Zhang Jie's "Die Young"

Wow, the Jay Chou influence really shows. And like my all-time favorites Qing Hua Ci (Blue & White Porcelain) and Fa Ru Xue (Hair Like Snow), it's almost criminal to listen to this song without watching the MV. Lucky for me, this MV is filled with The Pretty, plus it's pretty low on the angst factor unlike Jay Chou's videos which always manages to weave a whole freakin' tragic love story in mere 3 minutes, leaving my heart an empty hollow shell at the end *sobs*.

With traditional music influence and the theme of "early death", I can see why this track is included in the OST for kdrama The Moon Embraces The Sun (Chinese version of the OST, I mean. Yeah, I had no idea they did those either.)

 

Title: Die Young

Lyricist: Zhang Jie (aka Chase Chang)

Composer: Zhang Jie

Translated Lyrics:

We thought we could always let go, forget, change
The mayhem throughout the journey
Yearning has once again light a candle in the night for me 

Who knows what weathered memories will look like
Memories on your face, quietly growing 
The road of no return, ah
Tears flowing
 Perhaps we're similar
What kind of moonlight will you be forlorn under? 

The road of no return, ah
Thinking of you still makes me a little braver
 Wounds throughout the journey gradually forgotten

We thought we could always let go, forget, change
The mayhem throughout the journey 
Yearning has once again light a candle in the night for me

Who knows what weathered memories will look like
Memories on your face, quietly growing
The road of no return, ah
Tears flowing
Perhaps we're similar 
What kind of moonlight will you be forlorn under?

The road of no return, ah
Thinking of you still makes me a little braver
Wounds throughout the journey gradually forgotten

The road of no return, ah
Tears flowing
Perhaps we're similar
What kind of moonlight will you be forlorn under?

The road of no return, ah
Thinking of you still makes me a little braver
Wounds throughout the journey gradually forgotten

Chloe Says

This track is Zhang Jie's favorite among all the other songs in his Clown/Hero album. Inspired during his stay in Beijing, this soon led to a song set in Shanghai during 1945; a chaotic period in history (ie. The End Of Old Shanghai).

Zhang Jie's "Clown & The Hero"

Who is the clown? Who is the hero? I dunno. But if I were to take an educated guess, the hero would be the little boy in blue (see video after jump), because, well, he doesn't look like a clown. And the clown would be our resident singer, Zhang Jie, because... here, take a look for yourselves:

Bowtie, check. 2:8 parted hair, check. Spectacles stolen from grandpa in Up, check. Yellow umbrella, check. Hehe, like the cappuccino he sings of, this song is the perfect pick-me-up for the dispirited soul.

In case you're wondering, the kids in this MV (scouted in NY as well) really do know how to play the instruments. In fact, Zhang Jie jests that "he'd really have to practice harder to keep his place as the lead singer and guitarist."

Song title: 小丑與英雄 (Clown & The Hero)

Composer: AJ Zhang Jie (aka Chase Chang)

Lyricist: AJ Zhang Jie

Translated Lyrics:

"If this city life is like a comfort fairytale for heroes,

then I'm a little busy clown that nobody notices."

I sat on the curb, waiting for the bus to stop, yeah

A certain uneasiness within my heart, oh

During the journey, there were many times I couldn't see clearly 

But in their eyes, I'm a clown 
Turn left at the next stop, careful not to miss it 

When I shuttle at full speed, even if everyone laughs at me
I still want to say...

Courage on my right hand, dreams on my left
Have a cup of cappuccino, come on, come on
Mama told me, "Who hasn't experienced failure?" Woo oh ooh
Ooh oh woo So what if you lose once, just start over
You're invincible, come on come on
Be your own hero for once, woo oh oh

Passersby make it a tad crowded, yeah
Turning all thoughts into a rebellious one, oh 

During the journey, there were many times I couldn't see clearly 

But in their eyes, I'm a clown 
Turn left at the next stop, careful not to miss it 

When I shuttle at full speed, even if everyone laughs at me
I still want to say...

Courage on my right hand, dreams on my left
Have a cup of cappuccino, come on, come on
Mama told me, "Who hasn't experienced failure?" Woo oh ooh
Ooh oh woo So what if you lose once, just start over
You're invincible, come on come on
Be your own hero for once, woo oh oh

Courage on my right hand, dreams on my left
Have a cup of cappuccino
Mama told me, "Who hasn't experienced failure?" Woo oh ooh
Ooh oh woo oh ooh woo oh ooh

 So what if you lose once, just start over
You're invincible, you still have to live your life
So what if you lose once, just start over
You're invincible, ooh oh woo oh ooh
Woo oh ooh

Chloe Says

This song's got sass! If I had my way, Clown & The Hero would be the OP theme song of a show that EVERYBODY LOVES and raves and is cray cray about, that's how much loving I want Zhang Jie to have. Dramagods, hear my plea? (opening because it's a happy song, emo ones are reserved for the credits - unspoken law of TWDRAMAS 101). Until then, I'm having a OP OP OP OP OPPA Gangnam-style party for two here. You're welcome to join.

TRANSLATION NOTES
Dark pink for lyrics originally in English, purple for sound effects(?).