The Song's Lyrics
The first thing that struck me about the lyrics to this sung was that it was sung entirely in Taiwanese. Thinking back on the class lectures about how folk music transitioned into modern, popular music, much of the discussion seemed to surround upon the establishing of a national identity that is unique compared to the surrounding nations and peoples. Thus, "[m]usic, as a human product, can never be separated from its contexts or the cultural traditions and social ideology that inform it. The development of music in Taiwan is no exception"(3).
The lyrics of Island's Sunrise, I believe, reveal that Taiwan's musical history continues to unfold as the students struggle to have their voices heard. It is significant that the lyrics are sung in Taiwanese, the national dialect (or arguably, the language) of the Taiwan people as a means to promote unity in this national cause. Furthermore, I would argue that the song IS an establishing of a Taiwanese identity, emerging from "400 years of history, [being] occupied by the Dutch, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese, whose cultures have exerted a considerable influence on Taiwanese traditions..."(9). Taiwan has had a history of needing to establish their own identity, "being more an imagined state than others in the world, being neither independent nor unified"(9).
This evolving establishment of Taiwan's national identity is revealed in the Sunflower Student Movement. The lyrics represent the nation's young and educated generation beginning to increasingly identify themselves as "Taiwanese" and want to be recognized for it. They boldly proclaim that "I must fight those unforgivable ones" and that "today is the day for the brave Taiwanese". Together, the two statements convey a sense of individual responsibility for seeing the country be heard by their ruling party. The rally cries heard in both the song and the movement "that has sparked intense debate within Taiwanese society and attracted the attention of an otherwise indifferent foreign media" are hardly sudden(8), having been fueled by decades of localization beginning most directly from the 1970s and 1980s. Localization, "a political term used within Taiwan to support the view of Taiwan as a unique place, rather than as solely an appendage to mainland China", led to a focus on "[decreasing]...cultural ties with mainland China in favour of local Taiwanese culture"(9). The focus on local Taiwanese culture involved the local aboriginals and promoting multiculturalism. As such, the "history of this music is underpinned by its changing responses to the political ideologies of different periods, and is mediated by the state"(9).
With the lifting of the Taiwanese martial law in 1987, there came increasing support across the decades for preserving "tribal music in popular culture", and with it, Taiwanese dialect popular songs were no longer stereotyped and given a subordinate position in Taiwan's culture (9). In fact, artists were soon expected to produce albums using the native Taiwanese dialect, Southern Fujianese, for instance. The evolution of popular music from 1987-1990 "was apparent at the Taipei New Music Festival in the music of Blacklist Workshop, which was formerly regarded as unconventional and antisocial. This helped to define a new indigenous Taiwanese ethos for the new generation...The social criticism expressed by Blacklist Workshop was welcomed by college students and middle-class youth, and their album was hailed by the media as representing new Taiwanese songs"(9). With over 70% of the population speaking Taiwanese by this point, Taiwanese music was allowed to flourish and artists were allowed to freely transition between Mandarin (the initially supported language historically) and Taiwanese(9). Taiwanese music became further popularized in the early 2000s as they were heard during election campaigns; "[m]any campaign rallies even featured a lively mix of singing and dancing in a bid to attract younger voters"(9), revealing just how far reaching Taiwanese popular music had become.
Thus, it really is to no surprise that the lyrics of the song reveal the continuing struggle to establish a Taiwan identity and the language of the song (as sung in Taiwanese!) seems to celebrate what has already been accomplished beginning in the 1970s and 1980s. It's also important to note how the opening of the YouTube clip begins with a call-and-response rally cry in Mandarin, despite the song being sung in Taiwanese. Since 1949 with the establishment of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the two sides of the straight have been in contention regarding just how autonomous Taiwan is. The Sunflower Student Movement is a manifestation of the decades of tension that have resulted from the fragile political ties. It's worth it to recognize that the lyrics of the song, aside from the opening chant, make no mention of the actual reason for protest, but rather, conveys a message of "sing it out loud / Until the rays of hope / Shines upon everyone on this island", referring to the protest will go on until the Taiwanese identity is established. To me, hearing the call-and-response in Mandarin, then, is a means for them to communicate to Mainland China that what they want is beyond just demanding a trade pact to be reviewed, but rather a bigger picture demand of Taiwan to be recognized as a nation independent from China.
The lyrics of Island's Sunrise, I believe, reveal that Taiwan's musical history continues to unfold as the students struggle to have their voices heard. It is significant that the lyrics are sung in Taiwanese, the national dialect (or arguably, the language) of the Taiwan people as a means to promote unity in this national cause. Furthermore, I would argue that the song IS an establishing of a Taiwanese identity, emerging from "400 years of history, [being] occupied by the Dutch, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese, whose cultures have exerted a considerable influence on Taiwanese traditions..."(9). Taiwan has had a history of needing to establish their own identity, "being more an imagined state than others in the world, being neither independent nor unified"(9).
This evolving establishment of Taiwan's national identity is revealed in the Sunflower Student Movement. The lyrics represent the nation's young and educated generation beginning to increasingly identify themselves as "Taiwanese" and want to be recognized for it. They boldly proclaim that "I must fight those unforgivable ones" and that "today is the day for the brave Taiwanese". Together, the two statements convey a sense of individual responsibility for seeing the country be heard by their ruling party. The rally cries heard in both the song and the movement "that has sparked intense debate within Taiwanese society and attracted the attention of an otherwise indifferent foreign media" are hardly sudden(8), having been fueled by decades of localization beginning most directly from the 1970s and 1980s. Localization, "a political term used within Taiwan to support the view of Taiwan as a unique place, rather than as solely an appendage to mainland China", led to a focus on "[decreasing]...cultural ties with mainland China in favour of local Taiwanese culture"(9). The focus on local Taiwanese culture involved the local aboriginals and promoting multiculturalism. As such, the "history of this music is underpinned by its changing responses to the political ideologies of different periods, and is mediated by the state"(9).
With the lifting of the Taiwanese martial law in 1987, there came increasing support across the decades for preserving "tribal music in popular culture", and with it, Taiwanese dialect popular songs were no longer stereotyped and given a subordinate position in Taiwan's culture (9). In fact, artists were soon expected to produce albums using the native Taiwanese dialect, Southern Fujianese, for instance. The evolution of popular music from 1987-1990 "was apparent at the Taipei New Music Festival in the music of Blacklist Workshop, which was formerly regarded as unconventional and antisocial. This helped to define a new indigenous Taiwanese ethos for the new generation...The social criticism expressed by Blacklist Workshop was welcomed by college students and middle-class youth, and their album was hailed by the media as representing new Taiwanese songs"(9). With over 70% of the population speaking Taiwanese by this point, Taiwanese music was allowed to flourish and artists were allowed to freely transition between Mandarin (the initially supported language historically) and Taiwanese(9). Taiwanese music became further popularized in the early 2000s as they were heard during election campaigns; "[m]any campaign rallies even featured a lively mix of singing and dancing in a bid to attract younger voters"(9), revealing just how far reaching Taiwanese popular music had become.
Thus, it really is to no surprise that the lyrics of the song reveal the continuing struggle to establish a Taiwan identity and the language of the song (as sung in Taiwanese!) seems to celebrate what has already been accomplished beginning in the 1970s and 1980s. It's also important to note how the opening of the YouTube clip begins with a call-and-response rally cry in Mandarin, despite the song being sung in Taiwanese. Since 1949 with the establishment of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the two sides of the straight have been in contention regarding just how autonomous Taiwan is. The Sunflower Student Movement is a manifestation of the decades of tension that have resulted from the fragile political ties. It's worth it to recognize that the lyrics of the song, aside from the opening chant, make no mention of the actual reason for protest, but rather, conveys a message of "sing it out loud / Until the rays of hope / Shines upon everyone on this island", referring to the protest will go on until the Taiwanese identity is established. To me, hearing the call-and-response in Mandarin, then, is a means for them to communicate to Mainland China that what they want is beyond just demanding a trade pact to be reviewed, but rather a bigger picture demand of Taiwan to be recognized as a nation independent from China.
Lyrics courtesy of Mojim.com
親愛的媽媽 請你毋通煩惱我
原諒我 行袂開跤 我欲去對抗袂當原諒的人 歹勢啦 愛人啊 袂當陪你去看電影 原諒我 行袂開跤 我欲去對抗欺負咱的人 天色漸漸光 遮有一陣人 為了守護咱的夢 成做更加勇敢的人 天色漸漸光 已經不再驚惶 現在就是彼一工 換阮做守護恁的人 已經袂記哩 是第幾工 請毋通煩惱我 因為阮知影 無行過寒冬 袂有花開的彼一工 天色漸漸光 天色漸漸光 更多更詳盡歌詞 在 已經是更加勇敢的人 天色漸漸光 咱就大聲來唱著歌 一直到希望的光線 照著島嶼每一個人 天色漸漸光 咱就大聲來唱著歌 日頭一(足百)上山 就會使轉去啦 天色漸漸光 咱就大聲來唱著歌 一直到希望的光線 照著島嶼每一個人 天色漸漸光 咱就大聲來唱著歌 日頭一(足百)上山 就會使轉去啦 現在是彼一工 勇敢的台灣人 |
Dear mother, please don't worry
Forgive me, I cannot leave Cause I must fight those unforgivable ones I'm sorry, my love I cannot go to the movies with you Forgive me, cause I cannot leave I must fight the ones that are making us bleed Dawn is near There are people here Who resolve to protect our dreams And thus vow to become stronger than before Dawn is near Don't be afraid Today is the day That I protect you for a change The days seem endless, but please don't worry Because I know That when winter comes, spring shall soon arrive Dawn is near Dawn is near We are braver than before Dawn is near Let's sing it out loud Until the rays of hope Shines upon everyone on this island Dawn is near Let's sing it out loud Once the sun reaches the mountain Then it's time to go home Dawn is near Let's sing it out loud Until the rays of hope Shines upon everyone on this island Dawn is near Let's sing it out loud Once the sun reaches the mountain Then it's time to go home Today is the day For the brave Taiwanese |