I’m not that prone to fangirling outside of a series, whether it be drama or book related.
But really, I LOVE YOUNHA!! (I haven’t fangirled a female artist like this since… err.)
She’s got an awesome strong voice, and isn’t going down the path of sexbot to get the public’s attention. Younha originally shot to fame through the formidable Japanese music industry, but recently came out with a Korean album. Most of the songs are redone, but that’s not a reason to ignore it. The girl’s simply great. I mean, she has range, versatility, cuteness in spades…
This album has a Korean feel running through the undeniably Japanese style of music - rhythmically strong and heavy on the percussion.
My favourite at the moment is Comet, the titular song [zShare]
Anyway, Legend of the Condor Heroes is actually the first in a trilogy of books by Jin Yong - the second being Return of the Condor Heroes and the third being Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre. The first one is the best of the three (and the newest version of HSDS totally sucked, sorry to the Alec Su fans, but it’s true).
The opening and closing themes are also very well done.
About to fall asleep over the keyboard, I think, is a good indication that one should go to bed/plan less activities in the day.
But who cares about sleep when you have the internet?
I have been revisiting my favourite dramas, and I fell in love with the Return of Condor Heroes OST (2006) all over again.
The opening and closing are especially good.
天下无双/Without Match: Sung by one of the top female vocalists in China, this song is at once haunting and full of longing. [zShare]
江湖笑/Laughter of the Pugilist: (augh, crappy translation, but closest I can muster at present) Just fun to listen to - though I have my doubts about the middle. [zShare]
And here’s a random MV of the series, in case you’re interested:
Return of the Condor Heroes is very much a love story, which is a slight change from Jin Yong’s other works, and I’ll get into more detail when I can actually prop my eyelids open.
It’s the story of two star-crossed lovers, the Chinese Romeo and Juliet, if you will, though I much prefer our version.
Basically, a girl named Zhu Yingtai disguises herself as a boy to go to school. While there, she befriends Liang Shanbo, and the two become close. When their period of study draws to a close, Zhu invites him to her home under the pretext of marrying her ’sister’ (actually her) to him. He agrees to visit her, but it is two years later before he actually goes.
Once in her hometown, Liang discovers the truth, and asks her parents for her hand in marriage, but they have already promised Zhu to a richer, more influencial man in the area named Ma Wencai.
Heartbroken, Liang takes up a magisterial post in a nearby region. He soon dies thereafter.
When Zhu is escorted to the Ma’s residence, she is prevented from moving past a certain point of her voyage by natural phenomena. She stops to ask the locals, only to learn that Liang’s tomb is in this area.
Zhu visits the tomb and cries. When her tears fall on the funerary mound, it splits open, and she jumps in.
The legend says that the people there saw two butterflies emerging from the tomb and flying away.
(Hence the name.)
The violin concerto is written in Western key but with Chinese chords, thereby giving the instrumentalist extreme complications. Plus it’s hard to play in certain parts because of the speed required. It’s not to everyone’s taste, and quite a few people have told me that they feel it sounds ‘off’ because of the Chinese tonalities used, but it is one of the few traditional pieces I love, so I thought I’d share.
I gave the scenery to you, the days to him
I gave my smile to you, forgiveness to him
I gave XX to you, my body to him
I gave my tears to you, I gave the photos to him
The calendar to him, the colours to you
The scenery to him, distance to you, but my breaths to him
I gave the fireworks to you, the holidays to him
I gave the movie tickets to you, the seat to him I gave candlelight to you, the dinner to him
I gave the songs to you, the microphone to him
My sound to you, the setting to him, and the script to him
The end’s for him, I gave you the crystal shoes, but 12 o’clock was for him
I gave you my heart, gave him my body, didn’t want to leave anything for me
Without any anchors, if I have any sadness, let the wind blow it away
If I still have joy, if I still have sadness, let the wind blow it away
If I still have joy, maybe
Song translations full credit to flyingcrispi, who came to my rescue during a time of need. I am in your debt.
1. Intro [zShare]
2. 도레미파솔라시도 (Movie ver.) - 정준일 / Doremifasolatido (Movie Ver.) - Jeong Jun Il [zShare]
3. 기다리는 시간 - 정준일 / Waiting for the Time - Jeong Jun Il [zShare]
4. 햇살 가득히 - 정준일 / Full of Sunshine - Jeong Jun Il [zShare]
5. 용가리 Song - 정준일 / Dragon Boy Song - Jeong Jun Il [zShare]
6. 희원과 정원/ Heewon’s Garden [zshare]
7. 사랑해서… 미안해 I / I love you… I’m sorry I [zShare]
8. 희원의 갈등 그리고… / Heewon’s Dilemma… [zShare]
9. 기다리는 시간 (piano ver.) / Waiting for the Time (piano ver.) [zShare]
10. 사랑해서… 미안해Ⅱ/ I love you… I’m sorry II [zShare]
11. Episode 1 - ROTS(황호진) [zShare]
12. 도레미파솔라시도 (Original ver.) / Doremifasolatido (Original ver.) [zShare]
The songs are the official versions, and don’t have Jang Geun Suk singing (why?? I know his voice isn’t perfect, but I’d like his version), though I’m trying to find the ones that he’s sung in.
So, I did a bit more footling around, because the song that played during the last episode is so beautiful.
The video I watched on youtube (ever the master of information transmission) explains that the song is a traditional Norwegian song about a fisherman who returns home to find it all burnt down and his family killed. Instead of indulging in paralysing grief, he composes this song about his fate.
I think understanding the lyrics really make it that much more relevant to episode 24.
Download link, posted here again, for your edification: MegaUpload.
Lær meg å kjenne
(Traditional)
Arranger: Jørn Dahl
Singer: Sissel
Lær meg å kjenne dine veie
og gå dem trøstig skritt for skritt
Jeg vet at hva jeg fikk i eie,
er borget godt gods, og alt er ditt.
Men vil din sterke hånd meg lede,
jeg aldri feil på målet ser,
og for hvert håp som dør her nede,
får jeg et håp i himlen mer
English translation:
Teach me to know your ways
and to walk them trustingly step by step
I know that what I own,
are borrowed goods, and everything is yours.
But if your strong hand guides me,
I will never see the wrong goal,
and for every hope that dies down here,
I will receive a greater hope in heaven
Therefore I will talk about JJ Lin’s new (relatively) album called West Side. He tries to depart from his usual rap style by adding in some more experimental songs and mellow-ish pop, but his voice and lyrics are as attention-grabbing as ever.
Some are concept songs, playing with compositions, sound, rhythm (that’s got to be the most difficult word in English) and while I applaud his efforts, they need more work in terms of creativity if he’s really going for artsy music.
Two of my favourite songs for sampling:
杀手 -The Killer: At one point he sings in French! But not very groundbreaking phrasing: C’est la vie, etc. [Zshare] [MU]
发现爱 - Discovering Love: a sweet duet ballad with an artist named 金莎 (Jin Sha), who also goes by the name of kym. [Zshare][MU]
They’re also the most diametrically opposed songs on the album, unless you count K-O, which is just rather mindless macho rap.
As a side note, am drowning my sorrows by reading Terry Pratchett books. It’s working wonderfully.
I’ve been told that I have been exceedingly mopey these past few days. (Gee, people, could you guess why?)
Remember at the end of 23’s recap, I said, “What will episode 24 bring? I have this vague feeling CH will relent in the end. Either that or everyone dies, and that can’t be possible, so I go for the happy end.”
AHAHAHA. DEAD OF IRONY.
Nonetheless, I have successfully diagnosed myself with the five stages of grief, in regards to Gil Dong and Enok (not to mention the most awesome group of people ever, the HBD!)
They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Pris was there during my denial phase, ‘Oh no they didn’t!’
You were all there for my giant, capslock-filled anger stage, I think.
I seem to have skipped the bargaining stage altogether in favour for a longer depression period. Not even Korean food with two awesome friends did that much. So… walking towards acceptance as I listen to the soundtrack over and over again.
After that, expect the fanfic. I will not just lie down and let my heart be stomped over, dammit.
(As I type, I’m listening to the fire arrows song and tearing up. Still not over it, I guess.)
Hugs to all of you who are feeling the same.
Love,
Sevenses
P.S. The fire arrows song is called ‘Lar Meg a Kjenne’ - it’s Norwegian, and therefore out of my realm of translatability. But I’m sure if you google the song you’ll find lyrics. Here’s the download link - it’s MU.
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