I am no literature critic, but experienced enough to taste the difference. Reflecting the suffering and history of a nation by stories of ordinary people, some become epic, some fall into cliche. Nonetheless, it is always appalling to see how similar the tragedies were.

The book I am talking about is Green Island by Shawna Yang. I like the story, that kind of novels is quite needed. It was a pity that the focus moved away from the island during the last part, and I’d hope to find another story based on that period. It almost feels like that you endured the tragedy, fought the tragedy, yet you did not paint the future with bright colors. Also, the gender division at the revolutionary front was nearly reactionary.

Casting all those aside, let’s talk about music, the music that accompanied the fights and sufferings of some lovely people.

Music and Society, Episode 4

Green Island

The title Green Island is from one of the most famous song of that time, The Green Island Serenade. Reportedly the song was originally romantic, while the “Green” simply referring to the beauty of the greater island. Over the years, people cannot help but associate the name with the Green Island located alone in the Pacific, originally “Island of Fire”, where the White Terror used to place all sorts of prisoners. It has the vibe, you have to admit: “The night in Green Island is so dark and intoxicating, dear girl, why are you still as silent as a clam, not confiding to me?” Love songs and political innuendos are always inseparable, aren’t they?

Formosa “Mei Li Dao”

The “Coke Can Incident” of Li Shuangze at Tamkang University was a beautiful story. It got everything, courage, enlightenment, independence, dignity, mercurial talent, and tragedy. The later political movements originated from the magazine with same name changed everything. The book, unfortunately, did not write too much on that, focusing on the fear during the eve of the incidents, while not saying anything on the outcome.

The song, like others, are exploited with kinds of interpretation and usage. Generally it’s loved by all, a great representation and praise to the Island. Interestingly, it could be played on a 520 day, and my favorite version is performed by Parangalan, who appeared frequently on CCTV shows in the past decade.

The Orphan of Asia

Yellow faced tainted by Red dirts, Black eyeballs filled with White terror.

There were striking similarities, but I guess one side goes way further in the degree of cruelness and magic realism…

(more)

There’s more, some even composed and designated specifically to some events, let’s put them into another episode. One might say that it is quite unusual that there is no notable songs made popular enough during THAT YEAR, given figures like Hou actually being there.