Ladies and gentlemen, the apple pie is up there so it's time for another APB on KKP. YouTuber Neff Sang contacted me to see if I could identify a few songs on this 1986 album of Chinese covers of original Japanese and Western songs. From the blurb underneath the video at YouTube:
Zhang Qiang's 9th album! Released in mid 1986.
This album sees Zhang Qiang returning to Yunnan Audiovisual Press (the company her first two albums were made by)
This cassette features several covers of Japanese songs, some originally by Seiko Matsuda (松田 聖子) and Momoe Yamaguchi (山口 百惠).
It also features a few tracks by another singer, Huang Wenjun, who sings well too.
Album: 美丽的一天 (Beautiful Day)
Year: 1986/06
Singers: 张蔷 (Zhang Qiang) & 黄文君 (Huang Wenjun)
Tracks:
00:00 爱情在心间 (裸足の季節)
03:45 流逝的情感 （光阴的故事）
06:52 风的季节 [黄文君]
10:14 潜入深深的海洋 (I See A Boat On The River) [黄文君]
14:05 美丽的一天 (Unknown English song! Please comment below!)
18:16 真挚的情爱 (赤い衝撃)
21:20 放牧之路 [黄文君]
23:43 红色的鲜花 (赤いスイートピー)
27:56 白兰鸽 (Una Paloma Blanca)
32:19 春诗 (A Comme Amour) [黄文君]
35:36 黑色的眼睛
38:34 旅行 (Unknown Japanese song! Please comment below!)
Neff has been able to identify most of them but there are three that he's still not solved. I've highlighted them in Bold. I tried the various search engines including the one for JASRAC with the titles but alas, I haven't been successful. Maybe you will!
September 21st 2025: An update on the APB. Through Reddit, Neff was able to discover that the song at 38:34 was originally by folk singer-songwriter Masamitsu Tayama（田山雅充）and was titled "Tabi ni Detai"（旅に出たい） from May 1977. Also according to Neff, there was a Yoko Kishi（芹洋子） cover of "Tabi ni Detai" in 1978 which he feels is closest to Zhang's cover several years later (the lyrics can be found here). As well, I have to once again admit to my sieve-like memories because I had actually written about this very song a few years ago since it was also covered by Kyo Nishimura（西村協）in 1982.
Also, the identity of the mystery song at 14:05 has been found. It's actually the cover of a Donna Summer song "Dim All The Lights". So, that just leaves the one at 21:20.
It is really difficult to figure out what the is being sung in 14:05 美丽的一天 ! I wonder if Neff has the lyrics or if Neff can transcribe the lyrics of this song.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, Neff will see this and reply.
DeleteUnfortunately, at that time, the singer knew basically no English, so while sometimes she could sing lines in reasonable English, there were many instances of her singing very very broken English.
DeleteThe Chinese lyrics that showed up in the original lyric sheet seem to contain a (possible) Chinese translation of the original English lyrics.
I've translated it back and added input based on where things are said.
"It's a beautiful, sunny day, with swallows flying through the willow branches.
We reach the hills, where green mountains and rippling green waters drift.
The brook gurgles, birds sing, and flowers bloom. My hand holds my lover's.
Layers of white clouds resemble an ocean.
Listen to the whispering wind, the mountains and rivers sing, singing with all their heart.
This beautiful day is truly unforgettable and joyful. A bird spreads its wings and flies high, praising my good lover.
On this beautiful day, we make beautiful wishes."
Now actually listening to the lyrics, I was able to pull out very small bits and pieces...
night is gone away?
Now it's a sunny day, now the sun is out
grass?
(doo~)
[above is repeated]
Hey Baby!
tell you what. You can ??? ... Valentine? ... No no know me do wrong. Can not ...
Also end note: The title translates to "A beautiful day"
Hey Anonymous thank you so much for posting a translation of the lyrics here! By the way what made the Singer hard to hear clearly to was not broken english but rather her intonation and that her pitch or tone was way too high at least for my ears.
DeleteFair enough (I had accidentally posted as anonymous)
DeleteAs the update to the post says now, that song in particular is Donna Summer's Dim All The Lights.
Yeah, broken intonation comes with not understanding a language, and yeah her voice was quite well known for being so high lol