With a nicely wrapped bouquet, she marched down the aisle in her white gown, too shy to make eye contacts with the guests. Her eyes darts across nervously between her feet and her special person who was waiting for her at the end of the aisle. As her feet moved, her brain travelled through the sweet memories they had together, reliving moments before this day.

Entering a new life together

Entrance of wonder

The world quiets down when they speak. The words they exchanged meant the world to them. Words of appreciation, gratefulness, and promises encapsulated their love for each other. Every sentence sparkled emotions. There were good and bad times, but mostly, the bad turned into good times too.

Looking back at time

Both of them twitched excitedly in their gown and suit. From this day onwards, there will be someone to come home to. There will be moments to look forward to, where they exchange stories of their day. There will be someone to laze around with, someone to play with, to explore with. Every morning, they will be greeted by each other's presence. Regardless of ups and downs, there will be someone there.

Living together

Music, illustration, vocal by me
Lyrics by Zhang Qingang

Music video: https://youtu.be/OwmsOJSgpIc

Lyrics with (translation):
听见屋檐 滴滴答答 在响
(Listen to the rain on the eaves)
还缠着风铃声
(blending into the sound of the wind chimes)
听见时钟滴答滴答 转动
(Listen to the ticking of the clock)
悄悄 消失影踪
(slowly fading into the background)
梦境之外 梦境之中 浮现
(Beyond and within the dream emerges) 
流星雨滴天空
(meteor shower that drips the sky)
轻轻的 安抚我心灵
(Gently soothing my heart and soul)

推开了一扇窗 脚踩着一朵云
(Opened a window, stepped on a cloud)
灰色不是悲伤 是我们 的约定
(Grey doesn't represent sadness, it represents our promise)
路过一个夏天 追过了一阵风
(Passed by a summer, chased a gust of wind)
飞呀 飞呀 天空上的天空
(Fly, fly, towards the sky beyond the sky)

我会看到 鸟儿在水里欢笑
(I shall see birds laughing in the water)
鱼儿游在~树梢
(and fish swimming on the tree top)
光着脚丫 小孩不停奔跑
(With bare feet, the kids keep running)
唱轻快的歌谣
(and sing lively ballads)
慢慢等候 看身边的乌云飘
(Waiting slowly while watching the clouds around float by)
去故事里 的城堡
(and travel to the castle in the story)
等待 夜晚降临 等流星
(Waiting for the night to come and the meteor to appear)
 
我会看到 鸟儿在水里欢笑
(I will see the birds laughing in the water)
鱼儿游在~树梢
(and the fish swimming on the tree top)
光着脚丫 小孩 不停奔跑
(With bare feet, the kids keep running)
唱轻快的歌谣
(and sing lively ballads)
慢慢等候 看身边的乌云飘
(Waiting slowly, while watching the clouds around float by)
去故事里 的城堡
(and travel to the castle in the story)
多希望 不是梦 不再醒
(How I wish that this is not a dream, that I will never wake up)

一颗一颗流星 一颗一颗流星
(One after another meteor fly by, one after another)
我将要去 ~ ~  不再被打倒
(I will be leaving~~ Will never be defeated again)
再见爱我的人 再见我爱的人
(Good bye those who love me, good bye those who I love)
我将要去远行
(I'm going to travel far)

听见屋檐 滴滴答答 在响
(Listen to the rain on the eaves)
还缠着风铃声
(blending into the sound of the wind chimes)
听见时钟滴答滴答 转动
(Listen to the ticking of the clock)
悄悄 消失影踪
(slowly fading into the background)
现实之外 现实之中 浮现
(Beyond and within the reality emerges) 
流星雨滴天空
(meteor shower that drips the sky)
轻轻的 呼唤我姓名
(Gently calling out to my name)

故事里的城堡 Imaginary Castle

This is a reproduction of a song I wrote in 2016 that was performed in the concert "MASK" organized by Litlegras Music Club.
In the performance, the keyboard was improvised by Janet Lee, the rest were composed and arranged by me.
In this reproduction, the piece was fully composed by me.

Music, illustration, speech by me
Vocal by OST
Lyrics by SY Teo

Lyrics with (translation):
[speech]
曾经的我 无法理解他们为何做出这样的抉择
(In the past, I never understood the motivation of their choice)
失去方向 我才了解到在这里
(Only when I'm lost, then I came to understand)
无助的我 只在最后一刻才会做出无悔的抉择
(Feeling helpless, only at this final moment, I found myself too coming to such an unregretted choice)

[sing]
大桥上    我漫步行走 
(On the bridge, I strolled along)
看着来往徘徊 的车辆 
(Staring at the cars that drove by)
像没有了灵魂   也失去了希望
(As if my soul was gone, my hope was lost)
站上护栏    望向一望无际大海
(Standing on the handrail, I peered into the endless ocean)

繁琐的思绪在脑中围绕   困扰着我
(Cumbersome thoughts swirled in my head, intruding my mind)
我不知所措  也无从是好
(I was clueless, and at a lost)
是该把心一横    与鱼同眠
(Should I make up my mind and rest with the fishes)
还是待冷静后     重新开始 
(Or should I wait, and restart after the storm has calmed)

那一 刻的抉择  遍写人间喜怒哀乐
(The choice of that moment, transcribed all emotions of my world)
那一刻的抉择   了结一段绝望故事
(The choice of that moment, ended a story of despair)
那一刻的抉择   开启一段人生新辉煌
(The choice of that moment, opened up a new glorious life)

那一 刻的抉择  遍写人间喜怒哀乐
(The choice of that moment, transcribed all emotions of my world)
那一刻的抉择   开启一段人生新辉煌
(The choice of that moment, opened up a new glorious life)

抉择 Choice of that Moment ft. OST

https://shadowtales.bandcamp.com/track/under-the-gown

Lyrics, vocal, music, illustration by me.

Love may blind us from unresolved issues.

Lyrics:
I am grateful for your presence
Let the anchor lay on me
Pressure comes with pleasure
Stay another night with me

Even if they say no
If you’re willing
I’ll be foolish for you
We can run in the wild
Will you tell me I do?

I made you a grass ring
Cast it into gold
They made you a white gown
Hand you a crown
We rushed through the crowds
And now it’s time to say it out

Would you take
My hand?
Would you guard
My land?
When I’m gone
Speak for me
When I’m back
Catch me

I am grateful for your presence
Doubt this anchor stops your way  
Pressure comes with pleasure
I am the fool who plays your game

Even if they say no
If you’re willing
I’ll be foolish for you
We can run in the wild
Let me tell you I do

You made me a grass ring
Cast it into gold
They put you in a white gown
Put on your crown
We rushed through the crowds
And now it’s time to say it loud

Would you take
My hand?
Would you trust
My plan?
When I’m gone
Wait for me
When I’m back
Kiss me

Woah x3
Hold on

Under the gown are the scars from our fights
Under my crown are the thoughts of you, what--?
[whisper] I bet you know what I like
Drinppin’ drinppin’ drinppin’
Trippin’
Drinppin’ drinppin’
Trippin’
When I woke up, I noticed you were leaving

Why, did this happened again?
Haven’t, I learned my lessons?
Why, could this happen again?
Oh right--, (be)cause I am addicted to you

Under the gown are the scars from our fights
But I stayed
(Cause I like you)
Then I stayed in to watch you waste away 
Because I
(Cause I like you)
You took the second chance and grew up like a charm
I felt flat
(Cause I like you)
But I’m trapped though I preferred a brat
(Cause I like you)

The grass ring, mesmerizing
The white gown, holds me down
The crown, not my interest
Your worries, I’ll deal with them

I made you a grass ring
Cast it into gold
They made you a white gown
Hand you a crown
We rushed through the crowds
And now it’s time to say out loud

Would you take
My hand?
Would you guard
My land?
When I’m gone
Speak for me
When I’m back
Catch me

Unexpected King

Under the Gown

https://shadowtales.bandcamp.com/track/time-will-fly-before-we-realize

Featuring ukulele by Zion M.
Written and produced by Shadow Tales.

Zion's youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQDn1drcQyDU4SWEY_5liRw
Lyrics video: https://youtu.be/tXQst-a8jQ4

Like this song? Consider downloading it free or at-any-price at:
https://shadowtales.bandcamp.com/track/time-will-fly-before-we-realize

Lyrics:

Hmm… What’s left? Let me see…
We’ve done
Coffee, and dinner, and ice cream, and waffles
(hubby) Are you ready to go?
No.

Around the coffee shop, mm~
Where cars were buzzing by
I turned around and said
“I prefer dates over bed”

Our eyes locked, our cheeks red,
“Why the sudden confession”
“You know we can go on more dates”

My gaze dropped, your smile faded,
There’s apprehension
“Yes, I know, but life is short”

And, 30 years will slip by
Time will fly
Before we realize

Then we’ll hope we savoured
Our leisure
Before we turn that old

We thought it didn’t matter
Dum-dududu-dum-dum-dududu-dum
We were wrong
Dum-dududu-dum-dum-dududu-dum

We ran across the road (not jaywalking)
Wonder if it’s time for home
You turned around and said
“Later, let’s watch movie on phone”

We held hands, we chuckled
It’s this satisfaction
That you can’t get from just more dates

Our skin touched, our clothes clung
It’s this warm affection
Reminds me that life is short

And, 30 years will slip by
Time will fly
Before we realize

Then we’ll hope we savoured
Our leisure
Before we turn that old

We thought it didn’t matter
Dum-dududu-dum-dum-dududu-dum
We were wrong
Dum-dududu-dum-dum-dududu-dum

We’re not that young~ anymore…

Time will Fly before we Realize

Time Will Fly Before We Realize

I learned about the power of Jingles in Music for Wellness online course by Berklee College of Music. Here is my jingle!

Lyrics:
Don't be afraid, it'll be okay, just a little bump in your day.
Leave a smile, it'll take a while, till the clouds get blown away.
Do not give in, just do it.
Just shout it out, never give up.

Do not give in to your insecurities, anxieties, and fear. If you have that intention and determination, just do it. Let confidence come to you.

Just do it

I learned about writing lullaby based on my exhalation in Music for Wellness online course by Berklee College of Music. This was an interesting experience. Here is my lullaby!

Lyrics: May you heal (x2)

May you heal

If you strip off that identity, what is left underneath?
Maybe if you try to listen within, you’ll know.

This piece was completed in collaboration with a dancer Jackie Mercado from a dance company LSDCC. The dance video will be uploaded to my YouTube very soon. Stay tune.

Who are you?

https://shadowtales.bandcamp.com/track/unexpected-king

Music, lyrics, illustration by me
Vocal by Chin Han

Lyrics:
The king was overthrown
By a peasant that came from a far land
That peasant didn’t even have a roof over her head
She defeated the king alone!

The sun had set with the rising moon.
The guards came to escort her.
An armed parade on a trail of red
The life was split from her!

She was charged. She was framed
For being close with the foe
She was trapped. Her blood went cold
An audience with the king
To see her tortured soul

The king was overthrown
Set on fire by a snap of finger
That peasant didn’t even have a roof over her head.
Let alone a sliver of gold
She wasn’t supposed to see the moon that night
But she vowed to see us grow-ow-ow-ow.

The king was overthrown
By that peasant that came from a far land
Our land needs a king, not a pig, not a bat, not a killer, but someone who speaks for us
She wasn’t supposed to see the moon that night
The throne belongs to her!
 
Long live our king!

Unexpected King ft. Chin Han

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-L3t8HfxbBpn5abRmHqUMg

Residing in a forest, peeping through trees and branches, to tell tales about people, the unnatural, the dreams, and the hopes. I express through music, illustrations, or a mixture of both.

Shadow Tales

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