Zhang Yiwen - Alishan Girl (Green is the Mountain) 1971 張伊雯 - 阿里山的姑娘
This is based on the Taiwanese folk song The Girl of Ali Mountain. Frances' version is called The mountain is green, whereas Zhang's is called Alishan Girl. Ali Mountain is also known as Alishan Mountain, and lies in the mountainous region of central Taiwan. It has become quite a tourist attraction. In several indigenous Taiwanese languages Alit means ancestor mountain. The girl belongs to one of the Malay origin tribes, the Tsou, which lives in this area of Taiwan. Both Frances and Zhang's recordings are exceptional, and although the lyrics are the same, the musical arrangements are very different. I've included the lyrics in the video itself, as well as in the notes in both Chinese and English. Many thanks to the Archive of Southeast Asian Music at
Zhang Yi-Wen's (張伊雯) real name was Wang Bao-Zhu (王寶珠) She was born in Shanghai in 1927. In 1947, she recorded the song Shanghai Girl (上海小姊) which became a big hit. Prior to the Communist takeover, she immigrated to Hong Kong, and continued her career there. In 1953 she was featured in the film Love Song (戀歌) singing the song You're in My Dreams (到我夢中). In 1963 she was forced by a serious sickness to put her career on hold for two years before returning. In 1970 she opened a singing school, sharing her experience with the new generation of performers. In 1990 she broke her pelvis, making her immobile, and in July 1995, she died due to an unspecified illness.
Lyrics (also inside video) Chinese and English Gao shan qing, Jian shui lan. Ali Shan de guniang mei ru shui ya, Ali Shan de shaonian zhuang ru shan. Gao shan chang qing, Jian shui chang lan. Guniang he na shaonian yong bu fen na, Bi shui chang weizhe qing shan zhuan. Green is the high mountain Blue is the mountain stream The girl of Ali Mountain is pretty as the water The youth of Ali Mountain is strong as the mountain Mountain forever green Water forever blue The girl and that youth never will be parted - like the blue water flows around the green mountain
李逸 謝玲玲 Lee Yee Mary Sia - 綠島小夜曲 Lv Dao Xiao Ye Qu (Official Music Video)