Songs of my Life
Interviews with "Flavours of Dusk" on RTHK (Synopsis)
From 31 August to 4 September last year, I gave RTHK a round of five daily interviews during the "Pulse of Life" section of "Flavours of Dusk," a regular programme on local radio. I shared with listeners five of my favourite songs and how I felt about them while growing up as a young student. Also, I talked about what I expected of today's Hong Kong university students. Here is a synopsis of those interviews, which I'd like to share with my fellow bloggers.
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I grew up in Taiwan, where a lengthy rainy season almost spans spring, summer and autumn. Rainy days stir up some special feelings for me, making me a lover of songs about rain. I studied science and engineering subjects at National Tsing Hua University of Taiwan. Psychologically, most of the students there had more sense than sensibility, so we didn't talk much about those sentimental stories by Miss Chiung Yao, a famous novelist of the time. Instead, we more often discussed topics of history and philosophy.
I didn't read much of the romances by the author but I found many of the songs based on her stories were quite romantic and would evoke sweet memories long afterwards. One of such romantic song is "Drizzles in the Setting Sun." Through the rains, especially fine drizzle during those lingering wet days of spring, that song became a great companion to me while I was either reading a book or having a chat. You would never feel lonely even when studying alone as long as there were songs around like this to keep you company.
Another lovely song I enjoyed, which also put me in a cheerful mood on rainy days was "Misty Rains in Bygone Days." To this day, the melody takes me back to my happy youth in Taiwan.
Like Hong Kong, Taiwan is surrounded by sea or, you might say, the two places embrace the sea between them. In reality, both places have become merged with the seas around them. That's why I've loved yet another song, "Listening to the Seas", which is all the more touching when sung by Ah Mei in her fresh and clear voice typical of native Taiwanese.
Then, there's a song that never fails to bring to mind my years gone by, "What's Past Just Lingers in Hearts," which is best sung by You Ya, a famous singer. It makes me recall the most rewarding four years I spent at Tsing Hua, where lots of things and events still linger in my heart.
For two years there I was editor of the university journal, during which time I met many of my good friends. I interviewed quite a few people who now hold a niche place in history and who, looking back on it now, have inspired me greatly in life.
"What's Past Just Lingers in Hearts" became popular as You Ya's first hit and has remained her signature song. Like many pop songs, it is about love and romance, voicing a girl's yearning for her first love. Yet to a listener, it also brings to mind whatever has happened during one's early years, which is worth cherishing. The song is particularly moving when crooned gently in You Ya's soft voice.
Nowadays, chatting with CityU students, I urge them to treasure their university years, trying to make as many friends as possible on campus. That will prove much more valuable than merely learning from books.
I've always believed there are more ways of studying than simply learning from books. All things, all events and all people around us can be our sources of learning. A student would get only a thousandth of knowledge available if he did nothing but read. In retrospect, I have discovered that many of my high-scoring classmates have not turned out to be successful in their later lives.
There are quite some successful Hongkongers who hold no academic degrees, as I've often mentioned. They would modestly admit to little learning, but in reality what they lack is degrees, not real learning or knowledge.
There are too many degree-holders who fail to succeed but there are fewer people with real knowledge who end up going nowhere. Genuine knowledge or learning includes the ability to handle situations wisely and deal with people properly, which is more than a degree can bring. Creative ideas and thinking are worth far more than all the books read or marks scored.
Creative ideas can play a role even when you're enjoying music. There's one particular song widely popular among the ethnic Chinese everywhere, which seems to sing of love but also carries a political message to the discerning ear. Here I'm referring to "What Day Will You Return?", especially the version sung by the late Teresa Teng.
To me, that song speaks the minds of young people studying abroad and longing to return home. The same song is capable of multiple interpretations, as listeners may have different feelings about it.
In the days when I studied abroad, especially in the US, I had a strong sense of being lonely in a foreign land. In those years, listening to golden oldies like the ones I mentioned above was the best way for me to ward off homesickness, in addition to reading or hanging out with friends. It was in such a milieu that I came to sense a different flavour in "What Day Will You Return?"
Times are progressing and each generation is sure to surpass the previous one. Young people today are very active and diversified in their thinking, much more active than I was at least. Young people today are advanced in many ways. One of their weaknesses, if any, is their lack of knowledge of Chinese culture, as found in students of Hong Kong or even those from mainland China and Taiwan. Of course, the young are more knowledgeable about modern technology.
That weakness is caused by inadequacies in our education system and society in general. On the one hand, the education system is not doing enough to impart or boost our cultural heritage. On the other, our society in general emphasises modern technology and business competition, making people feel that is the only way. So there is much to be done to bring up a young generation with stronger cultural awareness.
I lived in the US for 34 years and yet I still feel I should retain Chinese culture. Without our own heritage, knowledge of Western languages or technology alone will make us look like sheep dressed in tiger's skin. Loss of my own heritage would make me feel regretful in an otherwise wonderful career.
I have no concerns that Chinese culture will lose its charm and splendour. The so-called "Cultural Revolution" in mainland China in the 1960's and 1970's did overthrow Confucius and his teachings, but now these have come back to life in China. Many of Confucius' teachings remain alive and valid today.
One more example of Chinese culture's value is the wisdom in The Art of War by Sun Tzu, an ancient military strategist. It is no secret now, I can assure you, that many government officials and CEOs in the US study the strategist's book. Like Confucius, Sun Tzu is a gem in the treasury of Chinese culture.
Chinese culture, I'm sure, will gradually return to its glory. Perhaps, while listening to "What Day Will You Return?," we can get yet another revelation ― an urge for us to cheer up and exert ourselves to revitalise our heritage.
For details of my interviews with RTHK, please click on the following links for the audio archives:
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February 8, 2010
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