Folk song in Taiwan (Ying-wen Yu)

Do we have folk songs in Taiwan? Of course, we do. I grew up listening to my parents singing the Taiwanese Campus Folk Songs. Back in 1972 when President Richard Nixon visited China, he said to the public that it was important to create songs with mother tongue. As a result, the Taiwanese folk songs became popular after the 70s. In the early stage, most of the folk songs were about praising the Nature, nostalgia toward China the homeland, and classic Chinese poetry. It was in the late 70s that a lot of the songs were about social awareness, justice and concern. Modern poetry were incorporated into the lyrics written by people who have studied or traveled abroad. The songs also encouraged people to explore the world. The songs were sung on campus. Singers played guitar and sang their dreams out loud. These songs were so popular that almost everyone knew at least part of the lyrics. However, 99% of the songs are in Mandarin Chinese instead of in Taiwanese. Therefore, in 80s people had different opinions about the definition of Taiwanese Campus Folk Songs. Some argued that the songs should be in Taiwanese so as to show a sense of belonging while other still maintained that no matter what language the song was written, the song was a product of Chinese culture. It was after 90s that some of the Taiwanese singers wrote New folk songs, sang in Taiwanese and incorporated rock in the music. But still, the younger generations born after 90s are not familiar with the folk songs that were once so popular in the past. They know the songs from TV shows that are adapted to a new form or new arrangement. “The original flavor has changed,” my dad always says. 

Reading the 2 articles on Bob Dylan, I can’t help but wonder if there is a Bob Dylan figure in Taiwan music industry as well. Even though I grew up listening to all these folk songs, I still have no idea if I have experienced the heyday of the Taiwanese folk songs or the revival of the folk songs (if there was one). But if you want me to name a classic Taiwanese folk song, “Olive Tree” is probably the one. The song was written in early 70s and it is about a person wandering for the olive tree in his/her dream and therefore he/she has to wander far far away. Some critics suggest that the song probably insinuates the historical fact that people came to Taiwan after 1949. So to some degree, the song is not only beautiful but political.

Lyric:

There is a farmer who walks on the road 
Stranger, why do you wander? Oooh... 

Don\'t ask from where I have come 
My home is far, far away 
Why do you wander so far 
Wander so far, wander so far 

For the little bird free I wander 
For the meadow green and wide 
For the mountain high and blue 
I wander, wander so far 

Then, is there more? 
Yes, for the Olive tree of my dream 
Don\'t ask from where I have come 
My home is far, far away 

Why do you wander? 
Why do you wander so far? 
Far, far away 
For the Olive tree of my dream 

Don\'t ask from where I have come 
My home is far, far away 
Why do you wander so far 
Wander so far, wander so far