Wayfarer (山海)
On March 16, 2018, Hua Chenyu performed a subversive adaptation of the Taiwanese indie band No Party For Cao Dong’s masterpiece “Wayfarer (山海)” on the singing contest “Singer 2018” EP9.
1. About the song
The original song brings negative emotions to the audience, expressing the regret and anger of young people who are in conflict with life for the first time. However, Hua Chenyu, wrapped in a red raincoat that is more dazzling than the flames, added layer-by-layer passionate melody and guitar solo from bass to treble to the song, giving the song a new interpretation and vitality.
That is the voice of people who remain unwavering in the face of difficulties and still hold on to a glimmer of hope in desperate plight.
However, the audience’s likes and dislikes of subversive adaptations were polarized. The song only ranked 5th, which was his lowest ranking since participating in the show.
Later, he adapted the song again at the Mars Concert 2023, removing the rap that was mainly used to incite the audience’s emotions, and using a more magnificent chorus and accompaniment to complete an interpretation that was more in line with his personal aesthetics.
2. Videos
“Singer 2018” EP9
Mars Concert 2023
3. Lyrics Translation
Lyricist: No Party For Cao Dong, Ding Yanxue |
| 山海 | Wayfarer |
|---|---|
| 我看着天真的我自己 | I am looking at my innocent self |
| 出现在没有我的故事里 | Appearing in a story without me |
| 等待着我的回应 | Awaiting yy answer |
| 一个为何至此的原因 | To the reason why it has come to this |
| 他明白 他明白 | He knows, he knows |
| 我给不起 | I have no answers |
| 于是转身向山里走去 | So he turns and walks towards the mountains |
| 他明白 他明白 | He knows, he knows |
| 我给不起 | I have no answers |
| 于是转身向大海走去 | So he turns and walks towards the oceans |
| 我听着那少年的声音 | I am hearing that youth’s voice |
| 在还有未来的过去 | From the past when there was still a future |
| 渴望着美好结局 | He longed for a better ending |
| 却没能成为自己 | But failed to become himself |
| 却没能成为自己 | But failed to become himself |
| 他明白 他明白 | He knows, he knows |
| 我给不起 | I have no answers |
| 于是转身向山里走去 | So he turns and walks towards the mountains |
| 他明白 他明白 | He knows, he knows |
| 我给不起 | I have no answers |
| 于是转身向大海走去 | So he turns and walks towards the oceans |
| 头顶强烈的太阳 | The blazing sun above |
| 是奖赏还是耳光 | is it a reward or a penalty? |
| 毁于大火的心脏 | The heart burnt by flames |
| 从灰烬拔节茁壮 | it is growing strongly from ashes |
| 铺满油垢的海洋 | From the oil covered ocean |
| 打捞起尊严一两 | he salvages a tael of dignity |
| 殆尽温度的高岗 | On the coldest summit |
| 对试探回以凝望 | he returns scrutiny with a hard stare |
| 误会天真的假想 | The misinterpreted naive imagination |
| 在永夜编织方向 | Weaves its way through the eternal night |
| 当黑暗掀翻烛光 | When darkness extinguishes the candlelight |
| 你是藏还是不藏 | Should one hide or not? |
| 长风破浪云飞扬 | Advancing like winds and making waves |
| 敌不过魂归故乡 | Yet that cannot soothe the soul’s longing for home |
| 所爱隔山海茫茫 | The beloved is oceans and mountains away |
| 为只为一声回响 | Only for an echo |
| 自己和镜中对抗 | I confront the reflection in the mirror |
| 赢不回诗和远方 | But cannot win back poems and land afar |
| 任世故欲盖弥彰 | Worldliness covers up and takes over |
| 他奋力撕掉伪装 | But he strives to tear off the mask |
| 转身间对视过往 | Facing the past as he turns around |
| 道一句怪人生无常 | Sighing about the evanescence of life |
| 他明白 他明白 | He knows, he knows |
| 他明白 他明白 | He knows, he knows |
| 他明白 他明白 | He knows, he knows |
| 我给不起 | I have no answers |
| 于是转身向大海走去 | So he turns and walks towards the oceans |
| 于是转身向大海走去 | So he turns and walks towards the oceans |
