HK song Spotlight: Andy Hui (許志安), Sammi Cheng (鄭秀文), and "唯獨你是不可取替"

Last Updated: 12-JUN-2018, 21-JAN-2024

If you know me, you would know that I know nothing about today's music in Hong Kong, but I do appreciate the oldies. Many may know veteran Hong Kong singers, Andy Hui (許志安) and Sammi Cheng (鄭秀文). When their duet "其實你心裏有沒有我" ("Do you really have me in your heart?") came out, the song exploded into the Hong Kong music scene, winning Sammi and Andy a 1993 Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Award. The song became extremely recognizable and I'm sure many people tried to sing it in the karaoke room.

Andy and Sammi sang together numerous times, but one song particularly touches my heart. It is the song, "唯獨你是不可取替" ("Only You Cannot Be Replaced"). To be honest, I cannot sing this song without crying. It's so touching! I may not know that much Cantonese, but I will cry when I hear:

"是我不敢相信真愛" (It is I who don't dare to believe in true love)

"如果今天將失去眼前的一切" (If today I will lose all of what's in front of my eyes)

"下半生准我留住你" (For the next half of my life, allow me to stay with you)

All of those sentences are so powerful to me. It is poignant (by my imagination) and romantic at the same time.

Here is a video of this song on Youtube. To be honest, I'm not sure if this song belongs to Andy or Sammi. I first heard this on cassette tape where Andy sang it. On another website, I read that Andy sang it originally and then Sammi took the song and made it her own. Actually, this song is originally a Japanese song called "Sekaiju No Dare Yori Kitto" ("Certainly More Than Everybody In The World") sung by Miho Nakayama, which is a more upbeat song.

Note: Click the video above to watch it directly on Youtube

Andy's version: (My favorite! In fact, when I think about it, I really love Andy's singing style.)

A version where Sammi sings it (Andy is in the background singing back-up!) The way Andy looks at Sammi is pure love. I read that they are getting married by the end of this year. Andy chased Sammi in real life for so many years and their on-and-off relationship confused the public. Well, since I heard they moved in together this summer, marriage is only the next step!

Update: Andy Hui and Sammi Cheng married in 2013.

Here are the Chinese lyrics! Credit:
http://mojim.com/twy100170x40x12.htm
  
I noticed nobody posted the English lyrics. I'll try to translate it and I apologize in advance if I make any mistakes. I'll translate it the way I interpret it, which is literally. I like it this way so you can study the words and understand the implied meaning yourself. English translations will be in BLUE font. Rhetorical meanings are put in brackets [ ].

I also found a website that featured nonstandard pronunciation to the song at Feitsui.com.

 唯獨你是不可取替 (Only You Cannot Be Replaced) 

作詞：梁芷姍
作曲：Tetsuro Oda/Sho Uesugi/Miho Nakayama 

 

曾聽說有許多戀愛　([I] Once heard about a lot about love)
沒有結果　卻剩傷心者感慨 (No results, yet what remains is those distraught people who lament)
令我都刻意避開　(Causes me to also leave on purpose)
是我不敢相信真愛 (It is I who doesn't dare to believe in true love)
但你不惜真心真意對待 (But you don't hesitate to truly, meaningfully treat it [meaning true love])
竟令我再感到意外 (Unexpectedly cause me to feel [something] unexpected)
讓我獻出 (Let me offer [you])
全部熱愛　(All of the passionate love)
全面喝采 (All-around applause)

Chorus:
如果今天將失去眼前的一切　(If today I will lose all of what's in front of my eyes)
剩低清風兩袖也不計 (to be left with "refreshing breeze, two sleeves" [meaning to have nothing], I won't calculate [meaning, I won't care]
唯獨你一個是不可給取替　(You alone [is the] one [person] that cannot be replaced [or switched out])
是我生命裡的一切　Wooh ([You] Are my life's everything] Wo-oh)

如早知今生跟你　有幸可相愛　(If only I knew earlier in this life that being with you would have [brought] luck and requited love)
在當初應更努力為未來 (At [From] the start, [I] should have strived more for the future)
其實我知道　是可一不可再　(Actually I know [this is] possibly one, but cannot again [meaning once in a life time opportunity]
下半生准我留住你　(For the next half of my life, allow me to detain [stay with] you)
一直相愛 ([In order] To continue loving each other)

[End of Chorus]

誰似你這般欣賞我　(Who resembles you, this category [of person], who appreciates me)
誰也說不上你一般清楚我 (Who also unable to say [Who else can say why] you ordinarily, clearly [know] me)
問我可需要甚麼　(Ask me possibly need what [Ask me what else I would possibly need])
願你終身交託給我 (Hoping you [would] life-longingly entrust [yourself] give [to] me)

讓我一生好好把你照料　(Allow me a lifetime to take care of you)
請讓我體恤你需要 (Please allow me to empathize with your needs)
讓我獻出 (Let me offer [you])
同樣被愛　(The same cause of love)
從來沒缺少 (Always never lacking)

Chorus again!

其實我知道　是可一不可再　(Actually I know [this is] possibly one, but cannot again [meaning once in a life time opportunity]
下半生准我留住你　(For the next half of my life, allow me to detain [stay with] you)
一直相愛 ([In order] To continue loving each other)


Some CD/DVDs where you can purchase this song.
Wehaiyo! receives a small fee as from a purchase through the Amazon link below. Support Wehaiyo!

https://www.yesasia.com/us/andy-hui-first-round-concert-live-karaoke-dvd/1004025918-0-0-0-en/info.html

 

 
I would like to credit Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammi_Cheung, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wands_%28band%29, http://geekycoder.wordpress.com/2007/11/26/reviewsong-destiny/ and http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk which aided in my research.