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A FAYE WONG SITE SPECIAL |
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LOVE FOR STRANGERS ONLY - FAYE WONG |
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RELEASE DATE : 10.9.99 |
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SONG LIST |
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English Translations of Songs
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THE ALBUM AND ITS INGREDIENTS |
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Executive
Producer - A Production House Ltd. Producer - Alvin Leong Production
Co-ordinator - Tommy Chui Mastering Engineer - Anthony Yeung
using the HDCD model one processor Marketing/Promotion Consultant - Grace
Kwo/Chiu Li Kuang Image Direction - Tomas Chan Computer
Graphics/Graphic Design and Jacket Production - (I can't read the Chinese words) Photographer
- Cheung Man Wah Make Up - Zing
Hair Stylist - Elaine Wong (Head Quarters) Music
Video Director - Susie Au Artist Manager - Katie Chan |
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THE 53:29 OF TRACK PLAY |
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Overall, the album was indeed one that left many a Fayenatic gasping for more.
With such a powerful and atmospheric introduction to this rather pinkish covered album,
the contents of this album is indeed ear candy in the form of hard sweets that needs to be
tasted with the tongue. Truly the songs cannot be termed as melt in the mouth. Songs such
as the first track with Faye's vocal rasped and edited, her voice sounded extremely raw
and oozing sexuality like the micro mini she wore in this album. Detractors will say they wish they never heard that song, but they just can't appreciate its beauty. What's alarming is how she manages to convey the other wise senseless lyrics that talk about ants with eyes and noses and being beautiful. But just like what Faye said, what does it really matter? So now let me do the honor of ripping open Love For Strangers Only. |
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IMAGE AND ART DIRECTION | |
The people were so stingy. I am saying this as the packaging of this album isn't
as great as Songs of Wanderlust. One thing the lyrics were on a piece of paper nearly a
quarter the size of A4 paper. But it too has its advantages, I find it faster to look for
the lyrics of a song. The album comes in a twin CD package. Now I am cursing EMI, why do
not they just put 2 different CD cases? It'll fit much easier in my CD Rack, now I intend
to buy boxes instead... :) Anyway the packaging is okay, I like the iridescent word
titles. The surface of the audio CD is so simple. Its black with system words on it. Very
back to basic. Very Ryuichi Sakamoto. And the VCD also takes on a similar approach! With Faye still under Zing, her image this time isn't as interesting as her previous pink streak. Faye goes for a more Mod Retro look. Very rocky chick influenced. Even Tomas Chan chose apparel such as micro minis, zebra printed pants worn with the socks and heel only combo (remember the Malaysian Concert?) I like the way she paired the translucent top with retro jeans and stilettos. Cool. Extremely. |
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OVERLY IMAGINATIVE LYRICS AND THEIR MYSTIQUE | |
Ok, this write up is
done by Ms Lang... it's her FIRST. It's quite an interesting read and we hope that you
people might enjoy it!
Kai Dao Tu Mi
/ Lyrics : Lin Xi Tu Mi : A white fragrant climbing plant of the Rose Family. It blossoms last during Summer and its stem is very thorny. It's a very petite and small flower. So the phrase, Xin Hua Nu Fang, Que Kai Dao Tu Mi. It might mean that, that's a very BIIIIIIG "might", (this is according to Ms Lang) : She see it as someone's heart ablaze with happiness and yet it can only blossom into a small thorny fragrant flower. It might be an irony or just a metaphor. But again her lyrics are best eaten in their original unaltered form - the Lin Xi way. I prefer Lang's translations. They are not so deep yet still pass on the idea of the song! Translation by Ms Lang
Edited by Sianz.!NC Every One, when sad will cry There's too much, too many
Temptations What else is there to be
Hysterical about? Who has caused this heinous
harm? When finally all that is
left is yourself I'll doubt whoever gave me
the Universe Who is prettier? No Big Deal Every ant with Whom it
brushes past |
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THE BIASED REVIEW |
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Track 1 : Kai Dao Tu Mi Music and Arrangement : ! ! ! ! ! out of 5 exclamations Vocals : ! ! ! ! ! Lyrics : ! ! ! ! ! Sianz: Vocal rasping at its best! Totally fell in love with this song. I smiled while I listened to my headphones! This is what Faye wanted to do all this while. Her vocals are totally angst ridden. And like an angry banshee in her last outing, Songs of Wanderlust, she has proven it again. Enough of average music! She has variegated perfectly strings from the orchestra conducted by San Bao with drums by Davy Chan. This infusion might not be a treat to people who have been listening too much to ballads such as Red beans or Quitting Halfway! Lin Xi did hell with the lyrics weaving again a cluster of stanzas that don't really mean sense and yet its thought provoking! Well done, Faye! Track 2 : The Moon Then Track 3 : Hypnotize Track 4 : Love For Strangers Only Track 5 : Century of Loneliness Track 6 : Butterflies Track 7 : Passing Clouds Track 8 : After the Beep Track 9 : Overthrow Track 10 : Exciting |
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OTHER REVIEWS | |
IWEEKLY
- SINGAPORE Reviewed by Chen Bao Zhu From the childlike intonations of "You're Happy So I'm Happy" to the futuristic electronica attempts in "Songs of Wanderlust", Faye has never been as spectacular as in her latest album. From her novel image to the glam rock-style music, Faye has definitely become more sexy and alluring. Contrary to popular expectations, Faye has not descended into a creative block after her divorce from husband Dou Wei. My favourite track is the alternative "Beauty With Time", composer C.Y. Kong's use of acoustic surround effects (reminiscent of the seventies) complementing Faye's hysterical 'Sakura-style' (Sakura is a seventies Chinese singer) vocals and Lin Xi's forthright and utterly refreshing lyrics, the overall effect being a pleasant shock to the senses. In the tradition of "Red Bean" and "I Don't Want To Be This Way", the album contains similar songs like "The Moon Then" and "Butterfly". Just a phrase here to describe them: melodious and spellbinding. In comparison to "Butterfly", "Postman"'s lyrics are rather more touching, in the vein of "Date"'s tragic beauty. I like "The Passing Clouds" and the light guitar-accompanied "Overthrow", the former reminding one of Faye's precise operatic maneuvers in "Face" and the latter sung in a languidly peaceful manner. Due to the extensive use of percussion in "Only Love Strangers", the song feels like a Caribbean ballad, enlivened by little Jing Tong'scute giggles in the chorus. Compared to Zhang Ya Dong's lackadaisical version, Faye sounds refreshingly comfortable, having none of the "broken-marriage" laments that people would 'hate' to hear. Reviewing the whole album, "Only Love Strangers" has inherited the post-modernistic tendencies of "Sing & Play", kept to the usual high standard, but lacks new elements. 8DAYS - SINGAPORE Reviewed by Louis Sung Only Love Strangers Faye Wong (EMI) This is undoubtedly Faye Wong's most successful attempt at marrying indie sensibility with mainstream appeal. The idea itself is nothing new; after all, Faye's been at it since her '94 Random Thoughts album. But what's amazing about her latest release is the ease and assuredness she and her producers have done in walking the tightrope between it being listen-able and pushing the musical envelope. The album opens with 'Beauty With Time', a psychedelic number heavy on reverb and digital distortion. Surprisingly, this is followed by the sweet-sounding 'The Moonlight Then'. Things then really pick up with 'Hypnosis', a hip synth-driven track laced with a shange (mountain folksong)-like chorus. Equally riveting is the title track, a laidback tune enlivened by her daughter TongTong's "Come on baby" punctuations and angelic laughter. It is remarkable how the album effortlessly lines up one excellent tract after another, such as the wrenching folk ballad, 'Overturn', and of course, the hi-techno-ish 'Exciting'. My personal favorite, if I'm forced to choose one, is the Cantonese track - one of two here - entitled 'Postman'. A sequel of sorts to her earlier hit, 'Appointment', it comes complete with thought-provoking lyrics by Lin Xi. Throughout the album, Faye's vocals shimmer with their trademark crystalline timbre, made edgier by an undercurrent of nervous energy and a slight tinge of hysteria. Definitely the best Chinese pop album to emerge this year. Lovers is vintage Wong LOVERS AND STRANGERS ON ITS first day of release, this Mandarin album sold 20,000 copies. It looks set to go double platinum within the next week. (In Singapore, a platinum record accounts for 15,000 copies in sales.) You don't expect anything less from Faye Wong. She may be estranged from husband Dou Wei but his presence is still felt in this album. Her taste in welding Western-Eastern music elements is strongly influenced by the talented Dou. One needs a good mentor to break new ground and try new things. Wong may need to look for new inspiration after this album. She is blessed with a clear-as-crystal voice that is unaffected by smoking, and not aged by motherhood. She sounds almost like a starry-eyed teenager in track 4, Lovers And Strangers. This soothing number, featuring excellent music arrangement from composer Zhang Yadong as well as the voice of little Jing Tong, Wong's daughter, should transport you to a tranquil island. Track 2, Once In A Blue Moon, is soft as a whisper and makes you reminisce about some past regrets. Take note of how Wong interprets the same words differently as the song goes on. Track 10, Fantastic (written for a Pepsi commercial), may be the most talked-about number, but she mentioned publicly that it is her most unsatisfactory composition. She also once claimed that she won't record another Cantonese album, so the last two tracks are to appease Hongkong listeners. Both these Cantonese songs are as good as the Mandarin equivalents, thanks to Lin Xi. If you can accept Wong's love for avant-garde stuff, track 1's The Last Blossom and track 3's Hypnotise should provide good listening, although you may sometimes not understand her slurring without referring to the lyric sheet. |
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THE BONUS VCD PACKAGE |
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The Love For Strangers Only CD comes with a bonus VCD. In it there are the Spectacular MTV, the Pepsi Commercial - Wishes and The Making of Pepsi Commercial - Wishes. Above are just but some of the screen shot of the 6 min long video! I simply love the video as it tells the making of the Pepsi Ad and Faye is so lively (as usual) and very hyperactive! But there were some shots when she looked so bored. She certainly had lots of fun doing the commercial. Faye looks so cute in these 2 shots? Hehe.. She is very playful. |
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PICTURES, PROMOTIONS AND MUSIC VIDEOS |
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Music Video Downloads Passing Clouds | Exciting | Moon Then (4 Faye Version) | Moon Then (5 Faye Version | Century Of Loneliness Music Video Screen Shots The Moon Then Century of
Loneliness MTV Heart, Wind, belongs to the Sky This might be a message that says the bag that she is clutching so tightly contains the heart that she might have stolen from someone. The above stanzas might bring evidence as to why Faye is holding on to the bag so tightly. *anyway these are just my views* Anyway just enjoy the MTV. Promotion None Animations Made By Sianz Pictures (edited by Sianz.!NC)
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WORDS + LYRICS |
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All Translations by Eric Yap unless stated otherwise. Edited by Sianz.!NC View HYPY Lyrics Here (my personal fave!) OPEN THE "TU MI" Every Ant has eyes and noses, THE MOON AT THAT
MOMENT (trans. by Kat) At that time we're listening
to music HYPNOTIZE First taste of cake ONLY LOVE
STRANGERS (trans. by Ming Chuen) I fall in love with a scar CENTURY OF LONELINESS lyrics by Lin Xi Heart, BUTTERFLY Lips have not yet opened, AFTER THE BEEP Leave a message, Leave a
message, OVERTHROW I thought innocence was the answer to
everything, SPECTACULAR Better to prepare yourself GUARDING THE WHEAT FIELD Wind, blows across the wheat field, POSTMAN Until the fine snow flies down, |
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OTHER LINKS |
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Exit - a Faye Site >
Only Love Strangers The first page for Love for Strangers Only. Do visit it. Done by Megan. |
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THE END |
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LAST UPDATED - SEPTEMBER 16 |
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LOVE FOR STRANGERS ONLY |
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A FAYE WONG SITE SPECIAL |
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back to the site - https://members.tripod.com/sianz/faye.html |
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