Song of the week: What Can I Do?

Song: What Can I Do?
Artist/Group: Nan Quan Mama (南拳媽媽)

  

 Nan Quan Mama are a group from Taiwan. Nan Quan (南拳), “Southern Fist”, is a kind of powerful martial arts and Mama (媽媽) means “mother”, so their name is like a paradox, showing that they can be as strong as Nan Quan and as gentle as a mother.

沒魚的海 會很空白
A sea without fish would be very empty
沒冰紅茶 夏天不要來
Without iced tea, summer need not come

 I think I secretly like the toxic cuteness of a lot of Asianpop I mean, sometimes it’s too much even for me, but I think it’s just their style, and just because the sound, or the appearance of a song or singer is… pink and sweet and cute and kawaii, doesn’t mean the song isn’t decent. Some of the time

I’m looking forward to hearing more songs by Nan Quan Mama, as of right this is their only song that I’ve heard, and I reason to believe that it a bit more cutesy that a lot of their others. I’ve also heard them compared to F.I.R, another band I’ve been wanting to listen to for quite a while.

沒車的路 會很奇怪
A road without cars would be strange
沒人比賽 操場 say bye bye
Nobody racing; playground: say bye bye

I love the simplicity of the lyrics in this song, comparing everyday things to love, but not in a clichéd way. “像泡麵 無所不在” ~ “Like instant noodles, you’re everywhere”. It’s love poetry for the 21st century! Just like a road without cars, my word without you is strange. Like a sea without fish it is empty and like a summer without iced tea, my life just isn’t worth it without you. Awww.

What can I do 裝可愛
What can I do, act cute
還是要 說個明白
or say I understand?
What can I do 我愛你
What can I do, I love you;
可不可以 你也很巧的愛上我
can you, coincidentally, also fall in love with me?

You can watch a kareoke-style version of the MV for this song on YouTube (sorry about the poor quality, but the music’s still great ). Bf says the MV reminds him of one that Kylie Minogue did. I’m not a fan so I’m not sure, but he’s probably right! The effect used when the season changes reminds me of this video of Lily Allen’s LDN.

The lyric translations in this post were taken from Sweet Rapture, an awesome website of Chinese music lyrics with translations. The site includes the lyrics in traditional Chinese, pinyin (minus tones), and English translations. The lyrics for What Can I Do? can be found here. 
So you have no excuse not to sing along!