Nine songs to help you celebrate Chinese New Year
Photo courtesy of IQRemix, Flickr
Happy Chinese New Year! In honor of the new Lunar Year on Feb. 8, here’s a list of Chinese songs for Trojans to ring in the Year of the Monkey.The words are in a different language, but music is all about connection.
This playlist is dedicated to my Chinese professors I have had the pleasure of learning from at USC. Without them, I wouldn’t have come to understand the beauty of the Chinese language. As someone who was not really interested in learning it, I now see the benefit of learning a second language. Learning Chinese gave me the chance to not only speak with my parents in their native tongue but also understand where my family lies in the heart of cultural history.
- Wang Leehom 王力宏 – 春雨裡洗過的太陽 “Sun Washed By Spring Rain”
I want to start the playlist with an American-born Chinese musician. Wang Leehom was born in Rochester, New York and studied at Berklee College of Music. As a Chinese-American myself, I gained the confidence to learn Chinese as a second language through his music. His songs helped me understand and experience the beauty of music across different languages.
“Sun Washed By Spring Rain” tells a story of the seasons. Winter is full of sadness, but as the cloud clears up, a new beginning (spring) will keep you up in spirits. The moral of the story is no matter how sad you’ll feel, your emotions will change just like the seasons.
- Jay Chou 周杰倫 – 聽媽媽的話 “Listen to Mom”
This song is a reminder to thank your mom for the red envelopes she gives you. It’s dedicated to all the hardworking mothers out there.
- Jay Chou 周杰倫 – 髮如雪 “Hair Like Snow”
Another one of Chou’s songs, “Hair Like Snow” from the direct translation of 髮如雪 (fa ru xue). The song uses traditional Chinese instruments such as a gu zheng (古箏), which is used to carry the main melody.
- Justin Lo – 決戰二世祖 – “To Fight a Decisive Battle With the Spoiled Kid”
There are many different Chinese dialects, but Mandarin and Cantonese are used most in conversations. Most of the music I have on this playlist consists of Mandarin songs, but Justin Lo is the one exception. He’s well-known in Hong Kong, and I hope this upbeat song will showcase the beauty of a unique dialect.
5. Jay Chou 周杰倫 – 退后 “Retreat”
More of a slow, romantic song, “退后” (tui hou) direct translates to stepping back. The rough English translation is “Retreat,” which I personally think is a better title for the song. The song tells the story of a someone the singer does not keep in touch with anymore. In one line, he mentions “our past has been forgotten as time goes by,” which serves as a reminder of memorable times we have all shared with a loved one. I suggest spending time with the people you love this New Year’s.
“Retreat” to a place where there is peace and quiet because the people you love are the people who are important in your life. After all, once they’re gone from this world or if relationships die within time, stepping back and taking in the present is the most gifted thing the world has to offer.
6. David Tao – 天天 “Every Day”
In this number expresses, the singer can’t stop thinking about the girl he likes no matter where he goes. At some point in our lives, we hopefully have or will have experienced someone we can’t stop thinking about. To relate it back to the (Chinese) New Year, start your resolution today and ask that person out!
- Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1
We all know Yo-Yo Ma as one of the most talented cellist of our time, but he should also be lauded for bridging the gap between Western and Eastern cultures through music. If you’d also like to take a walk down memory lane back to the renowned musician’s early days, check out this video, which features Leonard Bernstein, the creator of West Side Story, introducing a young Yo-Yo Ma and his sister, Yeou-Cheng Ma.
- Jackie Chan – 國家 – Nation
Not only is Jackie Chan a master of karate, but he is also has a talent in singing. 國家 (guo jia) tells of an undying love for one’s country, and as we celebrate the Lunar New Year with moon cakes, hot pot and red envelopes, remember to give thanks to whatever country we live in. This new year isn’t just about a certain country’s celebration but one for all cultures of the world to spend time with their families. As someone who celebrates Chinese New Year, I’m excited to mark the start another great year with my diverse Trojan family.