AhDoe – Music as an International Language

I like to watch horror movies, but I have a weak heart……

This is so unfair…

I managed to overcome the weak heart problem by covering my eyes with my hands almost throughout the movies. Those who watch the horror movies with me in the cinema are really unlucky to have me beside them.

Nope, I won’t do disgraceful things like screaming or laughing hysterically in between, but I keep asking them: “Hey, what happened just now? What did he (Actor) see?”

In short, I donated my money for nothing.

Besides a weak heart, I have a good memory, and the worst: A very good imagination! If these are applied at a good area, I’ve already made a fortune. But alas…

Damn horror movies directors, they are so good in using sound effects to scare me out of my wits. When I was young (I am still young now 🙂 ), I remember the Chinese vampires and Western Dracula are in the main stream of horror movies.

Then…along came the spirits. After watching so many shows like this, I concluded that audience just want to experience the thrill of getting scared by sudden occurrences or incidents, and they will wait for the truth behind the haunting till the end.

It’s old-fashion now.

If you survey what’s the top 10 horror movies now, you will for sure receive these answers:

1. Ju On
2. The Ring
3. The Eye
4. The Shutter
5. The Phone

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When we are talking about James Blunt, maybe you will start to picture an image of him saying “You’re beautiful” to you.

I must say, James Blunt is really a genius! Not only his ability to compose and write nice songs, his gifted voice makes him an exquisite brand in the industry of music. Sharp (i.e. not Blunt) but gentle, he reminds me of another voice: Aaron Neville.

I am glad that James Blunt survived through the competition against dozens and tons of other over-artificial songs that come from the digital age. I mean, how many live unplugged performances we can get to enjoy since year 2000? I like the purity and originality in his songs, his voice and his creativity.

In year 2007, James Blunt released his new album, All the Lost Souls, where he kept a song called 1973 in it.

James Blunt’s Latest Album: All the Lost Souls

1973 still sounds like James Blunt, it’s truly his style again. And I loved it.

Guess many people have listened to this song before, but how many of you have heard the acoustic (or better known as Unplugged) version of his singing recorded in Ibiza?

Inspired by this video, I’ve transcribed a piano sheet for 1973 as well. Those who are interested can watch the video for reference before going ahead to play at the piano. This is also a good excuse to skip the dreadful sight-reading.

1973 Piano Sheet Preview

Just a coincidence, this song is in A Major. (I noticed that I have been writing piano sheets in A Major since 2 weeks ago. Luck is not always good I guess)

If you’d like to team up with a guitarist, it’s just simple. The guitarist is recommended to follow the chords that I have jotted down in the piano sheet, and strum it with a continuous 8 beat (Quavers) at the chorus part. This will greatly enhance the rhythm and make this song less monotonous.

Please download 1973 Piano Sheet at this link below:

James Blunt’s 1973 Piano Sheet Download Link.

Another Jay Chou’s piano sheet from me.

After posting 2 piano sheets from his latest album: Rainbow and The Cowboy is Busy, this is the third piano sheet from that album. If you are familiar with Jay’s song list in every of his albums, you will find at least one Oriental style in it. This time, his oriental Porcelain of Green Flowers (青花瓷) is finally written on paper.

Among all the lyrics translations I have ever accomplished, Porcelain of Green Flowers will be the hardest of all. Fortunately, an unknown genius had done this part for me, and I think it is good enough to convey the original lyrics.

Don’t know which porcelain Jay Chou meant?

Here we go…

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I was in the midst of researching some nice songs to be put into piano sheets. Old songs, folk songs, pop songs are all taken into account for the selection.

Suddenly, the entertainment channel was showing Bjork’s recent concert in Hong Kong. If Bjork sounds new to you, let me tell ya, she is from Iceland.

When I was travelling in Europe, a tourist who has been to Iceland told me that Icelanders really need to wear makeup to emphasize their face features. The reason is: Their faces are as pale as sheet….

Just an interesting story to share with you. I don’t know because I have not been there before.

Back to Bjork now. I seldom listen to her songs, and I find them too “digital” for me. My impression of her is her controversial swan dress on the red carpet.

  

Swan: Quack Quack here, Quack Quack there, here Quack there Quack everywhere Quack Quack!

Voted as the WORST dress ever seen during ceremony, Bjork achieved a milestone in her career. Nevertheless, Bjork responded with this….

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Another Angela Zhang’s (张韶涵) nice song after her famous “Invisible Wings” (隐性的翅膀).

However, not every of her songs suits my appetite. Angela is well known for her wide range of pitch, that makes her capable of singing high-tone songs that others can’t. But sometimes, when her voice reaches certain pitch, I’ve been vibrating like a tuning fork. Please don’t forget that we are still human, “vibrating like a tuning fork” is only a step away to the effect of “shattering glass”. Hahaha…so, well, *ahem*, I mean, only some of her songs….

Her latest album, Ang 5.0 is already sticking to the radio station billboard now. I really like her “Dear, that’s not love” (亲爱的，那不是爱情).

  

Angela: If this is my 3rd album, I will name it “Ang Ang Ang“

You know, the first question arises when I first heard this song: Wow, who can compose such nice song besides Jay Chou?

Then I checked and found out that the composer is really him! Jay!

Ah Doe singing: Oops, Jay did it again…

Wonder what’s the lyrics? Translation time!

~.~.~.~. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

The accordion in the classroom is playing.
It sounds like how you confessed to me
and reminds me of your gentle movements.
I watched your back when you turned around after delivering your letter that was filled with care to me with a wan smile.
I hold the lukewarm milk bottle in my hands firmly
and I can feel the similar warmth in my heart wherever you are with me,
Those days are like a carousel that keeps spinning in my head,
and I see the good memories of how good you were to me.

You said a commitment is established once you hold my hands,
But dear, that’s not love,
Just like how we missed to make a wish to the shooting stars,
No matter how beautiful they were,
they were already bygones,
We made beautiful promises because we were too young,
But dear, that’s not love,
Just like an elf residing in a wrong forest,
our love was a clear mistake.

~.~.~.~. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

By the way, this is the second time Jay Chou mentioned about drinking milk in the lyrics. Remember the Cowboy is busy?

OK, heading into the main point now: Piano sheets? Music scores? Music Sheets?

Look what have I got here?

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