Ode to the Sunflowers

Ode to the Sunflowers

by Laijon Liu 20131224

O, Shine! Blaze! and Burn!

You golden glorious flowers!

Brighten up this gray canvas now

with your piercing sunbeams!

Stroke by stroke, a passionate verse

bloom and bloom, heart at its strive

there you are, hanging on the museum wall

here you are, risen in my heart, out of dirt.

Seeds, seeds, and your seeds!

your countenance full of hope!

Your curled burdened stems, and drooping heads

attending potato eaters and helpless women.

Christ served the broken and the lowly

glad tidings gushing into coal mine and brothel

Your tranquil lamplight glowing in a shelter,

I see your gaze, and I feel your warmth.

Ah Light! What’s your fairest color?

Yes! It’s Yellow! Orange! and Amber!

Transcending light! Fair radiant aura!

Your gold image enlightens and dazzles!

Morning sun torches its daybreak sky

Setting sun shepherds His wheatfield and sower

Golden bloated moon, spinning gilded stars

stirring up the night heavens of cold!

Heavy laden heart, worn out boots

A renegade son trudges on his new pilgrim road

sunburn face, scorched beard, selfies of distress

a short journey to love is long and weary.

Peach tree and dry willows are in fire

autumn meadow and haystacks melt

standing on a dirt pathway, your soul cries out:

“Believe! My friend! We are doing something great!”

Bard says, Perspective it’s best painter’s art

Your arms like marigold petals at sun’s eye

they’re stretching, reaching, and hanging

a bundle of young suns blooming, and dying

youth for greatness like morning dew

fervent desire, beauty in light

all burnt out, and gone too soon

ah, nothing fades away in your earthen pot

What is true image of life? Love? And Art?

Is it meditative imagination or impulsive depiction?

Pigment mixed with oil, color varies

thoughts and emotion tunes on palette

Light, night, energy, and chaos

village and bars serene, storms torrential

figures, portraits, blossom and trees

Aren't they all exist in heartbeat?

Yeah! Heartbeat, pulse, and gleaming rays

so bright, electric and energetic

so warm, generous and welcome

how fair you are, and how friendly you are!

There you were, standing in the street corner

alone painting [1] your dreamy house yellow

there you were, in your yellow house alone

setting the beds and the seats.

Dream blossoms in your yellow house

buds and buds bloom in bright mellow light

the tan sunflowers set in front of buttered wall

your rushing brush is singing, singing aria:

“O Come and adore, you children of the sun,

Your father does not abandon you!

Your brothers do not abandon you!

In this divine light the living and dead abide!”

Note:

I love Van Gogh's Sunflowers, there's something very spiritual and religious in the sunflowers, especially the yellow over yellow piece, graceful butter light and tan sunflowers in color harmony that symbolizes some sort of Christian theme of God and men or Father and son relationship as Michelangelo's painting, below. Only there's no distance btwn sunlight and the sunflowers.

Since last year, I've studied his letters, books, Taschen paintings catalog book and bought some dvd programs about his art and life and this week eventually written down above 8 segments of my feeling and thought to honor this great tormented pilgrim.

[1] According to the books that Mr. Van Gogh rent a yellow house, and to me an artist is always working, painting, doing something that often attracts people's attention, so I romanticize the image of Vincent painting his house yellow.

Zen Poem by a Chinese Monk

Untitled
by Monk Wu Men Hui Kai

Spring blooms, autumn moon
Summer breeze and winter snow
if matters do not weigh down our heart
then we are in good season

by 无门慧开

春有百花秋有月
夏有凉风冬有雪
若无闲事挂心头
便是人间好时节

Elegy for Freedom (elegy for blackfish)

Elegy for Freedom (elegy for blackfish)

Laijon Liu 20131004

Birds fly in sky, animal roam wild

but why dolphin and orca sink in a pool?

Behind endless circular wall, there

their soul forever searching for home

Majestic creature, unhindered faith

with gifted grace and mighty strength

the so called long distance swimmers

in a tank dreaming of sea and world

their grief, men do not comprehend

their long range calls to the deaf ears

their every gentle nod is beg for mercy

yet we convert all their behaviors to profit

“Show Time! Let the children come!

See the creature of God, how wonderful!”

their fluke fin slap, joyful waves brim

A sudden lunge into air, spectators on climax

By nature they are born to swim free

ocean is their mom, family is lifetime bonding

and on what contract they sign up their life

to become circus animal, tumbling to entertain?

Their heavy burdened body slowly float

giant black coffins drifting to nowhere

their eyes are submerged in teary water

candlelight shimmering in night river

we adore them, we love them

so we capture them, breed them in our park

zoo, pool, enclosure, aquarium, cage with bars

these are the museums showcase their agony

they are just animals, brainless animals

they have appetite, but no emotion or thought

our heart, stone hard, denies our conscience

even monkeys do show empathy and sympathy!

we feed cats, we pet dogs

we enjoy companionship as they share with us

love is mutual affection built upon freewill

earth upholds living creature’s right and habitat

bird sings in a blanket wooden cage, sweet tune

a blind poet reciting his love poems

a mother whale is calling for her baby in a tank

we hire specialists to learn this strange phenomenon

“gimme liberty or gimme death!”

this! how we defend our natural right!

by suicide or die by fighting we safeguard our choice

yet animal know not this solution to end their misery

like exiled ghosts hovering in a dark well

they are haunted by the aliens above

daylight, countless circles and foreign signals

night, silence, lonely and hunger

O poor gentle creatures, graceful friend of sea

how you lost your home and stood on this stage

all their nonsense lines and clumsy programs

men train you to mannerly perform

like we men know what’s best for you

like we men know you prefer pool than ocean

we keep you, to save you, to protect your habitat

til our kids believe it’s okay to keep you in a tank!

Sing! Oh, Sing! You divas of great sea!

Can you recall any happy tunes?

Sing your psalm, sing your lullaby

Sing your ode to joy, and cry!

Cry! til Ocean hears you!

Cry! til your mother hears you!

Cry to God, to dispatch Jonah!

That one day we men repent! and set you free!

Note:

I watched the documentary film “Blackfish”, I am so angry and heartbroken.

Crater

 Crater

Laijon Liu 20130809

A giant bowl of dirt

holds emptiness

darkness of an orbit

staring at nightsky

wide opened mouth

mutely howls

An extraterrestrial event

shock-landed on Earth

Impact, the past erased

damage, reconstruct, reunion

its crushed center bed

sand tiny and soft, like water

its huge circular wall

cuts off winds and world

only the azure roundure, clouds and stars

and mystery behind the wall

broods oblivion and obsession

Note:

Inspired by Mr. James Turrell’s crater project.

There Political Poems

What A Great Wall! 
- Inspired by China Commy Government Firewall Installation

Mud Wrestling 
- Bible scripture and some documentary film image

Secure the American Dream
- Mr. Bill Moyers' Frontline film on PBS

I am glad I also have 3 political poems, I kind of feel it's my mission to use my poetry talent to help poor common people and society, I'm not little David can beat down giant Goliath, at least I have tried to throw a few rocks at the bad system, who knows it's already crumbling within.

Secure the American Dream

Secure the American Dream
Laijon Liu 20130711

The meaning of security in dictionary:
The state of being free from danger or threat

To me security means:
The state of being free from hunger or unemployment
so people can enjoy their life, exercise liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Men in uniform with gun do not make people feel safe,
Nor an elegant speech does bring security to the common.

On our borders we build fence and walls, thru history
men routined to do that, beyond the wall there are barbarians
within the wall there are hopeless laboring slaves
on both side people cut off by the wall are secured.

I learned to compose a speech
to secure me a political position;
I learned to serve the special interest
so the majority will be saved;
I learned to protect the cracked system
and hope one day it somehow fixes itself.

NSA scan email and phone calls
they make sure America is secured;
soldiers collapse in far deserts
for the safety of their homeland;
young grads pop beer in their parents basement
a jobless shelter is temporarily secured.

I’ve never had feeling the world is safe
I am never afraid of war or terrorist extreme act
I’m in America, I trust US soldiers, cops and firefighters
but I am afraid of hunger, disease and unemployment
the tuition can shatter parents’ saving and kids’ career
the surgery cost rings like a bomb demolishes a house
as many hopeless jobless Americans I search on Craiglist
there’re some employers wouldn’t bother to post a pay rate!

Thanks to the beloved Senators and administrations
big and small corps can hire knock off oversea labors
cheap crap surge like tsunami, rise from the raped yellow earth
washing every continents and seaports
winners take all, this global market economy is secured.

I understand politicians must work for their donors first
like hounds chasing rabbits afront their riding masters
so their political career is secured,
their job creators’ pocket is secured,
the rest and middle class will hear the secure plan every 4 year
and wonder what is American Dream?

it’s American custom to watch documentary on 3rd week of Jan
together people stretch their voice repeatedly call out:
“I Have A Dream! I Have A Dream! I Have A Dream!”
til their American Dream Is miraculously Secured.

Note:
This poem is inspired by Mr. Bill Moyers' Frontline documentary film on PBS.

Nana Mouskouri’s cd album [I’ll remember you]

My Friends,

Through my songs I have learned that life was never meant to be just a path

to a final destination but a wonderful journey into music, with Love, Honesty, and Truth.

People helped me to see and feel the loyalty and humanity around me.

Songs took me through pathways, streets and boulevards, across roads and highways,

showed me rivers and streams, open seas and oceans, hills and fields, mountains,

storms and rough waters, only to show me that if you believe all the way, at the end

there are rainbows, sunshine, hopes, blue skies, moonlight and starry nights,

and that dreams can come true. It does not really matter what you do.

The most important is the why and how you do it.

It takes most of all the energy of Love, Curiosity to listen, Enthusiasm, Dignity

and Respect. Somehow I was always instinctively, destined to be a singer and singing

has become my way of living for all these years. There were encounters friends and emotions

that brought to listen and then learn, and I am still learning.

.......

CD Link

This is extract from Nana Mouskouri’s cd album [I’ll remember you], written by Nana, beautiful prose.

Mud Wrestling

Mud Wrestling
Laijon Liu 20130706

“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”                                             - Genesis 3:17-19

dark soil, brown dirt, yellow sand, red clay...
this is what Earth made of,
in it life born, nurtured and dies.

God Yahweh, and, goddess Nuwa also used it
for the mastery of their life achievement creation
mineral, nutrients, roots, gold, and diamond hide in it
dinosaur skeleton and dump scientists sample it
scattered buried bones and skulls for archeologists to find
even climate catastrophe and falling stars are registered in it

Mud represents a label:
filth, low status and failure
anyone slippery fall in it, is a tragedy
surely that becomes bystander’s laughing stock

men are but muddy human figures struggling in dirt field
in its color we lose our identity and nationality
politicians and businessmen all in a dirty game
title, suit, leather shoes, big desk and golf course
all covered in a true brown color
ideal, dream, principal and law are mixed in a giant pot
our globe rotates like a cement mixer
we are the mud, become concrete, become architecture art
we are built, and we are torn down

market capital concept is developed after industrial revolution
miners, factory workers and farmers are created by dirt and mud
before 18th century people pant in it
after, people blow it into the sky
machinery replaces labors, earth produces more
every invention draws a wrestle of investment

millions WWII soldiers, crawling on black and white screen
Nazi, Red Army, American, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese....
they twisted and moved like earthworm
struggled in a same muddy dirt uniform
their field was a huge swamp, in it they rolled
till they became the mud, became the swamp

in Africa millions children crying in bony shapes
their big hunger filled eyes, staring at camera and world
to me they all look the same
to their parents they are all the same
in poverty and dark shelter they are born
on dirt road they bared foot walk and run

thousands young men running in Mideast desert
their anger burns like scorching sand
it seems their desert absorbs too much sunlight
too much heat, too much thirst
their faith is burning, their mind is burning
and they suddenly explode, scattered in hot sand

little pupils bearing their school bags
their text books weight like stones
billions of them, ready to memorize every book
they are born to compete, disciplined to achieve
“no pain no gain” is their slogan, endure bitterness is their fate
they strive to grow up, to sell off their rare earth
so they won’t dig the coal dirt

Mud is filth, mud is holy
it contains memory and desires
joy, grief, and thrill
sweat, blood, and greed

it blinds us,
it enlightens us with God’s spit and tears.

Rain

Rain
Laijon Liu 20130611

I like the rain
the feel of droplets
falling on my face

early April blooms
quench their thirst
and soaked in joy

it comes with songs
composes its own melody
from spring to fall

it sings serenade
it bangs capriccio
it cries elegy

warm, cold, and wet
fresh, fragrant, and oily
this body yearns for touch

drizzle, thunder, downpour
all heaven’s cleansing
the plants tremblingly receive

No, I do not say no to rain
No, We cannot say no to rain
forecast and raincoat are not choice

I like the rain
the days I miss sunshine
the nights of quiet solitude

the world, my thoughts
and all are submerged
in a dark deluging symphony

Note:
These couple days, it rains hard. Many people don’t like the rain, but I think rain is beautiful, sensual, spiritual, and prosperous.

Remembering the young kids of June 4th

Remembering the young kids of June 4th

I always wonder who killed the young stupid kids on June 4th:

Chinese Emperors?
Chinese Commy Government?
Chinese young brainwashed order obeying peasant soldiers?
or just Chinese that have no clue of basic human rights, and respect of other's freedom of speech?

Do the dead students and their parents truly know who killed them? If my corpse fell on the stomped bikes I think I know who killed me, that killers must be uncivilized greedy Chinese officials and 'leaders' that believed violence was the final solution to guard their empire, to protect their family corrupting interest, to end reason or argument.

Culture kills; culture saves. Religion of peace must sow and reap peace. I as a Chinese every time walk into American book store hold so much admiration of US culture, columns and columns of 250 years US history books on human right and freedom; but I am very shameful and disgusted walking into a Chinese bookstore, 2000 years uninterrupted empire history books in columns, how men should be stocked and manipulated, how empire should be guarded, reign should be protected, even the greatest thinkers and heroes must serve the emperor, wisdom of Art of War and managing people skills... I don't think most authors and scribes and politicians cared much about people really, nor they cared about their own rights or freedom, they'd rather trade freedom for greed and fame. I hate Chinese history, like June 4th event, too many killing are erased; too many tragedy recorded as success, too much propaganda and lies, and the politicians and historians will never let you know they are truly left or right, because they are neither left nor right, they must shift after their own benefit according to political weather. There is only one section I like, poetry and lyric and songs, many poets did not give a crap about 'authority' the emperor or government, lived a dissident life, hiding in a remote mountain and river, feel free to praise the love of nature.

There is Rock band called Hei Bao (Black Panther), they released one of their songs (Do Not Ruin)during that year, together with Cui Jian's A Piece of Red Cloth.

The band's lyric shadows the crime, how they feel about it, also Cui Jian's song are in similar method. These two songs are great modern Chinese poems.

Do Not Ruin by Black Panther rock band

AP Photo

This is great photo, that shows how the young kids were considered and shot by the slaughters, they were never respected as human, they were just rats to them. So rats should not have human rights and freedom, rats should not make their own decision, sigh, the real rats are braver and much independent than Chinese. At least real rats don't kill each others, and they don't consider their own kind as rats.

别 去 糟 蹋

Do Not Ruin

词：窦唯 曲：李彤 演唱：黑豹

Lyric: Du Wei,

Music: Li Tong

Band: Black Panther

没有寂静的日子 寂静的夜

人们的神色显得紧张

手中紧握着枪

起伏的胸膛

眼中是绝望的目光

[there’s] no quiet days, quiet night

people looked nervous

hand firmly holding gun

chest fluctuant

eyes seeing no hope

没有欢笑的脸庞 和平的景象

战火把人们推向死亡

一切破碎的梦想

破灭的希望

人已是如此的疯狂

[there’s] no joyful face, peaceful scene

warflame pushes people to death

all becomes broken dreams

shattered hope

people are so crazy as such

别去糟蹋 他们的家

别去枪杀 那些无知的娃娃

流着泪 说不出一句话

有谁能够 去做出回答

Do not ruin, their home

Do not shoot, those innocent kids

shedding tear, can’t mumble a word

who can, go make an answer

(music)

没有安睡的地方 四处躲藏

善良的人们又能怎样

往日自己的故乡 和平的天堂

如今却是如此凄凉

[there’s] no place to rest in peace, hide all around

what the kindhearted people can do

their hometown in past, peaceful heaven

now it’s such gloomy and forlorn

放下你手中枪

睁眼去望一望

你面前是人类生存的故乡

放下你手中枪

去想一想

如果是你又会怎样 说!

put down the gun in your hand

take a look at

what before you is mankinds' living home

put down the gun in your hand

meditate for a moment

if you were them, speak!

Pitch

Pitch

Laijon Liu 20130603

sunny and green

pasture of joy

game

a moment to forget

sorrows and gravity

that moment of daring

that moment of chase

a moment of true existence

ecstasy

our body converse and kiss

feet stretch, dance of thoughts

in this realm

all revolve around the ball

and other worlds vanished

and all men the same

become one

heart longing for goal

Sonnet 62 for Soccer

Sonnet 62 for Soccer

Sin of self-love possesseth all mine eye 
And all my soul and all my every part; 
And for this sin there is no remedy, 
It is so grounded inward in my heart. 
Methinks no face so gracious is as mine, 
No shape so true, no truth of such account; 
And for myself mine own worth do define, 
As I all other in all worths surmount. 
But when my glass shows me myself indeed, 
Beated and chopp'd with tann'd antiquity, 
Mine own self-love quite contrary I read; 
Self so self-loving were iniquity. 
   'Tis thee, myself, that for myself I praise,
   Painting my age with beauty of thy days.

Note:

there's an interesting image on my mind: an old grayhair man standing by the sideline watching some young men playing soccer at dusk. This image seems pretty stunning, poetic and iconic. Especially now I am an near middle age man, played many soccer games, I used to feel vigorous, ambitious, happy-go-lucky, hurry-shoot-score, nothing impossible, or do it anyway... pitch-pride moods on pitch, but recently I feel I am an old man, my temple hair gray, smile with sorrow-wrinkles, the distance btwn soccer pitch and me is stretching farther. So watching people playing soccer is more like an old man spiritual reflection than a boy or lad watching a match.

Men grow old, every man grows old, once a young man now standing by the sideline watching a bunch young blood fill the pitch kicking and yelling, reflection of the present moment and past, getting old is a beautiful process, when every part of this body fails to perform effectively, then mind is forced to meditate.

To love someone so deeply is love, and to love something so deeply is sin. Sin is a biblical word, literately means "Missing Target, To Miss". Especially for a man wasted his prime on the pitch, chasing soccer and goal, his boyish dream, instead of finding a woman and love or learning some career-wise stuff land a good job to take care his old parents, chasing soccer is also like obsessed for music, poetry, photo, film... even knowing that unrealistic interest would never turn to a career for food and rent,  yet still searching topic and scene to forge some meaningful art that's an imitation of real life and authentic human connection, but there's some magic in pursuing something for life. I still admire people who do not regret, because a man should chase his dream and love period

Obsession is a miracle dose for men to stay forever young :-) 

So come, my young grayhair friends, 

let's paint our age with beauty of our days!

I cannot find a perfect photo for the image on my mind that fits Shakespeare's sonnet, but the following pictures could tell some part of the poem.

Old Man Portrait with His Old Ball

Original Photo

Old Man Juggling Kid's Ball

Original Photo

Mr. Ferguson Watching His Boys Soccer Match

Original Photo

Sonnet 53 for Soccer

Sonnet 53 for Soccer

Original Photo

Sonnet 53 for Soccer

What is your substance, whereof are you made,
That millions of strange shadows on you tend?
Since every one hath, every one, one shade,
And you but one, can every shadow lend.
Describe Adonis, and the counterfeit
Is poorly imitated after you;
On Helen's cheek all art of beauty set,
And you in Grecian tires are painted new: 
Speak of the spring, and foison of the year,
The one doth shadow of your beauty show,
The other as your bounty doth appear;
And you in every blessed shape we know.
   In all external grace you have some part,
   But you like none, none you, for constant heart.

Sonnet 27 for Soccer

Disneyland Is Good

Disneyland Is Good
Laijon Liu 20130507

Disneyland is good
They say: "Disneyland is good."
If you had been there
and found out their tickets
too expensive and parks
too crowded, would you still
bring your kids there?

I can't afford the tickets
I don't wanna wait forever
seeing long lines of people slowly move
seeing parents and their kids in stress
I wonder
our childish dream is a long road
for a few moment of high and rush,
worth it?

Click the following Poem Poster: a chubby babe looking up mickey mouse holding Earth.

Related Poem: Luxury

The Declining Glow over Grand Ave

The Declining Glow over Grand Ave

Old War Song (Tang 300 poems, #75)

Old War Song (Tang 300 poems, #75)

By Li Qi of Tang

Translated by Laijon Liu 20130426

In daylight we climb up mountain to search for beacon fires

at dark dusk our horses drink by the river crossing

travellers' hour drum swinging in dim sandy wind

princess' pipa playing a melody of parting sorrow

wild clouds ten thousand miles rolling where no cities or towns

rains and snows sweeping across the vast deserted wasteplains

Tartars wildgeese grieving caw and night by night they fly pass

Tartars young lads shed their tears and pair by pair they fall

hearing the message of our Jade Pass is under siege

our dear life on chasing chariots to answer the call

year by year soldiers' bones scattered, buried in wilderness

and we only see Tartars' grapes sending back into Han's house

Chinese:

李頎

古從軍行

白日登山望烽火， 黃昏飲馬傍交河。
行人刁斗風沙暗， 公主琵琶幽怨多。
野雲萬里無城郭， 雨雪紛紛連大漠。
胡雁哀鳴夜夜飛， 胡兒眼淚雙雙落。
聞道玉門猶被遮， 應將性命逐輕車。
年年戰骨埋荒外， 空見葡萄入漢家。

My experimental odes

My experimental odes

I love English odes and Shakespeare sonnets, also some Elizabeth browning sonnets and others, there some similar spirit, thought flow, imagery construct to Tang poem and Song lyric poems. Especially the couplets streaming through each verse to the next that work together as whole gives such thrill to my reading experience, better and faster than film. I think many readers understand Tang poetry aesthetic construct would find some similarity in Shakespeare sonnets and English odes. I’ve done a few experiment ode style poems, some good and some fail.

Poem Date: / My Ode Title / My Rating / Note Style
2006.10.28 / What Is Poetry? / excellent / English Free Verse
2009.06.09 / An Elegant Chrysanthemum / good / English Ode
2009.10.09 / Ode To A Little Mouse / good / English Ode
2009.10.10 / Ode To Eagle / excellent / Tang Streaming Couplet
2010.03.21 / Ode To Ocean / okay / Tang Streaming Couplet
2012.01.20 / Ode To Homeless / fail / Tang Streaming Couplet
2013.12.24 / Ode to the Sunflowers / good / English Ode
2014.11.11 / Ode to Jesus / okay / English Ode

I thank God and all the dead poets bless me in heaven:) that my 2009 is one of my poetical miracle years, and 'What is Poetry?'  is a really great great poem. I pray I can pen down more and better, praise God, the poets and angels in heaven and hell bestow me more. And if I did not come to US, I would never write English poems as great as these.

I’m a man of no country

I’m a man of no country
by Laijon Liu 2013.04.10

I’m a man of no country
this green pitch is my home
name, color and identity
ain’t no baggage for my road 

dream is a wayward roam
and boundaries bravery drawn
passport, tag and uniform
shall not separate us all

I’m a man of anonymous
common is my real name
songs and verses I’ve learned
to sing you and our fame

hope is hug and kisses
that no religion shall ban
how I wish, we were all like kids
playing a pickup game

I Wish

I Wish

Laijon Liu 20130331

Standing on this green pitch

I envision my victory

I wish I could run

I wish I could chase

I wish my long shot pays off

forty years age, thirty years drift

somehow I kept my virginity

that’s holier than the Pope

Staring at this blank page

I pray for some good verse

I don’t wanna use flower or wine or moon

neither I care about dreams or death

I want to recollect warmth

yeah, to feel the soft breasts pressing

the familiar fragrance and breath

the things we’ll never forget

every morning I sit on the toilet

looking downward at porcelain floor

I know

the past can’t be changed

the hurting won’t linger

if I’m willing to forgive

hard years flew pass

gray hair never grows black

life will be good, the bad will pass

and they all pass

To Next 3 Stanza poem

50 Best Mandarin Vocal Songs (Chinese HiFi Vocal Singers) 国语美声50首

+ [Classical] + [English Pop] + [Mandarin Vocal] +
+ [Mou Ying's Selection] +

50 Best Chinese Mandarin Vocal Songs (Chinese HiFi Vocal Singers) 
国语美声50首

I love songs and music, over the years I collected some of the best songs I could find, categorized them by poetic lyric, soulful melody, music instrument arrangement and mostly mostly magnetic vocal tone and voice. I put a link of 50 Best Mandarin Songs all done by awesome Mandarin singers that my friend says: "no need to print the lyrics" because the lyric and melody fit and their pronunciation is perfect for Mandarin learners.

The music style is slow light soft haunting melody, a few quick beat, with a few instrument (Western or Chinese), so this way singers let their beautiful voice lead the melody and beat with more intense emotion, not like nowadays most pop (too loud, too noisy, too quick, bad lyric). These type of slow songs never fade away, people can listen while resting and drinking, and they truly tune to the singers, the melody and moved by the lyrics. (I also picked some English songs in the same style: Sirens with Soothing Voice and Resting Melody )

Of course I want this selection to last long, I consider these be a standard for Mandarin Vocal Song List that represents the beauty and poetry of Chinese Pop Song Art (all lyric are either ancient poems written by ancient poets or modern poems done by song writers artists, no propaganda or commie crap). Singer Teresa Teng past away 1995, others are all active from 1980 to now.

One unknown singer I cannot find her name info on my cd and web; another is from youtube, not sure she is a professional singer but she's got great talent that sings the song well. Most songs are old, done by many singers, but I have compared most of them and picked the version I like the most: poetical lyric, enticing vocal tone, good singing technique, best instrument choice and music arrangement. All the links are first picked from youtube, or other Chinese web source.
People should download the songs from youtube, because most songs are hard to find, often pulled down by youtube uploaders, I just hate to update them after a few month.

!Update! :O)

There's a list of Mandarin Divas and their hit songs of old China, era from 1920-1970, on the bottom of this page; when western Jazz big bands clashed Chinese folk early 20th century and too bad KMT lost the war 1950 and retreated to Taiwan, most the divas got out of China, and the new Red Emperor burned the great new music tradition and creation of Modern China, glad people in Taiwan and HK preserved the copies and now just make one smile listening these golden voices, I am sure Cai Qin, Teresa Deng and many singers all draw inspiration from Shanghai divas of Jazz and Folk. Great Music!

Please Scroll Down All the Way to Bottom of This Page: 

Old China Divas and Their Hit Songs

Singer:	Taiwan Pop Folk Singer
鄧麗君	Teresa Teng
Songs:
月亮代表我的心 The Moon Represents My Heart	#1 Mandarin Pop Song	youtube amazon
在水一方 Beyond The River	Lyric from Ode 300: 《蒹葭》	youtube amazon
初次嚐到寂寞 First Time Tasted Loneliness		youtube
微風細雨 Breeze and Drizzle		youtube amazon link sung by another singer Xiao Ya

Love Story                         English                       youtube            amazon

如果没有你
If You Not By My Side                                        amazon

月夜诉情
Express Love at Moon Night                                youtube           amazon

得不到你的爱情 Love Can't Get （Jazz)         amazon

高山青
High Mountains Green（Taiwan Folk)              youtube1     youtube2        
amazon（Live, probably drunk :) Great!

Singer:	Taiwan Pop & Folk Singer
蔡琴	Cai Qin
Songs:
出塞曲 Farewell Song		Youtube amazon
爱与酒 Love and Wine		youtube amazon
恰似你的溫柔 Just Like Your Kindness		youtube amazon amazon2
被遺忘的時光 Forgotten Time		youtube amazon
船 Boat		youtbe
秋梦 Autumn Dream		youtbe amazon
你的眼神 Your Glance		youtube amazon

情人山                                                  youtube
Lover's Mountain                                 amazon

得不到你的爱情 Love Can't Get （Jazz)       youtube (Historia de un Amor)

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郑绪岚

Zheng XuFeng  (1978)  Shaolin Temple Score: Shepherd Song
                                                                 Mom gives me a song
                                                                 Sunshine Island medley

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Singer:	China Pop Folk Singer
童丽	Tong Li
Songs:
夜空 Night Sky	Hebrew folk	Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlzFR6TSblc
月满西楼 Moon Fill West Chamber	Lyric: Song Poetess Li Qingzhao poem	Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jq58ylEgks
天竺姑娘 TianZhu Girl	Guzheng & Guitar	Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFIirVW9Q6M
江南 River South	Han Folk poem	Link: http://www.565656.com/music/167376.htm
有誰知我此時情 Who knows My Feeling	Lyric: Song Prostitute Poetess Nie Shengqiong	Link: http://www.565656.com/music/76845.htm
望春风 Longing for the Spring Breeze	composed 1930s Lyric	Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyzFmi_wKF8
葬花吟 Bury Flower Song	Lyric: Qing Poet Cao Xueqin poem link: Dream of Red Chamber, Chp27 Last Paragraph	Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUXU8Sqh7G0
叹十声 Ten Sigh		Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XCcdV0Z1Gw
梦江南 Dream of River South		Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teSQZSC6yZE
春光美 Spring Scenery Fair		Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd1xMeZiavY
烟花三月 Misty March		Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs6ZUESJuHg
渭城曲 Song at Wei City	Lyric: Tang Poet Wang Wei poem Tang 300: #312	Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiAHFKUWgwI
外面的世界 Outside World		Link: http://www.565656.com/music/147957.htm

Singer:	China Pop Folk Singer
刘紫玲	Liu Ziling
Song:
古老的故事 Ancient Sotry		Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUkjYPC7fgQ
花儿为什么这样红 Why Flower Thus Red		Link: killed (But here's a Sweden Singer Sofia Källgren sings an English Version:) the perfect redition is done by a commie troll singer, it's really beautiful, but I don't mention her name here to draw a clear line for my principal, that good songs, beautiful songs should never serve bad government. Original Aryan Tajik Music : 古丽碧塔 Gulbita link (Original Music) Rendition by an Uighur Chinese, more original folk feel link
再回首 Look Back Again		Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHUbLUAaTJQ
兰花草 Dayflower		Link: Killed (another good singer Shen Yan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09wMgsduGU4)
橄榄树 Olive Tree		Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY5rT57nWeA
跟往事干杯 Toast to Past		Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLT9Q8ctgII
大约在冬季 Maybe In Winter		Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM1sd-P_sAI
吻和泪 Kiss and Tear		Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzEInVxpqfE
读你 Read You		Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZBMl463uPI
莫斯科郊外的晚上 Moscow Outskirt Evening	Russian Pop Folk	Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgltVrBVDLY

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Singer:
苏霈 Su Pei

叹十声 Ten Sigh (Folk)     youtube old Shanghai stage style presentation
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Singer:
Unknown
Song:
心在跳 情在烧 Heart Pumping Love Burning	Pop w/ Guzheng	Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olohydJ2kUk

Singer:	China Pop Singer
雷婷	Lei Ting
Song:
赤裸裸 Naked	Song by Rock Artist Zheng Jun	Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx5hRloFz0k

挪威森林 Norwegian Wood

Song        by Rock Artist Wu Bai, Beatles & Eagles Influence

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9gkDEzWjrU

Singer:	from Youtube Source
邓妙华	original singer Maggie Theng
Song:		This song is covered by a youtube singer
踏浪 Tread Waves	composed by Xue Huaiyu	Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXZgOtojjoc

Singer:	China Pop Singer
王雅洁	Wang Yajie
Song:
追梦人 Dream Chaser		Link killed; Original Singer
走過咖啡屋 Pass by Coffee House		Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBO0T3q05CI

Singer:	HK Pop Folk Singer
徐小凤	Xue Xiaofeng
Song:
心恋 Heart Longs		Link: http://www.565656.com/music/27262.htm

Singer:	China Pop Singer
陶轔竹	Tao Lizu
Songs:
白樺林 White Birch Woods	Song by Rock Artist Pu Shu Original Singer	Link: http://www.565656.com/ting/280877.htm
那些花兒 Those Flowers	Song by Rock Artist Pu Shu	Link: http://www.565656.com/ting/280881.htm

Singer:	Singapore HiFi Singer
徐雯	Xu Wen
Songs:
別亦難 Difficult to Part	Lyric: Tang Poet Li Shangyin, Tang 300: #215	Link: http://www.565656.com/ting/297354.htm
幾多愁 How Much Sorrow	Lyric: Tang Poet Li Yu poem title link Li Yu: to the tune "Lady Yu"	Link: http://www.565656.com/ting/297350.htm
但願人長久 Wish We Are Forever	Lyric: Song Poet Su Shi poem link	Link: http://www.565656.com/ting/297348.htm
獨上西樓 Autumn Sentiments	Lyric: Tang Poet Li Yu poem	Link: http://www.565656.com/ting/297346.htm

Singer:	China Pop Singer
孙启燕	Sun Qiyan
Songs:
都是夜归人 All Are Night Returners		Link: http://www.565656.com/ting/276559.htm
别问我是谁 Don't Ask (me) Who I Am		Link: http://www.565656.com/ting/276564.htm
听海的歌		Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6GM7nsPko0

Singer:	China Pop Folk Singer
古璇	Gu Xuan
Songs:
你怎麼捨得我難過	lyric	Link: http://www.tudou.com/listplay/aEkVOr90CIs/3QOZ-YR4rQI.html
长亭外	Melody from American song writer: John Pond Ordway's Dreaming of Home and Mother lyric	Link: http://www.56.com/u50/v_NjI0OTIzNTk.html

Singer:	Rock Singer
轮回乐队	Again Band
Song:
期待 Expect	Again Band	Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VstikiErj8

Singer:	China Pop Singer
任月麗	Ren Yueli
Song:
天使的翅膀 Angel's Wings		Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztnlridrYFI

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Divas from 1920 – 1970 Oldies

Bai Hong 白虹

Farewell Shasha amazon 莎莎再会吧《孤岛春秋》插曲

Dawning of the Spring amazon 春天的降临

Listen Up amazon 听我说

Zhou Xuan 周璇

Wandering Songstress amazon 天涯歌女

Night Life In Shanghai amazon 夜上海

Blooming Flowers and the Full Moon amazon 花好月圆

Bai Guang 白光

Waiting for you amazon 等着你回来

Wu Yingyin 吳鶯音

Moon Messenger or The Bright Moon Will Bring My Love To You amazon 明月千里

My love memory youtube 我有一段情

Chang Loo 張露

Little Wooden Horse amazon 小木马

Watermelon Heart (English) amazon

Tsin Ting 靜婷

Xi Wang Zai Ming Tian amazon Hope Tomorrow希望在明天

Wo De Xin Li Mei You Ta My Heart Loves No other Man***** amazon 我的心里没有他

Shang Shan Gang amazon 上山岗

Yao Lee 姚莉

Love Can't Get ***** amazon 得不到你的爱情

Life Is Stage Act youtube人生就是戏

Song of Forest youtube森林之歌

Night Returner*****  youtube夜归人

Return Road 归路

Love Start amazon 爱的开始

Rose Rose I Love You *****youtube Mandarin & English

Li Li-hwa 李麗華

Four New Seasons youtube 新四季歌

Hundred Birds 百鸟朝凤 youtube amazon

Li Xianglan 李香蘭

Mei Hua (Plum Blossom)***** 梅花 youtube amazon

Ye Lai Xiang Night Comes Fragrant youtube 夜来香

Poon Sow-keng 潘秀瓊

Lover’s Tear ****** youtube 情人的眼泪

Bali Island ****** youtube 巴里岛

Love of Suoluo River ***** youtube梭羅河之戀

Rebecca Pan 潘迪華

I wait for you (English ) youtube

Mona Fong 方逸華

花月佳期 English youtube

Three Years youtube三年

Blue and Black youtube 蓝与黑

Tsui Ping 崔萍

Nan Ping Evening Bell youtube 南屏晚鐘

Grace Chang 葛蘭

I want you amazon 我要你

Julie Yeh or Yeh Feng 葉楓

Evening Clouds youtube 晚霞

Deng Xiaoping 鄧小萍

Can’t Forget You youtube 忘不了你

Ouyang Feiying 歐陽飛鶯

Shangri-La youtube amazon

Carrie Koo Mei 顧媚

Lovesick River Bank youtube 相思河畔

Billie Tam 蓓蕾

Be Happy Tonight youtube 欢乐今宵

Deng Baiying 鄧白英

There is him in my dream youtube 我的夢裡有個他

Yi Min 逸敏

Wish I weren't married youtube 恨不相逢未嫁時