Artist: Eason Chan (陳奕迅, Chan Yick-shun)
Song: 主旋律 (zyu2 syun4 leot2) •Album: The Key

主旋律

旋律 牵引着 弦乐
情感 总有深浅厚薄
谁于五线谱雕刻上 承诺
谁于拍子机复制出 假快乐

在最重要的一句哭
大时代的小插曲
记录太多笔迹 十年廿载相识
音符内摸索

旧日 你有你迈步 我有我迈步
爱若是蓝图 永不用设起圈套
你要我让步 我要你让步
旋律与音阶粉饰了愤怒

你有你道路 我有我道路
爱若是徒劳 再不用记起苦恼
你每个逗号 我每个问号
旋律此刻仔细诱导

动人乐谱 为求定好 相爱的新去路

旋律 怎制定 量度
人心 总有阴险磊落
谁的罗曼史只不过 娱乐
谁的奋斗史渲染出 假哲学

在最重要 一刻退缩
大时代 烟花结束
节录太多光景 二人捕风捉影
音符内漂泊

现在 你有你迈步 然后 我有我迈步
再相遇 奈何时辰未到
现在 你要我让步 然后 我要你让步
再争辩 难投怀合抱

昨日 你有你道路 明日 我有我道路
再分别 又来重逢预告
昨日 你每个逗号 明日 我每个问号
难合谱 如流萤乱舞
何时方找到

相爱的新制度
让旋律沉默控诉
相爱的新季度
让旋律沉闷到

现在 你大业鸿图 然后 我乐极迷途
再相遇 为何情仇互报
现在 你赐予任务 然后 我受命如奴
再争辩 和谐无路诉

昨日 你有你旧路 明日 我有我后路
再分别 又来愁云密布
昨日 各有各嫉妒 明日 各有各自傲
才合谱 随旋律入脑
言词不吞吐

相爱的新角度
让旋律沉重发布
相爱的新国度
让旋律沉淀了再洗脑

The Main Theme (Melody)

The theme is pulling on the strings
There are different depths and thickness to emotions
Who carved promises into the staves?
Who replicated fake bliss at the metronome?

To cry at the most important line
A small interlude in the big era
Too much handwriting is recorded; a decade or two of acquaintance
Fumbling within musical notes

Yesterday you strode your way, and I strode mine
If love is a blueprint, there is never a need to set up a trap
You want me to give in, I want you to give in
Melody and scale disguised anger

You have you way, and I have mine
If love is futile, there is no need to remember the anguish
Every of your commas, every of my question marks
are now led in detail by the theme

A resonant score, written to set up a new way to love

How does one arrange and measure a theme?
There are always slyness and honesty in men
Whose romance is but entertainment?
Whose history of struggles play up fake philosophy?

To back down at the most important moment
Fireworks of a big era ends
Too many scenes are captured; two people grasping at shadows
Drifting within musical notes

Now you stride your way, then I stride mine
Meeting again, but the time has not come yet
Now you want to give in, then I want you to give in
Debating further, it is hard to hold each other

Yesterday you had your way, tomorrow I have mine
Separate again, and the prediction of reunion arrives again
Every of your commas yesterday, and every of my question marks tomorrow
are hard to score together, like fireflies buzzing without direction
When shall we find

the new system of love?
Let the melody protest in silence!
A new season of love
Let the melody be a bore!

Now you have your big schemes, then I am lost in my ecstasy
Meeting again, why are we seeking revenge?
Now you prescribe missions, then I obey like a slave
Debating further, there is no way to harmony!

Yesterday you had your old ways, tomorrow I have my way of retreat
Separate again, and the clouds gather again
Yesterday we had our own jealousy, tomorrow we have our own pride
then score together, and follow the melody into the mind
Speak without a stammer

A new angle of love
Let the melody solemnly declare!
A new realm of love
Let the melody sink in and brainwash!

Submitted by gan6nei4

Author’s comments:
The Chinese word 旋律 can be translated to ‘melody’ or ‘theme’ in the musical sense in different contexts.

This is one example of political protest disguised as a love song, which is becoming more and more common since the new millenium started. Quite a few people interpret it as a description of the relationship between Hong Kong and the PRC. One of the reasons is its choice of a word heavily used in Chinese political language, 「主旋律」 ‘Main sequence’, or ‘Main theme’ as the title. It also uses words like ‘era’, ‘system’, ‘solemnly declare’, ‘realm’, ‘brainwash’ that are rare in vanilla love songs, and the picture that it paints eerily resembles the current chaotic political relationship between the two entities.