This is what I call unbiased constructive criticism! This is DEEP! I'm just so proud of him and so happy he's gone this far and he finally has the chance to show what he's capable of! 😎
Rap is not something common in the Chinese industry and now everyone that mentions "rap" inevitably says "Tao"! 👏
Reminder: all his rap is written, composed and sung by himself (same for most of his songs)

[Eng- Trans] A few things that I would like to say about the song “Reluctantly” and Huang Zitao’s style.

Written by 绝胜烟柳满皇都_L  

translated y: myprincecandy aka lingzy

Link to post: http://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309403963428682219023

 Translation notes: lyrics translation/magazine interview excerpt are taken from either Z.Tao’s YT channel, Baidu bar, or my own…. please forgive any errors. ^^

Rap is soul.

 At least, to a music artist like Huang Zitao, that is what rap is.

 Recently, I chanced upon some interesting opinions regarding the song “Reluctantly” released by Huang Zitao on 15th October 2015. Some of the critiques that sounded more unbiased all suggested that this song would sound better without the rap. Others went to the extent of using the excuse of not liking the rap to reject and slam the entire song. Contrary to their views, I think that, as a song which expresses the deep sense of heartbreak and sorrow at losing one’s love, the key highlight of “Reluctantly” is the rap. Honestly, anyone can write and sing a smooth & melodious ballad, even if the singer sounds nauseatingly sweet or even shrill. To be extremely blunt about it, the Chinese music market has long since been saturated with ballads. It has more than enough of it and plenty of ballad singers to spare.  

This is to not say that adding rap into a ballad is something patented or invented by Huang Zitao. But it is also not something that is too commonly done. Usually, the tempo of the rap in a ballad is slower and the tone more mild. It mainly serves as a way to transit between memories and the future. Not surprisingly, the main controversy over “Reluctantly” is having the fast tempo rap cut in right after the first chorus. The extreme change in mood does make it easy for people to feel bewildered and lost, making those listening to it for the first time wonder “did I just accidently switch to another song?” or “Where did the anger come from? Weren’t we still feeling very sad just a second ago?”

However, is this change really so abrupt to the point that it is unacceptable?

The Kübler-Ross model outlines the series of emotions that people go through when faced with sorrow and disaster into what is known as the five stages of grief

1. Denial

2. Anger

3. Bargaining

4. Depression

5. Acceptance

If you try to understand the lyrics of “Reluctantly” through the concept of these 5 stages of grief, you will find that this seemingly bewildering piece of rap has a proper reason for it to be in the song.

1. Denial: Unable to forget loved ones and wanting to return to the past to change everything

“I’ll never forget even one moment” / “How I wish to return to the day that we met”

++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

I watch the clock hand counting down the day 

Our time together slowly slips away

Recording each and every move and sound you make

I’ll never forget even one moment.

As you finally boarded the plane

Couldn’t keep from crying

This moment has really come

And my heart just hurts so bad

I don’t regret loving you

I pale with longing for you

I hold you in my heart

Wherever you go I want to be there

How I long to return to

the day that we met

But for now all I can do is hold your memory.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

2. Anger – Unable to understand the other party’s departure, and needs to vent out one’s emotions

++++++++++++++++++++++++

 Back to reality when you told me you and I would never work out

You were right but I couldn’t help it

I just wanted us to go on

Because of you I know that this is love

So happy, don’t you know that?                    

Only with you can I be free and enjoy life, don’t you know that?

I mean, everything we go through just disappears into air like froth, right?

Even if it’s just that, I’m gonna keep on loving you

Even if we part, I won’t choose to give up

I won’t stop cherishing this

This song exists because of you, I know that you’re listening

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++

3. Bargaining: Unable to accept that one’s loved ones are about to leave, trying all ways and means to make them stay.

“Always keep smiling and continue being adorable, please? That is my only request”

++++++++++++++++++++++++

 No matter what the future holds

I hope you’ll find your happiness

Meet someone who loves you and will stay with you until the end

Always keep smiling and be adorable, okay?

This is my only request.

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++

4. Depression: Unable to break free from the chains of past memories, one’s thoughts are in disarray and sorrow sets in.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

 I don’t regret loving you

I pale with longing for you

I hold you in my heart

Wherever you go I want to be there

How I long to return to

the day that we met

But for now all I can do is hold your memory.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

5. Acceptance: Have finally let go of this relationship, and is determined to let others bring happiness to the other party.

 “I hope you’ll find your happiness, meet someone who loves you and will stay with you until the end” / “I don’t regret loving you”

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++

 No matter what the future holds

I hope you’ll find your happiness

Meet someone who loves you and will stay with you until the end

Always keep smiling and be adorable, okay?

This is my only request.

I don’t regret loving you

I pale with longing for you

I hold you in my heart

Wherever you go I want to be there

How I long to return to

the day that we met

But for now all I can do is hold your memory.

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Based on the above, one can see that, even though the lyrics in certain stages may be largely the same, by shifting the emphasis through time (the song), one can easily read into the different viewpoints and frame of mind. By moving straight into the rap after the chorus, it reflects the transition from the point of “denial” to “anger”. Instead of being a jarring combination, it is a way of showing, the journey of a person slowly beginning to accept the fact that one’s lover has left.  

As such, with regards to the song “Reluctantly”, the rap shouldn’t be referred to as the part that breaks the song. Rather it is the key component that makes the song complete.  

Of course, that is if we try to understand the song and the rap through its lyrics.

 What if we were to look at it in terms of music/composition? 

Let’s examine the issue from another angle.  Are there any inherent flaws in Huang Zitao’s rap that makes it so hard to gain the approval of the majority? 

Not really.

As a pillar of the western hip hop culture, rap music definitely carries its own school of influence and appeal. According to the definitions on Wikipedia, rapping can be roughly separated into three components: content, flow (rhythm & rhyme) and delivery.  

Since we are talking about rap, let’s examine Huang Zitao’s works through that criteria.

Excerpt from “T.A.O” 

++++++++++++++++++++++++

 The road to the top is my one way street

Overcoming every obstacle, that’s my one way out

Un everybody.

Un come follow me.

I am T.A.O 

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Excerpt from “M.O.M”

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