思考题 Posted January 23, 2011 at 02:24 AM Report Posted January 23, 2011 at 02:24 AM The following is my TOP 8 of Chinese Songs. I selected them for their notoriety and cultural contribution to Chinese society. I have also translated these songs, click on the title to view the translation. 最佳八首歌 1. 国歌 – The Chinese National Anthem 2. 茉莉花 – Jasmine 3. 恭喜恭喜 – Congratulations (The Chinese ‘Merry Christmas’) 4. 月亮代表我的心 – My heart waxes and wanes 5. 甜蜜蜜 - Sweet 6. 北京欢迎你 – Beijing welcomes you 7. 美丽的神话 – The myth 8. 对面的女孩看过来 – Come over here girls! Ask any Chinese person you know; whether they are 15 or 85 they know each and every song in the above list. If you study Mandarin or are interested in Chinese culture there really is no excuse not to know these songs. Now before you complain, I know number 8: 对面的女孩看过来 – Come over here girls is NOT THAT FAMOUS, especially within the older generations of Chinese. I included it for its uncanny popularity amongst the expat crowd. 1 Quote
skylee Posted January 23, 2011 at 03:11 AM Report Posted January 23, 2011 at 03:11 AM Could I ask an irrelevant question? Is "notoriety" usually used in this manner? This is more relevant. I am a Chinese person between the age of 15 and 85, but very frankly I don't know song Nos. 6 and 7. But I know the other six songs. Quote
Xiwang Posted January 23, 2011 at 03:53 AM Report Posted January 23, 2011 at 03:53 AM I am a Chinese person between the age of 15 and 85, but very frankly I don't know song Nos. 6 and 7. But I know the other six songs.[/Quote]If you were around in Beijing during the Olympics, you would have gotten sick of "Beijing Welcomes You." It's a very catchy song, though--for about the first thirty times you hear it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hwNquh7uk4 Quote
creamyhorror Posted January 23, 2011 at 03:57 AM Report Posted January 23, 2011 at 03:57 AM 7. 美丽的神话 – The myth8. 对面的女孩看过来 – Come over here girls! I'd guess that 对面的女孩看过来 is more well-known outside the mainland than 美丽的神话 Quote
Suetonius N Posted January 23, 2011 at 04:57 AM Report Posted January 23, 2011 at 04:57 AM ..... Quote
xiaocai Posted January 23, 2011 at 05:44 AM Report Posted January 23, 2011 at 05:44 AM I think 茉莉花 is jasmine, whereas chrysanthemum is known as 菊 in China. I think this list only applies to those who live in mainland China anyway, so I think it is quite fair. Quote
思考题 Posted January 23, 2011 at 06:46 AM Author Report Posted January 23, 2011 at 06:46 AM Thankyou Skylee, Xiwang and Xiaocai for you comments, My intention in broadcasting this list was that should there be any unfamilar songs, that this might be a stimulus to investigate. I hope you enjoy the songs. Quote
xiaoxiaocao Posted January 23, 2011 at 08:29 AM Report Posted January 23, 2011 at 08:29 AM I am a native English speaker and can tell you that the word 'notoriety' definitely has negative undertones, at least where I am from. Perhaps it is different in other countries. Maybe 思考题 meant that some of the songs are not that good? I definitely agree with xiwang when it comes to 北京欢迎你 !! Quote
思考题 Posted January 23, 2011 at 11:44 AM Author Report Posted January 23, 2011 at 11:44 AM Thank you Xiaoxiaocao for you comments, Just to clear things up, my use of the word 'notoriety' was 'CELEBRITY, FAME, FAMOUSNESS, POPULARITY, RENOWN, REPUTATION, REPUTE'. NotorIETY and notorIOUS are two different words, notoriety CAN mean notorious, but in this context it OBVIOUSLY does not. From answers.com noun 1. Unfavorable, usually unsavory renown: infamousness, infamy, notoriousness. See knowledge/ignorance. 2. WIDE RECOGNITION FOR ONE'S DEEDS: CELEBRITY, FAME, FAMOUSNESS, POPULARITY, RENOWN, REPUTATION, REPUTE. Quote
skylee Posted January 31, 2011 at 04:33 AM Report Posted January 31, 2011 at 04:33 AM Another question - what does 最八甲首歌 mean? 三甲 is a very common term, but I have not seen 最八甲 before. Quote
creamyhorror Posted January 31, 2011 at 05:27 AM Report Posted January 31, 2011 at 05:27 AM I'm guessing he meant 最佳八首歌 or something Quote
思考题 Posted January 31, 2011 at 01:11 PM Author Report Posted January 31, 2011 at 01:11 PM Thank you skylee and creamyhorror for your comments, 最八甲首歌 is a typo, it should read as 最佳八首歌. Creamy horror as always, is on the money. Unfortunately I can not edit the title. Quote
Gymnosopher Posted December 18, 2011 at 06:27 AM Report Posted December 18, 2011 at 06:27 AM Notorious and Notoriety are clearly from the same root, just used in different ways (the former an adjective and the latter a noun). So if something is notorious it suffers from notoriety. Either way, whilst these can mean famous for bad reasons or in a bad way (as can infamous, infamy) they need not be - though this is more colloquial i.e. if a newspaper said something to be notorious it would hold negative connotations - like eddie the eagle or the crazy frog. Quote
paperbagprince23 Posted January 15, 2012 at 05:40 AM Report Posted January 15, 2012 at 05:40 AM I am a native English speaker and can tell you that the word 'notoriety' definitely has negative undertones, at least where I am from. Where are you from then? I would say in the U.S. at least, it does't have any kind of negitive undertone. I know all the songs on that list, but I would say there are quite a few more that would earn a sport (I also don't think that 美丽的神话 is SO famous). Quote
kari Posted January 29, 2012 at 02:27 PM Report Posted January 29, 2012 at 02:27 PM I'm ashamed to say I only know the last song (thanks to Ken Chu of F4), and I've been studying for almost 2 years! Does the Chinese birthday song count? Because I know it, lol. Quote
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