I purchased the digital album this morning (2023/10/27) and, at first glance, felt a tinge of disappointment upon seeing that it features only three new tracks, two of which are in Mandarin. I mean no disrespect, and I certainly do not wish to undermine the value of Mandarin songs. However, when it comes to Eason, it’s generally agreed upon that his Cantonese tracks tend to outshine his Mandarin ones.
That being said, once I took the time to delve into the album’s liner notes and explore its thematic essence, my perspective took a 180-degree turn. I was taken aback by the depth of meaning encapsulated within its composition, revealing itself to be a truly ingenious body of work. Let us take a moment to wholeheartedly appreciate this masterpiece.
制作概念
陈奕迅亲自监制，暌违五年实体大碟，为演唱会《FEAR AND DREAMS》提供一个答案。
专辑概念源自于陈奕迅年少时期在英国留学时，经常听到“Keep Your Chin Up!”（别垂头丧气）这句谚语。昔日一句简单的鼓励，此刻听来却是一句抚慰人心的当头棒喝。原来只要下巴挺起，没有什么是挺不过的。
就像未曾走过的路途在眼前展开，当你抬头，眼前是繁花似锦的未来；当你低头，眼下是荆棘满途的未知。同样都是未走过的路，在脑海中，一念梦想，一念恐惧，端看自己如何抉择。CHIN UP！把下巴抬起来，徘徊在低头与抬头之间，不让梦想抬得太高，使我们好高骛远；也不被恐惧压低，使我们妄自菲薄。CHIN UP就是跟梦想与恐惧和谐共存之道。
专辑收录八首歌曲，陈奕迅特别诚邀林家谦联手制作专辑，全碟作曲由林家谦一手包办，部分编曲由李荣浩操刀。歌曲顺序既像是一趟成长的线性旅程，却又是一个个二元对立的人生课题。整张专辑带你游走梦想与恐惧，或许你会停在某一首单曲循环，也可能整张专辑反复循环。哪个阶段、哪个课题，别让双下巴跑出来，记得CHIN UP挺过去。
By the way, I am looking forward to attending the ‘FEAR AND DREAMS’ concert on 2023/10/29.
Review: The spirit of ‘Chin UP’ truly resonates with me, particularly because of its inherent optimism at its core.”
包装设计
专辑设计是由有“香港Figure教父”之称的艺术家Michael Lau倾力操刀制作，以一个在玩攀登架的俏皮小孩呈现CHIN UP的核心精神，比喻快乐忘形，哪管天多高地多厚，CHIN UP就爬过了。实体包装像一本插图画册，内含有百幅玩味设计草图，共有十款不同的“书脊”设计以供选择。
Review: The image of the joyous child featured on the album cover resonates deeply with me. To be more specific, it conjures up dreams of reclaiming that blissful, childlike happiness. In a way, I see a reflection of my own inner happy child in it.
曲目简介
《尘大师》：看轻重
人生旅程出发前背负太多包袱的《尘大师》教我们分辨行李与包袱，孰轻孰重。
小时候，我们把重事看轻；长大了却把轻事看重。是我们不分轻重，还是本质无分轻于鸿毛、重于泰山？
《人啊人》：看你我
成长旅程中面对人与事而迷失自我的《人啊人》教我们一个人内里住了不只一个人。
“我”的定义是由自我还是，由他我？ 越是认识、越是陌生；越是熟悉、越是迷失。
《焦焦焦》：看缓急
投身社会的一片浑沌中希望赶出成绩的《焦焦焦》教我们缓急要分先后，暂停也需要放进行程。
休息并不是要为了走更长的路， 而是走更长的路必需要休息。
《社交恐惧癌》：看众寡
有点成就却带点个人偏执的《社交恐惧癌》教我们与众不同也要活得自在。
要是人云我亦云，又怎能任我行？
《空城记》：看取舍
当偏执走到极致，有得必有失的《空城记》教我们学懂失去与挂念滋味。
是先拥有才能失去，失去了方能挂念。
《是但求其爱》：看进退
主动寻找缺失候补的《是但求其爱》教我们事情是多面向，不一定往你所想的发展。
前进不一定行前了，后退也不一定退后了。
《盲婚哑嫁》：看虚实
寻寻觅觅，顿觉一切都是凡间戏码的《盲婚哑嫁》教我们即使剧本早已写好，我们也可以选择如何演好。
剧本可以是虚，演出来的才是实。
《致明日的舞》：看始终
最终章的《致明日的舞》是悟到真理还是误以为学懂真理？
是翻开更好的章节，还是重蹈覆辙；是新开始，还是重新开始？
I sincerely wish for you to immerse yourself in the fantastical world of this album. Undoubtedly, it will grant you a unique and personal journey that is solely your own.
Jing Gong
An undergraduate at the School of Software Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University.
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