Our selection this week is a cover of the famous Wang Fei song of the same name. If you've spent any time in China we're sure you've heard the original version. But you may not have run into this cover yet, as recorded by Khalil Fong, an up-and-coming Chinese-American singer who is beginning to make waves in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

"No-one knows what Wang Fei was really writing about," Echo tried to explain to us. "It's about loneliness and pain, and wanting to be with someone who doesn't want you." There was silence as the room digested this. "I don't know what the bit about red bean stew is about, although red beans are symbols for missing someone in China," she added, "so it's suggestive even if it doesn't make sense literally."

As with all of our songs on KTV Wednesday, if you have any trouble understanding the lyrics just click through to our text page. There, you can consult our manually edited word-by-word popups and consult our line-by-line translations of the original Chinese. And if you enjoy this song, be sure to check out the other songs we have from Wang Fei as part of our KTV Wednesday series. A version of the song is also available on Youtube.
 said on
September 3, 2009
I prefer the Wang Fei version. Link to it here: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNTY0OTkzNjA=.html.

 said on
September 3, 2009
我同意, 王非比较好听。

I am not sure why a scratchy guitar string sound is considered good music.
 said on
September 3, 2009
The "scratchy guitar string sound" is beautiful.
 said on
September 3, 2009
@orbital

thanks for the link. i agree and she is also prettier
 said on
September 4, 2009
Prettier? Smoking hot is what she is! :-)
 said on
September 4, 2009
In other Chinese music related news, Hunan's 快乐女生 (formerly known as Super Girls) oddball contestant Zeng Yike has been accused of plagiarizing a song as her own. China Smack reliably brings the goods.

快乐女生 is the Chinese version of American Idol

Zeng Yike has already been ridiculed on Chinese BBS forums for

A) Kinda looking like a guy,

B) Making it to the final round of 20 only through her family's guanxi and other connections,

C) And just plain sucking.

When asked about her alleged plagiarism she gave a really weird response, that had me laughing with both delight and confusion.

Find the story here

http://www.chinasmack.com/stories/zeng-yikes-response-to-plagiarism-dumbfounds-everyone/

And kinda looking like a guy here

http://www.chinasmack.com/pictures/true-men-happy-girl-zeng-yike-super-girl-li-yuchun/

In the opening sequence to the show they subliminally make fun at Zeng yike by hitting her with a beach ball. Great stuff.

 said on
September 10, 2009
Where do you prefer to buy chinese pop music cd's from?

Or is there a preferred place to download songs like this from?

 said on
September 10, 2009
Try Top100.cn

Huge selection of Chinese songs, along with recommendations.
 said on
September 10, 2009
I'm still fond of http://mp3.baidu.com for grabbing music. They've got some Western music too, although the selection is weighted pretty heavily towards Lemon Tree and the Backstreet Boys.
 said on
October 24, 2009
方大同比较好听.....每次听了这首歌后,就觉得很舒服!!^^

Khalil is a very talented artist. (:

his voice is so soothing and very nice to listen to :D
 said on
October 25, 2009
@minteeown,

I agree. 王菲's version is great, but I think 方大同 has done a good job too. They are different.

--Echo

echo@popupchinese.com
 said on
October 26, 2009
@echo, @minteeown,

i still like the wangfei version more. ...
 said on
January 7, 2010
I enjoy both of the visions.I prefer Khalils,cause Im his big fan.

598951960@qq.com
 said on
September 7, 2011
Can you please put up a PDF transcript for this lesson?
 said on
September 7, 2011
@pefferie,

Refreshed. Thanks for the ping.

--david