The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy is a conceptual Mandopop album by Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter Joanna Wang 王若琳, released on October 25, 2011. The album tells a whimsical yet dark story about a mischievous boy named Bernie and his various encounters.
Album Overview
Produced by Joanna Wang, the album is noted for its unique departure from mainstream Mandopop, favoring a “clavier-heavy baroque” and progressive rock style. According to reviewers on Critter Jams, the lyrics function like old-fashioned fables that take “dark turns,” featuring themes of revenge and manipulative children.
Artistic Direction
- Influences: On Rate Your Music, reviewers note that while Wang cites influences like Oingo Boingo and Queen, the album sounds nearly classical and is highly experimental.
- Themes: The songs explore childhood curiosity alongside more sinister undertones, such as a child plotting against everyone they know.
- Instrumentation: The sound is defined primarily by the clavier and Wang’s vocals, with complex counterpoints that some critics compare to the work of Danny Elfman
[2011-10-25] 王若琳 The Adventures Of Bernie The Schoolboy
A larger album art cover. This is a very ugly album art cover 🙂
王若琳 The Adventures Of Bernie The Schoolboy Tracks
- The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy/バーニーの大冒険/博尼的大冒险
- Apathy/无関心/漠不关心
- Chitterchat/うわさ话/聊八卦
- Plotting Revenge/复雠/复仇记
- The Fool/马鹿/愚人
- Only Child/ひとりっ子/独生子
- We Just Wont Know/みんなの孤独/大家的孤独
- The Bug/バグ/窃听虫
- I Blame it on You/あなたのせい/我怪在你身上
- The Chicken Circus/チキンサーカス/公鸡马戏团(器乐曲)
- Chitterchat(Reprise)/うわさ话(重奏)/聊八卦(重奏)
- The Revenge of the Farm Animals/家畜の大リベンジ/家畜的大复仇
- The Adventure Comes to an End/冒険のエピローグ/冒险的尾声
