Friday Song: ‘I love, therefore I exist’
If Stevie Wonder and the Backstreet Boys came together to create a Chinese pop band, the result would be Khalil Fong 方大同 (Fāng Dàtóng). Since the release of his first album in 2005, Fong has seamlessly integrated R&B and soul into Chinese pop. The American-born, Hong Kong-based pop star primarily sings in Mandarin, although he also sings in English and Cantonese. Despite his international background, Khalil credits his father’s record collection for his musical inspiration, which exposed him to the likes of Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye.
In 2006, Khalil released his sophomore album, This Love. The album’s title track — literally, “love love love” in Chinese (爱爱爱 àiàiài) — is one of his most played songs, and speaks to his multicultural style of music. The track is soulful, romantic, and distinctly Chinese — the opening lyric drops a pun on a traditional Chinese expression.
Now working on his 10th album, Khalil is producing music through his independent record label, Fu Music.
Here are the lyrics to “This Love”:
在 哪里记载 一个桃花贼
zài nǎlǐ jìzǎi yīgè táohuā zéi
Where is the record of the first sweet talker?
谁在 哪里典卖 第一枝紫玉钗
shéi zài nǎlǐ diǎn mài dì yī zhī zǐ yù chāi
Who pawned the first purple jade pin?
我在 这里见怪更怪
wǒ zài zhèlǐ jiànguài gèng guài
I’m watching a strange situation becoming stranger
见过电影里面人家看海
jiànguò diànyǐng lǐmiàn rénjiā kàn hǎi
I’ve seen people in movies watch the ocean
更想去看海
gèng xiǎng qù kàn hǎi
I want to see the ocean all the more
唱过人家的爱 更想找爱
chàngguò rénjiā de ài gèng xiǎng zhǎo ài
I’ve sung about the love of others, now I want to find love
你哭起来
nǐ kū qǐlái
You sob
我笑起来
wǒ xiào qǐlái
I laugh
都为了 爱爱爱
dōu wèile ài ài ài
All for the sake of love, love, love
有一天翻开辞海找不到爱
yǒu yītiān fān kāi cíhǎi zhǎo bù dào ài
There will be a day when I can’t find the word “love” in the dictionary
花不开 树不摆
huā bu kāi shù bù bǎi
The flowers won’t bloom, the trees won’t sway
还是更畅快
háishì gèng chàngkuài
But I will be more carefree
爱 还是会期待
ài háishì huì qídài
Love, I still look forward to it
还是会觉得孤单太失败
háishì huì juédé gūdān tài shībài
Still feel loneliness is a great failure
我爱故我在
wǒ ài gùwǒ zài
I love, therefore I exist
找到爱 幸福的人 肯不肯躲起来
zhǎodào ài xìngfú de rén kěn bù kěn duǒ qǐlái
People who are happily in love, are they willing to hide?
正在 寂寞的人 能不能站起来
zhèngzài jìmò de rén néng bùnéng zhàn qǐlái
Lonely people, are they able to stand?
我在 这里陪你无奈
wǒ zài zhèlǐ péi nǐ wúnài
I’m here, you’ve made me helpless
看过小说里面人家等待
kànguò xiǎoshuō lǐmiàn rénjiā děngdài
In novels I read that people wait
更习惯等待
gèng xíguàn děngdài
I’ve become used to waiting
唱过人家的爱 更想找爱
chàngguò rénjiā de ài gèng xiǎng zhǎo ài
I’ve sung about the love of others, now I want to find love
你喊出来
nǐ hǎn chū lái
You sob
我静下来
wǒ jìng xiàlái
I laugh
都为了 爱爱爱
dōu wèile ài ài ài
All for the sake of love, love, love
有一天翻开辞海找不到爱
yǒu yītiān fān kāi cíhǎi zhǎo bù dào ài
There will be a day when I can’t find the word “love” in the dictionary
花不开 树不摆
huā bu kāi shù bù bǎi
The flowers won’t bloom, the trees won’t sway
还是更畅快
háishì gèng chàngkuài
But I will be more carefree
爱 还是会期待
ài háishì huì qídài
Love, I still look forward to it
还是会觉得孤单太失败
háishì huì juédé gūdān tài shībài
Still feel loneliness is a great failure
我爱故我在
wǒ ài gùwǒ zài
I love, therefore I exist
挥不去满天满地的尘埃
huī bù qù mǎn tiān mǎn dì de chén’āi
Dust doesn’t cover the sky and earth
买不起满街口袋的品牌
mǎi bù qǐ mǎn jiē kǒudài de pǐnpái
I can’t buy all of the brands on the street
你闷起来, 我傻起来, 可以爱
nǐ mèn qǐlái, wǒ shǎ qǐlái, kěyǐ ài
You’re smothered, I’m a fool, but we can love
会不会整个时代只有一个告白
huì bù huì zhěnggè shídài zhǐyǒu yīgè gàobái
Will every lifetime only have one proclamation of love?
谁不爱过不存在
shéi bù àiguò bu cúnzài
Those who have not loved have not existed
不明不白
bùmíng bù bái
I don’t understand
不分好歹
bù fēn hǎodǎi
I can’t tell right from wrong
都为了 爱爱爱
dōu wèile ài ài ài
All for the sake of love, love love
有一天翻开辞海找不到爱
yǒu yītiān fān kāi cíhǎi zhǎo bù dào ài
There will be a day when I can’t find the word “love” in the dictionary
花不开 树不摆
huā bu kāi shù bù bǎi
The flowers won’t bloom, the trees won’t sway
还是更畅快
háishì gèng chàngkuài
But I will be more carefree
爱 还是会期待
ài háishì huì qídài
Love, I still look forward to it
还是会觉得孤单太失败
háishì huì juédé gūdān tài shībài
Still feel loneliness is a great failure
我爱故我在
wǒ ài gùwǒ zài
I love, therefore I exist
Friday Song is SupChina’s weekly sign-off. Let us know what you thought of the week that was in the comments below, or email editors@thechinaproject.com.
