e67tss240608.e6e7-c.ps, page 1 @ Normalize_2

LIBERAL STUDIES
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Personal Development & Interpersonal Relationships
Globalisation
Energy Technology & the Environment
Modern China
Hong Kong Today
Public Health
s
r
o
i
Jun
Some top performers are borrowing from China’s cultural heritage to enrich their songs. Raymond
Chan examines how blending old and new can benefit youngsters
the songs themselves are fresh and original.
Recently, the Taiwanese singer-songwriter’s song Blue
& White Porcelain (青花瓷) from the album On the Run
was adapted for Shandong’s senior high school exam. The
exam question, based on the lyrics by Vincent Fong, asked
students about the history of Chinese antique porcelain.
Classroom revolution
IT was the third time that the song
was used in an exam question in
the mainland and Taiwan. Its
lyrics associate the beauty of
traditional handicraft with love.
Mr Lau, a teacher in Wuhan
(武漢) who surprised students by
using the song for a language exam
last year, said he did so because the
1. Understand important issues facing their own society, country and the world.
2. Apply critical thinking skills and adopt multiple perspectives in making
decisions and judgments regarding social issues and problems.
1 Chinese-style pop songs are a new
trend in Chinese music. These songs
often use a lot of traditional Chinese
instruments and melodies. It makes
traditional Chinese culture more
attractive to youngsters. Jay Chou and
Wang Lee-hom are the two leading proponents of this style.
Key ideas
lyrics were as beautiful as Song dynasty poetry (宋詞).
“Youngsters like pop songs. With Blue & White
Porcelain, I want them to understand traditional culture
through pop songs,” he said.
Some people think that pop lyrics do not have the same
value as classical literature.
However, others maintain that even pop lyrics can
be well written. For example, Blue & White
Porcelain has made use of many good
metaphors to describe things.
Jay Chou is not the
only one to make use
of Chinese culture
i n m u s i c . Wi l l t h e
examples below make
you want to know more
about Chinese culture?
2 Using popular culture for educational purposes is not very popular
in Hong Kong. A controversial example was the use of slang in the
Chinese Language HKCEE this year. Many candidates said they did
not understand the slang and failed to answer the question.
Teachers’ pet
Apart from Blue and White Porcelain ,
some of Jay Chou’s songs are also
used in the educational sector on
the mainland and Taiwan to test
students’ knowledge of history.
Fo r exa m p l e, S h a n g h a i 1 943
(上海1943) was selected as primary
school teaching material, while Love
Before Common Era (愛在西元前
) was used for a history public exam
question.
Another song Listen to Mum is
used to teach primary school students
to appreciate their mothers’ efforts.
When Jay heard how his song was
being used, he said he had achieved
his aim.
Oldways,
sounds
new
Do you know?
A. Knowledge
Why is traditional Chinese culture
attractive to youngsters when it is
featured in a pop song?
IQ Quiz
B. Multi-perspective
If you were a teacher choosing pop lyrics for an exam question, how
would you go about it?
C. Critical thinking
Do you think it is appropriate to use pop songs for educational
purposes? Why?
Song: Heroes of Earth (蓋世英雄)
Traditional element: Peking Opera (京劇)
In this song, Wang mixes Peking Opera with rap and hiphop. Peking Opera is usually regarded as the “opera of
the country”, and its highly recognisable vocals echo in the
background as
Wang raps away.
Chinese opera
instruments are also
used to give the
song a Chinese feel.
2. Singer: Vincy Chan (泳兒)
3. Singer: Roman Tam (羅文)
Song: Tai-yu has Laughed (黛玉笑了)
Song: Confucius Says (孔子曰)
Traditional Element: Dream of the Red Chamber
Traditional Element: Confucius and The Three
Character Classic (三字經)
(紅樓夢)
The song makes use of the story of a protagonist in
the novel to tell what a love relationship
means. Guzheng (古箏) and
dizi (笛子) are the
main instruments
in this rendition.
Dream of the
Red Chamber is
considere d one of
the four great literary
classics of China.
The late pop idol had a song loosely based on the
thoughts of Confucius and The Three Character Classic .
The song, released in 1993, is famous for expressing
traditional thoughts with simple lyrics and a brisk
rhythm. Although
the lyrics only
mention Confucius,
its verses are
actually a revised
version of The Three
Character Classic .
Suggested answer for part B
1. Singer: Wang Lee-hom (王力宏)
Students are free to express their views. One may suggest lyrics should be
chosen based on language and popularity and whether the words are
relevant to the existing curriculum.
C
HINESE culture is a precious heritage endowed
with the wisdom of our ancestors. Its handicraft,
painting, music, dance, philosophy and literature
inspire many contemporary artists and thinkers.
The younger generation, however, often feels the
traditions are rather old-fashioned or boring. But if you are a
big fan of Jay Chou, you would already be immersed in the
world of Chinese culture.
A couple of his songs mix traditional elements with
musical styles such as R&B, hip hop and rap. Strong
Chinese character permeates in the melody and lyrics, while
This article enables students to:
Glossary
1. heritage (n)
2. immerse (v)
3. permeate (v)
4. metaphor (n)
5. protagonist (n)
6. brisk (adj)
: valued things from the past
: to be completely involved in something
: to spread to every part
: a way of describing something by
referring to something else
: the most important character in the story
: quick and full of energy
E06-07