Pengyou Posted February 11, 2011 at 10:32 AM Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 at 10:32 AM I teach sophomores in a uni in Shanghai. I am trying to find a Chinese song that is familiar to most, if not all of them, that has been translated into English and can actually be sang in English - and has meaning also. I want to teach the English version to my students in hopes of motivating them to learn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted February 11, 2011 at 11:35 AM Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 at 11:35 AM There are a couple of songs I can think of which might work , which is Coldplay's Yellow. And of course 梦中人, which is the Cranberries Dreams. Must be loads more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yang Rui Posted February 11, 2011 at 04:59 PM Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 at 04:59 PM There is an English version of SHE's Superstar. It is sung by Skye Sweetnam, called Super Star and is on Youtube. Every Chinese student will know the Chinese version of that song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyxLucy Posted February 12, 2011 at 12:39 AM Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 at 12:39 AM There is also a version of Super Star by Sweetbox, and a lot their songs were covered by S.H.E as well. I know 张学友's classic 吻别 was covered by a British band, but I can't remember the name. I'm sure if you search Chinese covers of English songs or vice versa on google or baidu you'll find lots more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lu Posted February 12, 2011 at 11:38 AM Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 at 11:38 AM There's an English version of 童话, I saw it on youtube once, but it's not great. SHE also covered a Britney Spears song Everytime as 別說對不起. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hofmann Posted February 12, 2011 at 05:03 PM Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 at 05:03 PM 張力尹's Y is originally in English, Powerless by Jamelle Fraley. ...down a half step. Edit: ...and I just read carefully that they're sophomores at a university. Most of them won't know that song, and most of them probably can't hit that high G (and maybe an ornament with a B-flat), but ehh maybe they can just listen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aristotle1990 Posted February 12, 2011 at 09:24 PM Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 at 09:24 PM There's an English version of 童话, I saw it on youtube once, but it's not great. You referring to ? I like it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lu Posted February 13, 2011 at 02:14 PM Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 at 02:14 PM That's not the one I've seen, but might be the same translation. I'm still not crazy about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sujisol Posted February 13, 2011 at 03:22 PM Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 at 03:22 PM Songs are okay as long as you have a natural feel for the intonation in the object language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LA Guy Posted February 14, 2011 at 03:31 AM Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 at 03:31 AM Hi, I don't have a Chinese Song recommendation. This post suggests using a famous American song which talks about a person's regret with wasting the youth in one's life. The lyrics can be interesting to learn and discuss. This video has the lyrics and nice pictures Yesterday When I Was Young...Glenn Campbell Roy Clark sings the most popular version - Yesterday When I Was Young Song Lyrics here http://www.tuffydog.com/lyrics14.html "It seems the love I've known, has always been the most destructive kind. I guess that's why now, I feel so old before my time." Yesterday, when I was young, The taste of life was sweet, as rain upon my tongue, I teased at life, as if it were a foolish game, The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned, I always built, alas, on weak and shifting sand, I lived by night, and shunned the naked light of day, And only now, I see, how the years ran away Yesterday, when I was young, So many happy songs were waiting to be sung, So many wild pleasures lay in store for me, And so much pain, my dazzled eyes refused to see I ran so fast that time, and youth at last ran out, I never stopped to think, what life, was all about, And every conversation, I can now recall, Concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all Yesterday, the moon was blue, And every crazy day, brought something new to do, I used my magic age, as if it were a wand, And never saw the worst, and the emptiness beyond The game of love I played, with arrogance and pride, And every flame I lit, too quickly, quickly died, The friends I made, all seemed somehow to drift away, And only I am left, on stage to end the play There are so many songs in me, that won't be sung, I feel the bitter taste, of tears upon my tongue, The time has come for me to pay, For yesterday, when I was young NOTE: ( Roy Clark sang this song at Mickey Mantle's - famous baseball player's funeral in 1995. Mickey had heard Roy sing it before and thought it depicted his life so well that he specifically asked Roy to someday sing it at his funeral ) LA Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LA Guy Posted February 14, 2011 at 04:41 AM Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 at 04:41 AM adding the youtube link for the Karoake Sing Along Yesterday When I Was Young Karoake http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWJz0_7oXY LA Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LA Guy Posted February 14, 2011 at 04:57 AM Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 at 04:57 AM and a few more ... Yesterday When I Was Young - clearly and expressively sung by a ukeleleeric on youtube Roy Clark singing with nice pictures and the lyrics Karoake with video of Asian couple - blind girl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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