Chances are you’ve already heard the song. When you walk in a clothing store, it’s likely to be playing in the background. When you turn on the TV, it’ll be featured on the most popular entertainment shows. When you walk passed a square, old ladies will be dancing to its rhythm. It is the “Most Dazzling Folk Style (最炫民族风 zuì xuàn mínzú fēng)” by Phoenix Legend (凤凰传奇 fènghuáng chuánqí), the moment’s hottest folk/pop music duo.

Consisting of female vocalist Linghua (玲花), from Inner Mongolia, and male rapper Zengyi (曾毅), from Hunan Province, the pair used to perform under the name Cool Fire (酷火组合 kù huǒ zǔhé), and has steadily gained popularity since they came together in the late ’90s in Guangdong Province.

Linghua and Zengyi initially traveled to the southern manufacturing hub in search of jobs, but instead discovered a shared passion for music. Originally a sales girl in an electrical appliances shop and a worker in a radio factory, respectively, the duo’s first brush with fame occured when they entered a singing competition held by Channel [V], the music network owned by STAR TV, and reached the final.

However, their big break didn’t come until 2005, when they won second place in the popular national talent show “CCTV Avenue of Stars (星光大道 xīngguāng dàdào).” With national fame secured, Pheonix Legend quickly signed to a new record label and followed up their success by releasing albums such as “Above the Moon (月亮之上 yuèliàng zhī shàng, 2005)”, “Good Fortune as You So Desire (吉祥如意  jíxiáng rúyì, 2007)” and “Most Dazzling Folk Style (最炫民族风, 2009).”

Blending traditional folk music with hip-hop elements, their sound at first appealed to migrant workers, before gradually evolving to penetrate mainstream pop culture. While the release of “Most Dazzling Folk Style” garnered the partnership near instant viral recognition, it is only recently that they have re-entered the spotlight, thanks to the work of some enterprising Chinese netizens. Through what must have been blind chance, online video editors stumbled across a curious discovery: “Most Dazzling Folk Song” appears to fit snugly with various choreographed dance routines, from Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” to Indian comedy movie “3 Idiots” (see videos below), earning the song the moniker “The Magic Song (神曲 shénqqǔ)” for its apparent seamless compatibility.

We’ve translated some of the lyrics below so you can sing along, or emulate the numerous netizens who have created their own dance routines to the song and uploaded them to the web (not recommended for serious individuals).

《最炫民族风》

“zuì xuàn mínzú fēng”

“Most Dazzling Folk Style”

 

苍茫的天涯是我的爱

Cāngmáng de tiānyá shì wǒ de ài

The vast end of the world is my love

 

绵绵的青山脚下花正开

Miánmián de qīngshān jiǎoxià huā zhèng kāi

At the foot of the mountain, flowers blossom

 

什么样的节奏是最呀最摇摆

Shénme yàng de jiézòu shì zuì ya zuì yáobǎi

What kind of rhythm is the most swaying

 

什么样的歌声才是最开怀?

Shénme yàng de gēshēng cái shì zuì kāihuái?

What kind of singing is the most pleasant?

 

弯弯的河水从天上来

Wānwān de héshuǐ cóng tiānshàng lái

The winding river water comes from the sky

 

流向那万紫千红一片海

Liúxiàng nà wànzǐqiānhóng yīpiàn hǎi

Flow to the colorful sea

 

火辣辣的歌谣是我们的期待

Huǒlàlà de gēyáo shì wǒmen de qídài

Thrilling songs fulfill our expectations

 

一路边走边唱才是最自在

Yīlù biān zǒu biān chàng cái shì zuì zìzai

Walking and singing all the way

 

我们要唱就要唱得最痛快

Wǒmen yào chàng jiù yào chàng de zuì tòngkuai

We sing and are the most joyful

 

你是我天边最美的云彩

Nǐ shì wǒ tiānbiān zuìměi de yúncai

You are the most beautiful cloud on my horizon

 

让我用心把你留下来

Ràng wǒ yòngxīn bǎ nǐ liú xiàlái

With my heart I want you to stay

 

悠悠地唱着最炫的民族风

Yōuyōu de chàngzhe zuì xuàn de mínzú fēng

Singing the most dazzling folk song

 

让爱卷走所有的尘埃

Ràng ài juǎn zǒu suǒyǒu de chén’āi

Let the love sweep all the dust away

你是我心中最美的云彩

Nǐ shì wǒ tiānbiān zuìměi de yúncai

You are the most beautiful cloud in my heart

 

斟满美酒让你留下来

Zhēn mǎn měijiǔ ràng nǐ liú xiàlái

Filling wine I want you to stay

 

永远都唱着最炫的民族风

Yǒngyuǎn dōu chàngzhe zuì xuàn de mínzú fēng

Always sing the most dazzling folk song

 

是整片天空最美的姿态

Shì zhěng piàn tiānkōng zuìměi de zītài

It’s the most beautiful scene of the sky

 

我听见你心中动人的天籁

Wǒ tīngjiàn nǐ xīnzhōng dòngrén de tiānlài

I hear sounds of nature in your heart

 

登上天外云霄的舞台

Dēng shàng tiānwài yúnxiāo de wǔtái

Ascend to the stage of the clouds

 

Below are a couple of examples of the song set to dance routines:

Original:

Chinese stars:

Bollywood dance:

Michael Jackson:

More can be found here in the Tudou site:
http://so.tudou.com/nisearch/最炫民族风