"Sir Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back" vs "Nicki Minaj - Anaconda"

"Baby Got Back" is one of my favorite songs from the 90's...

It is a song written and recorded by American artist Sir Mix-a-Lot, from his album Mack Daddy. The song samples the 1986 electro single "Technicolor" by Channel One.

At the time of its original release, the song caused controversy with its outspoken and blatantly sexual lyrics about women, as well as specific references to the female buttocks which some people found objectionable. The video was briefly banned by MTV. "Baby Got Back" has remained popular and even anthemic since it was originally featured on the album Mack Daddy in 1992.

It was the second best-selling song in the US in 1992, behind Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", with sales of 2,392,000 physical copies that year. In 2008, it was ranked number 17 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

Sir Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back



In my opinion, this is a remake of "Baby Got Back"
Nicki Minaj - Anaconda



"Anaconda" is a song by American rapper Nicki Minaj, from her third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014). It was released on August 4, 2014 by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Republic Records as the second single from the album. The song was written and produced by Polow da Don, Anonymous, Da Internz, and it was co-written by Minaj. "Anaconda" heavily samples "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot.

Upon release "Anaconda" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song's production and Minaj's return to her hip-hop roots. Commercially, the song was an international success peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, consequently becoming Minaj's highest charting single in the United States to date. It went on to spend eight consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Hot 100 chart. The song also fared well in other countries peaking within the top ten in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

An accompanying video for the song was directed by Colin Tilley and released on August 19, 2014. Following the video's release, it broke the 24-hour streaming record on Vevo by accumulating 19.6 million views in its first day of release. To further promote the song, Minaj performed it live at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards and also performed it at Fashion Rocks and the iHeartRadio Music Festival. "Anaconda" is nominated for Best Rap Song at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015.

How Teens React to Nicki Minaj - Anaconda
..."It's not her real butt, no one's butt can be that big!"...


How Elders React to Nicki Minaj - Anaconda...
..."Anaconda is not a snake, it's a big penis to match the big butt, now it make sense!"...


How do you react to this video? What do you think?

Macau Lounge Mix Part 3 (80's Tea Dance Session) {repost}

Lounge, Cha Cha, Swing

Macau Lounge Mix Part 3 (80's Tea Dance Session)
One of the best choice to play at your Christmas tea party! The best of Richard Artimix has launched to Mixcloud, this mix has gained more than 50,000 listeners in mix.dj.

Macau Lounge Mix Part 3 (80's Tea Dance Session) - Mood Programming by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Tracklist :
Righeira - Vamos A La Playa (Montefiori Cocktail Mix)
Senor Coconut And His Orchestra - Sweet Dreams
Senor Coconut And His Orchestra - Da Da Da
Tommy Dorsey - Tea For Two
Finzy Kontini - Clap Your Hands {as back track}
Tuna Macaense - Jardim Abencoado
Tuna Macaense - Chupa Chupa Chupa
Major Boys feat. Aurelia - Sous le Soleil
Tuna Macaense - Macau Sa Assi
The Shadows - Apache
Billie Holiday - Don't Explain (James Hardway Remix)
Senor Coconut And His Orchestra - Dreams Are My Reality

Length : 30:10
Date : 2009.05.24

Tuna Macaense is a legendary band in Macau. Consisting of generations of Macau born Portuguese (Macaense), in their 2005 CD album inlay, I saw a photo of the band taken in 1935 !

澳門人樂隊 (TUNA MACAENSE) 於 1935 年成立，由三十多個土生葡人組織而成他們最初只屬街頭表演，於喜慶節日中演出，用曼陀林　(Mandolin)，班雀琴　(Banjo)，葡國結他(GuitaraPortuguesa)，手風琴及敲擊等樂器，演奏出帶有葡式文化色彩的 Cha Cha， Latin 等風格之音樂其後，受到澳門政府賞識，邀請為親善大使，到美，泰，韓，澳洲及歐洲各地演出交流，宣揚本他文化，隨著時代的轉變，TUNA MACAENSE 的音樂亦隨之變得更迎合現代風格，他們主要仍為葡式音樂，除了唱葡國土語(PATUA')外，亦會演繹英語，甚至國語及廣東歌曲.

Link to Mix.dj :
http://www.mix.dj/video/4314782/macau-lounge-mix-part-3-80s-tea-dance-session/

Artimix's Retro Evolution vol. 11 - 80's Nostalgic Underground Mix 1997

Artimix's Retro Evolution vol. 11 - 80's Nostalgic Underground Mix 1997
Retro, Hard House, Underground, Canto Pop,

Nostalgic Underground Mix - Richard Artimix 11 for DJMag by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Tracklist :
01. Kodoc - The Nighttrain (Original Mix)
02. Murphi D-2 - The Animal Song (Murphy D-2 97 Remix)
03. 譚詠麟 - 愛情陷阱 (Richard's '97 Underground Edit)
04. Garden Eden+Fool's Garden - Lemon Tree (Club Mix)
05. Trans X - A New Life On Video (Underground Mix)
06. Toto Coelo - I Eat Cannibels (97'tango Rmx)
07. Logic System - Domino Dance (Ultra Mix)
08. Real Joy - La Dance D'helene (97' Fuzz Euro Mix)
09. E-Zee Possee - Everything Starts With An "E" (97' Rmx Edit)
10. Babilonia - Spaceman (Rob's Mix)
11. R.A.D - Sukiyaki (Artimix's 12" Japanese+English Sweet Edit)

Length : 25:33
Year : January 1997
Equipment used : 2x CDJ-500 + Fostex XR-7 4-tracker recorder.
I used 120 Miniute-tape for this mix, 60 minutes per side, with double speed, that is maximum of 30 minutes for the mix.

1997
* Fostex XR-7 four-track + Pioneer CDJ-500

Richard Artimix's unique style :
- A little something that touches your heart;
- A little bit of oriental sound or Chinese song;
- A little bit of India or Middle-East sound;
- 80's substances embedded.
Hope you enjoy this mix, thank you!

Richard Artimix 的獨特風格 :
少許令人心動的旋律 ;
少許東方元素或中文歌 ;
少許印度或中東元素 ;
夾雜著八十年代的感覺.
希望大家喜歡!

Midnight Mood Mix vol.2 (The Midnight Beats) 2014 Edit for DJMag

#Chillout, #Downtempo, #Deep, #Dark, #DJ Magazine

Midnight Mood Mix vol.2 (The Midnight Beats) 2014 Edit for DJMag by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Tracklist:
01. B-WrecKords - Smooth Hip Hop Sampled Beat {Edit}
02. Shelley Harland - In The Dark (Hospital Mix)
03. Tiu De Haan - O Come O Come Emmuanuel
04. Probangers - Ambush
05. 蕭瀟 - 千言萬語心燒夜 (Artimix Deep And Dark Edit) 2014 Edit
06. Stryke presents The Azul Project - Ain't No Sunshine
07. Coldcut - Autumn Leaves (Remix)
08. Shirley Bassey - Where Do I Begin (Away Team Mix)
09. Nickodemus - Cleopatra In New York (Zim Zam Mix)
10. Modern Talking - Brother Louie (Oliver Leadline Far From Disco Mix)
11. Blue Man Group - Sing Along (feat Dave Matthews Band)

Length : 45:23

Description :
Another "Midnight Mood" Mix, the addictive beats that went through my mind during the lonely sleepless night (while all family members were sleeping sweetly).

Song Selection skill :
This is an example of digging deep into music, some unreleased tracks are actually fine remixes from remix competitions. One of the tracks is from a 15 years old song writer. Also from my own edits, the way I want the song to be.

Mixing :
This is also a good example when Mood mixing needs to outweigh Beat mixing, mood is king!

Richard Artimix's unique style :
- A little something that touches your heart;
- A little bit of oriental sound or Chinese song;
- A little bit of India or Middle-East sound;
- 80's substances embedded.

Hope you enjoy this mix, thank you!

"失眠 Mix vol. 2" 2014 編輯版
紀錄失眠時腦海中想聽的Beats.

Richard Artimix 的獨特風格 :
少許令人心動的旋律 ;
少許東方元素或中文歌 ;
少許印度或中東元素 ;
夾雜著八十年代的感覺.
希望大家喜歡!

11-11 Remembrance Day 國殤紀念日

Today 11-11 is "Remembrance Day" !

B-Movie - Remembrance Day


國殤紀念日 :
國殤紀念日（英文：Remembrance Day）訂立於每年的11月11日，為一個紀念在第一次世界大戰、第二次世界大戰和其他戰爭中犧牲的軍人與平民的紀念節日，又譯「國殤紀念日」。第一個國殤日於1919年在整個英聯邦舉行，原稱「停戰日」（英文：Armistice Day），於1919年11月7日由英王喬治五世創立，紀念第一次世界大戰於1918年11月11日上午11時結束。不同的地方對節日有著不同的稱呼：國殤紀念日流行於澳洲、加拿大與英國；虞美人花日（英文：Poppy Day）通用於馬爾他和南非；退伍軍人日（英文：Veterans Day）為美國人的稱呼；日本人將德文「Volkstrauertag」翻譯為國民哀悼日（日文：国民哀悼の日），專指德國的國殤紀念日；在法國、紐西蘭以及其他英聯邦國家則稱為停戰日（英文：Armistice Day），這也是此節日本來的名稱，為國際通用。

Please Love 80's Italo Again

DJMag Next Generation Italo Mix by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Please Love 80's Italo Again - dj Richard Prado (Artimix)
Richard Prado (Artimix) is one of the originator of Mood Programming concept.

THE EVOLUTION Of DJ Mixing :
1980's DJ Beat Mixing (BPM) & Multi-track Recorder (destructive recording)
1990's Computer Editing (non-destructive recording)
2000's Harmonic Mixing (Camelot key code)
2010's Mood Mixing (mood level index)

This mix is all of the above:
1) Contains mix positions from my 1980's 4-tracker mix;
2) Used computer for edits;
3) Perfectly Harmonic mixing, see Camelot key code in track list below;
4) Mood Mixing technique used.

Mood Chart for this mix :

Mood Mixing technique by Richard Prado (Artimix) :
http://djartimix.blogspot.com/2012/06/mood-mixing.html

Tracklist:
*Part 1
Rose - Magic Carillion (12") [9A]
Savage - Only You (Extended Remix) [8A]
Valerie Dore - Get Closer (12") [9A]
Creative Connection - Scratch My Name (12") [9A]
Modern Talking - You Can Win If You Want (Special Dance Mix) [10A]
*Part 2
Luca Coveri - Do It Again (Extended Remix) [9A]
Squash Gang - I Want An Illusion (12") [9A]
KB Caps - Do You Really Need Me (Dub Instrumental) [8A]
Ken Laszlo - Hey Hey Guy (Nunk Remix) [8A]
Humphrey - Devil Love (Passion In The Dark) (12") [8A]
Marx & Spencer - Stay (Matiz Remix) [9A]
Joe Yellow - Lover To Lover (For Sale) (12") [10A]
*Part 3
Marx & Spencer - Stay (Matiz Remix) [9A, as base track]
-Sabrina - Boys Boys Boys (12") [9A]
-Gazebo - Lunatic (Extended Mix) [8A]
-Gary Low - I Want You (12") [10A]
-Duke Lake - Do You (12") [10A]
-Monte Kristo - Lady Valentine (12") [9A]
-Phil Grant - Hey Girl (Vocal Version) [8A]
-Ken Laszlo - Hey Hey Guy (12") [8A]
*Part 4
Fancy - Flames Of Love (12" Ext.) [9A]
Rocky M. - Fly With Me To Wonderland (Extended Mix) [8A]

Length: 14:01

320kbps Download link :
Please Love 80's Italo Again - dj Richard Prado (Artimix)
https://www.sendspace.com/file/y3z97h


Richard Prado (Artimix) is one of the originator of Mood Programming concept.
This mix is seen as a whole and has an 80's medley structure which consists of 4 main parts:
*Part 1 – Building up (00:01 to 05:26) : simple beat mix at first, then medley positions, a little bridge at 04:20 with harmonic mixing 3 tracks together.
*Part 2 – Fresh & Loving feeling (05:26 to 07:58) : a simple fade chop here is enough, doesn’t have to be sophisticated in everywhere. Mood is king.
*Part 3 – Taking Off (07:58 to 11:55) : speed up; gained enough momentum to take off; base track technique to quick show big Italo tunes; a quick break down (at 11:00 to 11:19) and building up.
*Part 4 – Over the world (11:55 to 14:01) : touching tunes to wrap up, extending the loving feeling, haunting the audience and wanting them to listen again.

Midnight Mood Mix vol.3 (Another recording of my emotions) : Chillout mix

2014 Midnight Mood Mix vol. 3

2014 Midnight Mood Mix vol. 3 by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Tracklist:
Vechigen - Tell No One (Original Mix)
Flosstradamus ft. Elkka - Rebound (Original Mix)
Jamar Rogers - High (Original Version)
Kaskade feat. Adam Klopp - Please Say You Will (Original Mix)
London Grammar - Sights (Radio Edit)
Nile Rodgers - Do What You Wanna Do (IMS Anthem) (Rob Da Bank Sunset Remix)
Fantastiques - Come Into My Dreams (Original Mix)
MosaiC - Replica (Original Mix)



Length: 34:57
Date : 2014-08-15a

Related Posts :

Midnight Mood Mix vol.2 (The Midnight BEATS) : Chillout mix

Midnight Mood Mix vol.1 (A recording of my emotions) : Chillout mix

1988 Acid House Mix (Live) - DJ Richard Prado Artimix

Real Live mixtape recorded at The Green Parrot Disco Macau 1988
At that time, I knew these tracks would not easily be accepted by all guests but I felt deeply that I have mission to lead and should play these sounds for them.
"Doctorin The Tardis" finally made it to Number One in Europe.

1989 Acid House Mix (Live) - DJ Richard Prado Artimix by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Tracklist :
01. S'Express - Superfly Guy (12")
02. Bam Bam - Give It To Me (Club Mix)
03. S'Express - S'Express (12")
04. The Timelords (The KLF) - Doctorin The Tardis (12" Extended)
05. Jack To The House
06. Bomb Bass - Beat Dis (Bonus Beats)
07. MARRS - Pump Up The Volume (12")
08. Put The Needle On The Record (12")
09. Steinski & Mss Media - We'll Be Right Back (Club Edit)


Length : 32:37
Year : 1988

Description :
Regarding to the track "S'Express - S'Express (12")" in this mix,
I remember I was chatting with a DJ from Singapore while I was working for the night and recording this tape,
He asked me what version I was playing, I replied just the normal 12" version,
he said it was different, I said because I chopped out in the middle of the track just before the break and I was only playing the second half of the track.
Due to low budget for vinyls, I sucked every juice from every record, this is one of the way to keep people fascinated. :)

DJ Tips : Most DJs (especially Asian DJs) only play the first half of the tracks (i.e. from intro till the first break) and so the later part of the tracks were often forgotten. Try to use all parts of a track.

2014 FIFA World Cup Final Mix

Can you break my secret code?

2014 FIFA World Cup Final Mix by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Titelliste :
Camouflage - The Great Commandment
Kraftwerk - Das Model
Modern Talking - You're My Heart You're My Soul (Hot Tracks)
Modern Talking - You Can Win If You Want (Special Dance Version)

Length : 13:54
Date : 2014-07-13

2014-07-05 Argentina vs Belgiam FIFA match - Italo Mix

Artentina vs Belgiam FIVA match - Italo Mix by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Tracklist:
Larry Day - Fashion Girl
Helicon - You See
Clio - Faces
Chris Louise - The Heart Of The City (12" Version)
Righeira - Vamos A La Playa
Verago - I Don't Remember
Digital Emotion - Go Go Yellow Screen
Trans-X - Living On Video (Original Club Mix)
YMO - La Femme Chinoise
A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran (Hot Tracks)
Oh Romeo - These Memories (Remix)

Length : 43:24
Date : 2014-07-05

Description:
Another unrehearsed drunk mix between dinner and begin FIFA match of Argentina vs Belgiam.

Retro Evolution Mix volume 24

Contemporary music for our 80's dance music lovers!

Dear 80's dance music lovers,
I have selected some sweet 80's sounds that you would love!
Their styles are Space Disco, Techno, Euro Disco, Retro Rap Dance, Jazzy Funk-House.
Please listen and enjoy, these songs will touch your heart!

However, you may not believe that all these tracks are from 2014.

Your Retro friend,
Richard Artimix

Retro Evolution Mix volume 24 - Richard Artimix by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Tracklist :
NSFW - Jaywalker (Original Mix)
Kylie Minogue - I Was Gonna Cancel (The Presets Remix)
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX - Fancy (Riddim Commission Remix)
Sammy Love & Mc Ace Ft. Lamuh - Mon Chevalier (Extended Mix)
Katie Perry - Birthday (Holy Ghost Extended Remix)
Clean Bandit ft. Sharna Bass - Extraordinary (Klingande Remix) (DJ Intro)

Length : 27:42
Date : 2014-06-02

Free download at Chillfader Store :
Retro Evolution Mix volume 24 - Richard Artimix
http://sbx.sk/Ak7E

Clean Bandit ft. Sharna Bass - Extraordinary

http://youtu.be/40nFOYGVJtY

1980's Miami Bass and Dirty South Mix - Richard Artimix

尋晚....飲了兩個泠後....
Last night.... after 2 rounds of drink...

...I need to spin 80's
1980's Miami Bass and Dirty South Mix - Richard Artimix

1980's Miami Bass and Dirty South Mix - Richard Artimix by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Tracklist:
Debbie Deb - When I Hear Music
Egyptian Lover - Girls
Reggie Griffin & Technofunk - Mirda Rock
Egyptian Lover - The Dark Side of Egypt
Egyptian Lover - Egypt Egypt
Twilight 22 - Siberian Knights & Electric Kingdom (Ultimix)
Freestyle - The Party Has Just Begun
Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock
Salt N Peppa - Push It (Original Mix)
2 Live Crew - Pop That P-Ssy [Explicit]
2 Live Crew - Me So Horny
2 Live Crew - We Want Some Pussy (German Long Hard Mix)
Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back (Ultimix)
2 Live Crew - Pretty Woman
Wild Boys - Pussy Thang
Gucci Crew II - Sally (That Girl)

Length : 65:31
Date : 2014-05-23a

How does Luke Skywalker relate to the Joker?

I would have never guessed.

Mark Richard Hamill was great in Star Wars as Luke Skywalker and about 15 years later he truly joined the dark side when he took on the role of the Joker (voice).

天行者和小丑有什麼關連?
演星球大戰天行者的那個演員 Mark Richard Hamill 十五年後做了配音員,而且為蝙蝠俠卡通片裡面小丑角色配音.


The Joker: Mark Hamill



Making Batman: Arkham City - Voice Cast

My pair of Pioneer CDJ-500 still working

My pair of Pioneer CDJ-500 are still in my study and they are working well.
Saw a video today that the CDJ-500 was introduced in October 1994 but I think I bought them earlier than 1994...
They don't have vinyl mode, when cueing CDs, the sound you here is frame-by-frame, like "but but but but", "tick tick tick tick".

Photo here to share.



Pioneer DJ History Part One - The Evolution of the CDJ 

http://youtu.be/CgTdAdynUYo

Retro Evolution Mix 23

Laid-back practice mix on mother's day. Contains Retro tracks and latest tracks
I love this mix very much and would like to share with you.
Mixed by Richard Artimix ft. Chillfader

Retro Evolution Mix vol. 23 by Dj Richard Prado Artimix on Mixcloud

Tracklist:
TLC - Creep (Original) [1980's]
Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dog - Nuttin But A G Thang [1990's]
Eric B and Rakim - Paid In Full (Demo Re-Rub) [1980's]
Eric B and Rakim - Paid In Full (Classy Mix) [1980's]
Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up (Original 12 Inch Mix) [1990's]
Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It (Instrumental) [1990's]
Carl Carlton - Everlasting Love (The GlickMix Edit) [1970's]
Jesse McCartney - Superbad (Radio Edit) [2014-May]
Katy Perry - Birthday (Mark Picchiotti BASSTOY Remix) [2014]
Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive (MFM Mix) [2013]
Information Society - Running 2K14 (Eric Kupper Mix) [2014]
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time (Alex Gaudino Remix) [2014]
Beyonce - XO (Cosmic Dawn Club Mix) [2014]

Length : 52:02
Date : 2014-05-11a

Free download at Chillfader store :
Retro Evolution Mix 23 - Richard Artimix ft. Chillfader.mp3

Best Of Club Hits 2014 Mix featuring DJ Richard Artimix

My niece asked me if I can do a contemporary Club mix for her website.
"Well yes, but it should be in my style!" I said.
Here it is! Rehearsed live unedited club mix in Artimix style.

DailyRMX.com Mix 034 - Best Of Club Hits 2014 Mix featuring DJ Richard Artimix
Richard Artimix mixes usually include ingredients of
(1) bits of heart touching tunes;
(2) bits of oriental sound or Chinese song ;
(3) bits of India or Middle-East sound ;
(4) some 80's substances embedded.
This mix is a Harmonic mix and also a Mood mix.

DailyRMX.com Mix 034 - Best Of Club Hits 2014 Mixed by Cloudie Linn on Mixcloud

Tracklist:
Afrojack ft. Wrabel - Ten Feet Tall (Original Mix)
Afrojack vs. Thirty Seconds To Mars - Do Or Die (Radio Edit)
David Guetta & Showtek ft. Vassy - Bad (Original Mix)
Avicii - Addicted To You (Albin Myers Remix)
Marga Sol - Dali Sonuvam (Spase DJ Deep & Soulful Remix)
Little Mix - Little Me (Felipe Angel Reconstruction Mix)
Milk & Sugar ft. Maria Marquez - Canto Del Pilon (Afterlife Remix)
Chromeo - Jealous (I Ain't With It) (Original Mix)
Cole Plante with Myon and Shane 54 ft. Ruby ODell - If I Fall (Director's Cut Remix)
The Young Professionals ft. Eva Simons - Let's Do It Right (Anoraak Club Mix)
Tony Scott vs. House Sound of Chicago - Gangster Boogie 2.0 (Extended Club Mix) [80's
DJ Rigi feat. Cemre Akcam - Spring's Coming (Mr. Root Remix)
Mariah Carey - You're Mine (Eternal) (Gregor Salto & Funkin Matt Remix)
Cole Plante with Myon and Shane 54 ft. Ruby ODell - If I Fall (Bit Error Extended Mix)
Three Drives - Greece 2000 (Ashley Wallbridge Remix)

Length : 67:48
Date : 2014-04-05a

DailyRMX.com Mix 034 featuring DJ Richard Artimix
320k download at Chillfader Store:
DailyRMX.com Mix 034 - Best Of Club Hits 2014

Listened my vinyls on a lazy Sunday afternoon (Italo Disco)

Righeira - Vamos A La Playa (Dub Version)

2014-02-14 Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Chinese Valentine's Day! 情人節快樂, 元宵節快樂!

Do you know 2014-02-14 is a very special day, the Western Valentine's Day and Yuanxiao Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day) fall on this very same day!

2014年2月14日是個很特別的日子, 這天「西方情人節」巧遇「中國情人節」於同一日。 情人節 元宵節雙節同日慶祝。



Yuanxiao Festival (also known as Lantern Festival, Chinese Valentine's Day)

The Yuanxiao Festival falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, usually in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), it had become a festival with great significance. This day's important activity is watching lanterns. Also this day is celebrated by individuals seeking for a romantic partner, akin to Valentine's Day.

Till today, the Yuanxiao Festival is still held each year around the country. Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in the streets, attracting countless visitors. Children will hold self-made or bought lanterns to stroll with on the streets, extremely excited. "Guessing lantern riddles"is an essential part of the Festival. Lantern owners write riddles on a piece of paper and post them on the lanterns. If visitors have solutions to the riddles, they can pull the paper out and go to the lantern owners to check their answer. If they are right, they will get a little gift. The activity emerged during people's enjoyment of lanterns in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). As riddle guessing is interesting and full of wisdom, it has become popular among all social strata.

People will eat yuanxiao, or rice dumplings, on this day, so it is also called the "Yuanxiao Festival."Yuanxiao also has another name, tangyuan. It is small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour with rose petals, sesame, bean paste, jujube paste, walnut meat, dried fruit, sugar and edible oil as filling. Tangyuan can be boiled, fried or steamed. It tastes sweet and delicious. What's more, tangyuan in Chinese has a similar pronunciation with "tuanyuan”, meaning reunion. So people eat them to denote union, harmony and happiness for the family.

Nowadays some local governments will even organize a fireworks party. On the night when the first full moon enters the New Year, people become really intoxicated by the imposing fireworks and bright moon in the sky.

元宵節 (中國情人節)

每年農曆的正月十五日，春節剛過，迎來的就是中國的傳統節日--元宵節。元宵節主要的活動就是看燈。青年男女會出外賞燈，也是結識的機會，因此有「中國情人節」之稱。

直到今天，元宵節點燈的習俗仍然在中國的各地流傳的，各式各樣美麗的花燈在這一天都會點亮，孩子們提著自製的燈籠走街串巷，非常高興。猜燈謎也是元宵節的一項重要活動，花燈的主人會將謎面寫在燈籠上，掛在門口，如果有人可以猜中，就能得到小小的禮物。這項活動最早起源於宋朝，因為謎語能啟迪智慧又饒有興趣，所以流傳過程中深受社會各階層的歡迎。

民間過元宵節吃元宵的習俗。元宵由糯米製成，或實心，或帶餡。餡有豆沙、白糖、山楂、各類果料等，食用時煮、煎、蒸、炸皆可。起初，人們把這種食物叫“浮圓子”，後來又叫“湯糰”或“湯圓”，這些名稱“團圓”字音相近，取團圓之意，象徵全家人團團圓圓，和睦幸福，人們也以此懷念離別的親人，寄託了對未來生活的美好願望。

現在一些地方政府也會舉辦煙花大會，當新年的第一個月圓之夜在盛大的煙火表演中來臨時，人們都陶醉在這令人難忘了煙花與皎潔的明月中。


Related Mixes :
February Mood Mix (Sonia's Love Edit)
February Mood Mix (The Original Flow)

Related Links :
元宵節的由來英文介紹
元宵節
情人節
Valentine's Day
Chinese New Year