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Zhang Jie sings Jiang Ziya, the theme song for the animated feature Jiang Ziya/ Legend of Deification. The film is from Coloroom Pictures, the producers of Ne Zha. I love the art style of this film so much and really hope its script matches that of Ne Zha.
In the collab of the decade so far (aka one week), Angela Zhang (she changed her last name to pinyin!) works with dancer-choreographer Yang Liping, director Outerspace-Leo , and singer-songwriter Steelo Zhao Yongxin of M.I.C. for her latest MV – All From Me.
The music video uses choreography and costumes and props from Yang Liping’s dance drama Pingtan Impression, which tells of a battle in the seas with inspirations from the maritime silk road and prehistoric and traditional Pingtan elements.
A good original soundtrack / theme song always makes the drama-watching experience more enjoyable, so I’ve included the theme songs and instrumentals that have really impressed me this year. Which drama soundtracks made an impression on you this year?
Royal Nirvana: Instrumentals by Ah Kun
Seventeen-year-old Zhang Yuqi performs her original English composition, Outside, at the 2020 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony. My little girl is all grown-up. T_T
Up springs the wind, down pours the rain,
Buckwheats getting brown, leaves turning grey.
Here spring fades away, there summer is on the way.
Restless in mind, twirling in time, over the turbulent years.
Don’t panic, don’t be afraid,
of the bitter cold, or of the sunburt days,
of the distress and misery, or of the sowrrow and pain.
Don’t panic, don’t be afraid.
Made popular by Jikejunyi, this soulful Yi song is written by singer-songwriter Mo Xizishi 莫西子诗 . It was first sung by a Yi band here. You can also listen to versions by composer/writer Mo Xizishi as well as Zhou Shen and M.I.C.’s Steelo Zhao, who says he wants to write more songs incorporating his heritage using Yi. Steelo, man, you gotta focus. I’m still clamoring for those Peking opera rap songs that you never wrote.
I found this translation on YouTube and couldn’t figure out who it’s by, but it’s better than anything I could come up with. Which version is your favorite?
Abominable , a collaboration between Dreamworks and Shanghai-based Pearl Studio, is the first animated film available with Chinese dubs across all 4000+ U.S. theater locations through the app Theater Ears. The film is also the first animated film with wide releases worldwide featuring a modern Chinese setting as well as the first major animated film directed, produced, and written by women.
The dubbing for the film in Chinese is done by Zhang Zifeng, Arthur Chen Feiyu, Wan Qian and Cai Ming. The film includes music by Angela Chang (below) and Wang Sulong. Coldplay’s Fix U is the only song that plays in both languages. If you are fairly well-versed in Chinese pop culture, I highly recommend the Chinese dubs as I think it has more jokes and a stronger emotional message. The only main thing you might be missing out is that the English dubs by Chloe Bennet and Tenzing Norgay Trainor had ridiculous romantic chemistry, while the Chinese dubs felt more like brother-sister.
You thought the Vanity Fair photoshoot was it for GQ’s 10th birthday party? Nope, they also have a MV, a short film, and a Fancy Dinner photoshoot. Select guests include Jing Boran, He Jiong, Karlie Kloss, Wang Yaoqing, Duan Yihong, William Chan, Wenqi, Qu Chuxiao, Li Yifeng, Chris Li Yuchun, Li Bingbing, Li Qin, Zhu Yilong, Angelababy, Wang Yibo, He Sui, Tan Jianci, Jing Tian, Li Xian, Liu Haoran, Chloe Maayan, Wang Jingchun, Tong Dawei, Zheng Kai, Cai Xukun and Deng Lun.
I can’t figure out how to upload the photo of the very long dinner table with a lot of people and not that much food, so here’s the link. Here’s their MV featuring some of the guests and the first set of character posters for the short film below the cut:
Zhou Shen sings the beautiful theme song for upcoming xianxia film Jade Dynasty 诛仙. The film, based on the novel of the same name, stars Xiao Zhan (The Untamed) as the ordinary protagonist who gets embroiled in the battle between good and evil and in a love triangle involving Li Qin and Meng Meiqi’s characters.
Ni Ni and Chang Chen’s Love and Destiny 宸汐缘 has finally set a release date for July 15th (this means there’s a 50% chance of it actually being released). The drama released a MV today for its theme song by Zhang Bichen and Zheng Yunlong. From the producers and director of Eternal Love, the drama tells of the love story between the God of War and a maiden destined to bring chaos to the world. [Extended Synopsis]
