Sister Drum

Sister Drum (阿姐鼓) is the second studio album by Chinese singer Dadawa(music by He Xuntian), which is heavily influenced by the music of Tibet. The album is notable for being the first Asian CD to ship over one million copies in China.

阿姐鼓 Sister Drum
Studio album by Dadawa
Released	1995
Genre	New age, pop
Label	Sire/Elektra Records 61889
Dadawa chronology
Yellow Children (1992) 阿姐鼓 Sister Drum (1995) Voices from the Sky (1997)

In traditional Tibetan culture, Sister Drum, whose drumhead is made out of a pure girl's skin, was used for honoring the god. This behavior has now been prohibited in modern Tibet. This studio 'Sister Drum' is based on this cruel context. Only the skin of a pure girl could be chosen to make the drumhead. To prevent them from disturbing in the real world, those girls are better mutes. If it is necessary, sometimes their tongues would be cut out.

The use of Tibetan folk music as the basis for some of their recordings has aroused some controversy in the context of China's rule over Tibet. A music video was made for the title track.

For The Song - Sister Drum

Song Writer's Intro:

An Ma Ni Ba Mi Hong, a 6-word phrase in Lamaism. It describes all things on earth.

I was attracted by the sound of an old lady’s prayers while visiting the Tazhou temple.

Revolving the prayer wheel with her hands, she said her prayers with the utmost sincerity. The sound of her prayers came from the bottom of her heart. Deeply moved by her sincerity, I turned on the recorder. She noticed me and gently pressed my head to the sacrificial altar as a blessing.

Every people has its unique way to seek happiness, and make wishes come true.

Lyrics:

我的阿姐從小不會說話 - Mute as she had been since a girl

在我記事的那年離開了家 - My sister left home while I was young

從此我就天天天天的想 - She has been in my heart ever since

阿姐啊 - O my sister

一直想到阿姐那樣大 - Till I am as old as she used to be

我突然間懂得了她 - I recognize her heart all of a sudden

從此我就天天天天的找 - So I keep looking for her day after day

阿姐啊 - O my sister

瑪尼堆上坐著一位老人 - An old man sits at the Mani Ruins

反反覆覆唸著一句話 - Reciting the same words over and over again

唔唵嘛呢叭咪哞 - An Ma Ni Ba Mi Hong

唔唵嘛呢叭咪哞 - An Ma Ni Ba Mi Hong

我的阿姐從小不會說話 - Mute as she had been since a girl

在我記事的那年離開了家 - My sister left home while I was young

從此我就天天天天的想 - She has been in my heart ever since

阿姐啊 - O my sister

一直想到阿姐那樣大 - Till I am as old as she used to be

我突然間懂得了她 - I recognize her heart all of a sudden

從此我就天天天天的找 - So I keep looking for her day after day

阿姐啊 - O my sister

天邊傳來陣陣鼓聲 - Here comes from the horizon drumming after drumming

那是阿姐對我說話 - It’s my sister talking to me

唔唵嘛呢叭咪哞 - An Ma Ni Ba Mi Hong

唔唵嘛呢叭咪哞 - An Ma Ni Ba Mi Hong