Beyond the Neon Lights

In a long interview for the 广州日报 (Guǎngzhōu Daily), 17th Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) (pictured above) talked at length about her twenty-year-long “Chess Odyssey”, from the very beginnings (when she was 7 years old) up to the Queen’s throne. Her story is not too different from the five Chinese Women’s World Chess Champions who came before her. Even in her case, chess – Western chess – came into her life quite by chance, while she was into studying calligraphy and dance. It took twenty years to make a shy girl into a World Champion, and the way has not always been as obvious as one could expect. Everyone can read her “parable” on the specialised (chess) web sites, which won’t ever say that studying dance is a much more noble way to happiness. Whatever it is, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) shared with the interviewer her secret way to relax amidst stress and games: “I like to listen to songs. Lately, 周杰伦 (Jay Chou)’s last song 《不愛我就拉倒》 (‘If you don’t love me, just forget about it’) brought me a little peace. But I am not able to sing. I would not feel at my ease at all on a karaoke stage”. Photo: news.sina.com.cn.

不愛我就拉倒 周杰伦 (Jay Chou) 寒流来了 刚好 刚好可以 把你手放外套 把安全帽戴好 不让你在 爱情路上跌倒 加速狂飙 你说不要 爱的险你不想冒 不想被套牢 他的怀抱 真比我好 你幸福就好 不爱我就拉倒 离开之前 不要爱的抱抱 反正 我又不是没有人要 哥练的胸肌 如果你还想靠 好胆你就麦造 If you don’t love me, just forget about it 周杰伦 (Jay Chou) A cold spell came just in time Put your hands into my coat Put on your helmet I won’t let you fall off the road of love Hit the gas, you say no You don’t want to risk your love You don’t want my hold You feel safer in his arms than in mine Whatever makes you happy If you don’t love me, just forget about it Before leaving I hug you even if you don’t love me But it’s not like I couldn’t be loved My chest is stronger If you still rely upon it Be brave and don’t leave

(Very free translation by Nobody’s Perfect)