I have posted before about how I got to know Kpop, this time here I want to share about the thing that I have fancy long before Kpop. That is MandoPop.
Actually I couldn't really call it MandoPop as it is not started with pop songs. I started fancy Mandarin songs after Huan Zhu Ge Ge drama released in 1998 or 1999 when it was on TV in Indonesia, and most of its songs are quite Chinese classics.
I love Chinese classic songs. Like the one in Mei Hua Lao and Xin Yue Ge Ge but sadly in Indonesia TV they used dubbed version instead of subbed ones, the soundtracks changed into Indonesian version even though used the same arrangement and same meaning of lyric, but in the drama you can hear the original soundtrack played here and there faintly.
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| Mei Hua Lao (1993) - Xin Yue Ge Ge (1994) - Huan Zhu Ge Ge (1998) |
Even until now I still singing Meng Li
To say I'm a MandoPop fan, I think it's unfair to the real MandoPop fans, so I must say I just fancy Mandarin song especially the ones that were used as soundtracks to dramas I love.
So, instead of listing out my favorite group and singer, I will list out my favorite Original Soundtracks in Mandarin.
#1 The Outsiders
Love all the songs! Really. All the songs fit perfectly into the drama, every character got their own songs and each of the songs portray the feelings really well. I'll say all the songs in this original soundtrack album are awesome I can't tell which one is better than the others, all of them are perfect. I love it!
#2 At the Dolphin Bay
The drama itself is already quite musical with the main female character being a singer. Journey, 遺失的美好 (Lost Happiness), and I Don't Wanna Know will forever be in my heart.
#3 100% Senorita
Everyone who watched this drama would definitely remember the song Disguise by Lene Marlin. This drama used quite a few of English and Japanese songs, besides Disguise, there is also That Girl by Stephanie Kirkham and Autumn Leaves by Nat King Cole, the using of the piano instrumental Hana's Eyes by Croatian Pianist Maksim Mrvica in sad scenes really throw the irony the characters were facing into my heart.
#4 Mars
Another drama about the tragedy in the main characters pasts. 零 (zero) by Alan Kuo is my chosen one, not only it's the opening theme song, but the song itself taught me that we can always reset our life, leave the past and start from zero not stay in the 'zero zone', facing the new tomorrow, to the new world. The second song I really like is 白色恋曲 / White Concerto by RaRa.
#5 MVP Lovers
I've talked about MVP Lovers / MVP Valentine's soundtrack having some Korean songs that makes me like Kpop back then. But what are the original 'original' soundtrack from the soundtrack album that I like other than the Korean songs? First, I must tell you that aside of having Korean songs, this drama also had Japanese songs, and most of the Mandarin songs in this drama were performed by 5566, and all of their songs are great. 無所謂 (Doesn't Matter), 我難過 (I'm Sad), and 挑撥 (Instigation) are my favorites.
#6 The Outsiders 2
The sequel of The Outsiders drama have no less awesome soundtracks than the first season. Let me say 你說 (Say It) is my favorite, 張勛傑 (Because It’s You), and 灰色空间 (Gray Space) are my favorites.
#7 Westside Story
Westside Story was starred by 5566 as a group so of course they participated in the soundtrack too, and their song 存在 (Existence) and 傳說 (Legend) both made it as opening and closing theme song. But my favorite is the duet of Cindy Wang and Tony Sun - 煎熬 (Tormented).
Other than those songs I've mentioned above, I'd like to put some honorable mention down here for my other favorite Mandarin songs that the album didn't make on my list up there.
Angela Zhang - 不想懂得 (Don't Wanna Understand)
This song was from Romantic Princess drama, I don't really like the drama, or fancy the other songs in the drama, but this one song really caught my attention, the lyric is deep.
5566 - Without Your Love
It's not an official soundtrack, but the Music Video for this song was specialized to show the love 'Prince' had Xiao Xi, both are characters from MVP Lover but since Prince wasn't the main character and Xiao Xi ends up with her true love Chen Feng, fans wanted to see what happen to Prince after the drama, and this song portray the tragic story of Prince.
Toro - 忘了愛 (Forgetting Love)
I honestly don't like this drama, the cast, the music, the story, but I heard this song, and I just love it.
Harlem Yu - 情非得已 (Last Resort)
The first Hana Yori Dango manga live action, Meteor Garden, even though it originated from Japan, but everyone knows when we talk about F4, it means the Taiwanese F4, and if it's not all, most of the teenagers of 2000s era knows this song to heart. It's obviously not F4's song, but when you started "Nányǐ wàngjì chūcì jiàn nǐ.. yī shuāng mírén de yǎnjīng..", we know what we're singing about (pun intended).
Penny Tai - 你要的愛 (The Love You Want)
If I mentioned Meteor Garden's OST, I shall not skipped "Wǒ míngbái.. Wǒ yào de ài.."
F4 - 流星雨 (Meteor Rain)
It's not from Meteor Garden but it is an F4's song, and people used to relate this Meteor Rain with Meteor Garden which has no connection at all. But this song is great, used to be my midi ringtone on my Nokia back in 2003.
Sammi Cheng - 快樂不快樂 (Happy Not Happy)
- It's from a romantic comedy movie Summer Holiday, this was a song Sammi Cheng was singing in a Karaoke while crying because her boyfriend cheated with her best friend. It was a sad song, but was a funny scene.
Alright, so that's all for now. I don't know if there will be another post about Mandarin songs later. Might post some lyrics with translation though.
Until the next post~