27 February 2008
I heard the Jay Chou song, 青花瓷, today which is sheer poetry and after reading more about it, I really have to pay the highest respects to songwriter, 方文山 Vincent Fang, for writing a song that is so breathtakingly beautiful in its history and imagery.
This video for it has the Chinese lyrics, pin yin and English translation, so do take a look.
The main refrain in the song - 天青色等煙雨 而我在等妳
loosely translated as 'the shade of blue awaiting the downpour; just as I wait for you'
actually refers to the very specific colour of the porcelain, which can only be achieved with great difficulty. The kiln has to be heated to the perfect temperature, and the final day of glazing has to be on a rainy day for the colour to be achieved.
As the songwriter puts it (in Chinese on his blog), 'the changing of the weather is fluid and unpredictable, so who are we, as mere mortals to try grasping it and keeping it within our control? If we wish to see the pure colour of the porcelain stripped clean after the rain, then all we can do is wait patiently. And it's akin to my passive wait for you whose appearance I can't fathom when.'
This video for it has the Chinese lyrics, pin yin and English translation, so do take a look.
The main refrain in the song - 天青色等煙雨 而我在等妳
loosely translated as 'the shade of blue awaiting the downpour; just as I wait for you'
actually refers to the very specific colour of the porcelain, which can only be achieved with great difficulty. The kiln has to be heated to the perfect temperature, and the final day of glazing has to be on a rainy day for the colour to be achieved.
As the songwriter puts it (in Chinese on his blog), 'the changing of the weather is fluid and unpredictable, so who are we, as mere mortals to try grasping it and keeping it within our control? If we wish to see the pure colour of the porcelain stripped clean after the rain, then all we can do is wait patiently. And it's akin to my passive wait for you whose appearance I can't fathom when.'
26 February 2008
Image source: m-ilie's photostream
If you leave, don't leave now
Please don't take my heart away
Promise me, just one more night
Then we'll go our separate ways
25 February 2008
Outdoor concerts always have a charm all their own.
Taiwanese indie band, Sodagreen, with their sweet melodies had us swaying along from side to side. And the lead singer's easy-going banter afforded a few chuckles.
One song I really like from them -
18 February 2008
Image: The Sartorialist
I really wish I could cycle to school. But it's an hour train and bus ride away, so it's not possible. I remember how Jason Schwartzman's character in I heart Huckabees and his friend only ever rode their bikes around because they were against evil petrol-guzzling automobiles. I don't like car rides because I get carsick, and I can't bear public transport ever since my mp3 player died on me recently and left me vulnerable to the chatter of the plebians onboard.
13 February 2008
Some pictures from Chinese New Year celebrations
10 February 2008
You know my bip-bopping days are over
I hung my boots up and then retired from the disco floor
Now the centre of my so called being is
The space between your bed and wardrobe with the louvre doors
- My Wandering Days Are Over,
Belle & Sebastian
Belle & Sebastian
02 February 2008
Lula #6
I'm loving that petulant glare.
I'm loving that petulant glare.