Chinese music is a treasure that most of the world has yet to discover. In part, it's because of the remoteness of the language and perhaps, in part, because of people's inability to discover the music since most of it is in a language that one finds hard to understand. Sometimes, references to Chinese music can be found online in Pinyin (a system where Chinese characters are written in the Roman alphabet though their pronunciation may vary somewhat).

It grew slowly on me...but now I love the music though I find it equally hard to discover much of it. However, since I am in China for the moment I do happen to chance upon some great songs...both old and new, pop and classical and there's a lot that goes straight into my heart...and I marvel at the beauty of the music though I don't always understand the lyrics. There are songs that I discover, by chance - on the streets, at a Karaoke bar, someone's chance humming, in a friend's car or wherever. Most of the times I 'lose' those songs because I don't know the names of the songs, the singers and so on. SOmetimes, however, I find a kind sould who directs me to where I can buy a CD with the song that's touched me. And, when I do find some of them, I find myself playing the tracks over and over again...like an adolescent, perhaps...but, then, who cares! It gives me great joy and I don't bother about appearances.

SOme of my favourites, and they certain;y don't represent the best in Chinese music are:

1. Wo ai ni (I love you) by Tange Er, a Mongolian singer who speaks of his love for his home(land). A very soulful song...

2. Bu you Zailai shanghai wo (don't come to hurt me again)...by a new singer whose name I don't know...but it's a lovely sentimental song.

3. Ni wen wo ai ni (You asked me if I love yo...the song's English name is 'Moon represents my heart') by a famous female singer whose name I can't recall.

4. Xin Yu Xing Yuan (don't ask me for the translation...my Chinese is too poor to do a good job of it) by a female singer, name lost to me.

5. Red Pea Love Song from a movie based on the classic 'Dream of Red Mansions'. A very soulful duet in classical style.

6. Ni de yan shen (Your Eyes) by Cai Qing, a female singer from Taiwan...what a song! It's palying on my computer again and again as I type these words...can't seem to get enough of the song and Cai Qing's great voice...I feel I will fall instantly in love with any woman who sings this song in my presence in a voice like hers...And, I'm not kidding...

7. Moscow jiao wai de Wanshang (An evening in Moscow) based on Russian music but what a great song again!

8. Ni shi wo de meigui (You are my rose) by a male singer. This is a song which, if sung to a Chinese woman, will have her falling straight into the singer's arms.

I could go on...but I realize I am able to give very little useful information so I must stop until a time when I can do a better job...

I hope the world (and you) will discover some of the beauty of Chinese music soon...for you don't know what you're missing if you haven't discovered it yet.

Rajesh Kanoi (Jack)
http://o3.indiatimes.com/kjack/