A Southern Eclectic Mix

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Fearless Duo 1984: another Michael Miu/Barbara Yung charming ancient series

Szeto Man Mo (Michael Miu) & Lam Chor Yin (Barbara Yung), FD ep 19

So, after finishing Chor Lau Heung 1984 (watched it for three rounds, actually, or perhaps more), I found the Fearless Duo MV with the OST sang by Alan Tam. Fell in love with the song, then binged watching FD the whole weekend. This post is basically the synopsis of FD 1984 and commentaries of major characters (including, of course, the stars Michael Miu and Barbara Yung). I will post the FD episode summary later.

Fearless Duo (FD) is basically the ‘I fall in love with my neighbour’ Michael/Barbara rom-com series. I’m contrasting this with The New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung 1984 where Chor Lau Heung and Song Siu Ching were practically a super-star couple. CLH had a good reputation in the wuxia world despite his carefree lifestyle (the Emperor sought his advice on a regular basis); Siu Ching was the princess. In FD however, Michael played as Szeto Man Mo, a stroppy and cantankerous young man who was forced to marry the tomboy (and also stroppy) Lam Chor Yin (our darling Barbara Yung). The story evolved from them being bitter and bickering with each other to loving each other in a lovely, organic, down to earth way. I’m not saying CLH isn’t down to earth... but CLH is indeed a high-profile story involving high profile wuxia sects and the empire’s fate, while FD could happen in your neighbourhood. Adding to the FD story is the rivalry between Taoist Supreme Master Cheung and his evil brother, typical village superstitions and some undead and vampires, thus you have the typical “Chinese Ghost Story” with a high dosage of lovely, classical MB scenes that will surely melt your heart (well, at least mine and so many MB fans).

Who Can Change - Fearless Duo 1984 OST

Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog.

I haven't seen Michael Miu's and Barbara Yung's Fearless Duo (TVB 1984), but after watching this YouTube and listening to the OST, I just have to see it. FD has a happy ending (unlike the Foundation, which I also want to watch but I fear I will cry buckets of tears), so I will definitely watch it. The OST is titled "Who Can Change" by Alan Tam, and after listening to the song, I can understand why it is Michael Miu's favourite song (and that the series is one of his favourites) and that Alan Tam himself is still the king of Canto pop these days.

I obtained the lyrics and meaning from Wehaiyo (I modified slightly to streamline it) and the Cantonese Yale pinyin from Feitsui. Enjoy!

“誰可改變” (“Who Can Change?”)

sung by 譚詠麟 Alan Tam

Composer: 顧嘉輝

Arranger: 顧嘉輝

Lyricist: 鄭國江

曾經說出　 (I once spoke out)

chang ging syut cheut

今生不愛你 ([In] This life, [I would] not love you)

gam sang bat oi nei
我共你是 (I, together [with] you, are)

ngo gung nei si

但有份, 沒有緣 (But, having destiny, not having fate)

daan yau fan, mut yau yun

Alan Tam's rendition of the Heart Sutra (Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra)

I found Alan Tam's rendition of the Heart Sutra (Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra) on YouTube after listening to "Who Can Change", his famous OST from the Fearless Duo (1984, also feat. Michael Miu and Barbara Yung). I found this rendition of the Heart Sutra very lovely, hence I put it here. The Cantonese lyrics are from Nicholas Tse's website. I found the translation from Jayarava here, complete with the Middle Chinese script and pinyin.

Strangely enough, Jayarava's post was dated 15 May 2015, that was just a day after the 30th commemoration of Barbara Yung's death. I recently have been feeling that I haven't totally mourn her passing, hence, I dedicate this song and lyrics for Babs, the lovely girl who coloured my childhood with wonderful series. Wherever you are Barbara, may you be in peace. If you are already reborn, may your current life and the lives afterwards be beautiful and peaceful.

Heart Sutra

When Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva practiced the deep perfection of wisdom,

He saw the five aggregates as completely empty, and overcame all states of suffering.

Śāriputra, form is not different emptiness, emptiness is not different form

Form is empty, emptiness is form.

Vedanā, saṃjñā, saṃskāra, & vijñāna, are the same

Chor Lau Heung 1984 opening and closing themes

Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog. Click this for the third OST of CLH 1984 and this for the MV that I made from the third OST!

I tried to find the translation of CLH'84 opening and closing themes but failed, so I asked my Chinese Malaysian friend to translate it for me. Sompong from the YT video below provided me with the script of the opening theme and Min Chi translated it for me; hence my gratitude for both of them. I obtained the closing theme script from Musixmatch and Min Chi translated it again for me (thanks again!). I love both songs. I really dig the opening theme for it truly captured who Chor tai-gor was, while the closing theme reminds me of CLH/SSC relationship.

Opening theme

笑踏河山 (Exploring rivers and mountains with a smile)

sung by Roman Tam

随缘披发独行 Started my lone-ranger’s journey with an open heart

未尝镜染尘 although I have not experiencing life completely

淡然看世事似浮云 I take the world lightly, because it is like a drifting cloud,

随风去无痕 come and go quickly, leaving no marks

Baby delivery - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 fanfiction

Siu Ching was in the last week of her pregnancy and Chor Lau Heung unexpectedly had to help delivering the baby because Dr Cheong and the girls were detained in an infected town. Featuring Wu Tit Fa who was too scared to help due to excessive blood. Special thanks to the ladies at the MB Paradise, Network 54 and SPCNet.tv who have been reading my fan-fictions so far. Chor Lau Heung 1984 is the property of Gu Long and TVB HK. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu Kiu Wai and Barbara Yung Mei Ling. I own nothing but my love to them and this series (click here to read all CLH'84 episodes). Click this to read this fan-fiction at my new Jianghu blog.

Baby delivery

Song Siu Ching & Chor Lau Heung (from ep 38)

Chor Lau Heung looked back at the gate several times before returning to the dining room where his wife was sitting. His very pregnant wife, to be exact, only a week into her due date.

"Stop worrying Chor tai-gor, they'll be fine," said Song Siu Ching, opening a cup of tea and filling it. She looked peachy in her favourite soft pink maternity dress. "Here, have some tea."

"I know," smiled her Brother Chor as he took the tea. "It's just the trip shouldn't take that long for them to return. They said they'd be back yesterday, and now the sun will set in a few hours and they haven't returned."

"Do you think the illness in town is so bad? It might prevent them to come?" as Siu Ching sipped her own tea, her other hand massaging her very large abdomen. She winced a bit when she felt a kick, then she smiled. Chor Lau Heung registered the wince quicker than the smile tho, so he quickly leaned towards her and asked if she was okay. Siu Ching smiled again, looking alternately between her belly and her husband.

"It just kicked me."

The annoying but lovely girl - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 fanfiction

Chor Lau Heung’s subconscious thoughts as he drifted into and out of comma after the fight with Yat Dim Hung, and also his musing on the events before and after he took a wrong medication in eps 11 (click here for the summary of all episodes). Particularly inspired by the way Chor tai-gor reached for Siu Ching when he had the heart attack. Chor Lau Heung 1984 is the property of Gu Long and TVB HK. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu Kiu Wai and Barbara Yung Mei Ling. I own nothing but my love to them and this series. Click this to read this fan-fiction at my new Jianghu blog.

Chor tai-gor had a heart failure due to wrong medication, ep 11

The annoying but lovely girl

Chor Lau Heung tried to raise his chi to balance the storm of energy within his chest. The imbalance was too great though; the internal storm attacked him back, causing him to double over coughing. He gasped as he felt a greater pain piercing his chest from within. One of his hands grabbed his chest as the other hand reached forward towards the people around him. His adopted sisters and a girl wearing a pearly white dress he successfully saved earlier. Siu Ching...

His hands reached hers as she called his name in panic. He couldn't respond, but he desperately needed to hold onto her hands as an anchor. He felt his chi slipping away and he needed her to ground him, thus he felt a tiny flush of relief as her small hands firmly holding onto him. He coughed again and then heard the commotions around him. Yung Yung's and Tim Yi's voice, then Siu Ching saying something about giving him a pill. Then he felt someone opening his mouth and force-fed him the pill. He automatically swallowed it, hoping for the best.

Tough Love - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 fanfiction

Chor Lau Heung battled an enemy who kidnapped Song Siu Ching and almost killed her. Chor realised he didn't train Siu Ching enough hence gave her a very strict, hard-core boot camp. After two weeks, Siu Ching had more than enough bruises and frustration. Chor Lau Heung 1984 is the property of Gu Long and TVB HK. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu Kiu Wai and Barbara Yung Mei Ling. I own nothing but my love to them and this series (click here to read all CLH'84 episodes). Click this to read this fan-fiction at my new Jianghu blog.

Chor Lau Heung and Song Siu Ching, ep 36

Tough Love

Chor Lau Heung crouched behind the bush in the darkness. He knew he had to show himself soon, but he preferred to observe his surroundings first, pitch dark as it was. He squinted to see any signs around, including in the tree canopies. It was a moonless night, but he thought he saw something moving slightly on a tree across the clearing in front of him. Tentatively, he walked into the open clearing towards the tree. A swift sound alerted him and he pirouetted to the closest tree branch to avoid a flying dagger. Yet, as he landed his right foot on the branch, he caught another swift sound and had to backflip off the branch to avoid another dagger. Using both his gravity-defying skill and his agility, he had to do several somersaults among tree branches to avoid not only flying daggers but also throwing-stars. Eventually, the Lingering Fragrance had enough. He unhooked the Jade Sword he'd been carrying and, as he leapt towards his target tree, rotated the central point of the scabbard around his body to make an effective spherical shield as he used his gravity-defying skill (ching gung/qinggong) to practically fly towards the tree. As he parried the daggers and throwing-stars with that method, the offensive items scattered around him. Some were even reflected back to his offenders as could be heard from their gasps and cries as their weapons flew back at them. Closing in to the tree, Chor Lau Heung caught the last dagger thrown at him and threw it to the tree instead. He heard metal clanking before a chilling laughter broke.

Chor Lau Heung 1984 summary eps 37-40

The followings are episode guides for the New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung 1984. My sincere gratitude the Dramanice for uploading the series with English-sub for us. Major spoilers as the series progresses, hence stay away from this post if you haven’t seen it and want to see it without spoilers. Click here for the summary of other episodes. Click here for Fearless Duo episode summary and here for The Foundation 1984 episode summary. Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog.

Siu Ching being all sun and stars to see Chor tai-gor again, ep 37

Ep 37: SPOILERS BIG TIME FROM HERE ONWARDS!!

BIG SPOILERS!

DON’T SAY I DON’T WARN YOU!!

Chor Lau Heung 1984 summary eps 31-36

Siu Ching and Brother Chor took a tea break, ep 36

Ep 31: The Emperor distributed rewards to the grand masters and sects who rescued him. However, Chor Lau Heung didn’t deign to attend the ceremony, which ticked SC. She confronted him in front of the three ladies, who smiled knowingly this time (including Sugar). We have a cute scene here where Chor chased SC by calling her “Princess” but she didn’t deign to stop until he stopped calling her that and called her “Siu Ching” instead. Chor explained that he didn’t like those types of formalities, and SC should have known that he was like that. Besides, what kind of title would His Majesty confer him with? The King of Thieves? This joke made SC smile, then she said that it was true that Chor wasn’t the only one refusing the title. Scary Nun and Yuen Tsui Wan also rejected it. Chor found it weird, hence he told SC that he had been suspecting that Yuen was the Bat Prince after all. He told SC about the broken snuff bottle (back in Ep 29) and that he could smell the fragrance of his signature balm on Yuen after the fight. Chor warned SC not to tell anyone about this because it might alert the Bat Prince. That night, Yuen visited the Emperor and told him how he liked conversing with His Majesty. HM told Yuen that he’d like to adopt Yuen as his son after he regained his throne again. Scary Nun found out about the conversation and warned Yuen not to be careless. Uncovering his identity means that the world would know that Khoo Mui once had an affair (i.e. she was a human), thus she would need to abdicate.

Chor Lau Heung 1984 summary eps 24-30

My Velcro Couple being so cute together, ep 25

Ep 24: Sam Leung was playing a zither for the Emperor when he had an asthma attack. The Emperor was then taken to the Bat Prince who demanded the Emperor to hand him the crown. The Bat Prince also told the Emperor that he (the Bat) would be a much better ruler for he built the Palace by himself. Chor et al arrived at the old entrance on the dessert but couldn’t find the entrance. They then went to the seashore to find the exit, where they found some masked dead corpses floating on the water. One of them, Luk Ching Wah, was still alive, hence Chor et al changed plan and took him to the Peace Mansion. Inspector Ying met Au Yeung Fei again (actually, prevented Au from committing suicide for failing to save the Emperor) and then they paid another visit to Huashan. Scary Nun denied that, but then she paid Yuen Tsui Wan a visit. Yuen greeted his mother who pressed him to find the Emperor’s whereabouts. Scary Nun also barked at her son for not being ambitious enough. Kam Ling Chi paid Yuen a visit but Yuen was being cold to her under the pretext that he still had some unfinished business to do. Poor Miss Kam... she was just too innocent...Chor arrived and asked Yuen to invite all grand masters to devise a plan to attack the Bats. The masters then arrived with their students, which brought a moment of hesitance to Chor and Miss Wah before they greeted each other. Wu Tit Fa, on the other hand, had to be injured in a battle against the Bats before Koh A Lam took care of him, to the jealousy of Miss Kam. Scary Nun barked again asking her student to stay away from Wu. Meanwhile, during that fight, Ting Fung tried to kill Luk Chin Wah but was prevented by Yat Dim Hung, who had been impersonating as Luk so far (Luk didn’t survive his injuries and died while under Rosie’s care).