Among all mainland Chinese singers, Fan Fan has what is possibly the strangest nickname for a celebrity, being widely referred to as 第二眼美女 or "second-sight beauty". And while the 美女 there might make that sound pretty flattering, it's actually a savage backhand compliment, suggesting that Fan Fan will grow on you over time as you listen to her music. Sexism and double standards are clearly alive and well in China.
Our selection for this week is a cover of a Japanese song. The popularity of this version has far eclipsed the original in the mainland however. The music breaks the verse-chorus structure that dominates mandopop, although the lyrics are fairly conventional. We hope you like it.
xiaoxin
said on April 23, 2009
太好了，我最喜欢的歌手！
trevelyan
said on April 23, 2009
Baidu claims Fan Fan was born in the States, but I have real trouble believing she spent a lot of time there. A great voice, but how could a native English speaker ever make the mistakes she makes at the end of this song, which we covered earlier on KTV Wednesday here. If Chinese singers are going to include English in their music, you would think they'd try harder to get the conjugation right.
gnotella100
said on April 23, 2009
...Where the flowers gone？
...Where did they all gone？
...Where the soldiers gone？
...Where have all they gone?
She got into Harvard?
Echo
said on April 23, 2009
@gnotella100,
It is said she started learning in Pamona College and transfered to Havard in the second year. She was in Havard about a year and then came back to China and started singing. Didn't actually graduate.
--Echo
echo@popupchinese.com
orbital
said on April 23, 2009
"Where did my degree from Harvard gone? Where did it all gone?" -- Fan FanI can't believe she attended a regular university program. Perhaps she left before she was kicked out, or spent time at a language school affiliated with the university and designed primarily to separate people from their money. It's a lot easier to get into adult education programs in most places.
Gail天堂的声音
said on April 24, 2009
@gnotella100，don't worry. Finally they will go to flowers again...o(∩_∩)o...
Gail天堂的声音
said on April 24, 2009
我没有听说过这个歌手，但是我非常喜欢这首歌。
Echo
said on April 24, 2009
@gail,
亲爱的，你真的没听说过范范？？？
--Echo
echo@popupchinese.com
Gail天堂的声音
said on April 25, 2009
@Echo,
呃………………
我可能已经过时了……
borneoherbs
said on June 2, 2009
actually the 'mistakes' are to illustrate her character in that song, hehe. 'christine' apparently went to Harvard Extension School(read: part-time) not Harvard itself. she's gorgeous though.
Echo
said on June 2, 2009
@borneoherbs,
Wow,you do know many details!
--Echo
echo@popupchinese.com
