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Nanyin in Hong Kong (Audio)
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- Excerpt from “The Eight Immortals' Birthday Greeting” sung by Dou Wun, the blind singer (“gush...
Professor Bell Yung commissioned the blind artist to sing at the Fu Lung Teahouse in Sheung Wan from 11th March to 26th June in 1975. A total of 42 recordings of Nanyin and Longzhou have been made as a result.
This was the first song when Dou Wun learned to sing nanyin, and the recording was made at Fu Lung Teahouse in 1975.
Lyrics of The Eight Immortals' Birthday Greeting (Excerpt):
My honoured guests, today let me beg your leave again to irk your fortune-filled ears. Well, please bear with me, so after I’ve irked your fortune-filled ears, you will make heaps of money fast, and your business will prosper smoothly. On top of that, your family will be together always, and happy times will be here to stay for a hundred autumns. Today the song I’m going to sing is called the Eight Immortals’ Birthday Greeting, which was the first song I learned, and the first that my master taught me. Mr. Yung* has asked me to sing this one today, so please let me make some noise, and hope after listening to this, everything will go smoothly for you.
(Editor's note: “Mr. Yung” refers to Professor Bell Yung)
- Excerpt from “The Eight Immortals' Birthday Greeting” sung by Dou Wun, the blind singer (“gush...
Professor Bell Yung commissioned the blind artist to sing at the Fu Lung Teahouse in Sheung Wan from 11th March to 26th June in 1975. A total of 42 recordings of Nanyin and Longzhou have been made as a result.
This was the first song when Dou Wun learned to sing nanyin, and the recording was made at Fu Lung Teahouse in 1975.
Lyrics of The Eight Immortals' Birthday Greeting (Excerpt):
Now here come Zhongli of Han Dynasty and Cao the Royal Brother-in-Law;
Who bestow good fortune, high positions in the civil service and longevity.
Guaili, Li Tieguai, and Zhang Guolao
Play the flute and the strings to make sweet music.
Lan Caihe, together with Han Xiangzi
Carry a clapper and a gourd, so flashy are they.
Lü Dongbin writes a poem with an ink brush;
Then it’s the fairy, He Xiangu’s turn to present the magical gifts.
Look! This gift is the robe of longevity,
Made of longevity silk by celestial maidens;
A wish for a long life and everlasting youth,
A life as unending as the ever-rising heights of the Southern Mountain.
I wish your family high positions in the civil service for generations to come,
All blessed with prosperity and successful enterprise.
- Excerpt from “The Eight Immortals' Birthday Greeting” sung by Dou Wun, the blind singer (“gush...
Professor Bell Yung commissioned the blind artist to sing at the Fu Lung Teahouse in Sheung Wan from 11th March to 26th June in 1975. A total of 42 recordings of Nanyin and Longzhou have been made as a result.
This was the first song when Dou Wun learned to sing nanyin, and the recording was made at Fu Lung Teahouse in 1975.
Lyrics of The Eight Immortals' Birthday Greeting (Excerpt):
Good news comes in three and more:
A unicorn-sent baby son is born in the room,
Surely a bundle of good fortune and a future hero,
His name to be remembered and celebrated in eternity.
Here at this teahouse, I wish you all the good things.
May your good fortune grow,
And luck will come your way after listening to this song.
May good fortune come your way;
And after listening to this song, you’ll fare the same as its protagonist of ancient times.