Bewildered by Leslie Cheung, one of the best MV of all time

Bewildered (the name of the music video for the song “Dreaming of the Inner River” from the album “Forever Leslie”) is one of the best music videos I have ever seen.  Although Leslie did not write the song, he clearly identified with the music and lyrics and has created a video that is achingly bittersweet, charged with memory, pain, regret and, in the end, transcendence.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvwGkldKD_Q I am hampered in my full appreciation of the video because I must rely on translations of the lyrics and, as with many of Leslie’s later songs, these are a bit incoherent and clearly do not capture the full meaning(s) of the Chinese original.  What is obvious from the lyrics is that this is a song remembering a relationship that has ended, one ended not by the singer, but by the other party.  The lyrics evoke love and anger, pleasure and sadomasochism.  

Embrace me.  Here, I’ll show you how I like it.

You slapped my face.  So why didn’t it hurt?

I will forget your gorgeousness, if the need arises.

What is it you still want?  Perhaps you are afraid that with a single hand you won’t be able to choke me to death?  If I must die, this moment is the apex of pleasure.  Please give me more.

Bite into my two hands.  I hope this rush of pain will tell me I’m not dreaming.

The painful imagery of the lyrics contrasts with the fluid beauty of the video itself.  The singer appears to be remembering the now ended relationship.  The fluid blue background and overall blue tonality of the video puts what we see into the realm of memory (that moves like the water of some inner river).  The essence of the relationship unfolds as a performance, with the now absent lover performing as a dancer for his older former lover.  The performance, at first benign, begins to display signs of tension between the two individuals.  A power struggle is hinted at, but is juxtaposed against brief scenes (some so short if you blink you will miss them) of sensuality that hint at the sexual intensity of the relationship.  This is a rare video of bittersweet beauty, the history of a failed relationship in 4 minutes.  The power of this video grows upon repeated viewing.  What a marvelous testament to Leslie’s genius as a singer, actor and director.