There are just SOME things one shouldn't try without at least several years of professional training under one's belt, as well as an exclusive environment of practice. Even with all that, you need a pair of sharp ears and an agile tongue (ok this sounded BAAD. But think positively of this statement, get your mind out of the gutter!)
Let me emphasize that I'm filled with admiration for these singers who do crossovers (specifically language crossovers), because of their sincerity in reaching out to another market. Its a tremendously difficult task, I know. My own korean sounds dumb even to myself at times, and its not like I don't recognise that english can be annoyingly difficult on the tongue for adult learners, and mandarin, being a tonal language, can be even worse. Even in spite of this, sometimes I'm just so horror struck by bad pronunciation that I start to freeze up.
I get the economical sense of singing foreign language songs, especially when most record companies are looking into a global audience to maximize sluggish album sales. The thing is, it seems like they just throw their singers into the deep end, making them sing in different languages without proper training in the language. Its glaringly apparent, especially when the singers themselves say "I'm sorry, its been long since I've sung this version, I've forgotten my pronunciation." Notice they say pronunciation. Not lyrics. Meaning that they've basically just memorized a bunch of romanised stuff to sing along the way without meaning. I know its hard to pick up a language, but it should make practical sense to get some quality pronunciation and basic conversational lessons if you're going to be conquering a foreign market that spans a wide base of people for a substantial period of time.
I listen almost exclusively to 가요 these days, so my examples sway towards the 가요 scene, but this is an interesting situation that is NOT limited to the korean market. Many HK singers take years to perfect singing in mandarin without a noticeable twang, and there are a bunch of singers who sound resplendent in their native language but utterly HORRID when they try to take on say, english songs. Even if they don't take language lessons, I wish they'd at least employ a native to drill them in the particular song they're taking on, so that they don't sound so silly. At least make it a perfect fake right?
I have to admit though. Its entertaining to hear these crossover songs. I went into an uncontrollable laughing fit when I heard 주문 in mandarin. That was when I hadn't seen the lyrics. When I listened again with the lyrics, my fit upgraded itself into spasms. It was the same thing when I heard Love Story. Granted, Rain's chinese has improved by leaps and bounds since the disastrous Shou Ji. The standard is still hovering near his English though (and we all know the general consensus regarding this issue). Its really a pity, since I ADORE the two songs, and I had high expectations for the respective different songs. Maybe its exactly because the expectations I had were too high, and so I'm rather disappointed. Who writes the lyrics for these songs anyway? They sound SO AWKWARD! Not to mention tongue twisting for non natives. Its back to listening to the original versions for these. Originals are still the best.
I love it when you got no shame Do that thing, so insane You love it when i play your game Work that brain, I am in your aim Yeah~ I am in your aim! You know you got it!
爱的烟火瞬间爆发出无言的寂寞 我的魔咒要你停住一刻不思索 I got you~ under my skin 现在以后把你的心全部交给我 别再犯错我就是你唯一的选择
Rain Love story, Chinese
Rain love story, english
Some remakes, no crossovers but changes in lyrics. Sounds awkward to me, the lyrics. Listen to the original HERE (couldn't embed it, sorry).
Remake.
posted by sarangaia || 6:16 AM Saturday, January 10, 2009
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