The Song That Struck Me

Jay Chou's new annual album (七里香) is out and contains his usual fast and slow R&B tracks. Nothing really different about this album from his previous works, but it must be said that it is much better than his last year's offering. The songs are more catchy and the lyrics (either by him or Fang Wen Shan) are great. But one song that really struck me after looking at the lyrics (cause you will never really make out what he's singing) is Track 4 titled 外婆 (Grandma). I guess why it struck a chord with me is that it is exactly a reflection of what is happening in my family, and I guess it happens to a lot of other families as well.... Here are the lyrics with a loose english translation.

《外婆》
词/曲:周杰伦
今天是外婆生日,我换上复古西装,载着外婆开着拉风的古董车兜兜兜风,
车里放着她的最爱,找回属于是她的时代,往大稻埋码头开去把所有和外公的往事静静回忆,
外婆她脸上的涟漪,美丽但藏不住压抑,推动了爱情只盼望亲情,弥补回应,
大人们以为出门之前桌上放六百就算是孝敬,一天到晚拼了命,（我是骗子）少了关怀有什么意义,
外婆她的期待,慢慢变成无奈,大人们始终不明白,她要的是陪伴,而不是六百块,
比你给的还简单,外婆的无奈,无法变成期待,只有爱才能够明白,走在淡水河衅,
听着她的最爱,把温暖放回口袋,记得去年外婆的生日,
表哥带我和外婆参加,她最最重视的颁奖典礼,结果却拿不到半个奖,
不知该笑不笑,我对着镜头傻笑,只觉得自己可笑,我难过,却不是因为没有得奖而难过,
我失落,是因为看到外婆失落而失落,大人们根本不能体会,表哥他的用心,
好像随他们高兴就可以彻底的否定,否定我的作品,决定在于心情,
想坚持风格他们他们就觉得很欢乐,没惊喜没有改变,我已经听了三年,
我告诉外婆,我没输,不需要改变,表哥说不要觉得可惜,这只是一场游戏,
只要外婆觉得好听,那才是一种鼓励,外婆露出了笑容说她以我为荣,浅浅的笑容,
就让我感到比得奖它还要光荣.

Today is Grandmother's birthday, I've changed into a classic suit and took Grandma for a ride in my antique car.
The car is playing her favourite (song) as she reminces her olden days.
While driving towards the pier, she thinks of the all the memories she had with Grandpa
The ripples [wrinkles] on her face are beautiful but it doesn't hide her constrains [sadness]
She pushes love, hoping her loved ones will respond
The adults think that giving her $600 on the table every morning before going out is filial piety,
they slog from morning till evening, but was short of concern for her which is more significant.

Chorus:
Grandma's hopes slowly become anguish, yet the adults still don't understand.
What she wants is accompaniment, and not $600, which is simpler than you think
Grandma's anguish, is unable to become hope, only love is able to understand.
Walking along the still rivers, listening to her favourite (song), she put the warmth back into her pockets.

[Sung by a child:] I remember her birthday last year, my cousin took me and her to attend his prize presentation ceremony, but he did not win any prize in the end.
[Jay:] I don't know if I should be happy or sad, I laughed at the camera sheepishly, thinking what a fool I am.
I'm sad not because I did not win a prize. I'm disappointed because I saw Grandma disappointed.
[Child:] The adults will never understand my cousin's intentions, as long as they are happy, they are willing to deny [judge] on anything.
[Jay:] Denying [judging] my compositions based on their mood. The more I persist on my style, the more happy they are as they can critized that my compositions are stale.
I've already listened to this for three years, I told Grandma, I did not lose, I do not need to change my style.
[Child:] Cousin say not to feel pity, as this is only a game. As long as Grandma likes his songs, that is the realy encouragement.
[Jay:] Grandma smile and said she's proud of me. I felt that her smile is more important than winning the prize.