On September 20, 2024, in the afternoon, the ninth “World Chinese Beautiful Voice Singing Competition” hosted by NTD Television took place at Kaufman Music Center in Manhattan, New York. Fourteen contestants who made it to the semi-finals participated in the competition.
Among the contestants was the well-known American mezzo-soprano singer Mika Hale, who performed two Chinese songs consecutively: “What is the Meaning of Life” and “Three Wishes of the Rose”. Her grasp of the Chinese songs, clear pronunciation, deep emotional expression, and even the rhythm of her gestures left the audience in awe.
In an interview, Mika Hale shared, “First, I practice Chinese until I feel confident to sing. Then, I delve into understanding the meaning of these words and what they mean to me. I contemplate how to apply these to my own life, and both of these songs are like that.”
Diving into the meaning behind the song “What is the Meaning of Life”, she explained, “For the first song, the meaning of life, it reminded me of my confusion when I was young. I realized that this story resonates with many people around the world. Today and yesterday, so many people have listened to this song. I pondered its significance to me and recalled stories from my childhood, as well as how my life changed when I found the truth.”
“This truth is about the meaning of life. I believe many people are still searching for this meaning. What I want to convey is that there is still hope.”
She made sure she truly understood the meaning and significance of these lyrics. “It’s true, sometimes you think you’re searching for something or someone, and then it just disappears, fleeting.” She said, “This reminded me of those key moments in life that changed me. And this song encapsulates it all.”
“If you chase after fame and fortune, you will always feel lost and sad. But deep down, I believe that this pursuit is the driving force behind finding the true meaning of life.”
Regarding the second song “Three Wishes of the Rose”, she said, “When I think of ‘rose’, I realize that for me, it’s not just about becoming a rose, but about keeping my soul pure and true.”
“When we are young, our hearts are tender, beautiful, but with some experiences in life, we might become rough and tough, love too. But in the end, we want to remain tender and pure.”
She explained that toughness is like an egg, with a hard shell but a soft interior. “So, I hope to be my true self, the most authentic version of myself.”
She continued, “When I think of this song about the rose, I realize that our longing to maintain a beautiful and pure heart is similar to everyone. We all hope not to be hurt because love should not hurt us.”
“I reflect on those moments and apply the emotions emphasized in the song to my life. For me, it’s not just about a flower, but about staying pure, kind, and good, regardless of how the world around us may be.”
“No matter what I go through, I still want to be a good person, to remain kind, compassionate, and happy.” She added, “No matter how difficult, I believe there is a beautiful setting for me, even in those challenging times, making me return to today’s self, more beautiful and stronger than ever.”
“I am no longer afraid to let my true self shine in the world because I understand that this is my strength. For me, the meaning of this song is to stay true and unharmed in this world because we all crave youth and beauty.”
“If your heart is young and beautiful, you will always be young and beautiful. That’s my understanding of this song.”