PART ONE: THE TONIC "Modern Age"
"Modern Age" was written by Taike (Taiwan rock) band THE TONIC for their album 鯤島 which tells the island's history in sequential order on each track. This song is about the end of Japanese rule in 1945, the new rule by the exiled Chinese KMT party and the 228 Incident that sparked a period of White Terror and martial law that wouldn't end until 1987.
Below is and explanation I found on website in Chinese:
http://snow.ilvu.net/~emerge/tonic/taiwan.htm
7. 現代
1945年，美國的兩顆原子彈，結束了二次大戰，日本宣佈無條件投降。在戰爭中節節敗退的中華民國政府，意想不到地成為戰勝者。同年10月25日，代表中華民國的陳儀將軍在公會堂（後改名為中山堂）接受日軍投降，當時毫無疑問地稱之為「台灣光復」。島上居民歡欣鼓舞地迎接「祖國」的到來，曾在日治時代從事抗日運動的人士，如陳析、葉榮鐘等，籌組了「歡迎國民政府籌備委員會」，在各地張燈結彩，迎接國民政府。
然而，新來的國民政府卻以「征服者」的姿態對待台灣。首先，在台灣設立了一個和中國大陸各省不一樣的制度，「台灣省行政長官公署」，作為統治台灣的總機關，此機構集行政、司法、立法、軍事等各項大權於一身，戰後台灣的政治、經濟、社會等資源也幾乎壟斷於此新「殖民體制」之下，也為日後的二二八事件埋下伏筆。
國民政府將中國文化中「家族政治」的特色，「光復」到台灣島來，裙帶關係、壟斷權位、貪污腐敗；經濟剝削、物價暴漲，人民生活更加困苦；軍紀敗壞、擾民欺民、治安嚴重惡化、社會動盪不安…。於是，1947年初發生的欺民事件，引發出一連串全面鎮壓與屠殺人民的歷史悲劇。1947年2月27日，專賣局台北分局查緝員傅學通等人在台北市太平通（今延平北路）一帶查緝私煙，查獲中年婦女林江邁於天馬茶房前（今延平北路與南京西路交叉口附近）販賣私煙，林婦苦苦哀求勿全數沒收，查緝員以槍管敲擊林婦頭部，致林婦頭部出血暈倒，圍觀群眾群情激憤，向查緝員理論抗議，查緝員向民眾開槍，不幸擊中市民陳文溪（隔天不治死亡）。民眾更加氣憤，包圍警局和憲兵隊，要求交出肇禍人員法辦，但無結果。2月28日，台北市民示威抗議，在官署前警民衝突，造成死傷。群眾奪占廣播電台，向全島人民播報事件原委，呼籲大家起身反抗。台北民間首先成立「二二八事件處理委員會」，與官方協調交涉，並要求政治改革；官方一面和處理委員會談判，一方面連絡仍在南京的國民政府主席蔣介石，蔣決定派兵來台鎮壓反抗。 3月8日，國民政府派來的軍對在基隆登陸，進入台北，繼而向南挺進，在各地展開鎮壓與屠殺，企圖以武力來堅固國民政府在台的統治權威
Here are lyrics taken from the album's liner notes:
And an English translation of the passage above (taken from Babelfish so beware the errors):
7. Modern age in 1945, US's two atomic bombs, ended the Second World War war, Japan announced the unconditional surrender. Republic of China Government which retreats in defeat again and again in the war, becomes the victor unexpectedly. On October 25, represents Republic of China's General in the same year Chen Yi after the male meeting hall (changes name for Zhongshan Hall) accepts the Japanese forces surrender, at that time called without a doubt it “recovers Taiwan”. On the island the resident dances with joy greets “the motherland” the arrival, once governed the public figure who in the date the time is engaged in the opposition to Japan movement, like Chen Xi, Ye Rongzhong and so on, organized “have welcome the National government Committee”, was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers in each region, to greet the National government. However, comes newly National government actually by “vanquisher” the posture treats Taiwan. First, has set up one in Taiwan with the mainland China various provinces dissimilar system, “the Taiwan Province chief executive government office”, the achievement rules Taiwan's total institution, this organization collection administration, the judicature, the legislation, the military and so on each power authority in a body, postwar resources and so on Taiwan's politics, economy, society also nearly monopolizes in this is new “colonizes the system”, also will lay down the foreshadowing for in the future 228 events. National government in Chinese culture “family politics” characteristic, “recovering” to the Island of Taiwan, relationship through female relatives, monopoly authority, embezzlement and corruption; The economical exploitation, the price rise suddenly, the lives of the people are more poverty-stricken; The discipline ruins, harasses the people to bully the people, the public security serious worsening, the society unstable…. Therefore, at the beginning of 1947 occurred bullies the people event, initiated a succession of suppresses and slaughters the people comprehensively the historical tragedy. on February 27, 1947, monopoly bureau Taibei Sub-bureau investigation Fu Xuetong et al. pass (now Yanpingbeilu) in Taibei area to look up the apprehending smugglers smoke peacefully, ferrets out middle-aged woman Lin Jiang to step before the white fox waiter (now Yanpingbeilu and nearby the Najingxilu road intersection) trades the private smoke, Lin Fu does not implore urgently the total confiscation, the investigation by the barrel rap forest woman forehead, sent the forest woman forehead hemorrhage to faint, surrounds the populace public sentiment to be indignant, protested to the investigation theory, the investigation opened fire to the populace, unfortunately hit residential Chen Wenxi (previous day to die). The populace are more indignant, the surrounding police authorities and the military police corps, the request hands over the causing an accident personnel to deal with according to law, but is inefficient. On February 28, the Taibei residents demonstrate protested that the police people conflicts before the government office, creates the casualty. The populace seize the Broadcasting station, disseminates news the event whole story to the entire island people, appealed that everybody sets out to revolt. The Taibei folk first establishes “228 event processing committee”, with the official coordinated negotiation, and requests the political reform; The official negotiates at the same time with the processing committee, on the one hand contacted still in Nanjing's National government President Chiang Kai-Shek, Jiang decided that dispatched troops to come to Taiwan to suppress the revolt. On March 8, the National government sends the armed forces to land in Jilong, enter Taibei, subsequently pushes onward to the south, launches the suppression and the slaughter in each region, attempts to come the firm National government by the military force in Taiwan's dominant authority
And finally if your interested in THE TONIC's album, visit Pacifiction Records:
http://www.pacifictionrecords.com/taiwan/CD/thetonic.shtml
PART TWO: SOFTBALL "0228"
Japanese girl punk band SOFTBALL became attached to Taiwan after playing there about ten years ago. They continued to play the island's Say Yes to Taiwan event every year throughout the early '00's. After SOFTBALL broke up, leader MOE SUZUKI continued to appear at the event with her new band AKIAKANE who met with then Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian and took part of a human chain that stretched up and down Taiwan's west coast symbolizing unity and solidarity.
For more info on SOFTABLL, AKIAKANE and Taiwan check here:
http://www.islandofsound.org/friends_of_taiwan/akiakane.html
Ever politically charged and influenced by historical events, MOE SUZUKI even wrote a song about the 228 Incident and how it's being covered up and forgotten. Here's the English lyrics to SOFTBALL's "0228"
0228
作曲：SOFTBALL
作詞：MOE
The history was wiped out by the carnoise and crowd.
Shaped and erased history. Skillful way of doing it.
An old man shut his mouth, unwilling to tell so much.
Blood, tears sank into the earth, concealed with the asphalt.
Responsibility of the past war.
An excuse of great people. I don't want to know such things.
I just want to know the truth.
Aimless destination. We're treated as a trash.
But we can tell you forever what an old man's word mean.
Over the generation. We're going to build a bridge.
We have to make revolution with singing a peace-loving song.
blood bath is just wrong we know. We have lived a not so long life.
If there's the Dragon's Palace story, have to find something from legend.
It is fine to face an impossible thing sometimes.
Anyway, we addicted to the vacant reality.
We will gaze at that, as we flow down with an idol.
Let's open our eyes, if we can make his dream true.
Aimless destination. We're treated as a trash.
But we can tell you forever what an old man's word mean.
Make sure of imitation. Oppression suppressed the feeling voice.
If we can know its meaning, we'll be able to have a good sleep.
And here's a scan from SOFTBALL's Lamp album:
And the Japanese lyrics:
車の音と人ゴミにかきけされた歴史は 形を変えて消されてゆく
それは巧妙な手段でやってくる
老人たちは口を閉ざし 過去を多くは語らない
土の中に沈んだ血と涙は アスファルトに覆われた
過去の戦争の責任や
偉い人たちの言い訳が聞きたいんじゃない
ただ真実を知りたいだけ
あてもない がらくた扱いされた僕等だけど
あの老人の声を永遠に届けることはできるよ
僕等は世代を超えて橋を架け
改革をしていかなきゃいけない 平和の唄を歌いながら・・・
僕等はそんなに長くは生きてないけど 血を流す戦争がまちがいだってことくらいは解ってる
昔話の竜宮城が存在するなら 僕等はその言い伝えから何かを見いださなきゃいけない
時にはかなわぬ物に向ってもいいじゃないか
僕等はこの空っぽな現実にふけっているのだから
僕等の力であの老人の思いがかなえられるなら
偶像に流されながらもそれに目を開き みつめようよ
あてもない がらくた扱いされた僕等だけど
あの老人の声を永遠に届けることはできるよ
にせものを見極めろ 権力で閉ざされた心の声
もしその心の声を聞くことができるなら ゆっくりと眠ることもできる
Here's the album cover for Lamp if anyone is interested in tracking it down.
PART THREE: CHANG JUI-CHUAN "Hey Kid"
Taiwanese rapper and college professor CHANG JUI-CHUAN has been probably the most vocal artists to pursue the truth about the events surrounding the 228 Incident and use history as a way of educating Taiwan's youth to reinforce a national identity for the future. His song "Hey Kid" does just that. It teaches history and serves as an attention call for a new generation to take pride in its native culture.
http://www.myspace.com/juichuanchang
Here are the lyrics to "Hey Kid" in English:
Hey kid, you must remember
History teaches us to forgive mistakes, not forget them
You have to turn around, see where you’ve come from
If you want to figure out where you should go
Hey kid, you must remember
History says that people may disagree with you, anger you
Understand and respect each other, work it out together
If you oppress and exploit them, one day the tables will turn
And you’ll have nowhere to hide
In 1945, a group of people landed on this yam-shaped island
Saying Taiwan was a province of Great China
“Come back to us. We KMT will love and look after you.”
Within two years, the people’s expectations crumbled
Bum soldiers pissing and shitting on the streets
Loot, abduct, kill, burn, eat free
Chen Yi’s government confiscated farms and land, corruption via monopoly
You’re a lowlife if you don’t speak Chinese
On February 27, 1947
Their police pistol-whipped an old lady selling cigarettes
Shot a young bystander
“Can’t stand it no more. Let’s strike! Let’s go to Toa-tiu-tia (大稻埕)!”
Then Chinese soldiers went on a cruel shooting spree
Pierced the palms and ankles of people with a lead wire
Tie them up. Execute one by one
20,000 lives were ended in two weeks
Hey kid, you must remember
History teaches us to forgive mistakes, not forget them
You have to turn around, see where you’ve come from
If you want to figure out where you should go
Hey kid, you must remember
History says that people may disagree with you, anger you
Understand and respect each other, work it out together
If you oppress and exploit them, one day the tables will turn
And you’ll have nowhere to hide
What ensued was thirty-eight years of the martial-law era called “White Terror”
Doesn’t matter if you’re a Mainlander, Formosan, Hakka, Holo, or Aborigine
If you mess with the Party, you’ll vanish in no time
Or be butchered like the mother and two daughters of Lin Yi-hsiung (林義雄)
Lei Jhen (雷震) was imprisoned for ten years for criticizing Chiang Kai-shek
Yin Hai-guang (殷海光) was under surveillance for his political articles until he died
James Soong (宋楚瑜) banned all the Taiwanese TV shows
Even puppet shows and Taiwanese Operas must be aired in Chinese
Brave Taiwanese souls fought and struggled for democracy and freedom
Beautiful Island Incident for political reform, 520 Farmer Protest
Jail after jail, kill after kill
Jheng Nan-rong (鄭南榕) burst into flames that’ll last forever for free speech
Hey kid, you must remember
Their blood and sweat, torment and sacrifice, gave you the air you’re breathing
Don’t forget the revolution for democracy has just begun
You won’t see the spring buds if you don’t go through the winter snow
Hey kid, you must remember
History teaches us to forgive mistakes, not forget them
You have to turn around, see where you’ve come from
If you want to figure out where you should go
Hey kid, you must remember
History says that people may disagree with you, anger you
Understand and respect each other, work it out together
If you oppress and exploit them, one day the tables will turn
And you’ll have nowhere to hide
I wish you all the best
I pray you can distinguish
I hope you’ll change society in the future
I wish you all the best
I pray you can distinguish
I hope you’ll fight injustice and oppression
One more strong Taiwanese kid
One more unbreakable brick of the Taiwanese spirit
So you must exercise every day and drink eight glasses of boiled water
No cigarettes and drugs. Drink tea, not coffee
Read a book every week because knowledge is power
If you know more you’ll have more control of your life
Pay attention in school. Ask questions
Do homework. You don’t need cram school
You’re fortunate if you can afford buying food, clothes, books, and music
And go to the mountains and beaches on holidays
Don’t be greedy, buying stocks and Rolex
Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all evil.”
Don’t be like those cowards going to China singing and dancing
Saying they represent Taiwan but calling China the “mainland” all the time
The KMT’s party property is worth hundreds of billions of dollars
Who killed Yin Cing-feng (尹清楓)?
Hey kid, my kid, you must remember
[Translation]
Hey kid, you must remember
History teaches us to forgive mistakes, not forget them
You have to turn around, see where you’ve come from
If you want to figure out where you should go
Hey kid, you must remember
History says that people may disagree with you, anger you
Understand and respect each other, work it out together
If you oppress and exploit them, one day the tables will turn
And you’ll have nowhere to hide
In 1945, a group of people landed on this yam-shaped island
Saying Taiwan was a province of Great China
“Come back to us. We KMT will love and look after you.”
Within two years, the people’s expectations crumbled
Bum soldiers pissing and shitting on the streets
Loot, abduct, kill, burn, eat free
Chen Yi’s government confiscated farms and land, corruption via monopoly
You’re a lowlife if you don’t speak Chinese
On February 27, 1947
Their police pistol-whipped an old lady selling cigarettes
Shot a young bystander
“Can’t stand it no more. Let’s strike! Let’s go to Toa-tiu-tia (大稻埕)!”
Then Chinese soldiers went on a cruel shooting spree
Pierced the palms and ankles of people with a lead wire
Tie them up. Execute one by one
20,000 lives were ended in two weeks
Hey kid, you must remember
History teaches us to forgive mistakes, not forget them
You have to turn around, see where you’ve come from
If you want to figure out where you should go
Hey kid, you must remember
History says that people may disagree with you, anger you
Understand and respect each other, work it out together
If you oppress and exploit them, one day the tables will turn
And you’ll have nowhere to hide
What ensued was thirty-eight years of the martial-law era called “White Terror”
Doesn’t matter if you’re a Mainlander, Formosan, Hakka, Holo, or Aborigine
If you mess with the Party, you’ll vanish in no time
Or be butchered like the mother and two daughters of Lin Yi-hsiung (林義雄)
Lei Jhen (雷震) was imprisoned for ten years for criticizing Chiang Kai-shek
Yin Hai-guang (殷海光) was under surveillance for his political articles until he died
James Soong (宋楚瑜) banned all the Taiwanese TV shows
Even puppet shows and Taiwanese Operas must be aired in Chinese
Brave Taiwanese souls fought and struggled for democracy and freedom
Beautiful Island Incident for political reform, 520 Farmer Protest
Jail after jail, kill after kill
Jheng Nan-rong (鄭南榕) burst into flames that’ll last forever for free speech
Hey kid, you must remember
Their blood and sweat, torment and sacrifice, gave you the air you’re breathing
Don’t forget the revolution for democracy has just begun
You won’t see the spring buds if you don’t go through the winter snow
Hey kid, you must remember
History teaches us to forgive mistakes, not forget them
You have to turn around, see where you’ve come from
If you want to figure out where you should go
Hey kid, you must remember
History says that people may disagree with you, anger you
Understand and respect each other, work it out together
If you oppress and exploit them, one day the tables will turn
And you’ll have nowhere to hide
I wish you all the best
I pray you can distinguish
I hope you’ll change society in the future
I wish you all the best
I pray you can distinguish
I hope you’ll fight injustice and oppression
One more strong Taiwanese kid
One more unbreakable brick of the Taiwanese spirit
So you must exercise every day and drink eight glasses of boiled water
No cigarettes and drugs. Drink tea, not coffee
Read a book every week because knowledge is power
If you know more you’ll have more control of your life
Pay attention in school. Ask questions
Do homework. You don’t need cram school
You’re fortunate if you can afford buying food, clothes, books, and music
And go to the mountains and beaches on holidays
Don’t be greedy, buying stocks and Rolex
Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all evil.”
Don’t be like those cowards going to China singing and dancing
Saying they represent Taiwan but calling China the “mainland” all the time
The KMT’s party property is worth hundreds of billions of dollars
Who killed Yin Cing-feng (尹清楓)?
Hey kid, my kid, you must remember
And in Chinese:
囡仔
張睿銓 / 阿弟仔
*原曲收錄於張睿銓《創世記》﹙2006﹚，莫尚混音版收錄於張睿銓《重生》﹙2007﹚，阿弟仔音樂工作室發行。
囡仔 你就要會記
歷史教咱錯誤可以原諒但是不能忘記
轉頭回來了解你對叼位來
才有法度知道要對叼位去
囡仔 你就要會記
歷史有講別人的意見有時候會給你生氣
互相了解互相尊重鬥陣才會出頭
鴨霸剝削有一工就換你無底躲
一九四五年一群人來到這個番薯島
他們說台灣是偉大中國的一省
回來祖國 我們國民黨會疼惜照顧
無兩年 人民的期待變作土土土
乞丐兵路邊放尿放屎無衛生
囂張搶婚搶劫殺人放火白吃白喝
陳儀政府佔田佔地貪污專賣
你若無水準才會來講台灣話
一九四七年二月二七他們的警察
用槍敲一個賣煙歐巴桑的頭
開槍碰死一個站在邊仔的少年仔
人民擋不住 來去抗議 來去大稻埕
中國兵狠毒 拿槍掃射
用鉛線殘忍穿過一排人的手和腳
綁給緊 一個一個槍決
二萬人的生命 二禮拜了絕
囡仔 你就要會記
歷史教咱錯誤可以原諒但是不能忘記
轉頭回來了解你對叼位來
才有法度知道要對叼位去
囡仔 你就要會記
歷史有講別人的意見有時候會給你生氣
互相了解互相尊重鬥陣才會出頭
鴨霸剝削有一工就換你無底躲
續來戒嚴三十八年白色恐怖
管你外省本省客家河洛還是原住民
黨看你不爽 你就馬上無去
林義雄老母二個查某子 全部殺死
雷震批評蔣介石 被關十年
殷海光寫冊 被監視逼死
宋楚瑜全面禁止台語節目
連布袋戲歌仔戲也要講北京話
勇敢的台灣人 打拼追求民主自由
政治改革的美麗島 農民抗爭的五二零
關的關 死的死 鄭南榕為言論自由
點起的那把火還未燒完
囡仔 你就要會記
他們的流血流汗艱苦犧牲給你自由的空氣
不可忘記 民主革命才開始
無經過寒冬的風雪 看不到春天的花蕊
囡仔 你就要會記
歷史教咱錯誤可以原諒但是不能忘記
轉頭回來了解你對叼位來
才有法度知道要對叼位去
囡仔 你就要會記
歷史有講別人的意見有時候會給你生氣
互相了解互相尊重鬥陣才會出頭
鴨霸剝削有一工就換你無底躲
我祝福你可以好勢
我祈求你會曉分別
我希望你可以改變以後的社會
我祝福你可以好勢
我祈求你會曉分別
我希望你可以改變不義的一切
多一個勇健的台灣囡仔
台灣就多一塊敲不破的活氣磚角
所以每工要運動 喝八大杯煮過的水
不要吃煙毒 喝茶不喝咖啡
一禮拜要看一本冊 知識就是力量
認識越多 自己做主的信心越強
學校上課要專心 聽無就要問先生
認真寫功課也不需要補習
賺錢有夠吃 有夠穿 有夠買冊
聽音樂 放假去山頂海邊走走就好
不要貪心 還要買股票和名牌手錶
提摩太六章十節 金錢是萬惡之根
不要像那些俗仔去中國唱歌演戲
講自己台客 卻歸工歸嘴內地內地
國民黨的千億黨產 誰殺死尹清楓
囡仔囡仔 你就要會記
This is the first rap (and might be the first musical composition, to my limited knowledge) ever that depicts the February 28 Massacre of 1947 in Taiwan, launched by Chiang Kai-shek and his Chinese Kuomintang (KMT, also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party), and the thirty-eight-year martial law era that followed the Massacre. More than twenty thousand people disappeared or were slaughtered in the Massacre, countless more in the martial-law era, as is typical of extreme political persecution and witch hunts (generally referred to as "White Terror" in Taiwan). The song is a tribute to all those brave souls - both Formosans and newcomers - who died fighting the KMT and its dictatorial government, which was finally ended by Taiwan's fledgling democracy in 2000.
-CHANG JUI-CHUAN
For more info on CHANG JUI-CHUAN's albums, visit Pacifiction records:
http://www.pacifictionrecords.com/taiwan/CD/joe_genesis.shtml
