藝妓回憶錄

By 謝安琪

Lyrics - Practice Pronunciation
濃妝驚喟 衣絹華麗 絕美的軀體

It was a dark, amazing, gorgeous dress, a beautiful body.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

nung4
zong1
ging1
ji3
waa6
lai6
zyut6
mei5
dik1
keoi1
tai2
入心歌藝 輕舞搖曳 綻放出瑰麗

It's a song, a dance, a swing, a flower.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

jap6
sam1
go1
ngai6
hing1
mou5
jiu4
jai6
fong3
ceot1
gwai3
lai6
眉目的攻勢 頑石重苦惱亦摧毀

The attack was a blunt assault, and the stones were heavy and bitter.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

mei4
muk6
dik1
gung1
sai3
waan4
sek6
zung6
fu2
nou5
jik6
ceoi4
wai2
如浪的手勢 微動也將顧客淹斃

Like the wave, microwaves are flooding customers.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

jyu4
long4
dik1
sau2
sai3
mei4
dung6
jaa5
zoeng3
gu3
haak3
jim1
bek3
悠久演藝 風韻猶麗 亦轉衰退位

The long-running show, the wind, the wind, the wind, the wind, the wind, the wind, the

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

jau4
gau2
jin5
ngai6
fung3
wan6
jau4
lai6
jik6
zyun3
seoi1
teoi3
wai6
時光飛逝 擁戴已洗 被世間狠批

Time flies by, the clothes are washed, the world is watching.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

si4
gwong1
fei1
sai6
ung2
daai3
ji5
sin2
pei5
sai3
haan4
han2
pai1
嫌沒有聲勢 嫌沒有嬉笑逗趣話題

No noise, no laughing or joking.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

jim4
mei6
jau6
sing1
sai3
jim4
mei6
jau6
hei2
siu3
dau6
cuk1
waa6
tai4
沉悶的典禮 緩慢到將快意沖洗

The boring ceremony slowed down to a quick wash.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zam6
mun6
dik1
din2
lai5
wun6
maan6
dou3
zoeng3
faai3
ji3
cung1
sin2
修養了半生的造詣

They're half-lives.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

sau1
joeng5
liu4
bun3
sang1
dik1
zou6
到頭來難用武跟世代脱軌

It's hard to get out of the way of the generation.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

dou3
tau4
loi6
no4
jung6
mou5
gan1
sai3
doi6
tyut3
gwai2
歌舞要夠譁眾別太超脱避世

Singing is enough to keep the crowd from getting away.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

go1
mou5
jiu3
gau3
waa1
zung3
bit6
taai3
ciu1
tyut3
bei6
sai3
才迎合到口胃

It's just coming to the stomach.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

coi4
jing6
ho4
dou3
hau2
wai6
微妙細膩 不怎樣矜貴

The subtle little ones are not so precious.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

mei4
miu6
sai3
nei6
fau2
fim2
joeng2
kam4
gwai3
嫌沒有聲勢 嫌沒有嬉笑逗趣話題

No noise, no laughing or joking.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

jim4
mei6
jau6
sing1
sai3
jim4
mei6
jau6
hei2
siu3
dau6
cuk1
waa6
tai4
沉悶的典禮 緩慢到將快意沖洗

The boring ceremony slowed down to a quick wash.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zam6
mun6
dik1
din2
lai5
wun6
maan6
dou3
zoeng3
faai3
ji3
cung1
sin2
修養了半生的造詣

They're half-lives.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

sau1
joeng5
liu4
bun3
sang1
dik1
zou6
到頭來難用武跟世代脱軌

It's hard to get out of the way of the generation.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

dou3
tau4
loi6
no4
jung6
mou5
gan1
sai3
doi6
tyut3
gwai2
歌舞要夠譁眾別太超脱避世

Singing is enough to keep the crowd from getting away.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

go1
mou5
jiu3
gau3
waa1
zung3
bit6
taai3
ciu1
tyut3
bei6
sai3
藝術定要降低

Art must be reduced.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngai6
seot6
ding6
jiu3
hong4
dai1
微妙細膩 不怎樣矜貴

The subtle little ones are not so precious.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

mei4
miu6
sai3
nei6
fau2
fim2
joeng2
kam4
gwai3
不再愛惜古典美麗

I'm not interested in classical beauty anymore.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

fau2
zoi3
oi3
sik1
gu2
din2
mei5
lai6
太難明瞭寓意跟世代脱軌

It's so hard to tell if the fable is out of step with the generation.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

taai3
no4
ming4
liu5
ji3
gan1
sai3
doi6
tyut3
gwai2
歌舞要快速煽動情感的風勢

Singing is a quick, emotional act.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

go1
mou5
jiu3
faai3
cuk1
sin3
dung6
cing4
gam2
dik1
fung3
sai3
才娛樂到各位

It's all fun.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

coi4
jyu4
ngok6
dou3
gok3
wai6
懷着老藝 惜生在今世

And they're old-fashioned, and they're not living in this world.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

waai4
jyu3
lou5
ngai6
sik1
sang1
zoi6
gam1
sai3
About This Song

"" (Memoirs of a Geisha) by (Kay Tse) encapsulates the complex emotional landscape of a performer grappling with the pressures of modernity versus tradition. The song reflects on the life of a geisha, highlighting the juxtaposition of beauty and decay, artistic prowess and societal expectations. There is a palpable sense of nostalgia and melancholy as the lyrics convey a story of a once-celebrated art form that now struggles for relevance in a rapidly changing world.

The lyrics delve deeply into the artist's inner turmoil as she confronts the relentless passage of time, the loss of appreciation for classical beauty, and the pressure to adapt to more commercial and entertaining expectations. The refrain echoes a lament for the days when art was revered, only to be replaced by a demand for mere spectacle in current society. The emotional core of the piece is rooted in a longing for recognition and the preservation of cultural heritage amidst external criticism.

Musically, the song features rich instrumentation that complements the lyrical content, with elements of traditional Eastern music woven into modern pop arrangements. This fusion mirrors the thematic conflict between ancient artistry and contemporary pop culture. Lyrically, employs sophisticated imagery and metaphor, using references to physical beauty, performance art, and the emotional nuances of life as a performer, enhancing the depth and resonance of the message.

Culturally, the song serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of geisha culture in Japanese history, while also critiquing how contemporary society often overlooks the value of traditional arts. The lyrics invite listeners to reflect on the preservation of cultural legacies and the challenge of remaining relevant in an age dominated by fleeting trends and superficial entertainment.

Song Details
Singer:
謝安琪
Total Lines:
25