Songs by Stefanie Sun (translated)

[creamyhorror]

I really like Stefanie Sun (孙燕姿/Sun Yanzi)'s music. Thematically her songs tend to be similar (either bittersweet love ballads or expressions of exploration and self-discovery), but the melodies are beautiful, and in some cases have a classic touch to them. Her tunes aren't cliched and the lyrics sappy like with so many other artistes. She has a relatively independent vibe for a mainstream artiste - her videos tend to have a strong sense of individuality, and her personality shows through. She's been very popular in the Mandopop scene over the past decade for good reason. (I might be biased because she's a fellow Singaporean, though.)

If you haven't heard her songs, you're in for a treat. My favourites from her include 《这一刻 (The Moment)》、《我怀念的》、《我要的幸福》、《逃亡》 and 《我不難過》, and I'll probably be posting them in this thread.

After a long hiatus from the scene, she came back early this year with an album titled 《是时候》 (It's Time). The lead single is 《当冬夜渐暖》, and to me it's really classic raw-voice-straight-from-the-heart Stefanie plus interesting instrumentation and heavy use of imagery. The music video is strikingly filmed, too. For this first installment, I've translated the lyrics to English below, attempting to stay somewhat literal so learners get the actual gist of the Chinese lines. Corrections are greatly welcome - please let me know if I've misinterpreted anything.

I hope you enjoy the music, and do share your favourite Yanzi songs/translations as well!

(Youtube)

When the Winter Night Starts to Warm

作词： 藤井树（吴子云）

作曲： 饶善强

[VERSE A]

很多事情 不是谁说了就算

Many things aren't decided by just anybody (?)

即使伤心 结果还是自己担

Even your sadness you still have to bear [alone] in the end

多少次失望表示着多少次期盼

All those disappointments started as hopes

事实证明 幸福很难

The facts show that happiness doesn't come easy

[VERSE B]

我们之间 不是谁说了就算

Neither of us two has the final say

拉扯的爱 徒增结局的难堪

This tug-of-war love only makes the ending harder to bear

(This dragged-out love?)

一百次相爱只要有一次的绚烂

In a hundred loves, all it takes is one dazzling episode

下一次 会更勇敢

For you to be braver the next time

[CHORUS]

当冬夜渐暖 当大海也不再那么蓝

When the winter night starts to warm,

when the ocean is no longer quite so blue

当月色的纯白变得阴暗

When the pure white of moonlight turns dark

那只是代表快乐不再那么简单

That just means happiness isn't so simple any more

当冬夜渐暖 当夏夜的树上不再有蝉

When the winter night starts to warm,

when the summer night sees cicadas disappear from the trees

当回忆老去的痕迹斑斑

When the traces of memory turn stained with age

那只是因为悲伤从来 都不会有答案

That's only because sorrow has never had an answer

[REPEAT VERSE B & CHORUS]

[ENDING]

当冬夜渐暖 当青春也都烟消云散

When the winter night starts to warm,

when even the spring of youth fades into mist

当美丽的故事都有遗憾

When each wonderful story ends in regret

那只是习惯把爱当作喜欢

That's merely being used to believing it was just liking, not love

重要的是 我们如何 爱过那一段

What matters is how we spent those days in love

-------

[jkhsu]

Stephanie Sun is one of my favorite singers. There are too many to list but here are some:

这一刻

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=medD6coySPg

Translation - http://www.jpopasia.com/lyrics/34349/stefanie-sun/the-moment.html

遇见 - This video has the english translation although the Chinese is a bit small to read.

雨天

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa2I7IefI1Y

Translation - http://chinesemusicblog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3406

天黑黑 - An old favorite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34_SSxqzIBk

Translation - http://powersugoi.net/tingdong/song.php?song=91

creamyhorror - BTW, your posts on Chinese language are really good. No wonder, you're Singaporean!

[roddy]

Can't listen to 超快感 without being transported to a Harbin Internet cafe, winter of 2001. It was just about the only song on the shared drive worth listening to.

[LaoJian]

楼主，shaking hand，燕姿also has millions of fans in mainland China, I'm one droplet of them.

another classical song from her:

<绿光> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD6P_RS0504

this is a fast-beat song, test your Chinese

Another Artist I like is 梁静茹（Fish Leong）, does anyone hear of her~

[creamyhorror]

Thanks for all your comments!

这一刻

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=medD6coySPg

Translation - http://www.jpopasia....the-moment.html

I actually dislike that video (and it's terrible to sing to at KTV). This is the really nice one IMO, with all the scenes of movement and Yanzi running:

天黑黑, 遇见, 雨天, all classics too. There are many more to mention...

creamyhorror - BTW, your posts on Chinese language are really good. No wonder, you're Singaporean!

It doesn't hurt that I am (although our Mandarin is terrible), but it really just comes from being both particular with and interested in the language. Also, thanks!

Can't listen to 超快感 without being transported to a Harbin Internet cafe, winter of 2001. It was just about the only song on the shared drive worth listening to.

Ah, I barely even remember that one, but the chorus is definitely familiar. Funny song to listen to in winter though, heh.

I always notice how the scenes in her music videos tend to be similar - in parts of 超快感 she's sitting on an old car by the beach, and that's the same setting for the second half of her 我怀念的 video (

, Tudou). Also the slow rising pans of the camera to survey the beach.

楼主，shaking hand，燕姿also has millions of fans in mainland China, I'm one droplet of them.

another classical song from her:

<绿光> http://www.youtube.c...h?v=HD6P_RS0504

this is a fast-beat song, test your Chinese

High five. I'm glad many Chinese like Yanzi, because a lot of Chinese pop is honestly very boring to me, and she's one of the few whose music stands out from the crowd.

I like 绿光 too, though I find it pretty hard to sing

Another Artist I like is 梁静茹（Fish Leong）, does anyone hear of her~

Yup, I like a few of her faster songs, like 燕尾蝶 and 下一秒钟. Maybe we can have a thread for her too.

Just to plug more of my countrywomen, I also like Tanya Chua and

(

)

[creamyhorror]

Song 2: 这一刻 (The Moment)

I could watch this music video a hundred times and not get bored (百看不厌). What a feast for the eyes and ears. There's something about the whole montage of a myriad images-places-memories that really entrances me, and makes me want to get out there and go somewhere.

(Note that there's another more commonly encountered music video for this song, involving Stefanie playing at a piano and talking to the camera interview-style, but I don't really like it.)

(Youtube)

作词：陈忠义

作曲：陈忠义

编曲：吴庆隆

[VERSE 1]

这一刻 回头看见自己

At this moment - I look back and see myself

这一路的风景 百感交集的我

The scenery on this journey, and myself filled with every emotion

下一刻又将飞向哪里

The next moment - where will I fly towards?

渐渐疲惫的羽翼 为你披上了勇气

My wings gradually tiring, I gather up my courage for you

[CHORUS]

放心离开我　我会记得这一刻　

Leave me without worry - I'll remember this moment

那些还飞翔着 不可思议的梦

These incredible dreams that still soar

雨后的天空　会有绚烂的彩虹

In a sky after rain there will come a brilliant rainbow

像最初相信着 我们总会找到自由

Believing like we did at the start - we will always find freedom

[awesome piano & strings interlude]

[VERSE 2]

这一刻 时间变成行李

At this moment, time itself becomes my luggage

越过生命悲喜 陪伴着我前进

It transcends life's sorrows and joys, follows me onward

因为你 让我看清自己

Because you've helped me find myself / truly see myself

面对未知的恐惧 脚步更加坚定

Facing fears yet unknown, my steps are more sure

[REPEAT CHORUS]

[bRIDGE]

哦……只是远行

Oh...it's only a journey far afield

不是逃避

Not me running away

道别是为延续回忆永恒的华丽

To bid farewell is to extend these memories' eternal brilliance

你……要照顾自己

You...must take care

不要忘记 那些灿烂过的痕迹

Don't forget those trails that used to shine

[REPEAT CHORUS] (reproduced below)

放心离开我　我会记得这一刻　

Leave me without worry - I'll remember this moment

那些还飞翔着 不可思议的梦

These incredible dreams that still soar

雨后的天空　会有绚烂的彩虹

In a sky after rain there will come a brilliant rainbow

像最初相信着 我们总会找到

Believing like we did at the start - we will always find

自由

Freedom

------------

As always, questions or corrections about grammar or interpretation are welcome.

[jkhsu]

I guess this is Song #3:

Here's my attempt at 遇见 (Meet). Please feel free to correct.

Youtube Link:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=h9EDLymiOwo

56.com Link:

http://www.56.com/u5...DUzOTc4NTE.html

遇见

Meet

VERSE A

听见冬天的离开

I hear the winter leaving

我在某年某月醒过来

I wake up in (some) year and (some) month [Not sure how 某 is defined here]

我想 我等 我期待

I am thinking, waiting and looking forward to / hoping for

未来却不能因此安排

The future can not be arranged [is there a better way to say this? Not sure how to get 因此 in the translation]

VERSE B

阴天 傍晚 车窗外

A cloudy day, in the evening, outside the car window

未来有一个人在等待

There is a person waiting in the future

向左 向右 向前看

I look left, right and straight ahead

爱要拐几个弯才来

Love needs to take some turns before arriving

CHORUS

我遇见谁会有怎样的对白

Who will I meet and what kind of dialogue will we have? [Not sure about this one]

我等的人他在多远的未来

The person I am waiting for, how far away is he in the future?

我听见风来自地铁和人海

I hear the wind and huge crowds coming from the subway

我排着队拿着爱的号码牌

I stand in line, taking a number for love

REPEAT VERSE B & CHORUS

VERSE C

我往前飞飞过一片时间海

I fly forward, flying past a sea of time

我们也常在爱情里受伤害

We often receive love's hurt

我看着路梦的入口有点窄

I see the road, the entrance to my dream is a bit narrow

我遇见你是最美丽的意外

Meeting you is the most beautiful accident

总有一天我的谜底会揭开

One day my riddle will be solved

[LaoJian]

我在某年某月醒过来

I wake up in (some) year and (some) month [Not sure how 某 is defined here]

我想 我等 我期待

I am thinking, waiting and looking forward to / hoping for

未来却不能因此安排

The future can not be arranged [is there a better way to say this? Not sure how to get 因此 in the translation]

1- correct for translate '某' to some， '某年某月' means a uncertain date in future

2 - 我想 我等 我期待， 未来却不能因此安排。 this is whole sentence, means I used to think, wait, hold a good wish, willing, dream for my future, however,(when future comes true), it is always not arranged based on/as same as my good willing or wish, even in fact, real life for now is contrary to what I expected before.

我遇见谁会有怎样的对白

Who will I meet and what kind of dialogue will we have? [Not sure about this one]

when I meet one specific guy, who is uncertain in my future, what I would say or express is also uncertain(depends on who I meet, you know?) - my understanding

我遇见你是最美丽的意外

Meeting you is the most beautiful accident

beautiful accident, perfect translation, this is essence of this song

[jkhsu]

Thank you Laojian! Thumbs up.

[creamyhorror]

Hey jkhsu, thanks for contributing your translation! Beautiful song, Yu Jian.

我想 我等 我期待

I am thinking, waiting and looking forward to / hoping for

未来却不能因此安排

The future can not be arranged [is there a better way to say this? Not sure how to get 因此 in the translation]

Maybe something like, "I'm thinking, waiting, anticipating / But the future resists all my best-laid plans"? Going for the allusion here, but the idea is there.

爱要拐几个弯才来

Love needs to take some turns before arriving

I think this might be more of a question. It's up to individual interpretation, of course.

我看着路梦的入口有点窄

I see the road, the entrance to my dream is a bit narrow

"I keep watching the road - it's a narrow entrance to my dream" might better convey the sense of watching out for a small turning.

LaoJian, is Yanzi's style of songwriting noticeably different from Mainland Chinese artistes? What sort of image does she have?

[jkhsu]

Thanks creamyhorror for the additional corrections to the translation. I also found an error I made substituting "常" instead of "曾". The below line should be:

我们也曾在爱情里受伤害

We have been hurt by love before.

[qodobop]

非常喜欢孙燕姿，非常感谢楼主的翻译。华语女歌手我只喜欢两个，一个孙燕姿，另外一个是王菲。王菲的歌听着美丽，孙燕姿的歌听着舒服。

[LaoJian]

LaoJian, is Yanzi's style of songwriting noticeably different from Mainland Chinese artistes? What sort of image does she have?

I think Yanzi's style of songwriting is one kind of typical type for nowadays pop songs producing, in my understanding, Yanzi impress me with 2 kinds of feelings:

For slow-beat song, she is always likely to use a grace poem to tell about a brief but meaningful story or express one thoughts for life she growing or love or other human feeling she experienced, seems she is sharing with her listeners about her subtle, exquisite life experience or comprehension， which worth you to savor and re-taste through lyrics slowly, so listen her songs like taste one glass of red vine or cup of coffee alone, enjoy that process, echo your similar feeling, less marks of commercialization. When the story are telling with Yanzi's slow and mellow sounds, you can feel so warming and comfortable at that moment.

For fast-beat song, it always express one kind of energy, power, which make you feel happy, relax, vibrant, and songs lyrics always tend to be catchy, you can sing it immediately following tunes, so young generation in China are most likely to enjoy Yanzi's song.

(I have tried my best to express my feeling and answer your question with my bad English, a little hard actually I hope you can understand what I mean).