[Music] Love Like Flower in Water -- Keiko Matsuzaka

 

Keiko Matsuzaka

1. I have been bewitched by Keiko Matsuzaka since watching her performance in House on Fire (1986) and have been following her career on and off for the last 25 years.

 

2. The last three movies of Keiko Matsuzaka's that I have watched are:

(a) Runin (Banished) (2005):

 

(b) Colour Blossoms (2004):

(c) Sakuya: Slayer of Demons (2000): 

 
3. The last three TV dramas of Keiko Matsuzaka's that I have watched are:

(a) Madonna Verde (2011) (6 episodes) in which Keiko played a surrogate mother for her daughter:

(b) Summer Romance Shines in Rainbow Color (2010) (10 episodes) in which Keiko played a dizzy mother to Jun Matsumoto's character:

(c) I've Been Married to Hell! (Oh! My Mother in Law!) (2007) (9 episodes) in which Keiko played a dizzy but well-meaning mother-in-law to Yukie Nakama's character:

4. ("Keiko Matsuzaka", Wikipedia):

Keiko Matsuzaka (松坂慶子 Matsuzaka Keiko) (born July 20, 1952) is an actress.

Born in Ōta, Tokyo, her father was a naturalized South Korean while her mother was Japanese. Active as a child actress in the 1960s, she came into her own as an adult with Daiei, then in 1972 with Shochiku.


5. Keiko Matsuzaka has a performing career that spans over 40 years and is still going strong.

Although mainly an actress, Keiko has performed some memorable songs too.

Love Like Flower in Water ("愛の水中花") is the theme song for the Japanese TBS TV drama Flower in the Water (“水中花”) that was first aired in July, 1979.

Besides singing the theme song, Keiko Matsuzaka was also the star of this TV drama.


6. Keiko Matsuzaka performances for the 1979 TV drama:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhgUUWMaiMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYmXjDdpyFQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sVRzMbtZ-M


7. Keiko Matsuzaka performing in 1980 ("昭和55年"):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaS5V6VVPLE


8. Keiko Matsuzaka can express many different kinds of mood:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwjnpwhG5P4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V17FlSNJsE4


9. A recent performance by Keiko Matsuzaka:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYSBbgbBcSs


10. The song in some interesting animation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Rv5DuL8-4


11. The song with some static photos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0SR20udS_I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpjzRQCo4rA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75tCIukjSyc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plV97HDuah4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQznZfkfZcc


12. In performing this different song, the only way I can describe Keiko Matsuzaka is that she was "oozing" female sexuality:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXj4OQcWaD8


References:

"Keiko Matsuzaka", Internet Movie Database (IMDb),
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0559698/
(accessed 2012-09-19).

"Keiko Matsuzaka", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keiko_Matsuzaka
(accessed 2012-09-19).

"松坂慶子", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%BE%E5%9D%82%E6%85%B6%E5%AD%90
(accessed 2012-09-19).

"松坂慶子", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hant/%E6%9D%BE%E5%9D%82%E6%85%B6%E5%AD%90
(accessed 2012-09-19).

End.

[Music] In the Middle of the Lake -- George Lam

George Lam

1. ("George Lam", Wikipedia):

George Lam Chi Cheung (born October 12, 1947), also known professionally by his surname Lam, is a Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer and actor of Xinhui area origin. Lam studied at the Diocesan Boys' School in Kowloon, Hong Kong. He lived in England, where he studied at Dover College, and the United States (in Oakland, California) for many years before returning to Hong Kong.

Lam was the lead singer for a band called "Jade" until he went solo with his first English album "Lam" in 1976. His first Cantonese album, having the same name, was also released in the same year. He also recorded two versions of the Billy Joel song "Uptown Girl" in Cantonese. Lam has remained popular in Hong Kong for three decades. He writes a number of his own songs; some of them have also been recorded by other singers including Teresa Carpio, with whom he recorded an album and has given joint concerts, most recently in 2007.

In addition to his singing career, Lam has also acted in many films, making his film debut in Luckies Trio in 1978. Possibly his most memorable role was as a Japanese journalist in Boat People (1982), directed by Ann Hui.

Lam first married in 1980 and has a son and a daughter; that marriage ended in divorce. In 1996 he married singer/actress Sally Yeh, with whom he has appeared in concert.


2. George Lam has a unique singing voice that is very hard to imitate.

Although classify as a baritone, George Lam can reach some very high and low notes.

Also, his singing style is unique.

Could it be that the years he spent in England and the US during his formative years have a lasting impact on him?

Some Chinese can spent years living abroad without imbibing western cultures.

Apparently, it is not so with George Lam.


3. In the Middle of the Lake ("在水中央") was composed and sung by George Lam.

This song came out in 1980 and had won many awards.

1980 was the breakout year for George Lam and this song played its part as a contributing factor.

A literal translation of the Chinese "在水中央" is "in the middle of the water".

Since the lyrics make clear the water is a lake, I have so translated the song title.

The lyrics of this love song are very visual and paint a beautiful picture of a man and a woman rowing in the middle of a lake.


4. A music video from 1982:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6oTpp0whMk

According to the YouTube comments, this music video was shot at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which was located in Shatin District, New Territories, Hong Kong.


5. A karaoke version by George Lam from 1991:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II-0Y0TNvLo


6. George Lam in concert in 2001:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMuf3hM7JEQ


7. George Lam and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mzQoC6OPL8


8. George Lam in concert at San Francisco in 2007:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhrnZWJ_HZQ


9. George Lam in concert in 2011:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amUDBJCJQ70

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYURl5ZeSS0


10. An interpretation of the song with a Jazz feel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kupZMYgFxxg

George Lam is so very talented - it seems he can sing this song with a different interpretation every time.


11. A cappella by George Lam (1st of two songs) in a concert that celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the lyricist for this song, Cheng Kok Kong, as a lyricist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNj8hmICsB4


12. Alan Tam covering the song with George Lam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIsRPUiCzL4


13. George Lam and Eason Chan in concert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reHRb519vGQ


14. A cover by Susanna Kwan in 1981:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSsj09-pQps


15. A cover by Paula Tsui in 1983:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M6Z7C14Wsk


16. A cover by Danny Chan in 1988 (1st of 3 songs):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1uVJMfkTEc


17. A cover by Adam Cheng:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5BP4ipMBW4

The musical arrangement was by Kitaro (Masanori Takahashi).


18. A cover by Lisa Wong:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwPdeIBcxQ8


19. A cover by Tony Lui:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGqhEOKeaSI

The venue for the singing is the Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong.


20. The music in a very different mood:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxjrGxg7las

The uploader should have identified the singer.

Not bad.


21. His voice is good for this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsiGCRDGnJs


22. A cover in Mandarin by Zheng Yinqiu (female):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=296gr-rONRo


23. The music in Guzheng:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkYpCD2UqTk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yftrrSYxJ1A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKPkzpPJtK8

and by a young musician:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n53F95-oamI


24. These are just the music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yliYOxeH98k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9-hDcEzFhA


25. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


在水中央 -- 林子祥

青青的山倒影照淡綠湖上
看水色襯山光
浮雲若絮天空裡自在遊盪
笑蒼生太繁忙

今天的她竟跟我泛櫂湖上
美景仔細欣賞
平湖若鏡水中的影子也雙
這光景最難忘

* 在水中央   有儷影一雙彷似畫在湖上
願終此生永共她一對一雙
在水中央   有儷影一雙彷似畫在湖上
願終此生永共她一對一雙

# 閃閃金光輕飛躍淡淡湖上
晚風吹過水鄉
斜陽又似胭脂染在面龐上
這一刻最難忘

Repeat *, #


26. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


在水中央--林子祥

青青的山倒影照淡绿湖上
看水色衬山光
浮云若絮天空里自在游荡
笑苍生太繁忙

今天的她竟跟我泛棹湖上
美景仔细欣赏
平湖若镜水中的影子也双
这光景最难忘

* 在水中央   有俪影一双彷似画在湖上
愿终此生永共她一对一双
在水中央   有俪影一双彷似画在湖上
愿终此生永共她一对一双

# 闪闪金光轻飞跃淡淡湖上
晚风吹过水乡
斜阳又似胭脂染在面庞上
这一刻最难忘

Repeat *, #


27. Names, Words and Phrases:

George Lam (Traditional Chinese: 林子祥; Simplified Chinese: 林子祥).

A cappella (Traditional: 清唱; Simplified: 清唱).

Adam Cheng (Traditional: 鄭少秋; Simplified: 郑少秋).

Alan Tam (Traditional: 譚詠麟; Simplified: 谭咏麟).

Ann Hui (Traditional: 許鞍華; Simplified: 许鞍华).

Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong (Traditional: 星光大道; Simplified: 星光大道).

Baritone (Traditional: 男中音; Simplified: 男中音).

Boat People (Traditional: 投奔怒海; Simplified: 投奔怒海).

Cheng Kok Kong (Traditional: 鄭國江; Simplified: 郑国江).

Danny Chan (Traditional: 陳百強; Simplified: 陈百强).

Diocesan Boys' School (Traditional: 拔萃男書院; Simplified: 拔萃男书院).

Eason Chan (Traditional: 陳奕迅; Simplified: 陈奕迅).

Guzheng (Traditional: 古箏; Simplified: 古筝).

Jazz (Traditional: 爵士樂; Simplified: 爵士乐).

Kitaro (Traditional: 喜多郎; Simplified: 喜多郎).

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (Traditional: 香港管弦樂團; Simplified: 香港管弦乐团).

Lisa Wong (Traditional: 麗莎; Simplfied: 丽莎).

Luckies Trio (Traditional: 各師各法; Simplified: 各师各法).

Masanori Takahashi (Traditional: 高橋正則; Simplified: 高桥正则).

Paula Tsui (Traditional: 徐小鳳; Simplified: 徐小凤).

Sally Yeh (Traditional: 葉蒨文; Simplified: 叶倩文).

Susanna Kwan (Traditional: 關菊英; Simplified: 关菊英).

Teresa Carpio (Traditional: 杜麗莎; Simplified: 杜丽莎).

Tony Lui (Traditional: 雷若天; Simplified: 雷若天).

Xinhui (Traditional: 新會; Simplified: 新会).

Zheng Yinqiu (Traditional: 鄭吟秋; Simplified: 郑吟秋).


References:

"George Lam", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lam
(accessed 2012-09-18).

"林子祥", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh/%E6%9E%97%E5%AD%90%E7%A5%A5
(accessed 2012-09-18).

"林子祥", Baidu,
http://baike.baidu.com/view/188346.htm
(accessed 2012-09-18).

End.