10 Jiang Wen Movie Soundtracks That Make You Want to Run on the Rooftops

A couple of days ago, Shaoyao went to see "Hidden Man," and reports about Jiang Wen's leading ladies have been flooding everywhere lately, things like "Xu Qing's hips, Zhou Yun's face"... Jiang Wen's films seem to only elevate the leading ladies, while the leading men are always controlled by Jiang Wen, running endlessly on rooftops and dirt like wild children, and before you know it, they've become background characters. The curse is hard to break~

The film is full of masculine hormonal energy. The plot isn't that clearly remembered anymore, but the music left a deep impression even after leaving the theater, surging in the heart. Jiang Wen's love for classical music runs throughout his work; he loves Mozart the most, and this time he once again borrowed the soundtrack from his first film.

What film critics love to talk about even more is that all three of his Republic of China trilogy films feature classical music and opera excerpts. This mysterious mashup forms Jiang Wen's strong personal style, seeming even more classic than the films themselves. Whether you're unfamiliar with or love classical music, you'll have a completely different experience after listening.

Similarly, playing some of the soundtrack music at home on the weekend, or seriously seeking out an opera to listen to, isn't as abrupt or unattainable as we might have originally thought. Deeply moved, Shaoyao especially wants to recommend "true music" to everyone. Tonight, presenting over a dozen brilliant classical pieces all at once, suitable for permanent collection~

{ Shaoyao Girl Vol.816 }

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“C"est La Vie.”

Note: It's recommended to pick a time when you're alone, click on the music first, savor it carefully, and listen to the end before playing the next one. Each piece of music comes with only a little text; please enjoy.

01

Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo Sinfonico

 Barcarolle 

G?teborgs Symfoniker 

00:00/04:04

"Cavalleria Rusticana" is an Italian one-act opera. This was composed by Italian composer Mascagni, and it was also his breakthrough work. This intermezzo has appeared in many films and TV shows, such as "The Godfather Part III" and "Raging Bull." Jiang Wen said the entire concept of "In the Heat of the Sun" came from this beautiful music. It can be described as "stunningly beautiful" (especially the rising melody at the end). Even so, it tells a sorrowful story of someone who dies in a duel over love.

02

Jazz-Suite No. 2, Op. 50b: VI. Walzer II

Sternstunden Vol. 2: 30 Jahre Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg

Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg

00:00/03:49

"Suite for Variety Orchestra No. 2." As a revenge blockbuster, this piece plays before the killing at the beginning of the film, with the atmosphere shifting from cheerful to solemn and then to impassioned. This is a work by Shostakovich, one of his representative orchestral works. Because it's regarded as a must-listen introductory piece for Western classical music, it frequently appears in various films and TV shows. And old Shostakovich was a Soviet composer, so this melody often rings out in Chinese dramas set in the Soviet era as well.

03

Clarinet Concerto in A Major

 The More You Listen, The Smarter You Get 2

Classical Artists 

00:00/07:01

From Mozart's "Clarinet Concerto in A Major, Second Movement." Jiang Wen loves to play it right before danger arrives, creating a final sense of calm (illusion). The piece also appeared in "Let the Bullets Fly," carrying a feeling of full-hearted hope, as if when the sun rises the next day, everything will be better. But the truth is often the opposite. If used again later, you can probably guess that after this piece finishes, tragedy is about to follow. This is also the last concerto Mozart composed in his lifetime.

04

Una furtiva lagrima

The Pavarotti Edition

Luciano Pavarotti

00:00/05:00

Eddie Peng runs across rooftops many times, and in one of them, heartbroken, this soaring yet sorrowful "Una Furtiva Lagrima" rings out, in a version by Pavarotti. For a young man to win a woman's respect and admiration, the process might be as long as a rooftop lying under blue skies and white clouds, or it might happen in an instant. Either way, love is always a tear secretly shed from the corner of the eye, just as the opera sings: "She loves me, she loves me," "I can see it, I can see it."

05

4. Solveig's Song

Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2

Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of London

00:00/03:30

This is "Solveig's Song" from the dramatic poem "Peer Gynt." Jiang Wen also used it in "Gone with the Bullets." The melody is gentle, lyrical, and long, portraying a meek, pure, and devoted girl. "Winter has long passed, spring will not return, spring will not return, summer too shall fade, waiting year after year, waiting year after year. I always firmly believe you will surely return. I once promised you, I will faithfully wait for you, waiting for you to return."

06

By the Sleepy Lagoon

British Brass

Classical Artists

00:00/03:55

Shaoyao's favorite piece in "Hidden Man," "By the Sleepy Lagoon" by British composer Coates. This is a very famous waltz and was once one of the must-play pieces in ballrooms.

Chance Encounter

 Chance Encounter

Faye Wong 

00:00/03:27

Faye Wong sang the film's theme song "Chance Encounter" using this melody, though it didn't appear in the film. "Groundless passion, even remembrance is superfluous, better not to gather or part... Love leaves no trace, forgetting brings no worry, hurt leaves no trace, pain brings no worry, no care..." It lingers in the mind for a long time.

07

The Sun Also Rises

 The Sun Also Rises

Joe Hisaishi 

00:00/03:44

This piece was also used by Jiang Wen across two films. It's said that when he found Joe Hisaishi to compose, he had only one requirement: "Make it a bit better than Mozart" - a mysteriously confident request. The piece later flew again in "Let the Bullets Fly." As Joe Hisaishi himself evaluated: "All music is without language; it is hummed melody, full of fantastical charm; the overall style is as ethereal as the imagery of the Tianshan Mountains, sounding like a wisp of emotion piercing through the heart."

08

Summertime  Summer  Time

 Jazz Shanghai 1947

Jimmy  King 

00:00/03:04

"Summertime" is a lyrical aria composed by American pianist and composer George Gershwin in 1935 for the musical "Porgy and Bess." The melody is said to have been inspired by the Ukrainian folk song "A Dream Passed by the Window" and is an immortal classic in jazz. This piece was unexpectedly paired with "Let the Bullets Fly."

09

In contrast, this one represents the feminine side of "The Sun Also Rises," gently playing whenever Zhou Yun appears. Its other name is "The Secret Admirer's Confession," soothing and soft. (Because it couldn't be found on QQ Music, it was uploaded separately.)

10

Bengawan Solo

 De Stille Kracht Van De

Kilima Hawaiins 

00:00/03:31

Today's last song is "Beautiful Solo River." Anthony Wong has a sung-and-played version in "The Sun Also Rises," and it's Shaoyao's super super super favorite (but it's still not on QQ Music, and only one audio clip can be uploaded per article). Everyone can search for it on NetEase Cloud Music or open the film to listen again. This song was originally an Indonesian folk song, so let's just listen to the original version to wrap up.

Don't know what you're doing right now,

Maybe hanging clothes to dry on the balcony,

Maybe spacing out in the bathroom,

Maybe about to fall asleep...

Maybe just like the secret contact signal in the film,

Suddenly it dawns on you: "C'est La Vie. (This is life.)"

If you think it's good, we'll continue recommending another week~