A random debate over music & lyrics culture.
Recently, Waterfall and I have this little debate about music culture, particularly Chinese and Japanese music. It started from this little god-brother of mine, who often viewed Chinese song too love based and sometime to much with it's love story, making it not really enjoyable for prolong listening. He feels that Japanese music is much more interesting as, there are many songs that talk about other stuff. Waterfall appeared to be quite defensive regarding this, saying that Chinese music is not all about love songs, and that Japanese songs so have love songs too. Well after all, Chinese music is what she listens to most. It's understandable she has got to take side. The little debates, as always, ended uncomfortably with neither side being convincing.
As for me, since years back, I have already been comparing the difference between the two cultures. It's pretty obvious and undeniable that most Chinese songs are love song, many many different kind of love songs. After all, love songs are what that would easily touch the people's heart. The world is about love yea... For me, I'm personally addicted to listening really sad sad love songs. Believe me, Chinese songs do have a lot of these. And yes, there are definitely Chinese songs that aren't love songs. In fact, you can bring out many many of them. For every one song you bring, I can bring you 10 love songs. This is what happens in any music culture. Love songs rule.
Similarly, Japanese music does contain lots of love songs. Love songs probably fill half the place or more that half the place of Japanese commercial music. The rest of the place is probably filled with songs that talk about things like, being optimistic about life and strive for the best, the sea, their passion and etc. It is probably the way the lyrics are, which make Japanese songs very different. Even, when it is a love song, it doesn't sound like you are very very painfully in love and like you are going to die. It's always use beautiful words to portray the story of the songs.
If you ask me which side do I stand, both music cultures have their own unique ways that none of us can change. It's a style and tradition which was passed down through decades and has evolved beautifully along its path.
Regardless of where I stand...
Music is all about love and passion.
As for me, since years back, I have already been comparing the difference between the two cultures. It's pretty obvious and undeniable that most Chinese songs are love song, many many different kind of love songs. After all, love songs are what that would easily touch the people's heart. The world is about love yea... For me, I'm personally addicted to listening really sad sad love songs. Believe me, Chinese songs do have a lot of these. And yes, there are definitely Chinese songs that aren't love songs. In fact, you can bring out many many of them. For every one song you bring, I can bring you 10 love songs. This is what happens in any music culture. Love songs rule.
Similarly, Japanese music does contain lots of love songs. Love songs probably fill half the place or more that half the place of Japanese commercial music. The rest of the place is probably filled with songs that talk about things like, being optimistic about life and strive for the best, the sea, their passion and etc. It is probably the way the lyrics are, which make Japanese songs very different. Even, when it is a love song, it doesn't sound like you are very very painfully in love and like you are going to die. It's always use beautiful words to portray the story of the songs.
If you ask me which side do I stand, both music cultures have their own unique ways that none of us can change. It's a style and tradition which was passed down through decades and has evolved beautifully along its path.
Regardless of where I stand...
Music is all about love and passion.
posted by DieuxJesmen at 12/02/2007 05:12:00 PM
3 Comments:
I think you misunderstand me. I just feel that Chinese songs are not all about love songs, and not all lyrics are written in such a way that sounds very sad and painful.
I just wish to convey the message that there are also lyrics in chinese songs which is written in a beautiful manner. Of cause, there are also songs that does not talk about love. (Eg. Ren Yi Men by Rainie Yang, Te Wu J by Jolin, Niu Zai Hen Mang by Jay...etc.)Different composers has different styles of writing.
For example, Zhang Xin Zhe, he has a title called "Qing Ge Wang Zi", because he can portray love songs well. Like Mc Hotdog, their songs are more direct, they always put what they feel about the world into songs. Different singers has their own types of songs.
And I believe that Jap songs also do have their own varieties of songs. It's just that I or rather we did not listen to more varieties. How does your god-brother knows that Jap don't have those songs that describe those painful love? Does he listen to those older Jap songs too? Maybe he does, but I believe not all.
As we are chinese, and we listen to chinese songs since young, that's why we are exposed to a bigger generation of songs. As for Jap, although he did listen to lots of Jap songs, but I don't think the choice of songs he listens to is as much as chinese songs. And I don't think our understanding of Japanese word is that high.
Lastly, I want to conclude that I did not take sides. I just feel that be it chinese or Jap songs, both have their own unique style. I listen to Jap songs too. But, I just don't agree with him saying that the lyrics for chinese songs are mostly written in a painful and sad manner. Because I believe that Jap songs do have, just that we did not come across it or we rarely come across it.
Sorry if I've offended anyone in anyway.
Oh my god. The length of your comment can fight with my post liao. Thanks for supporting and participating actively in my blog. Yes, you have your point Miss Defensive. It just has got to take time to show that more artists are doing more non-love songs that make significant history.
Haha, ya, you're welcome
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