa wa wo yi jing zhang da　
ha ha ni bu zhi dao ma　
wa wa wo yi jing zhang da　
ha ha ni bu zhi dao ma　
wo yi jing zhang da

ENGLISH:
Lyrics and Melody by Adia

adult voice, spoken: Students, those with questions raise your hands.

Teacher, inform, inform, teacher
about pimples, how do I control them?
the way my hair looks? what brand of hair gel?
Owodog[1] stole my gold on World of Warcraft[2]!

and there's other questions that need attention too.
regarding my shooting stance in basketball
I passed a couple times and twisted my finger
moving on to healthy classrooms, in my fantasy there's nurses
I want to inform Teacher

LET'S DO IT
Fabien[3]'s a good little boy[4]
wait until you get over the wall and you'll feel free
LET'S DO IT
William[5]'s a good little boy
wait until you climb up the hill and you'll be accomplished
LET'S DO IT
Prince's a good little boy
once you've gotten back up from a fall you'll be even more courageous
LET'S DO IT
Teacher says
wait until you grow up, then you'll definitely understand

CHORUS:
wa wa[6], I'm already grown-up
I know what the hell I'm about![7]
ha ha, don't you know?
the future is under my rule
wa wa, I'm already grown-up
it's useless to try to feed me ideas
ha ha, don't you know?
ha! I'm already grown-up

teacher, teacher, what can I do
I've lived up to now and still haven't had my first love
I'm not a genius, I don't have a trump card in my hand
my past is mundane, the future is murky
my world is strange, not the same generation as you
I think I'm sexy, you think I'm rotten
the last girl I loved, who can answer me,
when is spring coming? she fell in love with the instructor

LET'S DO IT
Brian's a good little boy
wait until you get over the wall and you'll feel free
LET'S DO IT
Ah-Wei's a good little boy
wait until you climb up the hill and you'll be accomplished
LET'S DO IT
Owodog's a good little boy
once you've gotten back up from a fall you'll be even more courageous
LET'S DO IT
Teacher says
wait until you grow up, then you'll definitely understand

(repeat chorus)

BRIDGE:
do you want to know or not?
you still really don't know!
once and for all do you know whether or not I want what you give me?
I want to start to run!
come across a barrier then jump it
I want to rush down the road towards my target until the very last second

(repeat bridge)

(repeat chorus x2)

1. The nickname for the leader of Lollipop.
2. LOLOLOLOL
3. Another member.
4. Guai means well-behaved and obedient and is used only on children.
5. Ditto ditto, I think you get it by now.
6. The Chinese crying sound effect. Like boo hoo in English.
7. Literally "I know what I want to gan ma" where gan ma is a potentially rude and punchy way of saying "do". Like if my roommate reaches for the last slice of cake and I haven't had any, I'd say "NI GAN MA!!!!" which means "What are you doing?" but it feels more like in English I would say "What the hell!" or "What are you on about!" (You can use it teasingly among friends or seriously to insult someone.)
If the lyrics wanted to say "I know what I want to do" they would use the neutral verb "zuo".

Lin Jun Jie (JJ Lin) - Ai Yu Xi Wang (Love & Hope)

2008-05-20T09:56:41Z

for: cpop and chinesesongs

LYRICS INFO
ARTIST: 林俊杰/Lin Jun Jie/JJ Lin
TITLE: 爱与希望/Ai Yu Xi Wang/Love & Hope
COMMENT: For victims of the earthquake that occurred in Sichuan

LYRICS UNDER FAKE CUT;

Zhang Shao Han (Angela Zhang) - Bu Xiang Dong De (Don't Wish To Know)

2008-05-15T14:47:19Z

for: cpop and chinesesongs

LYRICS INFO
ARTIST: 张韶涵/Zhang Shao Han/Angela Zhang
TITLE: 不想懂得/Bu Xiang Dong De/Don't Wish To Know
COMPOSER: 动静音乐/Dong Jing Yin Yue
LYRICIST: 姚若龙/Yao Ruo Long
ALBUM: Ang 5.0

English translation and pinyin version of the song. Kinda late, I guess...

(LYRICS UNDER THE FAKE CUT;)

Random translations

2008-05-15T06:59:58Z

HEy!! my first post here and I have a few translations to share. They all link to my journal posts. Most of them will have the mp3 available for download too, either on the same post or another post on my journal.

最好的朋友 (Best Friend) - 品冠 Victor Wong Pin Guan
人间 (Mortal World) - 王菲 Faye Wong
隐形的翅膀 (Invisible Wings) - 张韶涵 Angela Zhang Shao Han
周大侠 (Big Hero Chou) - 周杰伦 Jay Zhou Jie Lun
天黑黑 (The Sky is Dark) - 孙燕资 Stephanie Sun Yan Zi
爸~我回来了 (Father~ I'm back) - 周杰伦 Jay Zhou Jie Lun
陪我看日出 (Accompany me to see the sunrise) - 蔡淳佳 Cai Chun Jia
向左走向右走 (Turn left, turn right) - 梁咏琪 Gigi Leung

Enjoy!

Rebecca Hsu Tong En - Shiqu (Lose)

2008-03-03T19:26:02Z

Nice song. Nothing much to say today.

失去
作詞：許哲珮　作曲：許哲珮　編曲：林揮斌

那一夜爭吵過後　(你永遠不懂)
言語中出現太多　(情緒很難控制)
傷害了你　傷害了我　(we never say sorry)
就這樣你離開了我　(過了352天)

＊失去了你最愛的燈　(當二手貨賣了)
　或許下一個主人比較　懂得　(他的價值　年份)
　我總是不由自主的　(假裝快樂)
　原來你一直沒走遠　還鎖著我的靈魂

＃天黑了　被孤獨擁抱著
　一個人　回憶你的體溫
　弄丟了　你最愛的白色　只剩下藍色

＠放開了　你的手　我後悔
　後悔再也來不及挽回
　失去了　失去了你　我想哭但是沒有淚

△我還以為你也一樣像我想你那麼多
　原來已經有一個她取代了我
　馬路那頭我又看見你熟悉的面孔
　你的笑容是我夢寐以求但是我沒有

SIMPLIFIED:
那一夜争吵过后　(你永远不懂)
言语中出现太多　(情绪很难控制)
伤害了你　伤害了我　(we never say sorry)
就这样你离开了我　(过了352天)

＊失去了你最爱的灯　(当二手货卖了)
　或许下一个主人比较　懂得　(他的价值　年份)
　我总是不由自主的　(假装快乐)
　原来你一直没走远　还锁着我的灵魂

＃天黑了　被孤独拥抱着
　一个人　回忆你的体温
　弄丢了　你最爱的白色　只剩下蓝色

＠放开了　你的手　我后悔
　后悔再也来不及挽回
　失去了　失去了你　我想哭但是没有泪

△我还以为你也一样像我想你那么多
　原来已经有一个她取代了我
　马路那头我又看见你熟悉的面孔
　你的笑容是我梦寐以求但是我没有

Repeat ＊,＃,＠,△　＃,＠

ENGLISH:
that night, after the argument (you never understand)[1]
too much came out in the talk (feelings are hard to control)
it hurt you, it hurt me (WE NEVER SAY SORRY)
just like that you left me (it's been 352 days)

＊losing the lamp you loved (sold it secondhand)
maybe the next owner will understand better (its worth, that year)
I always can't help but (pretend to be happy)
all along you never went far, still locking up my spirit[2]

＃the sky is become black, embraced by loneliness
alone, remembering the warmth of your body
the white you loved most is ruined[3], only blue remains

＠I regret having let go of your hand
a regret that is too late to be redeemed
[I] have lost, [I] have lost you, I want to cry but there's no tears

△I still believe you too are the same, as much I miss you
from the first there was already a "she" to replace me
at the head of the road I once again see your familiar face
your smiling face is what I've longed for in my dreams, but it's not mine

repeat all from ＊
repeat all from ＃

1. Parenthesis are what she murmurs.
2. I'm not sure how much the second phrase and the first are connected here.
3. There's a slang term I could use here more accurately, but I can't remember what it is. The Chinese is more literally "mishandled and lost".

Show Luo Zhi Xiang - Bi Sha Ji (Finishing Move) [cover of Bet On It]

2008-03-01T16:15:39Z

I'm back from Hong Kong (had a great time) so I will return to my daily translations now. I hope you missed me, pho50. ;)

It's amazing how much Chinese slang comes from video games nowadays! "必殺技" in fighting games is someone's special finishing move or KO skill. Hmm, perhaps slang isn't the right word? "必殺技" means "must kill feat" (to be most literal and ignore the grammatical requirements of English) so it's not really slang, is it?

This is a cover of the Zac Efron song "Bet On It" from High School Musical 2. For promotion in Chinese markets, Disney got Show Luo to record this as a bonus track on the soundtrack and also it got heavy rotation on MTV and VMusic. The video.

Translating this song has made me realize how atheistic it really is, lol.

Bet On It必殺技

作詞：陳鎮川　演唱：羅志祥

好多眼睛鎖住你的神經
心跳衝擊壓過所有聲音
前一秒很多難題還在模擬
一瞬間你已經無法逃避

Did You Ever
雙腳失去地心引力
Did You Ever
眼前的風景充滿危機
Did You Ever
求天天不應只剩下自己
是否逼到絕境
是否使出全力

你要百無禁忌放膽一擊
努力睜開眼睛衝刺到底
暗藏的必殺技會再甦醒
Bet On It ! Bet On It !
Bet On It ! 拼到底 !

你要相信自己沒有奇蹟
就會一鼓作氣絕不放棄
暗藏的必殺技會再甦醒
Bet On It ! Bet On It !
Bet On It ! 拼到底 !

我不會怪你偷偷舉過白旗
偽裝這戰役從沒有出席
別忘天生我才必有潛力
掏出你潛在的必殺技

Did You Ever
回頭不見落跑的路
Did You Ever
每個人都說千萬別輸
Did You Ever
成或敗只有這一注
是否碰上絕路
你是否全力以赴

ENGLISH:

so many eyes locked up in your nerves
the thudding of the pulse suppresses all other sounds
just this second many quandaries still simulating[1]
a split second later it's already impossible for you to escape

DID YOU EVER[2]
two feet lose the force of gravity
DID YOU EVER
the scenery before one's eyes is full of crises
DID YOU EVER
pray with no response, only oneself remains
whether or not it's the end of the rope
whether or not one goes all out

you need to hold nothing sacred and strike boldly
strive to open your eyes and sprint at last
the hidden finishing move awakens again
BET ON IT BET ON IT BET ON IT the final stake!
you need to believe in yourself, there are no miracles
so brace yourself, you can't give up
the hidden finishing move awakens again
BET ON IT BET ON IT BET ON IT the final stake!

I can't blame you for secretly lifting the white flag
pretending you were never part of this battle
don't forget that innately I definitely have the potential
to bring forth your latent finishing move

DID YOU EVER
turn round but can't see any path of escape
DID YOU EVER
everyone says you must not lose
DID YOU EVER
success and loss only has one difference
whether or not you meet a dead end
will you hold nothing back or not?[3]

1. I don't think I'm understanding this sentence correctly. :/ I think this is some kind of video game reference.
2. Well, there's two ways I could translate the Chinese in the "did you ever" verses. One is by considering the "did you ever" to be part of the sentence, and the other is to consider the Chinese on its own and have the "did you ever" just be, um, decoration? LOL. It's not uncommon in songs to have foreign language phrases interjected for cool effect without intending to change the meaning of the rest of the lyrics. But at the same time it's also pretty common to see a blending of English and Chinese in one sentence, usually with interesting grammatical repercussions. Here I decided to treat them as separate for two reasons. One, I think the "did you ever" is just to sound like the English original. Two, the "did you ever" is sung by background singers as well, which provides a contrast between it and the Chinese lines which are only sung by Show. Incidentally this verse makes full use of the Chinese ability to use no pronouns and still be grammatical. I try to translate this using "one" to get the ambiguity.
3. I wrestled with how to translate this. In English "whether or not..., [second phrase]" means "no matter..., still [second phrase]" but this isn't true in Chinese. The two phrases should be considered unrelated.

Deserts Zhang Xuan - Baobei (Baby)

2008-02-25T11:04:38Z

As I've mentioned before, Taiwan like the rest of the world is having an indie explosion, meaning that all the indie acts are now signed to major labels, which accords me some snarky satisfaction. Deserts is one of these, with a quiet alt-folk style that belies her personal image (she's a high-school dropout which makes her fabulously scandalous in Taiwan).

The song that gained her fame is Baobei/Baby, which she actually wrote the first version of when she was 13 years old. Very sweet and simple lyrics, it is like a lullaby. There are two versions of the song on her album, "in the night" and "in the day". The lyrics are shorter in "in the night", but otherwise unchanged, so here translated is the "in the day" version. The words used here are very intimate and affectionate, so I tried to get the same kind of word choice in English.

TRADITIONAL:
寶貝

我的寶貝寶貝給你一點甜甜讓你今夜都好眠
我的小鬼小鬼逗逗你的眉眼讓你喜歡這世界

哇啦啦啦啦啦我的寶貝倦的時候有個人陪
哎呀呀呀呀呀我的寶貝要你知道你最美

我的寶貝寶貝給你一點甜甜讓你今夜很好眠
我的小鬼小鬼捏捏你的小臉讓你喜歡整個明天

哇啦啦啦啦啦我的寶貝倦的時候有個人陪
哎呀呀呀呀呀我的寶貝要你知道你最美

哇啦啦啦啦啦我的寶貝孤單時有人把你想念
哎呀呀呀呀呀我的寶貝要你知道你最美

哇啦啦啦啦啦我的寶貝倦的時候有個人陪
哎呀呀呀呀呀我的寶貝要你知道你最美

要你知道你最美

ENGLISH:
Baby

my baby, baby, I'll give you a little sweetness to let you sleep well tonight
my little devil, little devil, I'll tease your eyes and make you like this world

chorus:
wa la la la la la my baby, when you're tuckered out someone will keep you company
ai ya ya ya ya ya my baby, you should know you're the prettiest

my baby, baby, I'll give you a little sweetness to let you sleep well tonight
my little devil, little devil, I'll pinch your little face and make you like all of tomorrow

repeat chorus

wa la la la la la my baby, when you're lonely there's someone missing you
ai ya ya ya ya ya my baby, you should know you're the prettiest

repeat chorus
you should know you're the prettiest

Joanna Wang Ruo Lin - You Ni de Kuaile (There Is Your Happiness)

2008-02-24T20:23:04Z

Joanna Wang is newly popular, and I don't know a lot about her. She's young (I think 18) but she has a very distinctive, smoky voice. Her style is bossa nova, lounge, that kind of thing. She mostly sings in English, but she's done five songs in Mandarin on the second CD of her January album "Start From Here." Her song "You Ni de Kuaile" was requested on cpop recently, so I uploaded the album, but the request was answered already. So I thought I would translate the song.

She's a lot like Jyotsna Peng Jing Hui, but more poppy and less jazzy. I find Jyotsna's voice more relaxing and Joanna's voice more suitable for listening to when you're working.

TRADITIONAL:
有你的快樂

我怎麼都不想睡
天特別亮夜特別的黑
當我深深的呼吸心中充滿想你的甜蜜

想和你走在雨中想要你牽我的手
傻傻的你不敢說愛而我也故意要你為我等待

說不出有多麼快樂還是不夠這感覺這一切
就好像飄在外太空別的星球只有我們存在

喜歡和你在一起無聊的生命也變有趣
當你聽我的音樂分享在每一刻的心情

在一起越來越久開始會對你在乎這感覺我們都明白
只要你在身邊日子就亮起來

說不出有多麼快樂還是不夠這感覺這一切
就好像飄在外太空別的星球只有我們存在

愛情在這個時候我的心就像天氣
晴時多雲偶爾有雨

ENGLISH:
how come I don't want to sleep at all?
the sky is particularly bright, the night particularly black
when I breathe deeply, my heart is full of thoughts of your sweetness

I'd like to walk in the rain with you, I want you to hold my hand
silly you doesn't dare to speak of love, but I too want you to wait for me

chorus:
can't say how much happiness there is, but it's not enough, this feeling, this everything
it's just like floating in outer space among other planets, only we exist

I like being with you, this boring life became interesting too
when you listen to my music, and share in the moods of every moment

together more and more, starting to care about you, we all understand this feeling
as long as you're by my side, the days light up

[repeat chorus]

romance at this time, my heart is just like the weather
clear times, mostly-cloudy, occasionally there's rain

[repeat chorus x2]

Zheli Taitai (Mrs. This) - I Force Myself to Think in English

2008-02-23T15:36:01Z

Quickie translation. I need to do some editing on my previous translations too.

青春　它沒得撿
懊悔　總在那一瞬之間消失無煙
浪費　是誰的罪
破滅　不過是反覆千遍萬遍的每一天

做得到做不到　無關緊要
是向前進向後退　步步煎熬

I force myself to think in English
then I will not think too much
I force myself to think in English
then I will not think too much

裝備　是為了誰
敷衍　是誰的懦弱表現不敢往前
迂迴　美好的錯覺
枯萎　還有多少個春天能讓一切重演

做得到做不到　無關緊要
是向前進向後退　步步煎熬

I force myself to think in English
then I will not think too much [x4]
But I still remain unsatisfied
Have you ever thought of the reason why
You should make more efforts to get the answer, she said [x2]
Don't let days go by

ENGLISH:
spring, it hasn't gathered in
remorse, always disappears in a wink without a trace
waste, whose fault is it?
destruction, is merely turning something over a billion times every day

possible, impossible, insignificant
it's in front and behind, tortured at every step

I FORCE MYSELF TO THINK IN ENGLISH
THEN I WILL NOT THINK TOO MUCH [x2]

equipment, who's it for?
skimping, it's someone's cowardly display of not daring to move forward
round-about, a happy misunderstanding
withered, how many springs are there yet to make everything repeat?

possible, impossible, insignificant
it's in front and behind, tortured at every step

I FORCE MYSELF TO THINK IN ENGLISH
THEN I WILL NOT THINK TOO MUCH [x4]
BUT I STILL REMAIN UNSATISFIED
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF THE REASON WHY
YOU SHOULD MAKE MORE EFFORT TO GET THE ANSWER, SHE SAID [x2]
DON'T LET DAYS GO BY

Crystalake - Dui An (Opposite Shore)

2008-02-22T15:47:47Z

Request by pho50! Yay! I love requests! :D
The Chinese language allows one to forms sentences without pronouns in cases where English does not. In these cases the pronoun is usually either inferred, or else the sentence means anyone in general. I have put the most likely pronoun in brackets to allow for English readability.

SIMPLIFIED:
对岸 - 水晶湖乐队
作词：卿锋作曲：卿锋

总有个声音要对我诉求
在隐隐约约之间总是蒙蒙胧胧
潮湿的空气滑落的尘埃
在半睡半醒之间让我辗转反侧
窗
映倒映着寂寞昏暗固执的街灯
映着谁的脸
当雨停下来的时候突然醒过来的时候
我的指间触碰到曾在这里的呼吸

烟花散落散尽散开
人去楼也空
她在对岸静静对我唱
烟花散落散尽散开
人去楼也空
她在等某个人把灵魂带走

是她的声音在对我诉求
在蒙蒙胧胧之中总是断断续续
忘却的誓言知交半零落
残老古旧阁楼里锁着忧伤不朽
窗
倒映着寂寞昏暗固执的街灯
映着谁的脸
当雨停下来的时候突然醒过来的时候
恍惚之间触碰到曾在这里的呼吸

ENGLISH:
there's always a voice appealing to me[1]
in that ambiguous space it's always so blurred
damp air, floating dust
in that half-awake space it makes me toss and turn
the window-shutter
catches an inverted reflection of the stubborn streetlight in the lonely twilight
reflecting someone's face
when the rain stops, when [I] wake suddenly
my fingers brush against the place where the breath once was[2]

chorus:
the fireworks sprinkle, scatter, disperse
the people leave and the house is empty
she's on the opposite shore quietly singing to me[3]
the fireworks sprinkle, scatter, disperse
the people leave and the house is empty
she's waiting for a certain person to carry away [her] soul

it's her voice that's appealing to me
within the blurriness it's always stopping and starting
a forgotten promise, an intimate friendship half-shriveled
an immortal sorrow locked within a ruined, ancient attic
the window-shutter
catches an inverted reflection of the stubborn streetlight in the lonely twilight
reflecting someone's face
when the rain stops, when [I] wake suddenly
in a trance I knock against the place where the breath once was[4]

[chorus x2]

1. Appeal as in the verb that means seeking answers or satisfaction, not as in attractive.
2. This sentence is kinda hard to parse. I'll ask my Chinese teacher about it or my roommates.
3. I really want to say "still-ly" instead of quietly here, but that's not a word in English. I can't think of an adverb that contains the meanings of both lack of motion and quietness.
4. Ditto to number two.

Da Mouth (Da Zui Ba) - 119

2008-02-21T10:26:29Z

This is really a rough draft, but I thought I would throw it up anyway.
Meanwhile lulz because the bio section on Mojim lists their members as the DJ, 女主唱 (lead female), 男主唱 (lead male) and RAPER. Uh I think you mean something else. I HOPE you do.

喔咬咬咬咬誰的嘴唇翹翹
撒嬌的信號耳朵過來咬咬
喔騷騷騷騷挑動神經末梢
就是這調調讓你無可救藥

我面前不自覺被點燃的引線
是清涼是火辣我已經飛上天
草莓派滾了邊包不住的香甜
爆炸火焰雙眼冒煙

喔伊喔伊喔伊喔我幫你打１１９
Call Call Come on 喔咿喔喔咿喔
喔伊喔伊喔伊喔小護士來救救火
No No Come on 喔咿喔喔咿喔

有一種魔力讓你招架不了
你渴望窺探包裝裡的味道
是一種美麗讓你臉紅心跳
你充滿問號隨時隨地燃燒

準備溶化你的狂野
佈好了接近你的動線
心繞你臉龐一圈
等待入侵你的美

喔伊喔伊喔伊喔我幫你打１１９
Call Call Come on 喔咿喔喔咿喔
喔伊喔伊喔伊喔小護士來救救火
No No Come on 喔咿喔喔咿喔

Here I am tell him my baby
說我是你的誰
左右看一遍 Baby
確定 It's gonna be me

你搞清楚就別鬧看來你還不知道
我跟她已結標他買的是我Sale
我跟她就是美好身邊發酵的氣泡
溫度太高我就快要拉警報

喔伊喔伊喔伊喔我幫你打１１９
Call Call Come on 喔咿喔喔咿喔
喔伊喔伊喔伊喔小護士來救救火
No No Come on 喔咿喔喔咿喔

ENGLISH:
girl: oh, yo yo yo yo, someone's lip is puffed out
the sign of a pout, take a nibble on the ear
oh, so so so so, stimulating the nerve endings
it's the music that's making you incorrigible[1]

boy: in front of me, unconsciously, a fuse was lit
it's cool and clear, it's hot and spicy, I've already flown into the sky
strawberry pie rolled out with an uncontainable fragrance[2]
an explosion, a blaze, a pair of smoking eyes

chorus: oh yi oh yi oh yi oh, I'll dial 119 for you
oh yi oh, oh yi oh
oh yi oh yi oh yi oh, nursie will help with the fire
oh yi oh, oh yi oh

girl: there's a kind of magic that you can't resist
you long to peek into the deliciousness within the box
it's a kind of beauty that will make your face flush and your pulse race
you're stuffed with question marks, you could blow at any time

boy: get ready, set aside your wildness
make known the strings attached to you[3]
my heart is circling your face
waiting to invade your beauty

[repeat chorus]

boy: HERE I AM TELL HIM MY BABY
say who I am to you
look around you BABY for sure IT'S GONNA BE ME

boy[4]: get this straight and don't whine
seems like you don't know
me and her are already tied up
he's bought my style[5]
I'm happy with her
at my side the bubbles are brewing
the temperature is too high
I'm gonna pull the fire alarm soon

[repeat chorus]

1. Maybe other people don't love this word as much as I do? "Stubborn" would work here, but not as well. Basically "you" are a total brat who never changes, but in an affectionate way too.
2. Difference number one between English and Chinese: you can't rap about strawberry pie in English without sounding like a tool.
3. I'm uncertain about this line. I think he's trying to say that "you" are not as unaffected as you pretend to be.
4. This part seems to be sung to the male rival instead of the girl.

Landy Wen Lan - Laba Zui (Megaphone Mouth)

2008-02-19T08:14:09Z

Translating pop music is really good practice actually, especially trying to make it sound as natural and idiomatic in English as in the original. This sons is from Landy's latest album Heatwave 熱浪, which I think I will try to translate the whole album.

It's a catchy tirade against cocky, boring men who drone on... and on... and ON about their favorite topic... themselves!!

Kinda interesting also in that Landy pronounces the 喇叭 laba of the title as raba and rolls the r. Just for exotic effect.

Been a while since I translated on here... any requests? Haha. Yeah right. ^_^
喇叭嘴

作詞:Jason 作曲:陳奐仁編曲:陳奐仁

受夠了你那副喇叭嘴　說夠了沒　說夠了沒
誰會相信你的喇叭嘴　just go away

走在每個包廂之間來回穿梭　
打個招呼　有點像是在裝熟
看上了我　說一聲hello　
手就順便放在我的oh oh(屁股的意思)　
oh no 錯誤的開頭
女生最討厭男生的鹹豬手　
接下來他開始介紹他親朋好友　
開始天說　地說　隨便他在胡說

他說　他從小住在加州　
還說　以前兼差當麻豆　
又說　家裡不讓他工作　
家族企業以後它來接手
他說　很久沒交女朋友　
還說　有錢人也會寂寞　
又說　對你感覺不錯　
再第一眼看見你的時候

受夠了你那副喇叭嘴　
說夠了沒　說夠了沒　
誰會相信你的喇叭嘴　
對對對　你說的都對

可不可以不要繼續囉囉唆唆　
受不了你嘴角堆積的泡沫
不要再說　誰是你朋友　
說你認識哪些明星　畢波　
ｏｈ　ｎｏ　這招沒有用
不要以為女生什麼都不懂　
別再炫燿誇大自己　
因為我們已經
聽多　看多　這種男人太多

ENGLISH:
Megaphone Mouth

I've had enough of your megaphone mouth!
have you said enough yet? have you said enough yet?
who would believe your megaphone mouth?
JUST GO AWAY

bumming around between the theater boxes
calling out to people like it's part of the act
he catches sight of me, says a hello
his hand casually slips onto my OH OH[1]
OH NO what a mistake to start with!
there's nothing girls hate worse in a guy than quick fingers[2]
next he starts to introduce his close friend
who starts to talk... and talk... and talk and talk and talk!!

he says, when he was a kid he lived in California
and says, he used to be a part-time model [3]
then says, his family doesn't let him work
he'll take over the family business later
he says, he hasn't had a girlfriend for a while
and says, rich people can get lonely too
then says "I had a feeling about you
the first time you caught my eye"

I've had enough of your megaphone mouth!
have you said enough yet? have you said enough yet?
who would believe your megaphone mouth?
right, you said it alright!
(repeat)

could you stop with the verbal diarrhea please?
I can't stand the foam gathering around the corner of your mouth
stop talking! who's your friend?
saying you know those celebrities
OH NO this line is useless
don't think girls don't understand anything
don't try to show off anymore because we've already
heard too much, seen too many, there's too many of this kind of man

(repeat bridge and chorus)

1. The lyrics helpfully say "meaning butt"
2. I like the Chinese slang here which means "salted pork hand" literally. Just sounds all greasy and perverted doesn't it?
3. lololololol.

SIMPLIFIED:
喇叭嘴

作词:Jason 作曲:陈奂仁编曲:陈奂仁

受够了你那副喇叭嘴　说够了没　说够了没
谁会相信你的喇叭嘴　just go away

走在每个包厢之间来回穿梭　打个招呼　有点像是在装熟
看上了我　说一声hello　手就顺便放在我的oh oh(屁股的意思)　oh no 错误的开头
女生最讨厌男生的咸猪手　接下来他开始介绍他亲朋好友　开始天说　地说　随便他在胡说

他说　他从小住在加州　还说　以前兼差当麻豆　又说　家里不让他工作　家族企业以后它来接手
他说　很久没交女朋友　还说　有钱人也会寂寞　又说　对你感觉不错　再第一眼看见你的时候

受够了你那副喇叭嘴　说够了没　说够了没　谁会相信你的喇叭嘴　对对对　你说的都对

可不可以不要继续啰啰唆唆　受不了你嘴角堆积的泡沫
不要再说　谁是你朋友　说你认识哪些明星　毕波　ｏｈ　ｎｏ　这招没有用
不要以为女生什么都不懂　别再炫燿夸大自己　因为我们已经听多　看多　这种男人太多

Lonely Afternoon - Bevlyn Khoo - Available at Gramaphone

2008-02-12T16:19:16Z

Hello everyone, I discovered a great DIY album by a Singaporean singer-songwriter recently, and I'll like to share her works with everyone here. She sings and composes in Mandarin and English, and there's even a French song inside. My favourite is When I'm 80 years old. Do check her out. You can hear her music here

www.bevlynkhoo.com

I've bought a copy of the album already. It's a DIY so I hope you can support her too...the album's available at Gramophone stores in Singapore.

Zhang Shao Han (Angela Zhang) - Wo Lian Ai Le (I'm in Love!)

2007-12-20T12:36:10Z

x-posted to cpop

Lyrics Info
Singer: 张韶涵/Zhang Shao Han/Angela Zhang
Song: 我恋爱了/Wo Lian Ai Le/I'm in Love
Album: Ang 5.0
Comments: A cute, happy and upbeat song. The lyrics are kinda simple and conveys this happy, innocent, simple definition of love. It's kinda fun just listening to it.

p.s. Want to watch chinese variety shows engsubbed? Comment here.

( Lyrics under the fake cut; )

Zhang Shao Han (Angela Zhang) - Le Yuan (Paradise)

2007-12-16T08:05:05Z

x-posted to: cpop

Lyrics Info
Singer: 张韶涵/Zhang Shao Han/Angela Zhang
Song: 乐园/Le Yuan/Paradise
Albums: 公主小妹原声带/Gong Zhu Xiao Mei/Romantic Princess OST & Ang 5.0
Download from here.

( follow the fake cut; )

p.s. Want to watch chinese variety shows engsubbed with your favorite artistes in them? Comment here. Thanks.

F.I.R - Di Shi Hang Xing (The Tenth Planet)

2007-12-15T14:14:41Z

x-posted to: cpop and v_xd
Lyrics Info
Artist: F.I.R
Song: 第十行星/Di Shi Hang Xing/The Tenth Planet
Album: 爱.歌姬/Ai.Ge Ji/Love Diva
Links to download (previously uploaded by members of cpop): here and here

F.I.R - The Tenth Planet[1]

bīngdòng yǒngjiǔ zhī yè xiāoshī de Běijí quān

冰冻永久之夜消失的北极圈

yín bái de tiān jì xiàn zài wǒ yǎn qián

银白的天际线在我眼前

yǒu zhǒng wēixiǎn zài nǐ wǒ xīnli miàn

有种危险在你我心里面

shì tānlán de yù niàn duōme fūqiǎn

是贪婪的欲念多么肤浅

wǒ zhǔnbèi jiù xiànzài chéng zhe liúxīng

我准备就现在乘着流星

pāo kāi bēng huài de guòqu qián wǎng dì shí xíngxīng

抛开崩坏的过去前往第十行星

yímín wèi zhī de xīng yún

移民未知的星云

wàngdiào jìyì zhōng jiào zuò jiā de lánsè xíngxīng

忘掉记忆中叫作家的蓝色行星

háiyǒu xǔduō huāngmiù de rénxìng

还有许多荒谬的人性

yǒngbù mǎnzú de tānxīn

永不满足的贪心

qǐrényōutiān de dānxīn

杞人忧天的担心

réndìng shèng tiān de huīxīn

人定胜天的灰心

tiān rén jiāozhàn de shànxīn

天人交战的善心

jiāozhī chéng zuì zhēnguì měilì de xīng

交织成最珍贵美丽的星

yù yǐ xiāomiè zài yǔzhòu de zhōngxīn

欲已消灭在宇宙的中心

jiāo'ào de rénlèi huǐ

骄傲的人类毁

wěidà de wénmíng miè

伟大的文明灭

nǎli yǒu ài zhěngjiù yīqiè

哪里有爱拯救一切

zhōngyú wǒ fàn le zuì

终于我犯了罪

yǒngyuǎn zài cǐ chénshuì

永远在此沉睡

jiùsuàn bēngkuì

就算崩溃

yě yào zhuī huí jìyì de měi

也要追回记忆的美

yùyán zhōng méi shíxiàn zài yī jiǔ jiǔ jiǔ nián

预言终没实现在 1999 年

dìqiú táo guò wēixiǎn yǐ hǎo jī biàn

地球逃过危险已好几遍

nàxiē xiào liǎn dōu zài jìyì lǐmiàn

那些笑脸都在记忆里面

huà chéng fán xīng diǎn diǎn diàoluò tiānbiān

化成繁星点点掉落天边

wǒ zhǔnbèi jiù xiànzài chéng zhe liúxīng

我准备就现在乘着流星

pāo kāi bēng huài de guòqu qián wǎng dì shí xíngxīng

抛开崩坏的过去前往第十行星

yímín wèi zhī de xīng yún

移民未知的星云

wàngdiào jìyì zhōng jiào zuò jiā de lánsè xíngxīng

忘掉记忆中叫作家的蓝色行星

háiyǒu xǔduō huāngmiù de rénxìng

还有许多荒谬的人性

yǒngbù mǎnzú de tānxīn

永不满足的贪心

qǐrényōutiān de dānxīn

杞人忧天的担心

réndìng shèng tiān de huīxīn

人定胜天的灰心

tiān rén jiāozhàn de shànxīn

天人交战的善心

jiāozhī chéng zuì zhēnguì měilì de xīng

交织成最珍贵美丽的星

yù yǐ xiāomiè zài yǔzhòu de zhōngxīn

欲已消灭在宇宙的中心

jiāo'ào de rénlèi huǐ

骄傲的人类毁

wěidà de wénmíng miè

伟大的文明灭

nǎli yǒu ài zhěngjiù yīqiè

哪里有爱拯救一切

zhōngyú wǒ fàn le zuì

终于我犯了罪

yǒngyuǎn zài cǐ chénshuì

永远在此沉睡

jiùsuàn bēngkuì

就算崩溃

yě yào zhuī huí jìyì de měi

也要追回记忆的美

xīngqiú zài pèngzhuàng

星球在碰撞

zhuàng chū le xìnyǎng

撞出了信仰

xìnyǎng jiùshì ài

信仰就是爱

jiāo'ào de rénlèi huǐ

骄傲的人类毁

wěidà de wénmíng miè

伟大的文明灭

nǎli yǒu ài zhěngjiù yīqiè

哪里有爱拯救一切

zhōngyú wǒ fàn le zuì

终于我犯了罪

yǒngyuǎn zài cǐ chénshuì

永远在此沉睡

jiùsuàn bēngkuì

就算崩溃

yě yào zhuī huí jìyì de měi

也要追回记忆的美

The night of everlasting cold
The disappearing Arctic circle
The silvery white horizon, before my eyes
There's a kind of danger, deep inside you and I
It's a rapacious desire, how superficial

[rap]
I prepare myself at this very moment
riding the comet
leaving behind the moldering past
advancing to the tenth planet
Migrate to the mysterious nebula
and forget the memory of
the blue planet called home

And the ridiculous human nature
the unfulfillable greed
the groundless anxieties[2]
the artificial dejection[3]
the impossible mercy[4]
Weave to form the most precious and dazzling stars
Engulfed in the heart of Universe

The prideful humans, Destroyed
The noble civilizations, Annihilated
Where does Love exist
To save everything

Eventually, I err
Forever, I fall in a deep slumber here
Even if I were to collapse
I must recover the resplendence of the memories

The prophecy never did come true
in 1999
Earth has escaped from danger
a few instances
Those smiling faces
in my memories
Has morphed into stars aplenty
scattered in the skyline

[rap]
I prepare myself at this very moment
riding the comet
leaving behind the moldering past
advancing to the tenth planet
Migrate to the mysterious nebula
and forget the memory of
the blue planet called home

And the ridiculous human nature
the unfulfillable greed
the groundless anxieties
the artificial dejection
the impossible mercy
Weave to form the most precious and dazzling stars
Engulfed in the heart of Universe

The prideful humans Destroyed
The noble civilizations Annihilated
Where does Love exist
To save everything

Eventually, I err
Forever, I fall in a deep slumber here
Even if I were to collapse
I must recover the resplendence of the memories

The celestial bodies are colliding
Resulting in faith
And faith is love

The prideful humans Destroyed
The noble civilizations Annihilated
Where does Love exist
To save everything

Eventually, I err
Forever, I fall in a deep slumber here
Even if I were to collapse
I must recover the resplendence of the memories

1, The tenth planet is a literal translation. It should refer to the largest known dwarf planet, Eris. Read more about it here.
2, 杞人忧天refers to worrying for nothing. So I translated it as groundless.
3, 人定胜天refers to humans winning over fate through their determination. I have no idea what it means when used as an adjective to describe dejection, 灰心. So, I guessed it to be man-made dejection.
4, 天人交战 is the Mandarin name for a year 2000 movie, Traffic. Read more about it here.

used these websites when translating: chinese-tools, dict.cn, wiki, baidu, answers, m-w, xh.1516edu
This is kinda incoherent, as usual.
credit to http://v-xd.livejournal.com/profile when posting elsewhere.

p.s. If anyone wants subbed chinese variety shows, please comment here

Rong Zu Er (Joey Yung) - Ai Qing Fu Xing (Love Renaissance)

2007-12-14T15:58:52Z

x-posted to: v_xd and cpop

My first contribution/post here.
Just a brief intro:
-Brought up in a Chinese/English environment
-Took Chinese as one of my main languages for about ten+years
-I can read both traditional and simplified, but I'm much more comfortable with the latter
-Like any kind of music that's pleasing to my ears
-I'd like to be credited as v_xd, with a link to my lj profile.

Lyrics Info
Artist: 容祖儿 Joey Yung
Title: 爱情复兴 Love Renaissance
Lyricist: 何启弘 He Qi Hong
Composer: Hwillilli

Joey Yung - Love Renaissance[1]

huálì de bā Luò kè yuánwǔqǔ

华丽的巴洛克圆舞曲

kǎ fū kǎ lǎngsòng zhe shī jù

卡夫卡朗诵着诗句

shíkōng hùxiāng jiāocuò de chǎng jǐng

时空互相交错的场景

zhōnggǔ shìjì de àiqíng

中古世纪的爱情

wǒ xiàng guān zài

我像关在

bèi jǔ zhòu de gǔ bǎo

被咀咒的古堡

wǒ xiàng chuǎng jìn

我像闯进

mǎchē jīngguò de xiàngdào

马车经过的巷道

wǒ xiàng tīngjiàn

我像听见

xiūdàoyuàn de dǎogào

修道院的祷告

nìliú

逆流

shíjiān de lù zhǎobúdào

时间的路找不到

zhǎobúdào

找不到

ài tīngshuō néng chuānyuè jǐ shìjì

爱听说能穿越几世纪

tòngkǔ guò xìngfú guò huì chóng yìng

痛苦过幸福过会重映

wǒmen fù shēn bǐcǐ jìyì

我们附身彼此记忆

cái zhèyàng jiūchán dào wú zhǐ jǐn

才这样纠缠到无止尽

chuánshuō ài néng fēi jǐ qiānlǐ

传说爱能飞几千里

jiàngluò dào jīnshēng de yōngbào lǐ

降落到今生的拥抱里

rúguǒ bǎituō bùliǎo sù mìng

如果摆脱不了宿命

jiùrèn tā xiě cuò jùqíng

就任它写错剧情

děngdài zhe bèi jiù shú de kūqì

等待着被救赎的哭泣

lián shàngdì dōu zhǐ néng mòxǔ

连上帝都只能默许

wǒmen xiāng yù jīngdòng le tiāndì

我们相遇惊动了天地

héng sǎo luànshì de àiqíng

横扫乱世的爱情

wǒ xiàng kāndào

我像看到

mù'ǒu yǒu lèi zài diào

木偶有泪在掉

wǒ xiàng tīngjiàn

我像听见

jiētóu yìrén de shànxiào

街头艺人的讪笑

wǒ xiàng fúlǔ

我像俘虏

wèibīng dǎng zài dìjiào

卫兵挡在地窖

nìliú

逆流

shíjiān de lù zhǎobúdào

时间的路找不到

zhǎobúdào

找不到

wǒmen dōu bié zài zuò gè táobīng

我们都别再做个逃兵

děngdài zài yīcì àiqíng fùxīng

等待再一次爱情复兴

ràng miǎozhēn zàntíng

让秒针暂停

cóng lún huí zhōng / zhòng shuì xǐng

从轮回中睡醒

ài gè chèdǐ

爱个彻底

ài shì yī chū

爱是一出

chàng bù wán de gējù

唱不完的歌剧

An splendorous Baroque round dance
Kafka reciting poetic lines
The scene of interlacing time dimensions
The love of Medieval Times

It's as though I'm trapped
in a cursed castle
It's as though I barged
into a busy streets full of carriages
It's as though I heard
the prayers from the abbey
The path against the current of time
I can't find it
Can't find it

It's said that love can transcend a few centuries
The sufferings, the bliss, they will repeat
We possess each other's memories
just for this endless entanglement
Legend says that love can soar through a thousand miles
landing in the embrace of this Life
And if I'm unable to free from this destiny
I'll let it mess up the script of this scenes

The wails from the waiting of redemption
even God has to acquiesce
Our encounter shook the heaven and earth
The love which swept through troubled times

It's as though I saw
the puppet's tears
It's as though I heard
the street entertainers' mocks
It's as though I am a captive
soldiers blocking in the cellar
The path against the current of time
I can't find it
Can't find it

Let us stop escaping
And wait for the Love Renaissance once more
Let the hands of time momentarily pause
And awaken from Samsara
Love completely

Love is a
neverending opera

1, Actually the word, 复兴, can mean revival, resurrection etc. I specifically chose the word ‘Renaissance’ because I felt that it was more relevant in this case, with all the references to the art arena (See: Baroque and Kafka).

I think the translation is kinda incoherent. =)

credits for chinese-to-pinyin tool: chinese-tools
online dictionaries/encyclopedias/websites used: dict.cn, chinese-tools, zhongwen, xh.5156edu, google, wiki

p.s.i'm not sure how to categorize things here, anyone care to point me in the right direction? i'm still a lj noob, don't know what's the difference between memories and tags.

Wang Rong - Wo Xue Lei Feng Hao Bang Yang (I Learn From the Good Example of Comrade Lei Feng)

2007-12-09T09:11:01Z

Ah, Communism. You had your heart in the right place, or at least something approximating the right place, at least most of the time. Anyway. Propaganda is part of every government's arsenal, but nobody did it better than the PRC.

Everyone needs heroes and models. We Catholics have saints; the PRC has Lei Feng among others. You can read about him on Wikipedia, but suffice to say if you're a little kid in China, you have to study him and watch movies about how great he was, and of course sing songs!

Among these songs is the tune "Learn From the Good Example of Lei Feng". To a post-modern Westerner like myself the lyrics seem too obvious and hokey, but for the children who still learn it today it is not a joke at all.

Mainland chanteuse Wang Rong attempted to gain fame in Hong Kong but went largely unnoticed, so for 2005 album More Love she created a new mainland-centric image. I think she was more popular with this album, but the problem is that albums and endorsements in the mainland are less lucrative, so I think she didn't do much better. She hasn't released anything since.

Like all good propaganda, this song is catchy as hell, and I think it's an interesting piece on the self-image of modern mainland Chinese.

TRADITIONAL
我學雷鋒好榜樣

little girl: 學習雷鋒好榜樣　
忠於革命忠於黨
愛憎分明不忘本
立聲堅定頭號志強　
立場堅定鬥志強

那天我無意翻開小時候的日記本
裡面寫著密密麻麻學雷鋒的故事
為了體會"交到警察叔叔手裡邊"
真的回家拿出自己存錢罐裡一分錢
轉眼這麼大了忙得我都忘了時間　這世界逼著我必須紅透半邊天
只是看到雷鋒就像忽然來到春天　看來我忘了的不僅僅是時間
於是我急著出門看一看　正好一位老太太拿著大包小包一大堆
於是我對她說讓我幫你拿上一點點
可老太太卻說了一句:你幹嘛　搶錢
這這是什麼道理我的行為很自然
那是中國人最最最驕傲的精神
不管什麼時候世界都需要溫暖
是時候該唱那首歌絕對經典　
學習雷鋒好榜樣
你是我的熱愛我的偶像　助人為樂你代名
感慨你的軍大衣補丁摞補丁
學習雷鋒好榜樣　你的故事伴隨我的成長
要做永不生銹的縲絲釘
你的精神什麼時代都一樣

說起雷鋒相信沒有人會沒感覺
每個人的心裡都有真善美的呼喚
只是環境變了觀念變了雷鋒精神在發展
為別人為自己為了大家行方便
現在人做人做事講究信譽目標遠
吃虧是福絕對是金玉良言
今天你為他任勞任怨多做一點點
明天關鍵時候大家一起來數錢
正想著我的車突然壞在路邊
前不著村後不著店這可怎麼辦
一位出租司機不慌不忙來幫忙
我的天看著他就像天使下凡
就就是這個道理他的行為很自然
那是中國人最最最驕傲的精神
不管什麼時候世界都需要溫暖
是時候再唱那首歌絕對經典

SIMPLIFIED:
GIRL: 学习雷锋好榜样忠于革命忠于党
爱憎分明不忘本立场坚定斗志强
立场坚定斗志强

那天我无意翻开小时候的日记本
里面写着密密麻麻学雷锋的故事
为了体会交到警察叔叔手里边
真的回家拿出自己存钱罐里一分钱
转眼这么大了忙得我都忘了时间
这世界逼着我必须红透半边天
只是看到雷锋就像忽然来到春天
看来我忘了的不仅仅是时间
于是我急着出门看一看
正好一位老太太拿着大包小包一大堆
于是我对她说让我帮你拿上一点点
可老太太却说了一句:你干嘛抢钱
这这是什么道理我的行为很自然
那是中国人最最最最骄傲的精神
不管什么时候世界都需要温暖
是时候该唱那首歌绝对经典

学习雷锋好榜样
你是我的热爱我的偶像
助人为乐你代名
感慨你的军大衣补丁摞补丁
学习雷锋好榜样
你的故事伴随我的成长
要做永不生锈的缧丝钉
你的精神什么时代都一样

(REPEAT GIRL)

说起雷锋相信没有人会没感觉
每个人的心里都有真善美的呼唤
只是环境变了观念变了雷锋精神在发展
为别人为自己为了大家行方便
现在人做人做事讲究信誉目标远
吃亏是福绝对是金玉良言
今天你为他任劳任怨多做一点点
明天关键时候大家一起来数钱
正想着我的车突然坏在路边
前不着村后不着店这可怎么办
一位出租司机不慌不忙来帮忙
我的天看着他就像天使下凡
就就是这个道理他的行为很自然
那是中国人最最最最骄傲的精神
不管什么时候世界都需要温暖
是时候再唱那首歌绝对经典

ENGLISH:
little girl: learn from the good example of Lei Feng
loyal to the Revolution, loyal to the Party
don't forget the clear difference between love and hate[1]
give a cry to mark our resolute strength
[our] position is resolute, [our] fighting spirit is strong

that day, I accidentally opened up a diary from childhood
the inside was written densely with stories studying Lei Feng
in order to learn "pay Uncle Policeman "[2]
I actually returned home and grabbed a penny from my own money jar
in a flash, the me that is so busy completely forgot the time
this world is pressing me to be a revolutionary woman[3]
simply seeing Lei Feng was like the sudden arrival of spring
it seemed like I'd forgotten more than just the time
so eagerly I left my home to look around
just then there was an old woman carrying a big stack of packages
so I said to her "Let me help you carry those"
but the old woman just said: "What's with you? Thief!"
this, what is the reason for this? my actions were natural
that is the most, most, most proud spirit of the Chinese!
no matter what time, the world always needs warmth
it's time to sing that song, it's a total classic!

CHORUS
[I] learn from the good example of Lei Feng
you are my passion, my idol
[I] sigh for your army coat piled with patches[4]
[I] learn from the good example of Lei Feng
your story accompanies me as I grow up
make a screw that never rusts[5]
your spirit is the same in every age
(repeat little girl's song)

speaking of Lei Feng, I believe everyone has some feeling
within everyone's heart there's a virtuous voice
only the environment has changed, opinions have changed, but the spirit of Lei Feng is growing
to make things easier for other people, yourself, and everyone
modern human issues focus on a far off target of credit[6]
"sorrow is a blessing" definitely is a golden saying
today, for him, toil without complaint a little more
tomorrow at the critical moment everyone come together and count money[7]
that reminds me of my car, it suddenly broke down by the curb
no town in front, no store in back, what's to be done?
a taxi driver nonchalantly came to my assistance
oh my God, look at him, just like an angel come down to earth!
it is because of this reason, his actions were natural
that is the most, most, most proud spirit of the Chinese!
no matter what time, the world always needs warmth
it's time to sing that song, it's a total classic!

(repeat both choruses)

1. The Chinese language loves to say things in the least number of words possible and make you figure out the actual meaning. My translation is what is literally there; I think the figurative meaning is "Hate what the Party says you should hate and love what the Party says you should love."
2. I assume this is a quote from Lei Feng's diary and if I knew the context I would probably understand what it means.
3. "Half the sky" is an idiom for women because of Mao Zedong's statement "Women hold up half the sky."
4. IE he was a soldier at a time when the army was very poor so he had to constantly mend his own uniform.
5. Not sure what this means in context.
6. Not sure what this means.
7. I'm guessing this means everyone has to sacrifice a little for the greater good?

Zhe Wei Taitai (Mrs. This) - Er Wo (And I)

2007-09-19T09:51:14Z

The Taiwanese cpop scene is currently undergoing an indie explosion. I am all for this, even though I love the standard label produced pop idols, I want to see cpop become as broad and fascinating as jpop.
Sodagreen is probably the forefront of all this, having won so many awards; now labels are signing up indie acts as fast as they can. It's just like the situation in the English music market. Pop isn't popular like it once was.
Moving on to this particular song, it's very Buddhist in outlook, I think, yet also a certain disillusionment with Buddhism. Those of us raised in other cultures should be aware that in Taiwan Buddhism permeates everything much as the Protestant Work Ethic has infused into most American culture. Anyway, read it yourself.

我們都　不願放下心中的那把尺
讓自己　活在痛苦糾結的迷霧中
他們說　人要懂得知足懂得結束
但我說　一切標準要以自己為主

他們在一旁　不過就那樣　好壞都藏心房
你有沒有曾經懷疑　這樣的謎底　他是否真合理

而我的眼已垂落　而我的眼已垂落
而我的耳已閉鎖　而我的耳已閉鎖
而我的嘴已沉默　而我的嘴已沉默
而我的心已消瘦　而我的心已消瘦

repeat verse, bridge, chorus

而我的眼已垂落　看不見那片荒漠
而我的耳已閉鎖　掙脫了人言消磨
而我的嘴已沉默　無法再辯些什麼
而我的心已消瘦　就快要放棄執著

repeat bridge

we are all unwilling to lay down that ruler[1] within the heart
to let oneself live within the agonizing bewildering fog of entanglement
they say, people should understand the limits and understand how it winds up[2]
but I say, in everything standard oneself should act as master

they're on one side, nothing more than that, good and bad are stored within the rooms of the heart
have you ever doubted this kind of answer to the riddle, whether it's really reasonable or not?

and my eyes already drooped down, and my eyes already drooped down
and my ears already locked up, and my ears already locked up
and my mouth already silent, and my mouth already silent
and my heart already wasted away, and my heart already wasted

repeat verse, bridge, chorus

and my eyes already drooped down, unable to see that wasteland
and my ears already locked up, shed of idle gossip
and my mouth already silent, unable to debate anything anymore
and my heart already wasted away, just about to give up attachment

1. Ruler as in the tool for measuring things.
2. "Zhi zu" means being content with one's lot in life. Jieshu (finish, end) uses the same word jie (to tie, to knot) as jiujie (entangled together) so I translated it as "wind up" to get that flavor.

Watch the video on YouTube here. If anyone wants it I can translate the text on the screen in the video, though it may take some time as it is hard to read in some places. Also if anyone would like the pinyin I can do that, I'm just being lazy.

Biung Wang Yan En + A-mei Zhang Hui Mei - Baleng Gongzhu (Princess Balenge)

2007-09-17T04:13:27Z

I'm going to copy wyse_k and try using tables here.
Biung Wang is aboriginal Taiwanese, meaning he is not Han Chinese like the majority of the people on the island. Superstar A-mei is also aboriginal Taiwanese (from a different people), and here they collaborate on a beautiful duet based on an aboriginal legend of the Rukai people.

In the legend, Princess Balenge is the daughter of the chief and is beloved by all for her beauty and kindness. (Picture shoujo heroine.) One day when she went picking herbs and was seen by a Snake God. (Picture bad-ass bishounen with a heart of gold.) Of course they fell in love. The Snake God asked her father for permission to marry her. The tribe did not want to lose the princess, but neither did they want to offend a god. So her father asked for a bead with seven colors as a dowry, intending it to be impossible to make. (Beads were SERIOUS BUSINESS then.) It took the snake god three years to make it, but he did. Then they got married and lived happily ever after. Yay.

So this song is set during that period where her family is keeping them apart.

男：月光倒映著前世　一地的琉璃珠鍊
　　纏繞幾千個春天　的淚
女：我在沙洲上尋找　深埋幸福的地點
　　那年　那夜　不忘　不斷　直到今天

＃男：百合是那記憶的花
　女：靜靜飄著悲傷的香
　合：愛過會留下痕跡阿

＊┌女：我沒有離開　你的愛
　│男：我沒有離開　愛不會放開
　└合：離別卻一直來
　┌女：我沒有眼淚　能灌溉
　│男：我沒有眼淚　能和誰交換
　└合：那段深埋的愛

男：橫越幾世的蝴蝶　在你衣襟上翻飛
　　想念的畫面2倒回　眼前
女：多霧的那面湖水　寂寞的找不到邊
合：笑的　苦澀　哭的　甘醇　若隱若現

Repeat ＃,＊

合：笛聲從天空飄落像極我們的遺憾　只能遠遠作響的悲哀

┌女：你凌亂的笑　我聽了心酸
└男：我慌亂的笑　風聽了都會心酸
┌女：只想你的愛　只是不能愛
└男：你在不在　明天在不在　這份愛

┌女：我沒有離開　你的愛
│男：我沒有離開　愛不會放開
└合：離別卻一直來

合：我沒有眼淚　能和誰交換　深埋的愛

BOY: yueguang dao ying zhe qian shi yi di de liuli zhulian
chanrao jiqian ge chuntian de lei
GIRL: wo zai shazhou shang xunzhao shen mai xingfu de didian
na nian na ye bu wang bu duan zhidao jintian
＃
BOY: baihe shi na jiyi de hua
GIRL: jingjing piao zhe beishang de xiang
BOTH: ai guo hui liuxia henji a...
＊
┌GIRL: wo meiyou likai ni de ai
└BOY: wo meiyou likai ai bu hui fangkai
BOTH: libie que yi zhi lai
┌GIRL: wo meiyou yanlei neng guan'gai na duan shen mai de ai
└BOY: wo meiyou yanlei neng he shei jiaohuan na duan shen mai de ai

BOY: hengyue ji shi de hudie zai ni yijin shang fanfei
xiangnian de huamian dao hui yanqian
GIRL: duo wu de na mian hu shui jimo de zhaobudao bian
BOTH: xiao de kuse ku de ganchun ruo yin ruo xian

Repeat ＃,＊

BOTH: disheng cong tiankong piaoluo xiang ji women de yihan
zhi neng yuanyuan zuo xiang de bei ai
┌GIRL: ni lingluan de xiao wo ting le xinsuan
└BOY: wo huangluan de xiao feng tile le duhui xinsuan
┌GIRL: zhi xiang ni de ai, zhi shi bu neng ai
└BOY: ni zai bu zai ming tian zai bu zai zhe fen ai

Repeat ＊

BOY: the moonlight pours its light over a past age, a glazed pearl of earth[1]
intertwined with the tears of several thousand springtimes
GIRL: I am atop the sandbank, searching for a place where happiness is deeply buried
that year, that night, unforgotten, unceasing, until today
＃
BOY: lily is that flower of remembrance
GIRL: the scent of sorrow softly floating
BOTH: having loved will leave a trace, ah
＊
-GIRL: I haven't left your love,
-BOY: I haven't left a love that cannot be released
BOTH: parting but always returning
-GIRL: I have no tears that can water that deeply buried love
-BOY: I have no tears to exchange with someone, that deeply buried love

BOY: a butterfly that has passed across several ages alighting upon your lapel[2]
that longed for picture returns to the present
GIRL: the face of that lake water has so much mist
can't find the way out of loneliness
BOTH:a smiling bitterness, a crying sweetness, dimly visible
Repeat ＃,＊
BOTH: the sound of the flute floated down from the sky like our regret
only able to distantly make the sound of grief
-GIRL: your chaotic smile, I heard heartache
-BOY: my rushed smile, the wind heard the heartache of the village
-GIRL: I only want your love, but love cannot be
-boy: are you there? tomorrow will this love be there?

1. The glazed beads for which this people is especially famous.
2. This literally means the place at the bosom of a traditional dress where the fabric is folded and held in place. Since this fold is usually on the left side it is over the heart. So figuratively it also means one's emotions and what one cherishes.

Watch the music video on YouTube.