A long-distance relationship (LDR) or long-distance romantic relationship (LDRR) is an intimate relationship between partners who are geographically separated from one another. Partners in LDRs face geographic separation and lack of face-to-face contact. – Wikipedia (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-distance_relationship)
Based on the above webpage, it says “LDRs are particularly prevalent among college students, constituting 25% to 50% of all relationships.” But I wonder in actual, how many percentages of the couples in this world are undergoing a long distance relationship. It is because when we mention long distance relationship, it is regardless age group, sexual orientation, race or ethnic, and nationality.
I fully understand how a long distance couple sweet and suffer as I am having a relationship with my Taiwanese boyfriend. We feel sweet when we able to meet each other in person, and we suffer when we have to be apart again, until the next meet-up. Some of my friends are having LDR too and of course, not all of them are so lucky to live in the same time zone with their partner. I am lucky enough to be able texting, chatting and watching movies with my love in the same time zone and thus we do not have to adjust our sleeping time.
Me and my boyfriend, neither one of us is native English speaker. Recently he encourages me to write article, with any topic will do, as long as it could keep my motivation to keep writing. As I noticed that no article is introducing Chinese or Mandarin song related to long distance relationship in English, I thought I would like to write one.
This is the song written by Jonathan Lee when he knew WaWa (the original singer of this song) suffered in a long distance relationship. WaWa is a Taiwanese, who fell in love with a Beijing poet. In those days, there is no direct flight from Taiwan to Beijing. It is a sad ending as the poet actually has a family. The relationship comes to the end half year after releasing this song.
When WaWa prepared to do the recording in studio, her tears stops the progression as the lyrics is so real and touching, she can’t even complete the recording for the first sentence. Same goes to the second day. The third day, Jonathan did not show up but informed her to record other songs first. After one week, WaWa took a deep breath and told herself, “I am not WaWa, I am Fei Yu-Ching” The recording was finally completed after she had another attempt after one week.
*Fei Yu-Ching is a famous Taiwanese male singer especially between 1980s till 1990s.
There’s actually a mistake when WaWa sing the song. The original lyric is 我竟悲傷得不能自已 (wǒ jìng bēi shāng dé bù néng zì yǐ), but she sang the last word wrongly as自己 zì jǐ and the lyric becomes我竟悲傷得不能自己(wǒ jìng bēi shāng dé bù néng zì jǐ). Anyway it does not change the meaning of the lyrics, which is being sad uncontrollably.
In an interview, WaWa recalled that she just talked about her relationship for 5 minutes while chatting with Jonathan. She didn’t expect that the lyrics was created when she met him after 2 days. “He was so excited showing me a paper placemat with oil stain, from a beef noodle chain. It must be he thought of this suddenly when eating the beef noodles. That’s the lyrics of this song.”
This song took the world by storm and motivated long distance couples. “I remembered there’s a waitress came to me when I was having meal. She thanked me for this song, and she was doing the job for saving money to meet her boyfriend. They probably get married after that. I thought it is a good ending, it’s great!”
Photo of WaWa and Jonathan Lee in the studio
Photo of Jonathan Lee and WaWa at the backstage of WaWa’s concert in recent years
I’ve spent savings of half year for travel far across the sea to meet you
I’ve repeatedly practices every breath of meet-up for this reunion
Words can never relay my love, not even one in a ten million
Because of this regret, I thought and thought repeatedly at night, refuse to sleep
Memory accumulated gradually and never fade away in my heart
As you have promised, I hold my tears in the hardest time
Chorus:
In this strange /unacquainted city, at the familiar corner
We’ve comforted each other, and cuddled with sigh, no matter what we have to face at the end
That windy day, watching you leaving makes me weeping sorrowfully
I wish I could company you for thousand miles, to the end of the world, so I could be with you for the entire life
1994: Wakin Chau (Emil Chau) | 周華健
Emil Chau is a famous singer especially 1990s.
2007: Lee Tsung Sheng (Jonathan Lee) | 李宗盛
Jonathan Lee is the song writer and composer of this song. He writes a wide range of songs about life and love. His love songs are popular due to the lyrics describe female's view and thought very well.
2010, July: Ding Dang (Della Ding) | 丁噹
Della became well-known since she sang the theme song for a famous Taiwanese drama "Autumn's Concerto" produced by Sanlih E-Television (SET)
2013: Tai Cheng-Hsiao (Samuel Tai) | 邰正宵
Samuel Tai is famous singer especially in 1990s.
Uploaded in 2018: Love Across The Sea (English Version)
As per description, this is an English version translated by Tan Jun from Hubei University for Nationalities, sang by Guo Sheng Yi. Part of the lyrics translation does not match with the original meaning of Chinese lyrics. I've appended its lyrics after the YouTube link.
Love Across The Sea (English Version Lyrics)
To meet you I’ve saved every penny to travel far across the sea
To be free and easy, many times I’ve rehearsed the meet hope to impress you deep
Words said never convey what I wanted to say, what in my mind so clearly
To me you are the one until the rocks melt with the sun, I do believe
Happy moments stay and sweet memories linger on me never fade away
Keeping your words in mind, I tell myself at the hard time, never fear the defeat
Chorus:
How I travelled so far, how deep attached we are
In this lonely city, we hug so tight we feel I care not what will come out in the end to me
Oh in this autumn wind, I watched you take leave sorrow grows so strong that makes me wail
How I wish the hill the sea break up not you and me, so long as we can breathe
*Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
2019, Nov 17: Wakin Chau (Emil Chau) and Ayangae | 周華健與阿雲嘎
Live performance of Emil Chou and Ayangae in the China TV Programme called Young Forever (Season 3,Episode 3)
2019, Nov 17: Wakin Chau (Emil Chau) and Ayangae | 周華健與阿雲嘎
This version of edited of the live performance. This YouTube channel edited some live performance to complete songs with Chinese lyrics and without audience voice.
2020, Jan 18 @ Kaohsiung Arena 高雄巨蛋: Lee Tsung Sheng (Jonathan Lee) feat. Jen Hsien-Chi (Richie Jen) | 李宗盛 任賢齊友情演唱
Jonathan Lee’s live concert at Kaohsiung Arena,Taiwan
This is a cover sang by Malaysian artist Fish Leong and Taiwanese artist Eve Ai, for a project by Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights (TAPCPR), which is created for fund raising, to support the campaign, legal counselling, pro bono assistance and social advocacy related to multinational same-sex marriage. The fund raising project has ended but they still open for donation on their website. You may visit their website as following:
According to the description, the mv was shoot based on true story. The director interviewed many same-sex couples who are unable to get married. It condensed the worry if unable to meet the partner, and separation anxiety in the waiting time at the airport.
Before reading the comments of this song in YouTube, I never realise that a foreigner could be a suspect crime as the immigration would ask for the reason of frequent visit. It must be not easy to go through these especially if the country is not LGBT-friendly.
P.S.: I just realised that this song has input English lyrics in the caption. Check it out!
這是個插畫課程是以英語教授，爲期五天，每集預錄好的教學視頻大約是20分鐘左右。導師名叫 David Belliveau，網站介紹說他曾經跟許多大公司合作，為客戶畫了許多插畫。現在鼓勵對有興趣學習插畫的人培養習慣。每年都會不同時開放給大衆參加這個課程：2018年5月，2019年6月與11月，以及現在2020年4月（6號第一堂課）。
3 Days Marathon Nagomi Art workshops | 馬拉松日本粉彩繪畫課程 by Art Peace - Pastel Nagomi Art & Flower of Crystal
ArtTogether with Mici : Zentangle Facebook Live Classes (conducted in English)
https://www.facebook.com/micisuartstudio/photos/a.943455709022425/3237440039623969/?type=3&theater 這是以英語教授的6堂禪繞藝術課程，早前在3月20日至31日已經辦過中文教學的12堂課。錯過的可以到 Micisu Art Studio 臉書專頁回顧。此外，美子老師也鼓勵大家加入「馬來西亞藝術陪伴學會 Malaysia ArtTogether」臉書群組，那裡會有人分享禪繞藝術繪畫的資訊，也提供平臺讓大家分享作品交流與互相鼓勵。
在疫情期间，免费公开让观众观看电影的各大网路平台。 During the epidemic, major online platforms that allow viewers to watch movies in free of charge.
单位：Films of Singapore Daily 介绍：Films of and about Singapore, in the 20th century. Uploaded daily, in the time of the global pandemic of 2019-2020. 放映：新加坡老旧电影 链接：https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6Q1FXWsR0KaIAsEvqypiga1dJ0SJEhaR&fbclid=IwAR1Txw58ew9yfW6JvaU20OcI3Uodh55NtWR9ZDk-_Z-3sBrdiymOoPlyeHE
单位：Astro GO 放映：电影 链接：https://astrogo.astro.com.my/hubMovies
单位：Lockdown Cinema Club 介绍：The Lockdown Cinema Club is an initiative by Independent Filipino filmmakers to reach and help our fellow Independent Filpino film workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project introduces a collection of films from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries to the public in a campaign to raise monetary donations for the most vulnerable members of the Filipino independent film community. 放映：东南亚短片 & 菲律宾长片 链接： https://bit.ly/LCCVolume1 (Short Films) https://bit.ly/LCCVolume2 (Short Films) https://bit.ly/LCCVolume3 (Feature Films include Philippines master director Lav Diaz)
单位：Nemzeti Filmintézet - Filmarchívum / National Film Institute - Film Archive Nemzeti Filmintézet 介绍：The National Film Institute offers free online access to 39 Hungarian Classics with subtitles – literary adaptations, historical films and animations contributing to digital education introduced in Hungary due to the coronavirus outbreak. Precious entertainment for all members of the family staying at home. 放映：匈牙利电影 链接：https://filmarchiv.hu/en/news/hungarian-classics-free-to-watch?fbclid=IwAR312XUHIZHTm6SZlV4SpMUn0wMg6mFvG_ug0941aPPgfU6JQJeUqhyBV9M
单位：Visions du Réel瑞士真實影展 介绍：The 51th edition of Visions du Reel will be held exclusively online from 17 Apr to 2 May, the films will be accessible for free from the festival's website. 放映：纪录片 链接：https://www.visionsdureel.ch/en/programme-2020
单位：Japanese Film Festival - APAC& Moosic LAB 介绍：Watch Japan's latest indie films on JFF, start streaming Japanese indie cinema and discover, a new generation of creators 放映：最新日本独立电影 链接：https://www.japanesefilmfest.org/streaming/
单位：MUBI MUBI Malaysia 介绍：The cinema may be closed for now, but great films continue. As a HOME member, you can now enjoy three months of MUBI - entirely free. 放映：电影节片子，艺术片，商业片 链接：https://mubi.com/homemcr
单位：FreedomFilmFest 介绍：These films are produced from the film grants programme of the FreedomFilmFest since 2005 and are updated annually with new films. You are encouraged to use and share the films widely. 放映：马来西亚纪录片 链接：https://freedomfilm.my/festival/films
单位：SXSW 介绍：Oscilloscope Laboratories and Mailchimp have partnered with SXSW to give official short film selections "a digital home", allowing anyone with an internet connection and a love of cinema to watch them for free online. 放映：短片 链接：https://mailchimp.com/presents/sxsw/
单位：iflix （我在新加坡試了一下不能用，看來只有在能在馬來西亞用） 介绍：We aim to provide users with a world class service created just for them, focused on individual customer experience. Our newly introduced features including Channels, ADD and FOLLOW enable significantly deeper personalised experiences and intuitive ways of discovering content. 放映：各式各样电影 链接：https://www.iflix.com/my/en/browse
单位：Anarchist Film Archive 介绍：A comprehensive database of anarchist films compiled by Santiago Juan-Navarro. 放映：老旧电影 链接：https://christiebooks.co.uk/anarchist-film-archive/
单位：Korean Classic Film 放映：韩国老旧电影 链接：https://www.youtube.com/user/KoreanFilm/playlists
