《你們的幸福》is a music album of Kay Tse (謝安琪),
released in 2011. The album concept is to rethink the meaning of happiness in
the present Hong Kong. In the album, there are eleven songs reflecting different
social issues and existing values in our society. Among the songs, most are
written, composed and produced by Adrian
Chow (周博賢) who is a talented musician known for making songs which
criticize problems in the modern society. The collaboration of Kay Tse and
Adrian Chow brings audiences to review their lives and their societies regarding
the notion of happiness.
The word “happiness” is an abstract term. Different
people may understand it in various ways or standards. Some may believe that having
a stable career, steady relationships and sufficient amount of leisure time
define “happiness”. It is considered under a personal and micro perspective. Nevertheless,
the meaning
of happiness is discussed from a macro perspective in
the album. Through
meaningful lyrics and catchy rhythm, it invites audiences to rethink current
cultural value from some social phenomenon as well as to discover alternative understanding
of bliss missed in their lives.
“你們的幸福”, with the same name as the album,
is a song written by Albert Leung (林夕).
It is one of the favorite songs throughout the album. With direct and poetical lyrics,
the song speaks to audiences and leads out a question − “does
ignorance equal to one’s bliss?” In present days, lots of people may choose to
overlook the existing problems in the society. They work hard and play hard,
creating a busy and packed life for themselves. It does not allow a slight time
gap for them to face the problems, preventing them from being hurt. It seems
that being fully occupied and ignorance is a sort of happiness that people
strive for. However, based upon ignorance of social problems, its worthiness
and trueness is questioned. Meanwhile, an idea of the alternative bliss based
on a better world is emerged in mind.
Following after the question, there are songs
presenting some rising social issues in the album. There are two songs, “潔淨皇后” and “浮雲”, revealing
the difficulties in making a living faced by new immigrants from the Mainland
China, criticizing the discrimination and hatred unconsciously embedded in
local community towards them. Besides, “溫室” is a song reflecting the problematic parenting to younger
generation in modern families. It points out the notion of rising appearance of “monster parents”
and “princes and princesses”.
In addition, the album keeps a high level of integrity.
“十二月二十” and “十二月二十二” are
the first and the last songs in the album. Through an imagined story about before
and after the end of the world, the
first song aims to examine class inequality and injustice in the society. In the
meantime, the last song reminds audiences of the closeness and simplicity of
happiness which could be.
Throughout the album,
the notion of happiness is implicitly discussed in both personal and social
ways. Nonetheless, Kay Tse has mentioned that there is no absolute definition
of happiness in the album. Its meaning depends on audiences’ reading and interpretation
of the songs. It is hoped that audiences can discover their own understanding
of what true and meaningful happiness is and rethink their present lives and society
after listening to the album.
(553 words)
Fong Ching Ting Janice (10519289 / 21233872)
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