THE FLOWER GIRL OF SHANGHAI -- SHANGHAI NO HANAURI MUSUME 上海の花売娘

Years before the World War, a Japanese songwriter created a lovely ballad, which, after the passage of decades, evokes a timeless golden age, a mood of places and people no longer part of the world. It's a lovely song. You don't have to know Japanese to enjoy it.

Shanghai no Hanauri Musume 上海の花売娘
[上海賣花姑娘]

Judge for yourself.


THE SHANGHAI FLOWER GIRL
PERFORMED BY 東京大眾歌謠樂團

[SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuiHreboZRw.]

That street performance is very sweet.
Tokyo is fortunate indeed.
Fine musicians.


上海の花売り娘

Lyrics：川俣栄一
Melody：上原げんと

紅いランタン　仄かにゆれる
宵の上海　花売り娘
誰のかたみか　可愛いい耳輪
じっと見つめりゃ　優しい瞳
ああ上海の　花売り娘

霧の夕べも　小雨の宵も
港上海　花売り娘
白い花篭　ピンクのリボン
襦子も懐かし　黄色の小靴
ああ上海の　花売り娘

星も胡弓も　琥珀の酒も
夢の上海　花売り娘
パイプくわえた　マドロス達の
ふかす煙りの　消えゆく影に
ああ上海の　花売り娘


The Shanghai Flower Girl

Paraphrasis:

A red lantern trembles in the evening breeze, Shanghai flower girl,
Earings swaying above girlish shoulders,
She beckons with an innocent smile(*),
Oh flower girl of Shanghai.

The evening mists gave way to light rain over the Shanghai harbour,
A white basket tied with pink ribbons,
Small yellow slippers getting wet;
Oh flower girl of Shanghai.

Stars curve overhead like a violin bow's arc, in amber wine,
The dreams fade, Shanghai flower seller,
Shadows swirl and disappear in smoke,
Oh flower girl of Shanghai.

[(*) Literally, friendly eyes or a friendly smile. That is to say a facial expression without guile, perhaps girlish, perhaps innocent. She has no ulterior motive.]

---      ---      ---    

The song is given the full treatment, Enka-style, in the video below.


MISS KAORI MIZUMORI (水森かおり) SINGS 
SHANGHAI NO HANAURI MUSUME

[SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EveyvlPVaPI.]


I remember a Hokkien version of this song years ago, but unfortunately neither the singer NOR the Chinese title come to mind.





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