《大海》("The Sea")

《大海》("The Sea") was a song that I've liked for many many years. The tune of this song is more on higher notes and very good to sing along (at least for me). I was glad I was able to find the Karaoke MV for this song a few years ago. 

The original singer was 张雨生 (Tom Chang). This song was very popular when it was released in 1992. He had a high vocal and could sing very well too. It was a pity that he also passed away due to a car accident. He died in 1997 at the age of 31.

This is the link to the Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhTR8bohP-w&feature=youtu.be

The lyrics were written by 陈大力, music was composed by 陈大力/陈秀男 

歌词:


从那遥远海边
慢慢消失的你
本来模糊的脸
竟然渐渐清晰
想要说些什么
又不知从何说起
只有把它放在心底
茫然走在海边
看那潮来潮去
徒劳无功
想把每朵浪花记清
想要说声爱你
却被吹散在风里
猛然回头你在那里

如果大海能够 唤回曾经的爱
就让我用一生等待
如果深情往事 你已不再留恋
就让它随风飘远
如果大海能够 带走我的哀愁
就像带走每条河流
所有受过的伤 所有流过的泪
我的爱 请全部带走


Which can be translated as:

From the distant sea
You slowly disappeared
Originally a fuzzy face

became clearer
I wanted to tell you something
but did not know where to start
I could only place it in my heart

Dazedly walking on the beach
Watching the tides come and go
I tried fruitlessly
to remember clearly every spray
I wanted to say I love you
But was blown away by the wind
Suddenly I turn back and you were not there.

If the sea can recall past love
Let me wait a lifetime
If you no longer recall with nostalgia our affectionate memories
Just let it be gone with the wind
If the sea can take away my sorrow
Just like it did to every river
Please take away all the injuries suffered, all the tears and all my love

《心肝宝贝》 ("Darling")

《心肝宝贝》 ("Darling") is such a lovely song and is the theme song of the chinese movie 《龙凤店》("Adventure of the King"). It is sung by 任贤齐 (Richie Ren) and 徐熙媛 (Barbie Hsu) who were also the lead actor and lead actress in the movie. The melody was soft and lyrics were very sweet.

歌词：

天是那么大 人是那么多
偏偏让我遇见你
你是那么真 你是那么好
我曾怀疑我在作梦

不再一个人 心事有人听
漫漫长夜在一起
和你数着星 海边迎着风
只要有你 我就安心

你是我的心肝宝贝 爱你爱到无路可退
这一辈子 都不后悔
陪你上山下海 陪你黑夜白天
快乐伤悲都无所谓

你是我的心肝宝贝 爱你爱到掏心掏肺
希望你也真心相对
我要为你干杯 我要为你喝醉
因为你是我的宝贝

which translate as:

The world is so big.  There are so many people.
Yet I've met you.
You are so real.  You are so good.
I once thought I was dreaming.

We are no longer alone.  There is someone to confide in.
Spending the night together.
Counting the stars together.  Enjoying the sea breeze
As long as you are by my side, I will feel relieved.

You are my darling.  I loved you till there's no way to run.
I will never regret.
I will accompany you from the mountains to the seas.  I will keep you company day and night.
Be it joy or sorrow.

You are my darling.  I loved you till I bare my soul in front of you.
I hope you are also true to me.
I want to toast for you.  I want to get drunk for you.
Because you are my darling.

Education System - Primary

In the early 1980s, PSLE results were based on 4 core subjects: English, Mother Tongue, Mathematics and Science with more weightage on the languages.  
As far as I can remember, the ratio of the marks for English to Mother Tongue to Mathematics to Science was 2 : 2 : 1 : 1 respectively.  However, by the time I took my PSLE, the weightage had changed to equal weightage for all subjects.  The ratio of the marks for English to Mother Tongue to Mathematics to Science was changed to 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 respectively. This was good news to me. I had always been very good in Mathematics so this meant a higher overall score for me. Since then, there were many changes to the PSLE. The latest information can be found on the MOE (Ministry of Education) website. With subject banding, primary school students now had the opportunity to take the subject at a higher level if they excel in it, unlike the system prior to that (EM1, EM2 and EM3).  Click here to read more on this.

In my time, students were streamed in Primary 3. Those who did not do well in their Primary 3 examinations will be streamed to study up till Primary 7 or Primary 8.  Those who studied till Primary 7 would still be able to take PSLE and proceed to a normal secondary school.  Those who were streamed to study till Primary 8 could only go to VI (Vocational Institute) to learn some technical skills. The problem was, some parents heard a lot of bad things about VI and worried that their kids might get into bad company. Thus, they did not let the children study at VI. So, at the age of 14 or 15, they would go out and work. With only primary school education, their choice of jobs was limited. Of course they could go for 'BEST' and 'WISE' classes offered by ITE later in life, but not many of them knew of this option especially if they don't work in the government service or big organizations.

Students now have more options when it comes to choosing their secondary school.  Students can apply for direct school admissions to the schools of their choice based on their achievements and talents before the PSLE results are released. Click here for details.  Students who are academically strong can also apply for the Integrated Programme.

Apart from the usual secondary school, they can also enroll in independent schools such as the Singapore Sports School,  School of the Arts, NUS High School of Math and Science and School of Science and Technology to develop their potential in the respective areas.