Siu Ming X (小明＿＿＿)

About

Siu Ming X (Chinese: 小明＿＿＿) refers to a series of song, which has a theme of “Siu Ming (doing something) in every song of it, sung by Dr. Lee Ka-yan(Chinese: 李家仁醫生. The page is in Chinese, try online translator if translation is needed), a doctor from Hong Kong. For example, “Siu Ming takes a train” (Chinese: 小明坐火車). These songs gained great popularity in the internet society in 2010.

Cultural Background

Originally, ”Siu Ming takes a train” is a game commonly played between parents and their infants in Hong Kong, which is like an expanded version of the rock paper scissors game, in order to strengthen the concept of directions of the babies. The players of the game need to read out a designated phrase, meanwhile do some movements by using their hands according to the phrase’s words and finally throwing out a gesture of the 3 gestures in rock paper scissors game. This is the phrase they need to read out:

小明小明小小明，上上下下，左左右右，前前後後火車捐山窿

Translated in English:

Siu Ming Siu Ming Siu Siu Ming. Up, up, down, down, left, left, right, right, front, front, back, back. The train goes thru’ the tunnel.

While the players are reading out the directions, they need to move their hands to the corresponding direction according to themselves and clap their hands.
Here’s a video of the game (0:00–0:21):

Origin

Originally, Dr. Lee Ka-yan released a song in 2001, called “Siu Ming Siu Ming Siu Siu Ming” (Chinese:小明小明小小明), which has a theme of Siu Ming taking a train and goes all around the mainland China.

Note: The map of China in this MV had also produced lulz as it includes North and South Korea. (0:22)
Lyrics translated in English:

[Siu Ming takes a train, where does he want to go?
Going to Beijing to visit his grandpa, going to “Xijing” to visit his grandma (there’s no such place called Xijing IRL.)
Siu Ming takes a train, where does he want to go?
Riding on a train is fun, go all around China by taking a train.
Siu Ming how are you? Where do you want to go?
Take a train to Xinhui, take a train to Luoyang
Siu Ming takes a train, where does he want to go?
Riding on a train is fun, go all around China by taking a train.
Siu Ming Siu Ming Siu Siu Ming,
Up, up, down, down, left, left, right, right, front, front, back, back, left, left, right, right
The train goes thru’ a tunnel, nong x 8 (this is the onomatopoeia of a train going thru’ a tunnel)
The train goes thru’ a tunnel, nong x 8
The train goes thru’ a tunnel] x2
Nong x8, the train goes thru’ a tunnel.

Spread

In late October 2008, the lyrics of the song suddenly emerged on the Hong Kong Discuss Forum. However, this didn’t made a massive spread. Probably because of it matches the game, its stupidity and the flaw-ful voice of Dr. Lee, “Siu Ming Siu Ming Siu Siu Ming”, which is now commonly called as the first line of the song “Siu Ming takes a train” (Chiense:小明坐火車) suddenly gained great popularity in the Hong Kong internet society in late 2010.

Siu Ming goes to Guangzhou (小明上廣州)

In respond to the huge popularity gained, Dr. Lee released another song called “Siu Ming goes to Guangzhou”. This song has a theme of the modern Guangzhou, in order to publicize the 2010 Asian game, which was held in Guangzhou, and the culture of Guangzhou. This song was teased by the internet users a lot as in this song Dr. Lee “rapped” in order to coordinate with the pop culture.

Lyrics translated in English:

(＊)Siu Ming goes to Guangzhou, visit his relatives and travelling happily
Siu Ming asks his mom “what should I buy for my relatives?”
Siu Ming goes to Guangzhou, riding on the high-speed train happily
Go thru’ mounts and hills, Guangzhou has everything nowadays(＊)
#Cantonese is really good, cute and adorable
Boil a melon and chew it hard, let us laugh out loud
Zhujiang’s shiny light welcomes the Asian Games, Guangzhou cuisine is great
Tell a story at Shamian and Xiguan, it is relaxing.#
Rap: A turtle cost a dollar, a chicken cost a dollar,
Which is more expensive? Actually everything is fine
It’s important to be content and don’t be hypocritical.
I’m good, you’re good, everyone is good.
If we help each other, no problem will be unable to solve.
There should be harmony between brothers, neighbors help each others
Let’s sing a song happily and this world will be perfect.
Repeat ＊, Repeat #
Press the emergency button in the laboratory, don’t do whatever you want
People would go to Guangzhou on foot, now we can get there in a flash.
Trains arrive there in a second, high-speed train will be even faster in the future.
Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau is a family. Tree has a same root. Water has a same origin.
Go to a Chinese restaurant in the morning. Sing a song. Don’t be a crab which walks side to side.
Repeat #
Siu Ming goes to Guangzhou, visit his relatives happily
Singing happily, Guangzhou has everything nowadays.

Live performance at Hong Kong Time Square 2011 New Year Countdown. click here

Response to the fame

In mid-January 2011, Dr. Lee had an interview with NeoMediaTV. (0-8mins)

In this interview, Dr. Lee revealed that there will be more songs of the series be released in the future. The next song will be “Siu Ming goes to Bainian”(Chiense:小明去拜年) and he said that Siu Ming is going to go all around the world in a song in the future. Moreover, he asked if the people would like to have a song called “Siu Ming doesn’t take Ketamine” (小明唔索K) because his song is also popular in the teenage society. In another interview, the writer of the series of “Siu Ming X” songs, Wai Yin, indicated that Siu Ming could be a male, a female, could be you , could be me and could be anyone. But Siu Ming is usually used at males.

Siu Ming goes to Bainian (小明去拜年)

A few weeks before the Lunar New Year 2011, Dr. Lee released a song called “Siu Ming goes to Bainian”. Bainian is a ritual for the Lunar New Year, which is actually visiting other’s home to celebrate and greet others. As this song has more unrelated things, for example Lady Gaga (3:33), and also a rapping part, it has got huge popularity.

Lyrics translated in English:

Siu Ming, oh, Siu Ming take a train to go to Bainian
Everywhere in Guangzhou is red, have a happy Lunar New Year
Receive red pockets, see you in Guangzhou, have a rich and happy Lunar New Year
Receive red pockets, LOL, Siu Ming is happy.
Siu Ming, oh, Siu Ming take a car to go to Bainian
The whole Dongguan greet him, have a happy Lunar New Year
Receive red pockets, see you in Dongguan, every family have a rich and happy Lunar New Year
(＊)Wish you good health and earn more money
Wish you “level up” and make progress, start things in a good way.
Hope the God of money LOL and give you money.
Inflation will stop and every family smile.
Wish you good luck and let’s welcome the happy year
Wish you happy everyday and start things in a good way
You’ll have a chance to travel on a Cruise this year,
Siu Ming says congratulations(Kung Hei), Siu Ming bless you.(＊)
Rap: Siu Ming Siu Ming Siu Siu Ming, buy 12 pieces of cakes and go to Bainian
The cakes smells good and he ate 1 of them before going to Bainian
Hey Hey Siu Ming Siu Siu Ming, leave 1/2 of them for Bainian
Eating one after one, how to Bainian if we eat all of them?
No presents, but we have a banana. Bainian embarrassingly.
Greeting people, say once more, it’s the end if we eat all the cakes.
We hope the crabs(Hexie) and God Horse(Shenma) be friends and Bainian to each other
Inflation will stop this year, everyone can have a blessed year.
Siu Ming, oh Siu Ming take a tram to go to Bainian
Guandong, Hong Kong and Macau gather together, have a happy Lunar New Year
Receive red pockets, see you in Hong Kong, every family have a rich and happy Lunar New Year
Receive red pockets, LOL, Siu Ming is happy.
Siu Ming, oh Siu Ming take a plane to go to Bainian
Sing under the snow of Beijing, have a happy Lunar New Year
Receive red pockets, see you in Beijing, every family have a rich and happy Lunar New Year
Receive red pockets, LOL, Siu Ming is happy.
Repeat ＊
Rap: Siu Ming Siu Ming Siu Siu Ming, buy a box of chocolate to Bainian
The box of chocolate smells good, let’s eat 1 piece of them before Bainian.
Hey hey Siu Ming Siu Siu Ming, leave 1/2 piece for Bainian
Eating one after one, how to Bainian if we ate all the candies?
Chou Yun-fat and Stephen Chow, make a great film to celebrate Lunar New Year,
Chrissie Chow and Lady Gaga go to Bainian.
Dr. Lee and Jeannie Xie sing “Beep Beep Beep”
Repeat ＊
Siu Ming says congratulations(Kung Hei), Siu Ming bless you. X2
Let’s welcome the happy year.

Lunar New Year 2011, Live version

Note: Dr. Lee hasn’t memorized the lyrics yet. You can see his lips don’t synchronize with the sound in this live version.

Siu Ming goes to Dongguan (小明去東莞)

In late March 2011, Dr. Lee premiered the forth song of the series called “Siu Ming goes to Dongguan”. Before the official release of the song, the lyrics of the song were leaked out to the internet already on January 23, 2011. On March 31, 2011, the song had its debut with the music video being released. However, the song was leaked on internet a few days before the official release. It turns out that somebody had made a mistake. Someone in the music video shooting crew uploaded a version without voice editing and harmonic voice to the internet. The composer of the song later found the unedited song and deleted it from the internet quickly.

Here’s the music video of the song:

Translation of the lyrics:

Siu Ming goes to Dongguan x2
Direct, high speed, arrives in a flash, meet villagers on the bridge
Mourn in Humen, Gifting sake in Sanhe
The most correct action is to eat a roast goose noodle, forget the troubles
What’s filling Dongguan, who’s “mudshui”?
Villagers said to Siu Ming, that Dongguan has changed a lot
Looking at houses became gold reserves, brothers are proude of themselves.
Pretend didn’t saw that, and Siu Ming said “I see.”
(RAP)Siu Ming took a private car to the village
Toured the Songshan Lake, Ke Garden is green
Yuan Chonghuan and Lin Zexu, heros of China won’t bow their heads
Chinese have to stand up, you’ll be bullied if you don’t try your best
Keep it up villagers of Dongguan, sweep away the obstacles and fight hard
We will be outstanding!(RAP)
Siu Ming goes to Dongguan x 2
Litchi, Grass, Willow and green hills, Look again on the bridge
Fire dragon dances in the streets
Eat a date and don’t bother, we’re arrived at Dongguan
What’s good in Dongguan? Firework’s gleaming like a flower!
Uncle said to Siu Ming, just recognize everything as singing
If you want new car and gold and diamonds, you should Gei Li and work hard
Luotui and very Lei, Siu Ming says “Gwing lor…”
(RAP)Dongguane language is “undinable”, Siu Ming is learning it with happiness,
“mudshui”, “gor yeung”, “ham dzor mei”
Siu Ming “gwo fei”, say “dei ng dei”
You’re born here, how come will have obstacles?
Holding a card, everything turns easy.
Luxury and Shenma are all floating clouds
No need to destroy by force will be happier.
What are the Dongguan songs? Neway is playing them non-stop!
Duck drinks vinegar, had a diarrhea after drinking
Hey gold eggs were filled in the house but when it was opened it’s mistakened.
Villigers said to Siu Ming, Siu Ming said “How’s it!”

As there are phrases like "undinable" which sounds like Cantonese foul language, this song still got some attention from the net.

Siu Ming’s Birthday Song (小明生日歌)

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Siu Ming’s series, a new song called Siu Ming’s Birthday Song was debuted on April 6, 2011’s Pleasure and Leisure. As the song was brainwashing in some extent, it facilitated netizens’ discussion.

Here’s the debut of the song (starts at 0:26):

Translated Lyrics:

[Happy birthday, happy birthday
Happy birthday, to you.] x3
(Rap)Today is your happy birthday
Let Siu Ming present a song to you and make you happy
This Siu Ming Birthday Song
Everyone will go to travel happily after singing it
Sing once more and you’ll be healthy forever
Sing once more and your wish will come true
Siu Ming wishes you can walk and run
Can eat and sleep and be able to do anything(Rap)
Give you blessings, give you prayers
Raise my voice for you, bless you.
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Everybody raise your voice, bless you.
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Healthy and LOL, bless you.
(Rap)Let Siu Ming sing a song and celebrate your birthday
This Siu Ming Birthday Song
Everybody will be happy as Dr Lee when they sing it
Children will have good academic results and make progress
Sing once more and you won’t be dizzy
Siu Ming wish you that you’ll have today every year
Elderly will be more conscious(Rap)
[Happy birthday, happy birthday
Happy birthday, to you] x2
To you, to you.

Kusos

Insane Edition

“Siu Ming goes to Guangzhou” – “Let us LOL” (1 min)

”Siu Man goes to Guangzhou” (小文上廣州)

In January 2011, stand up comedian Jim Chim (Chinese:詹瑞文) remade a song called “Siu Man goes to Guangzhou and performed in his show. The new lyrics are mostly about the current situation of China and Hong Kong, and adding some of the jokes and mockery which are popular recently.

”Siu Ming loves Guangzhou” (小明愛廣州)

Some members of hkgolden had changed the lyrics and released a new song. This song is about Siu Ming going to Guangzhou to find prostitutes.(NSFW if you know Chinese)