Tanya Chua. Some people love her, some can't stand her. As for me ... i like this song 達爾文 (read as Da-Oh-Wen) and subsequently bought the album, one year after it was released, which technically means i needed convincing, too. Then i totally fell in love with the lyrics. I think the problem is a lot of people can't get over how the singer sounds to actually listen to the lyrics. i for one needs to read the lyrics because my chinese is damn bad and listening skills are below reading skills, somehow. Maybe is the way Tanya pronounces, quite affected sometimes.

Still, i will be the first to admit that i'm a true sucker for folksy tunes, accompanied by smooth guitar riffs and lyrics that you can truly relate to. (more of that later)

Since i've been stuck on this song and trying to live on it for days ... here it is and the meaning of it. Before that ... i never realised that my friends were all ... well, some of the Chinese speaking and 'reading' ones, either anti-Tanya or have no general knowledge. I kept asking the ones whom i thought would like Tanya and would at least have some semblance of 'intelligence', if the title of this song translated was Darwin. Turns out, none of them could help me ... and i found it on Wikipedia.

Now you know.

This song 達爾文 or Darwin. Lyrics, roughly explained, because i'm not up to the level of doing proper translating. Words by 小寒 (Xiao-Han), music by Tanya

我的青春 也不是沒傷痕
My younger days (youth) were not without it's share of scars
是明白愛是信仰的延伸
It was realising that love is an extension of belief/faith
甚麼特徵 人緣還是眼神
Whatever attributes, be it charisma or eye contact/gaze
也不會預知愛不愛的可能
Could still not foretell the possibility of love
保持單身 忍不住又沉淪
Remained single, yet could not help sinking (perishing)
兜著圈子來去有時苦等
Going in circles, to and fro (coming and going), at times bitterly awaiting
人的一生 感情是旋轉門
In one's life, tender emotions are revolving doors
轉到了最後真心的就不分
As it revolves to the end, those who are true will not part
有過競爭 有過犧牲
You've had competition, you've had to sacrifice
被愛篩選過程
In the natural selection of Love (In Love's screening process)
學會認真 學會忠誠
You've learned to be earnest, you've learned loyalty
適者才能生存
Only those who are deemed suitable survive
懂得永恆 得要我們
To understand eternity, we would have to
進化成更好的人
Evolve into better people
我的青春 有時還蠻單純
My younger days were sometimes quite naive
相信幸福取決於愛得深
I believed that happiness stemmed from how deep you loved
讀進化論 我贊成達爾文
Reading the Theory of Evolution, I agreed with Darwin
沒實力的就有淘汰的可能
If you are not fit (strong), you may be eliminated
我的替身 已換過多少輪
My substitutes have changed so many times as well
記憶在舊情人心中變冷
The memories in my ex's heart have turned cold
我的一生 有幾道旋轉門
In my entire life, how many revolving doors are there?
轉到了最後只剩你我沒分
As it revolves to the end, turns out that you and me have not parted

Ok ok, i know so-called explanation is not that great either. I might tweak later. (might!)

SONG FOR A MOOD
達爾文/Darwin - Tanya Chua. Whatelse, whatelse ... There are two versions. But i like the first one. It may change your mind about Tanya, it may not. I just love this song for all the good reasons.

Bought an album a couple weeks back, called Recollection, a selection of 90s gayo hits, rearranged and performed by the duo of Fly to The Sky (FTTS).

Wow! i think i'm in love with The Voice (despite him being so insecure over his looks)... okokok, it is The Voices, cos Brian Joo's not bad either. Does this mean i'm no longer totally in love with Mr M's music? Or for all that, Bobby Chen?

I guess not. I find that i'm always nicely ready to accept and see clearly the flaws of those 'idols'. Half an hour ago, i caught this Taiwanese concert on TV, and there was this guy singing a cutesy song in a small voice. I was so duhhhhh put-off. Then i had a double take - OH MY GOD, it's Joe Cheng! Honestly, i think he's one of the best young actors to come out of Taiwan, of late. But from the very beginning, his voice has been his great flaw, whenever he does angry scenes, its really trying on this faculty. So in a way, Mike He wins, but now Ethan Ruan wins hands down, he has a little of Joe's sense of humour and a wonderful voice (a bit like Ming-dao).

Okay. Before i get a 'where-are-you-heading-with-this' ...

An idol is someone you admire for their skills, personality, life, looks or whatever pushes your buttons. And if it's an actor or someone who is miles away, it is easier to distance yourself. But what if you find that you're most likely to idolise someone who lives next door or you just shook hands with.

i dunno but i think that's okay, too. As long as you know that putting someone on a pedestal is acceptable but as much as you admire that person for their talents, you should not be blind to their flaws. Say if someone said your favourite singer-songwriter was gay ... that's okay, value him for his talents. Even if your bestfriend is money-grubbing, promise-breaker or selfish witch, i think i'm okay because i'm fully aware of this. i have a choice to break off the relationship but if i choose to be friends with someone like that, when they hurt me, i won't make excuses for them except well, that's them and move on.

Someone i know who is a self-serving yet thinks he is selflessly helping other people, has been playing and pushing puppets around again lately. Because he thinks he is only doing such things to help his good kind friends, based on a deluded opinion that 'as long as my friends are happy, i am', he always gives excuses that his intention were all for good, so he will never take full responsibilty when it fails and people get hurt. Well, first of all, this is meant for all you good intentioned but black hearted irresponsible people - don't play with other peoples' lives, especially if they are people dearest to you. They don't deserve this kind of callouslessness. Plus, i'll bet you never told me is because you know it's wrong but you don't care ... it's a risk you must take. Fool! Come off that pedestal quietly, before someone breaks that statue.

As for my take on idolising,: it's okay, just don't be blind to the flaws that make them human.

I choose this song which literally means Person who gives Happiness, i know it is so ironic to use it since i've been harping over someone else being so stupid into thinking they can do so. Actually, i don't think it is wrong, just think that you should also know when you must tell the truth and not let people you care for live in a cloud of fake happiness. Being truthful may be painful, but in the long run, it is better for all parties. And true friends care enough to be truthful despite everything. BTW, i'm over being mad, just need to get it off my chest.

SONG FOR A MOOD
행복을 주는 사람/haengbogeul juneun saram - Fly To The Sky. From the album, Recollection, this is the first track which really gives you a headache because of the arrangement. But surprisingly, i didn't hate it. Gave this album to Ma-chan and i hope she grows to love it like i do. Feeling a bit deprived while i'm waiting for my copy to arrive, thank goodness for ripping and mp3s, it's one of those albums i can't live without!