A Song a day: Shirley Kwan (關淑怡)

Showing posts with label Shirley Kwan (關淑怡). Show all posts

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

3rd May 2016 (人生可有知己 – Shirley Kwan)

The song for today is “人生可有知己” by Shirley Kwan. This song is quite old, and it is one of Shirley’s classic. The direct English translation of the title is “Would there be best friend in life”.

The lyrics of the song are about grow up. The protagonist said: “It’s late, blankly sitting in the living room listening to the sound of the night wind. Speechlessly think of the past when we were connected and chatted happily, spent so many spring and summer nights together. All disappeared, time delivered so many happiness. With time ages, people and things changed. The hopeful heart is not seen again. Look, for fame, people forced themselves to follow, forget about themselves, tried their hardest to pretend. Lying to people and themselves. At the end may result in everyone leaving them. Look, friends become strangers, no longer talk about their true thought. Only you, still treated me with your true heart. So truthful when we are together, you give me the strength to face the future. Thought it through, the beauty and ugliness of the truth of mankind is no longer important. Only need to try your best, regardless how curvedly the road gets. Having you on my side, my heart already is the happiest. The road of life, there is a best friend encouraged me, accompanying me, no longer lonely.” Hope you will like the song.

26th Mar 2015 (無盡的愛 – Shirley Kwan)

16th Oct 2014 (一切也願意 – Shirley Kwan)

13th Oct 2014 (熱力節拍 Wou Bom Ba – Grasshopper, Shirley Kwan, Karen Tong and Winnie Lau)

1st Mar 2014 (再會 – Shirley Kwan)

15th Sep 2013 (難得有情人 – Shirley Kwan)

4th Jul 2013 (繾綣星光下 – Shirley Kwan/Tour L'temps, Tout L'temps – Elsa Lunghini)

29th Mar 2013 (一首獨唱的歌 – Shirley Kwan)

27th Jan 2013 (夢伴 - Erika Li/Anita Mui/Shirley Kwan/ 夢絆 - Kohji Makaino 近藤真彥)

人生可有知己 – Shirley Kwan

Thursday, March 26, 2015

26th Mar 2015 (無盡的愛 – Shirley Kwan)

The song for today is “無盡的愛” by Shirley Kwan. This song is the Cantonese cover version of Jeff Chang’s “愛如潮水”. The direct English translation of the title is “Endless love”.

The lyrics of the song are about the protagonist is in love with this guy, but she knows clearly that this guy treat her more as a friend than as a lover, still she is willing to be on his side. She said: “Never asked when you cried, who was the one that got you so down. You don’t need to say who you think of the most, just lean toward me if you are tired. Allow the person that loves you to be with you forever to share your loneliness. No fate to be a pair, but this love will never be gone. No matter how many years has past, my love is like a sea, it never get tired nor aged, it will only be lost when the earth and sky aged. I don’t want to see you at night pointlessly chasing after some love and people that are unreal. Seeing you got so lose, whether you know that it gave me pain? Please promise me that from now on, don’t let your youth and life be freely taken away by people. You giving up yourself, do you know how much it hurt me?” Hope you will like the song.

16th Oct 2014 (一切也願意 – Shirley Kwan)

13th Oct 2014 (熱力節拍 Wou Bom Ba – Grasshopper, Shirley Kwan, Karen Tong and Winnie Lau)

1st Mar 2014 (再會 – Shirley Kwan)

15th Sep 2013 (難得有情人 – Shirley Kwan)

4th Jul 2013 (繾綣星光下 – Shirley Kwan/Tour L'temps, Tout L'temps – Elsa Lunghini)

29th Mar 2013 (一首獨唱的歌 – Shirley Kwan)

27th Jan 2013 (夢伴 - Erika Li/Anita Mui/Shirley Kwan/ 夢絆 - Kohji Makaino 近藤真彥)

無盡的愛 – Shirley Kwan

Thursday, October 16, 2014

16th Oct 2014 (一切也願意 – Shirley Kwan)

The song that I chose for today is “一切也願意” by Shirley Kwan. I have completely forgotten about this song until I recently heard it on radio. This song was quite popular back when it was released. The direct English translation of the title is “Willing to do everything”.

The lyrics of the song are about the protagonist worry about her relationship with her boyfriend. It said, she lit a fire and couldn’t sleep. At this rainy silence night, she is worry that she will lose it. HE said “don’t sleep”, so that they could spend every second together. But if they are not tired, why would she cry? If they are main to be together forever, then why she is worry about being heartbroken? She is not worry about the trouble in the future as she believes that they could face it. Who loves her truthfully? Why couldn’t she feel it? Who could live a day without worry? If their love continues, eventually they will get sick of this relationship. So infatuation and dream couldn’t coexist. If he cause her heartbroken, then it would be much easier for her to leave him. If he could understand that she had quietly put down this relationship, then she is willing to scarify for him, even if that will cost her life. Hope you will like the song.

13th Oct 2014 (熱力節拍 Wou Bom Ba – Grasshopper, Shirley Kwan, Karen Tong and Winnie Lau)

1st Mar 2014 (再會 – Shirley Kwan)

15th Sep 2013 (難得有情人 – Shirley Kwan)

4th Jul 2013 (繾綣星光下 – Shirley Kwan/Tour L'temps, Tout L'temps – Elsa Lunghini)

29th Mar 2013 (一首獨唱的歌 – Shirley Kwan)

27th Jan 2013 (夢伴 - Erika Li/Anita Mui/Shirley Kwan/ 夢絆 - Kohji Makaino 近藤真彥)

一切也願意 – Shirley Kwan

Monday, October 13, 2014

13th Oct 2014 (熱力節拍 Wou Bom Ba – Grasshopper, Shirley Kwan, Karen Tong and Winnie Lau)

The song for today is “熱力節拍 Wou Bom Ba” by Grasshopper, Shirley Kwan, Karen Tong and Winnie Lau. Since I have talked about “打開天空” yesterday, I think I should talk about another famous Marlboro advertising campaign song. “熱力節拍 Wou Bom Ba” was released a few years before “打開天空” and it also become very successful. The direct English translation of the title is “Beats of heat Wou Bom Ba”.

Like “打開天空”, the lyrics are focus on being energetic and try to gives Marlboro a positive image. But this one focus more on youth, which I guess was their way to try to sell into the youth market, who might eventually become their next generation of customer. Because many of the lyrics repeats, I will only translate them the first time when they appeared. It said, Wou Ba Bom Ba Oh Ha Oh Hai. The heat hasn’t back off, and it is so hot that it makes us dance. Let just try our luck and there isn’t a need to reason. No point in just sitting around waiting, just get your friends and try out the trendy things without worries. The world revolve all because of your youth. People from far away are looking at you, all wishes that they are like you. The passion buried in you is prepared. Let’s put yourself into this moment, you will found new interesting things and love this world. Our soul is not limited, so let’s fly with me. There is no need to give up yourself as your life is perfect. Everyone play hard in summer, this is me, and there is nothing to worry about. Hope you will like the song.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

1st Mar 2014 (再會 – Shirley Kwan)

The song that I chose for today is “再會” by Shirley Kwan. The direct English translation of the title is “Meet again”.

The lyrics of the song area bout love. The protagonist said that she is looking at a bunch of old letter and she thought of him. She could felt his love from his words. These little things are like shadows. Now she is looking at some old photograph. She stared at those that captured his happiness. Thinking about the happy and the sad moments that they have together. These little things are like shadows. Every cold autumn, she performs on her instrument, just hopping to forget the old but she keep bumping into sadness. Every cold night, she wishes to see him, but every time she end up with empty hand. See you later, but at the same time she is looking forward to say “see you later” again next time. But why can’t her just stop herself from stop seeing him again. Looking at an old painting, she remembers how much she loves him. From every autumn to spring, that endless giving and receiving. Every cold autumn, she performs on her instrument, just hopping to forget the old but she keep bumping into sadness. She said she will never stop dreaming about him. Hope you will like the song.

4th Jul 2013 (繾綣星光下 – Shirley Kwan/Tour L'temps, Tout L'temps – Elsa Lunghini)

29th Mar 2013 (一首獨唱的歌 – Shirley Kwan)

27th Jan 2013 (夢伴 - Erika Li/Anita Mui/Shirley Kwan/ 夢絆 - Kohji Makaino 近藤真彥)

再會 – Shirley Kwan

Sunday, September 15, 2013

15th Sep 2013 (難得有情人 – Shirley Kwan)

The song that I chose for today is “難得有情人” by Shirley Kwan. This is one of Shirley’s most popular songs. It was a theme song for a TV drama in the 80s. While theme songs for TV dramas don’t have such a big impact these days, back in the 80s and 90s, they were like gold. It was highly likely that the singer who sung a TV drama theme song will get popular. This was because TV was pretty much the only kind of family entertainment that was readily available and affordable, making it the best way to advertise or to make anything well known. The direct English translation of the title is “Rare to have a lover”.

The lyrics are about love. It tells us that it was like waking up in a spring morning that touches her heart. She can’t wait any longer. People’s lives crosses over and they share their loves. It was sweet to run with our love one in the wind, and yell out that we love each other and enjoy our life. You said ‘I do’ and I said ‘I do’, there will be no regrets in our love. The moon and the fog makes it seems that all the couples love each other more than usual. Perhaps some love will turn to hate, but this makes the love stories more touching and give it the beauty that it lack. Hope you will like the song.

4th Jul 2013 (繾綣星光下 – Shirley Kwan/Tour L'temps, Tout L'temps – Elsa Lunghini)

29th Mar 2013 (一首獨唱的歌 – Shirley Kwan)

27th Jan 2013 (夢伴 - Erika Li/Anita Mui/Shirley Kwan/ 夢絆 - Kohji Makaino 近藤真彥)

難得有情人 – Shirley Kwan

Thursday, July 4, 2013

4th Jul 2013 (繾綣星光下 – Shirley Kwan/Tour L'temps, Tout L'temps – Elsa Lunghini)

The song that I chose for today is “繾綣星光下” by Shirley Kwan. This is one of Shirley most popular songs. This is the Cantonese covered version of a France song “Tour L'temps, Tout L'temps” by Elsa Lunghini. The direct English translation of the Chinese title is “Embraced by the star light”.

The lyrics of the song are about romance. At the start the protagonist said that admired is always short and beauty always change. She doesn’t believe these, but under the star light, all of these appeared like in a dream, it didn’t feel real. She is still shock, but she still hasn’t expressed her love yet. Thought, she feels that their heart is already connected, they can chat endlessly, like as if they have been trained to fallen in love. Look the start light is warm and they are embraced. She said it is hard to have one of these nights. She was always waiting in the past, and that night she can’t control herself. Finally that night, she found that he is lying next to her under the star light. Hope you will enjoy the song, I have also linked to the original France song for reference.

29th Mar 2013 (一首獨唱的歌 – Shirley Kwan)

27th Jan 2013 (夢伴 - Erika Li/Anita Mui/Shirley Kwan/ 夢絆 - Kohji Makaino 近藤真彥)

繾綣星光下 – Shirley Kwan

Tour L'temps, Tout L'temps – Elsa Lunghini

Friday, March 29, 2013

29th Mar 2013 (一首獨唱的歌 – Shirley Kwan)

The song that I chose for today is “一首獨唱的歌” by Shirley Kwan. This is surely one of Shirley’s classic. I am not Shirley’s fans, but I remember I love this song when I was a kid. Back then Shirley was fairly popular as well, but as times goes, her songs were further and further away from pop, which I think was the reason why she seems to disappear in the last few years. I think it was last year she produced a single, which was a cover of Eason’s “陀飛輪”. Personally I don’t like her cover version as it feel so different, but it did make some noise in the market. The direct English translation of the title is “A solo song”.

The lyrics of this song are about the protagonist think of her past. She said in a foggy night, she unintentionally walks past a street that they (she and her ex-boyfriend) used to hang out together. Walking along their footstep, she thought of their past and memorised how said she was. She wishes that it was just a dream so when she wakes up it would be all gone. She remembers back then, she was singing their love song, but he didn’t sing along. She knew that their fate have long gone and her crazy dream about their future have also been broken, all she see was that he left her was she was at sleep. She said that when human are in love, we can’t distinguish what is wrong. Perhaps they know that their relationship would lead to a dead end from the beginning, but they still decided to give it the spark of love. Love is crazy and it shouldn’t be treated as a toy, but now it is too late to understand all these. She remembers that day, he was crying so badly. As for her, she felt sad, but wasn’t hurt as deep. She wishes that he could forgive her and look at her again. She feels that she is the only one left on the bench sitting by herself. Hope you will like the song.

一首獨唱的歌 – Shirley Kwan

Sunday, January 27, 2013

27th Jan 2013 (夢伴 - Erika Li/Anita Mui/Shirley Kwan/ 夢絆 - Kohji Makaino 近藤真彥)

The song that I chose for today is “夢伴” by Erika Li. The original version was a Japanese song call “夢絆” by Kohji Makaino (近藤真彥). In the 80’s and 90’s many Japanese songs have a Chinese cover version, and no exception to this song, in 1986 this song was converted to Chinese and was sung by Anita Mui. Since then this song became a classic Chinese song. Later on in 1995, Shirley Kwan sung a new remix version. Finally, in 2010, Erika sung this newest version. I usually don’t like these remix classic songs as they usually ruin the feeling and mood of the original, but Erika’s version is an exception. The mood of this version is quite different to the original, but it matches with the lyrics and bring out a different side of the song. The direct English translation of the title is “Dream partner”.

The lyrics of the song are about the protagonist walking by herself and she saw a couple standing under a street light. It was a cold night, but the couple was kissing, it’s like their kiss helped them to resist the cold. It was a very warm moment by seeing this, but the protagonist feels very sad. She told us that now she has lost everything, coming back to this very same location, make her remember that that night when she and her ex-boyfriend were here. She gave him her heart that night, but how he had already left her. Gazing at the star and standing in the wind make her feel extreme sad. She knows that now she have lost everything, and she will never be able to get it back.

Let’s talk about the different version here. Anita’s version is the original Chinese version. In this version, Anita style makes it sounds like the protagonist is very tough/strong. Although the protagonist feels sad, but you can feel that she will have the mental strength to keep living and move on. Shirley’s version is different. In this version, Shirley typical style makes the song sound rather cool. Here it sounds like that the protagonist sad and lost, it feel like she is trying to talk herself out of the shadow. Lastly, Erika’s version. This version is the saddest of all versions. The song became a slow pace, and you can feel the sadness coming right out from the song. I personally really like this version, but it only work with Erika, as these feeling matches with her image and her age. If Anita or Shirley sung like this, it would feel a bit funny. I have linked all 4 versions of the song below, hope you will enjoy them. Note that many singer have actually sung this song, but I only talked these 3 version as they actually included it as a song of their own in their album, unlike others who just sing it live in a show or concert.