Blog entry
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Full Moon, Flowers Blossom – A Brief Introduction of the Song
Monday, Nov 2, 2009 11:34PM / Event / Lyrics / Members only
4 commentsWell known as the “Golden Voice” of a generation, the influence of the classic songs sung by vocal Queen Zhou Xuan on Asia’s music industry is unassailable. She also has many classic pieces, including familiar songs such as 《Ye Shanghai》 (Shanghai Night), 《Tianya Ge Nu》 (Wandering Songstress). She has many old Shanghai songs worth hearing a hundred times that have lasted through the ages of time and still remain popular today. One can just imagine how these songs have their own unique charm! When I chose to do a rendition of one of Zhou Xuan’s songs, it was honestly quite stressful. I decided to use a very classic song, 《Yue Yuan Hua Hao》 (Full Moon, Flowers Blossom), and performed it in a new way. Recording the vocals for this song was a very enjoyable process!
I’m actually very fond of Western jazz music. And then coupling this with an old-Shanghai style melody of the 1930’s, an arrangement of traditional Chinese pop melody combined with Western jazz music, creating an exceptionally mesmerizing music of East and West! I’ve always anticipated a chance to perform a song of this type, and now I have the opportunity and space to express myself, especially during the parts in between the music. It honestly felt as though my soul was released, roaming freely with the music notes and jumping around. I’ve never recorded this kind of reckless singing style in any of my albums. I’m so pleased that I finally have the opportunity to do it! I even recited a classical Chinese poem from the Song Dynasty period. 《Yue Yuan Hua Hao》 (Full Moon, Flowers Blossom) is a poem from the Song Dynasty period written by Chao Bu, 《Yu Jie Xing》. “Fragrance is mistakenly hated during the Hades period, Luo fades with the present. Full moon and blossoming flowers usually signals spring, close proximity always results in high spirits.” (“幽期莫誤香閨恨，羅帶今朝褪。月圓花好一般春，觸處總堪乘興”) Francis Li Zhuo Xiong especially explained the meaning of this verse to me so that I could better understand the concept of the song!
Not only is the music arrangement new to the ears, I’d already thought of my appearance for when I perform the song. Of course, when performing a new rendition of an old Shanghai song, I have to wear my favorite Qi Pao (traditional Chinese dress). This is something that definitely can’t be left out! After experiencing this very enjoyable recording session, I hope that next time I’ll have the opportunity to record an entire album with jazz style songs. And I also hope that you’ll join me and look forward to it as well.
Producer Zhang Ah-dong’s Words:
Basically, we just used one track for this song and completed the part for the vocals. Karen performed this song with vivid and unrestrained expression. When you hear her singing the low notes, I don’t think there would be anyone who wouldn’t become mesmerized by the song. We also created a beautiful Shanghai style and jazz feel to the song. But I still feel that behind the happy, easy going melody lies a particularly deep kind of pain and sorrow……
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