Chinese song that is sing-able when translated into English?

[Pengyou]

I teach sophomores in a uni in Shanghai. I am trying to find a Chinese song that is familiar to most, if not all of them, that has been translated into English and can actually be sang in English - and has meaning also. I want to teach the English version to my students in hopes of motivating them to learn

[roddy]

There are a couple of songs I can think of which might work

, which is Coldplay's Yellow.

And of course 梦中人, which is the Cranberries Dreams.

Must be loads more.

[Yang Rui]

There is an English version of SHE's Superstar. It is sung by Skye Sweetnam, called Super Star and is on Youtube.

Every Chinese student will know the Chinese version of that song.

[LucyxLucy]

There is also a version of Super Star by Sweetbox, and a lot their songs were covered by S.H.E as well. I know 张学友's classic 吻别 was covered by a British band, but I can't remember the name.

I'm sure if you search Chinese covers of English songs or vice versa on google or baidu you'll find lots more.

[Lu]

There's an English version of 童话, I saw it on youtube once, but it's not great.

SHE also covered a Britney Spears song Everytime as 別說對不起.

[Hofmann]

張力尹's Y is originally in English, Powerless by Jamelle Fraley.

...down a half step.

Edit: ...and I just read carefully that they're sophomores at a university. Most of them won't know that song, and most of them probably can't hit that high G (and maybe an ornament with a B-flat), but ehh maybe they can just listen.

[aristotle1990]

There's an English version of 童话, I saw it on youtube once, but it's not great.

You referring to

? I like it...

[Lu]

That's not the one I've seen, but might be the same translation. I'm still not crazy about it.

[sujisol]

Songs are okay as long as you have a natural feel for the intonation in the object language.

[LA Guy]

Hi,

I don't have a Chinese Song recommendation.

This post suggests using a famous American song which

talks about a person's regret with wasting the youth in one's life.

The lyrics can be interesting to learn and discuss.

This video has the lyrics and nice pictures

Yesterday When I Was Young...Glenn Campbell

Roy Clark sings the most popular version -

Yesterday When I Was Young

Song Lyrics here

http://www.tuffydog.com/lyrics14.html

"It seems the love I've known,

has always been the most destructive kind.

I guess that's why now,

I feel so old before my time."

Yesterday, when I was young,

The taste of life was sweet, as rain upon my tongue,

I teased at life, as if it were a foolish game,

The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame

The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned,

I always built, alas, on weak and shifting sand,

I lived by night, and shunned the naked light of day,

And only now, I see, how the years ran away

Yesterday, when I was young,

So many happy songs were waiting to be sung,

So many wild pleasures lay in store for me,

And so much pain, my dazzled eyes refused to see

I ran so fast that time, and youth at last ran out,

I never stopped to think, what life, was all about,

And every conversation, I can now recall,

Concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all

Yesterday, the moon was blue,

And every crazy day, brought something new to do,

I used my magic age, as if it were a wand,

And never saw the worst, and the emptiness beyond

The game of love I played, with arrogance and pride,

And every flame I lit, too quickly, quickly died,

The friends I made, all seemed somehow to drift away,

And only I am left, on stage to end the play

There are so many songs in me, that won't be sung,

I feel the bitter taste, of tears upon my tongue,

The time has come for me to pay,

For yesterday, when I was young

NOTE:

( Roy Clark sang this song at Mickey Mantle's - famous baseball player's funeral in 1995. Mickey had heard Roy sing it before and thought it depicted his life so well that he specifically asked Roy to someday sing it at his funeral )

LA Guy

[LA Guy]

adding the youtube link for the Karoake Sing Along

Yesterday When I Was Young Karoake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWJz0_7oXY

LA Guy

[LA Guy]

and a few more ...

Yesterday When I Was Young - clearly and expressively sung by a ukeleleeric on youtube

Roy Clark singing with nice pictures and the lyrics

Karoake with video of Asian couple - blind girl