Friday 23 October 2009

Mack a Witch

I love listening to Chinese songs. Growing up in a Chinese primary school and continuing onto secondary education in a school populated by 99% Chinese, naturally my pop idols included Aaron Kwok (don't laugh), Andy Lau, Leslie Cheung, Emil Chow, to name a few. All my collection of Chinese songs are built through the years, mixing old and new and some songs really do bring back some fond memories.

I like putting my Ipod on shuffle mode because you'll never know what you're going to get and sometimes it can be an old, old song that really melts your heart. Other times, however, it can be a funny song you've never heard of before and you wonder how it ended up being stored on the Ipod to start with. I recently encountered such a song on my way to see Beatrice in Reading on the train.

One common trait of Chinese songs is that most often than not, you find an English phrase or two thrown into the middle of the song, especially the chorus part, for god only knows whatever reason. This song started off being normal (in Chinese) and true to form, in the chorus section, the guy started singing 'Mack a witch, mack a witch' (must say out loud for the effect)..... so I was trying to decide if he was saying that Mack is a witch? or that Mack wants to be a witch? or could he be asking people to Smack the witch? or perhaps Mack should be the witch?

Then it suddenly made sense to me.... he's telling the girl to 'Make a wish'...................

Seriously, if your English is that bad, why bother? Just stick to Chinese, which you're good at?!!

Another classic example, unfortunately, is in one of my all time favourites.

It's a Happy Birthday song and when it comes to the chorus part, naturally, the guy wants to show off his English talent and started singing 'Happy Burstday..... happy burstday to you...... '

I dooooo love my Chinese songs dearly... but I can't help but laugh each time I hear something like that....

It doesn't make me love my Chinese songs any lesser though :)

7 comments:

Doria Robert said...

hahaha..I saw many of crazy English phrases and words from the Internet regarding 'chinese english' and it is hillarious!
but I think since the olympics..the english language and translation is getting better i guess.hehehe!

Audrey Koh said...

hahahahahahhahahhaaaa.... me like!!!
i mack a witch for u lah... what witch u want.

one of the funniest pronunciation blunders i came across was quite ingrained in my filipino ancestry students from the island of pulau gaya.. everytime i asked if they have finished their work... they always reply: Teacher Penis. and i always tell them i dont hve one!!! hahahahhaa... so stop calling me a penis!!!

dont be lazy.. blog girl, blog!!!

Fely said...

hahahahahahaahahahaaa!!! oh my goodness!! that's just priceless!

ash said...

That's hilarious! I'm trying to figure out which song this is. Btw I went to watch the Superband concert in August; one night only in KL. Did you know that Emil Chow (he calls himself Wakin now), Lee Zhong Sheng, Luo Dayou and Zhang Zheng Yue formed a band cos they're sick of the low quality of Chinese songs being churned out now? They're really good! Go look for them on Youtube. Or send me your address on FB I'll mail you a copy of their CD.

SJB aka SUELYN J-B. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SJB aka SUELYN J-B. said...

Hehehe i have perfect video clip for u. Please check my blog (*_*).

PengPeng彬彬 said...

ashley i would loveeeeeee that !!!!!! muaks muaks muaks... will give you my address on FB soon !!!

SJB, that was CLASSIC !!! hahaha... i'm still laughing.

Post a Comment

It is great to read your comments so please feel free to do so.