Aliens (异类)
Released on December 18, 2015.
1. About the song
The music video of “Aliens” tells the story of a misunderstood alien who breaks free of entrapment as if he is being reborn out of a shell and then gains a new life. The story begins with the dream of a teenager. In the atmosphere of a two-dimensional world, the teenager is besieged by a group of people, confronted by the strong ones, and tries to break free. People are shouting loudly. The teenager wakes up from the dream and opens the bedroom door into another space. Here he is rejected by people who are homogenized and numbed by the world. They are hostile and do not understand him. The teenager falls into another space in panic. He sees that young people’s arms, which should be raised, are strangled by questioning and slander instead. He struggles with all his might, tears things apart, and enters a launcher to a new space in life (representing the courage and self-consciousness that the alien needs to maintain). He gets this new life and conveys a sound of transcendence. The director of “Aliens” was affected a lot after hearing the song. According to his feelings after listening to it, such a script emerged within his mind, and he intentionally adopted unrealistic two-dimensional elements. It fit well with the rebellion and wildness hidden in Hua Chenyu’s heart.
Two large sheds were rented at the filming site which was arranged like an exhibition hall of a postmodern installation filled with the tension of not only being held hostage by a knife, but also rows of arms hanging down, the depression of single beds in a dark room, and the filthy dark colors in the flickering light. The camera work of the whole film is fluid and rapid which tightly holds the audience’s attention.
The image of the MV pursues a sense of granularity. Using large apertures, it shows the floating dust that depicts alternative dark violence. The director meticulously buried a lot of details such as the English phrase “Aliens fight against the world” on the tape, which means that every young person has had alternative independent thinking and expressions, but in the end, some succeed in struggles, and some are assimilated, which then reincarnates from generation to generation. The tape is constantly recording and playing back, which is very thought-provoking. Hua Chenyu returned to Beijing to record the final narration, “Unable to understand does not mean unable to listen. The victims who are defined as Aliens make vows with their silence.” This annotates the true meaning of the entire MV.
Hua Chenyu’s team made a special trip to Taiwan for the filming of this music video, which lasted for 2 days. It was filmed all night until the morning of both days. The director had very high requirements on the picture quality. Two sets of clothes, shoes, and undershirts were prepared. One set was made dirty and the other was new which were switched between scenes. In Hua Chenyu’s dream as an alienated teenager, there are many fights. The director specially arranged a professional martial artist to guide Hua Hua’s martial arts movements the night before. The “cold and serious” martial arts instructor asked Hua Hua what sports he usually plays, whether he played basketball or football. Hua Hua shook his head. The instructor’s face turned more serious. During the shooting on the second day, when faced with the “siege” by more than 30 dancers, Hua Chenyu was kicked at the waist and head many times. But he was so dedicated that he didn’t call a stop one single time. Instead, his acting skills broke out. He punched, dodged, and perfectly performed the over-the-shoulder throw without special effects during the whole process. The fighting sequence was shot for nearly 4 hours. After the shooting, the serious martial arts instructor came over and gave a thumbs up, praising that it felt very good. Due to the excessive force used during the filming on the first day, Hua Chenyu returned to the hotel with a sore body at night. The next morning, every small movement became difficult due to severe muscle pain. But he still had to face the challenge of the wirework to continue with filming the part in the water. Hua Chenyu was hungry and tired because the filming lasted till 4 am in the morning. The director team warmly provided a lot of desserts to feed the foodie, Hua Hua.
The filming of the “Aliens” MV allowed Hua Chenyu to show his talent in acting. It also encouraged people to look forward to more of his performances on the big screen in the future. At the same time, with its outstanding camera work, Hua Chenyu’s performance, and the depth of its meaning, this music video surpasses the average.
2. Videos
MV
“The Coming One: Crystal Time” Openning
Mars Concert 2023 FanCam
Unplugged Ver. with Khalil Fong
3. Lyrics Translation
Lyricist: Nan Zheng Bei Zhan |
| 异类 | Aliens |
|---|---|
| 如果你不喜欢听我的歌请闭上耳朵 | If you don’t like my songs please close your ears |
| 接下来要大开杀戒穿透你的耳膜 | I’m gonna start slaughtering and perforating your eardrums |
| 一直到达灵魂的深处让你崇拜着我 | Straight into the depths of your soul and make you idolize me |
| 跟着我跟着我 | Follow me Follow me |
| 跟着我fightagainsttheworld | Follow me and fight against the world |
| 我们生来就是叛逆早已拉响了警报 | We are born rebellious. The alarm has long been raised |
| 气氛将被引爆都给我听好 | The atmosphere is gonna explode. Get ready and listen to me |
| 我无所畏惧让所有的对手都领教 | I fear nothing, Let all opponents taste what I’ve got |
| 跟着我跟着我 | Follow me Follow me |
| 跟着我大声地尖叫 | Follow me and scream at the top of your lungs |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 我根本不受谁的威胁 | I don’t take threats from anyone |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 随时准备跟强者对决 | I am ready to fight the strong at any moment |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 把对我的质疑和诬陷都毁灭 | Destroy all doubts and slanders about me |
| 这放纵的感觉 | This unrestrained freedom |
| 超越一切不再胆怯 | Surpasses everything, I am no longer fearful |
| 不需要你们的理解 | I don’t need your understanding |
| 我不想看别再废话 | I don’t want to know, Drop the nonsense |
| 趁早都消失在眼前 | Now get out of my sight |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 我不在意流言蜚语 | I don’t care about rumors |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 也不屑人们的非议 | I don’t care about slander |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 规则全都被我废弃 | I’ve abandoned all rules |
| 当听到我撕裂的声音 | When you hear my raucous voice |
| 就算被这个世界冷眼被人们所敌对 | Even if the world turns a cold shoulder at me, and people treat me with hostility |
| 也无所谓那就请你当我是个异类 | It doesn’t matter, Please just take me as an alien |
| 继续开大我的音量让他们全都闭嘴 | I’ll continue to turn up the volume to shut them all up |
| 跟着我跟着我 | Follow me Follow me |
| 跟着我fightagainsttheworld | Follow me and fight against the world |
| 年轻就是要随心所欲高举你的手臂 | To be young is to follow one’s heart, Raise your hands up high |
| 拿出你的勇气不要再恐惧 | Show your courage, Don’t be afraid anymore |
| 只有依赖好战的心才能够拯救你 | Only by relying on your competitive spirit can you be saved |
| 跟着我跟着我 | Follow me Follow me |
| 跟着我大声地尖叫 | Follow me and scream at the top of your lungs |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 我根本不受谁的威胁 | I don’t take threats from anyone |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 随时准备跟强者对决 | I am ready to fight the strong at any moment |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 把对我的质疑和诬陷都毁灭 | Destroy all doubts and slander about me |
| 这放纵的感觉 | This unrestrained freedom |
| 超越一切不再胆怯 | Surpasses everything, I am no longer fearful |
| 不需要你们的理解 | I don’t need your understanding |
| 我不想看别再废话 | I don’t want to know, Drop the nonsense |
| 趁早都消失在眼前 | Now get out of my sight |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 我不在意流言蜚语 | I don’t care about rumors |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 也不屑人们的非议 | I don’t care about slander |
| 哦哎哦 | oh eh oh |
| 规则全都被我废弃 | I’ve abandoned all rules |
| 当听到我撕裂的声音 | When you hear my raucous voice |