CHEN-YU LIN
1. 周杰倫, “東風破”
1. Jay Chou, “Dong-feng-po”
Lyrics: Fang, Wen-Shan
Composer: Jay Chou
“Dong-feng-po” (東風破) was released in 2003, in Jay Chou’s fourth studio album, Ye Hui Mei. The name of the album is after Jay Chou’s mother. The literal meaning of the song title is “East Wind Breaks”, and the lyrics portray recollection of a lost love revoked by the sound of the pipa (a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument). Ye Hui Mei received ‘Album of the Year’ from Taiwan’s Golden Melody Awards in 2004.
2. 林俊傑, “江南”
2. JJ Lin, “River South”
Lyrics: Li Rui-xun
Composer: JJ Lin
“River South” was a song released in JJ Lin’s second studio album The Second Heaven in 2004. JJ Lin is a Singaporean singer-songwriter and music producer.
3. 周杰倫, “髮如雪”
3. Jay Chou, “Hair Like Snow”
Lyrics: Fang, Wen-Shan
Composer: Jay Chou.
“Hair like snow” was released in Jay Chou’s sixth studio album, November’s Chopin (2005). Some expressions in the lyrics referenced to the mid-18th-century masterpiece of Chinese literature, Dream of the Red Chamber. Jay Chou directed the music video.
4. 周杰倫, “菊花台”
4. Jay Chou, “Chrysanthemum Terrace”
Lyrics: Fang, Wen-Shan
Composer: Jay Chou.
“Chrysanthemum Terrace” was in Jay Chou’s seventh studio album, Still Fantasy in 2006. It was also the song of closing credits for the film Curse of the Golden Flower in 2006. Zhang Yimou directed the film, and Jay Chou himself played the role of Prince Jai in it.
5. 王力宏, “华人万岁”
5. Wang Leehom, “Viva Chinese”
“Viva Chinese” was released in Wang’s twelfth studio album Change Me in 2007. Wang said it was inspired by the Beijing Olympics 2008. Wang Leehom is an American born Chinese, whose parents were immigrants from Taiwan. The lyrics are as follows, ‘Viva Chinese, the world will hear. My culture is my pride’. The bellow video was the version of the song performed at the final of Sing! China, a singing competition television show in 2019, in which Wang was a coach for the contestants.
6. 周杰倫, “青花瓷”
6. Jay Chou, “Blue and White Porcelain”
Lyrics: Fang, Wen-Shan
Composer: Jay Chou.
“Blue and White Porcelain” was released in Jay Chou’s eighth studio album, On the Run in 2007. The manufacturing of blue and white porcelain came to maturity in the Yuan Dynasty in China and was exported internationally. Hence it became a symbol of Chinese culture. This is arguably Jay Chou’s most well-known China Wind song. For this song alone, it won three Golden Melody Awards in 2008, “Song of the Year”, “The Best Lyrics” as well as “The Best Composer”. Jay Chou also performed the song on the stage of CCTV spring gala in 2008.
7. SHE, “中國話”
7. SHE, “Chinese”
Lyrics: Derek Shih and Zheng Nan
Composer: Zheng Nan.
“Chinese” was released in Taiwanese girl group S.H.E’s eighth studio album Play. The lyrics are as follows, ‘all around world people are learning to speak Chinese; Confucius’ words are becoming internationalised’. This song caused some controversies in Taiwan as it was criticised as ‘pro-China’, and S.H.E. performed the song on the stage of CCTV Spring gala in 2008.
8. 周杰倫, “稻香”
8. Jay Chou, “Fragrance of Rice”
Lyrics: Jay Chou
Composer: Jay Chou.
“Fragrance of Rice” was released in Jay Chou’s tenth studio album Capricorn in 2008. Accompanied by acoustic guitar, this song has strong musical influences from genres such as R&B and Hip-hop. It addresses the theme of ‘returning home’ and ‘finding joy in simplicity’. “Fragrance of Rice” won the “Song of the Year” award at the Golden Melody Awards in 2009.