predestiny

predestiny
music/arrangement: Dick Lee
lyrics: Richard Lam

in the end of spring, beauty subsides
falling petals and dying souls
cross paths unknowingly.....

it's an unexplainable impression
as if I can foretell we'll be together like this
as if I've known you for a very long time

as if I've seen your bare shoulders before
as if I've kissed behind your neck before
on this naked night
the wildest fantasies take flight

your appearance might have changed
but I can feel somewhere in my previous life
drifting in some unknown space and time
I must have been with you like this before

as if I've been waiting for you all my life
as if I've been waiting for you all my life
can you tell me whether you feel the same way too
at one point you've been away
but we have been in love for millenniums

like a story of reincarnation
without revealing a single word
yet I can foretell it'll move me like this
as if I've known you are my direction
as if our encounter has been predestined
as if in some unknown space and time
I must have been with you like this before

as if I've been waiting for you all my life
as if I've been waiting for you all my life
can you tell me whether you feel the same way too

words cannot describe, no one can alter
we have gone beyond all limits of space and time

it is you who rekindle the feelings from my previous life
like the aroma of your perspiration
despite your departure
it will always stay on my burning lips

as if I've known in a particular segment of time
I must have been with you like this before
as if I've been waiting for you all my life
as if I've been waiting for you all my life
can you tell me whether you feel the same way too

as if I've been waiting for you all my life
as if I've been waiting for you all my life
can you tell me whether you feel the same way too
let's continue the unfinished story of our previous lives
let's fall in love
let's carry on the dreams of our previous lives
let's caress
let's perspire the way we did in our previous lives
let's lose our minds
let's reiterate the bedside whispers of our previous lives
let's say
as if my long hair is resting
on a dark night of our previous lives
and cascading down
if you can still understand the heartfelt words of this lifetime
let's lie down
_________________________________

再生戀
曲/編曲: Dick Lee
詞: 林振強

一朝春盡紅顏老
花落人亡兩不知 沒法解釋的印象
像已知必須這樣
共你彷彿早己像相識那樣
像見過的肩膊上 像吻過的頸背上
在這赤裸的晚上載著狂想 !
外表你或已改變 但總覺在這生前
盪於某段時空裡曾共你這樣 !

像一生等你 ! 像一生等你 !
可否講我知你的感覺也跟我一樣
(曾遠離曾共相戀千年長)

像個再生的故事 未有說出一個字...
但已仿彿知會是震撼如此 !
像知你是我方向 像早註定這一場
像知某段時空裡曾共你這樣 !

Words cannot describe, no one can alter...
We have gone beyond all limits of space and time...

是你勾起隔世感覺 猶如汗香
縱別離後都居於熾熱唇上 啊....
像知某段時空裡曾共你這樣 !

和我來延續他生的事吧... 愛吧... !
和我來重造他生的夢吧... 戀吧... !
和我來重滴他生的汗吧... 瘋吧... !
和我來重述他生的夢話... 講吧... !
長髮仍如在他生黑夜下, 散下...
如你仍明白今生心內話, 躺吧...

temptation of the roses

temptation of the roses
music: 鄺天培
lyrics: 周聰
arrangement: Dick Lee, Gary Tong

whenever I ask what is on your mind
you never tell me
if you really love roses
you shouldn't be afraid of their thorns

whenever I ask you what are you looking for
you always look at me
if you are determined
you shouldn't be afraid of rejections

life is fleeting like a dream
joyful moments are few and far in-between
with the perfect time and setting
don't you miss the chance lightly
the pale, murky moonlight
is hard to see clearly
do you really lack the courage to love me

whenever i ask you what are you looking for
you always look at me
if you are determined
why don't you tell me explicitly

translation: memories.blossom@gmail.com
__________________

薔薇之戀
曲: 鄺天培
詞: 周聰
編曲: Dick Lee, 唐亦聰

我問你想甚麼
你總不對我說
你要是愛薔薇
那怕薔薇刺多
我問你要甚麼
你總是看著我
你要是一條心
那怕會受折磨

浮生若夢
為歡幾何
良辰美景
不要錯過
迷朦的月色
看不清楚
難道你不敢愛我

我問你愛甚麼
你總是看著我
你要是愛薔薇
為何不說清楚

moonflower

moonflower
music/lyrics: 金玉谷
arrangement: Dick Lee, 陳澤忠
additional music by Dick Lee
additional lyrics by 周耀輝

like silk, winding
like water, ever-changing
like the fragrance of flowers silently rushing into his embrace

for him, I've fallen
for him, I'll bloom in my best colours all through my life
like him, who has helped me find myself, so different than before

moonflower, I'll sing for you
moonflower, I'll think of you
I'll sing for you, I'll think of you

like wind, like goddess
like awake, like enchanted
like the stigma of flowers gently caressing his ear

for him, I'm spellbound
like the way he said bravo time and time again
it's him who has let me be myself, so differently than before

the flowers are blossoming and smiling
the flowers are pridefully smiling
the flowers are bashfully smiling
the flowers blossom while she smiles
as if she is calling
she has finally arrived

translation: memories.blossom@gmail.com
_______________________

夜來香
曲/詞 金玉谷
編曲 Dick Lee, 陳澤忠
additional music by Dick Lee
additional lyrics by 周耀輝

如絲 裊繞 如水 百千
如花的香氣偷偷撲入他裡邊

為他 醉倒 為他開一生的美好
如他令我找到自我不再是我

夜來香... 我為你歌唱
夜來香... 我為你思量
Ah... 我為你歌唱 我為你思量

如風 似仙 如醒 似顛
如花的觸角輕輕戲弄他耳邊

為他 醉倒 如他一聲聲的叫好
是我令他使我自我不再是我

花開花在笑
花招展地笑
花嬌羞地笑
花開她在笑
她彷彿在叫
她終於來了

waterlilies

waterlilies
music: Dick Lee
lyrics: Thomas Chow
arrangement: Roel Garcia

the cattleya sighs at midnight
silently a few drops of dew convene and trickle
a pond lily suddenly awakes
still trying to recollect her unfinished dreams

I wholeheartedly love the beauty of flowers
I wholeheartedly love their pervasive aromas
I wholeheartedly love you being next me
I am so spellbound as helplessly as a paeonia

the moonlight outshines all other colours
as if the carnations are weaving a quilt
and the roses are chanting quietly
praising the atmosphere of love

the beauty of flowers is so poetic
my heart is filled with the spirits of spring
I only hope you can understand the reason
regardless of year and season

the colours of flowers, I'll give you all
the colours of flowers, I'll give you
the colours of flowers, I'll give you all
my dear, cherish, please try to cherish

white as a wild chrysanthemum
purple as an oriental orchid
crimson as a daphne
I still hope you can handle with care
I hope you can preserve the purity of flowers
I hope you can keep them from harm
I hope you can love me who is right beside you
regardless of year and season

the colours of flowers, I'll give you all
the colours of flowers, I'll give you
the colours of flowers, I'll give you all
my dear, come and cherish
the colours of flowers, I'll give you all
the colours of flowers, I'll give you
the colours of flowers, I'll give you all
my dear, please revere
my love, please treasure

my dear, please cherish

translation: memories.blossom@gmail.com
______________________

花之色
曲: Dick Lee
詞: 周禮茂
編曲: Roel Garcia

惠蘭夜半暱 露兒聚暗滴
睡蓮驟醒了 還是夢裡憶
心愛是花美 心愛透香的花氣
心愛我身邊的你 心醉也像芍藥無力

月兒艷眾色 康乃馨編織
薔薇在低唱 吟泳愛氣息
花意盡詩意 心意帶一點春意
只盼你可知所以 不要理何年何夕

花之色 我都送給你
花之色 贈你
花之色 我都送給你
親愛的 請愛惜 請你珍惜

白如白野菊 紫似紫荊色
艷紅若丹桂 還待你愛惜
請你護花潔 請你愛花不輕折
請你愛身邊的我 不要記何年何夕

花之色 我都送給你
花之色 贈你
花之色 我都送給你
親愛的 來珍惜
心之色 我都送給你
心之色 贈你 Oh...
心之色 我都送給你
親愛的 請愛惜
My Love 請痛惜

親愛的來珍惜 愛惜

seed of love

seed of love
music/arrangement: Andrew Tuason
lyrics: Lin Xi

in your eyes, who can understand more than I
a fully-bloomed one night stand can be so intense
in my eyes, I no longer have any innocent dreams
how can the seeds of love be found on barren lands

I wasn't born to be sheltered by love
because of you, I've lost control

indeed I know, there isn't any love
that can stay fragrant for a lifetime
with a sense of rootlessness, I still want to say
I wish I could share my heart with you for a lifetime
set me aflame
and let the wildflower in my heart blossom more beautifully
(my eyes, like a wildflower)

it's hard to bear fruit
and no one can possess it exclusively
even if the flower is blooming as crimson as blood
yet only you can understand
I can still be touched by love
you are my beautiful sunshine and clear skies

the colours of my mind only resemble yours
our hearts would ache for the setting sun

translation: memories.blossom@gmail.com
_________________

一輩子心情
曲/編曲: 杜自持
詞: 林夕

從你眼中 誰會比我更懂
一宿的戀愛似花樣濃
從我眼中 難再造純潔的夢
赤地上何來情種

天生不想給愛心收容
偏偏因你 而失控

其實我知 並沒有芬芳一輩子的情
沒有根的感覺 仍舊說聲
願共你分享一輩子心情
燃燒我 令我心中的野花 更盛
(像野花般的眼睛)

難以結果 誰也未能專用
即使花開似血般艷紅
唯有你懂 還會為情愛感動
你是我艷陽和晴空

思想色彩只有你相同
會為夕陽而心痛

let me live and cry

let me live and cry
music: Dick Lee
lyrics: Thomas Chow
arrangement: Chiu Tsang Hei, Dick Lee

instinct and sensibility no longer make any difference
as they have become inexplicably interwoven
once drifted and exhausted, I fear the midnight silence
please let me be awakened

if possible, could you lend me your shoulder
to briefly get closer to life
if someone could let me see my true self
please also give blessings to my shadow

if I'd never fallen, I could never say I have taken flight
if I'd never felt pain, I could never say I have cried
In tears, a journey in search of laughter

as long as I have lived and cried
I fret not about living and crying in regrets
if this is considered indulgence
let me indulge myself once in a lifetime

I'd fallen into my own trap
yet I was able to regain consciousness
I've never believed that regrets are predetermined
I fear not the shadows of my past

if you said everything in the past was a mistake
I could hardly differ
if I had to live it all over again
you could never hear my heartbeats

like a wildflower blossoming once in a lifetime
I would say my life has been lived splendidly

if I could live and cry once in my life

translation: memories.blossom@gmail.com
______________________________________

只要我活過哭過

曲 Dick Lee
詞 周禮茂
編曲 趙增熹, Dick Lee

野性理性沒法再辨認
糾纏看不清
夢了瘋了倦了怕夜靜
請容我甦醒
如果可借你膊讓我
靠去暫靠生命
如果可看到我自我
請祝福我的背影

不跌過未算飛過
不痛過未算哭過
哭聲之中找笑聲
只要我活過哭過
不怕我活錯哭錯
即使這也叫任性
讓我且一次任性

我跌進過自設下陷阱
依然再甦醒
我也不信後悔是註定
不害怕陰影
如果可說過去是錯
我也沒法否認
如果可再次去活過
聽不到我心跳聲

像野花一次開過
便算一生燦爛過

只要我活過哭過

wildflower overture

wildflower is the most controversial project which Sandy Lam has ever created. Compared to her other albums, Wildflower did not do quite as well commercially when it was initially released (though it has become a long-running bestseller). Most of the melodies and arrangements are in fact more "alternative" and "fusion" than "canto pop", according to the standard of the early 90s. The absence of upbeat soul/R&B dance tunes marked a distinct and deliberate departure from her previous albums such as the City Project Trilogy and Drifting. The lyrics were far more abstract and profound. And there was no elaborate photo booklet. Apparently, the album was truly a dare to music lovers. Forget about stardom and fanfare, and forget about canto pop ballads and dance tunes that appeal to the masses. This album was about music that was ahead of its time.

Wildflower is a critically acclaimed project, unanimously praised by radio, music magazine and pop culture critics. The symbolism of wildflower has been so well known that it has become a synonym to SL. The album was also lauded as one of the Top 10 Canto pop albums of the 90s.

The songs in this album are extremely difficult to handle. They require a wide vocal range and versatile performing techniques. The arrangements are more than phenomenal. In particular, tracks such as Temptations of the Rose (薔薇之戀), Predestining (再生戀), Flower in the Wind (野花), and Promise Me (沒有你還是愛你) showcase the extraordinary talents and creativity of the HK pop music scene. Without Wildflower, SL's music career will never be complete. It is certainly one of the most significant milestones of SL's career and the very album most cherished by her loyal followers.
_______________________

executive producer: Clarence Hui
producers: Clarence Hui, Sandy Lam
(except Predestining Remix produced by Alex Baboo 楊振龍 @V-Wild Productions)
co-producer: Chiu Tsang Hei

image direction: Stardust Factory
photography: Green Hornet
art direction: Kinson Chan, Clarence Hui
hair design: Kim Robinson (Le Salon Orient)
graphics: John Lee, Unlimited Design
illustration: Kinson Chan
fashion co-ordination: Edith So
_______________________

personal favourites: ALL.

vocals: 5/5
music: 5/5
lyrics: 5/5
sound: 4/5
artwork: 5/5
overall: 5/5

prologue

Q. Who and where are you?

A. The ID is Best Actor, an ordinary soul who has been enjoying Sandy Lam's (SL) music for more than two decades. I have no affiliation with her record or management company in the past, present, and future. My ID is originated from the title of one of her 1988 hit songs. I live in Canada and can be reached at: memories.blossom@gmail.com

Q. Why did you create this blog?

A. The first edition of this blog was created in 1996, where I posted SL album reviews and translated lyrics. I pulled the site offline after a prolonged period of negligence (guilty as charged). Reviving my website is a personal way of paying tribute to SL’s evergreen career. Besides, dedicating a blog to SL requires far less effort than building her a shrine in my living room.

Q. Why is this website (mostly) in English?

A. When I initially created this space, one of my goals was to reach out to SL's non-Chinese speaking fans. I do have a mirror site in Chinese at best-actor1988.blogspot.com

Q. Why did you pick “For Whom Memories Blossom” as the title of your blog?

A. SL’s 1996 Concert in HK was entitled 回憶盛放音樂會, or A Concert Where Memories Blossom. Since I created the first edition of this site around September ‘96, I just built on that idea. Ernest Hemingway once wrote "For whom the bell tolls – it tolls for thee”. In this case, for whom memories blossom – they blossom for you, SL.

Q. What made you like SL (so much)?

A. It started with her music: vocal performance, song choice, lyrics, arrangements, her devotion to music... After a while, her music meant more than just pop songs in my walkman/discman/ipod. Rather, it has turned into a relentless source of strength and comfort.

Q. Where did you get the English titles of SL’s songs?

A. Some of them are titles of the originals (e.g., Paradise in my heart 前塵), some can be found in the albums (e.g. Almost perfect 天衣無縫), some are well established on the internet (e.g., A love to remember 只情只待成追憶) and some, I have to admit, are my interpretations (e.g., Self-indulgence 放縱).

Q. What are the sources of information / images?

A. This is the perfect opportunity to acknowledge and give credits to those who have created, maintained and enhanced their SL websites, without whom many of us would have no way to find out the latest news of SL, or to revisit some of her past projects and achievements. In particular, Chi’s sandyandme is the most comprehensive and resourceful of all fan sites. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to sandyandme and many other for providing the world with such a wealth of information and news for all these years. Their efforts are most tireless and magnanimous. Keep up the great work!