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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

HK Song Spotlight: 歡樂今宵 (This Enjoyable Night) sung by 古巨基 (Leo Ku)

Credit: music.cdhaha.net

Updated: 04-FEB-2024

Originally sung by the ever-popular HK singer, Leo Ku, “This Enjoyable Night” is one of Leo’s most popular songs. The song title should not be confused with a popular Hong Kong variety show with the same name. The title of this song is commonly known as “Enjoy Yourself Tonight,” but honestly, I like my translation better. Having the word, “yourself” seems as though only one person is enjoying the night instead of two people enjoying the night together. If you are doing a Google search, it's best to use the "standard" translation of the song title instead of my title translation.

“This Enjoyable Night” was released in 1997 and quickly racked up numerous awards. In the year of 1997, the song won “The Top 10 Songs” at the Jade Solid Gold Songs Award Ceremony and The RTHK Top 10 God Songs Award Ceremony. In addition, at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards Presentation, the song helped Leo beat three out of the four Heavenly Kings: Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, and Aaron Kwok for the “Ultimate Music Circles Male Singer Silver Award”.

 In 1998, the song won “Most Outstanding Original Film Song” at the Hong Kong Film Awards since the song was featured as the theme song to the 1997 movie, “Cause We Are So Young” (求戀期), which also starred Leo Ku. In the film, Leo had a crush on Kathy Chow (周海媚)s character.

Leo Ku’s actual music album has the same title as the featured song. The “Enjoy Yourself Tonight” album sold 50,000 copies.

Celebrities such as G.E.M. and Sammi Cheng have covered this song and sang the song as a duet with Leo. My absolute favorite collaboration involves Raymond Lam and Leo Ku. Raymond sang his parts so beautifully. In doing so, Raymond gave the song a whole new fragile feeling. Leo’s style is poignant while Raymond’s style is fragile.



One of my favorite singers, Cass Phang, also covered the song, but I didn’t like the musical arrangement and style of her version too much.

My favorite parts of this song are the beginning lines and the actual chorus:

從夢裡伊甸 (From within the Eden dream)
來到我枕邊 ([That] came, arrived [at] my pillow side)
夢與真之間 (Between dream and truth--)
就只差一吋 (Just only falls short of an inch)

The lines are so dreamy with everybody including the subject believing the situation is semi-real.

In the chorus part, I especially loved when Leo sang:
歡樂今宵 (This enjoyable night) 

The term, 歡樂今宵, is supposed to be a  happy, joyous term, but Leo gave it new meaning by singing it so nostalgically sad. Two people presumably had a wonderful time, probably only to have fun with each other, but their feelings toward each other became real over the course of one night, though they do not allow themselves to pursue this feeling, perhaps due to possible rejection, which sounds painful.

Now, below are the full lyrics. I tried to translate it as directly (in blue font) as I could without ruining the natural English flow of words.




Lyricist:黃偉文
Composer:黃丹儀
Arranger:黃丹儀

從夢裡伊甸 (From within the Eden dream)
來到我枕邊 ([That] came, arrived [at] my pillow side)
夢與真之間 (Between dream and truth--)
就只差一吋 (Just only falls short of an inch)

要是留著你 (If [I was to] retain you)
真實地糾纏 (Truthfully entangle [ourselves])
怕沒權利以後留戀 ([I] fear [I would have] no right to recall [those memories] fondly afterwards)


情愫與相思 (Feelings and yearning) 
如最愛的書 (Is like the most loved book)
未了那一章 (Not yet [until] that one chapter)
沒翻開的勇氣 (The courage [doesn’t] open up)

故事何樣美 (How beautiful [is that] kind [of] story) 
終極是分離 ([The] ultimate ending is separation)
不敢好奇沾污結尾 (Don’t dare to be curious, smirching the coda/ending)

(CHORUS)

猶如無人敢碰 (As if-- no person dares to collide)
秘密現在被揭曉 ([What is] presently announced [is the] secret )
明日想起 ([When] tomorrow [comes], [I will] recall [that])
我們其實承受不了(We [are] actually unable to bear)

歡樂今宵 (This enjoyable night) 
虛無飄渺 (False, not faintly discernible)
再沒餘地繼續纏繞 ([Don’t have] leeway to continue to twine again)

談情一世 ([By] speaking [of] emotions for a lifetime) 
發現願望極渺小 ([I] discover wish[es] [are] extremely insignificant)
留下一點 (Leaving behind a bit) 
距離回味猶自心跳 ([of] distance, [the] aftertaste still pulses)

歡樂今宵 (This enjoyable night) 
虛無飄渺 (False, not faintly discernible)
那樣動搖不如罷了([with] that kind [of] wavering, it would be better, ceased)

(CHORUS)


歡樂今宵 (This enjoyable night) 
虛無飄渺 (False, not faintly discernible)
那樣動搖不如罷了([with] that kind [of] wavering, it would be better, ceased)


   
Credits:

If you enjoyed the song, consider buying the CD:

Enjoy Yourself Tonight (2018 Reissue Series)

How about the ultimate Leo Ku Karaoke series?
Steel Box Collection - Leo Ku - $13.99
from: YesAsia


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