サヨンの鐘 / 月光小夜曲 / 每當變幻時

YK’s 2-Cents: 

Oldie but goodie ... a familiar classic in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

How old?  Before WW2 old !!!


The Japanese version 'サヨンの鐘' (莎韻之鐘 or Sayan's Bell) was recorded back in 1941 

- composed by 古賀政男, lyrics by 西条八十, original singer 渡辺はま子, as in this version:

It's based on the story of a native Taiwanese girl Sayan of Yilan province, Taiya tribe, who was born in 1921.  In 1938, during Japanese occupied Taiwan, Sayan was 17 years old.  Her Japanese teacher was being recalled to the Japanese military in the midst of a heavy flood.  Poor Sayan was swept away by the flood while helping her teacher with his luggage.  In the end, only the luggage was recovered.  Her sacrifice was commemorated with a peach shaped bell, called Sayan's Bell. 
Sayan's story was made into a movie "サヨンの歌" by the Japanese in 1941 to be used as propaganda about the patriotism, loyalty and kindred spirits of the native Taiwanese to the Japanese.


In 1964, a Taiwanese version '月光小夜曲' was written; lyrics by 周蓝萍, original singer 紫薇:

月亮在我窗前徜徉　投進了愛的光芒

我低頭靜靜地想一想　猜不透妳心腸

好像今晚月亮一樣　忽明忽暗又忽亮

啊～啊～到底是愛還是心慌　啊～啊～月光

月夜情境像夢一樣　那甜蜜怎能相忘

細語猶在耳邊蕩漾　怎不叫我回想

我怕見那月亮光　抬頭把那窗帘拉上

啊～啊～我心兒醉心兒慌　啊～啊～月光

Later recordings were made by other famous singers:  楊小萍, 陳芬蘭, 鳳飛飛, 蔡琴, 徐小鳳, 余天, etc.  

As I find her voice to be the most unique, here's the version by 陳芬蘭:

 In 1977, a Cantonese version '每當變幻時' was made, lyrics by 盧國沾:

懷緬過去,常陶醉一半樂事,一半令人流淚

夢如人生　快樂永記取 悲苦深刻藏骨髓

韶華去　四季暗中追隨 

逝去了的都已逝去　啊啊 

常見明月掛天邊 每當變幻時　便知時光去 

懷緬過去常陶醉 想到舊事　歡笑面上流淚 

夢如人生　試問誰能料 石頭他朝成翡翠 

如情侶　你我有心追隨 遇到半點風雨便思退　啊啊 

常見紅日照東方 每當變夕陽　便知時光去 

Despite subsequent recordings by 許冠英,麥潔明,張慧,葉麗儀,袁麗嫦,鄭錦昌, etc, the version by the lovely original singer 薰妮 remains the most popular:

Most recently in 2007, it was used as the theme song of the movie of the same title '每當變幻時', sung by the lead actress herself 楊千嬅:

As a fan of the movie  '每當變幻時' (Hooked On You), this is of course my favorite version because of how it perfectly matches the mood of the movie.
It's a timeless classic that certainly needs no revival.