* 2023 Golden Comic Award (Best Editor)
Ten classic songs from Taiwan, adapted into ten different comics, each unique in style and approach. Nostalgia and meaning intermingle in these varied visions of Taiwan, from hard-edged realism, to satire, to flights of fancy.
What appears in your mind when you hear your favorite classic song? Does it elicit memories from the past? Or, does it give you that wistful sense of how much things have changed over the years? Bringing together comics and music, Island Rhapsody began with a list of ten popular songs from the 1950 to 2000 selected by singer, songwriter, and composer Chen Ming-Chang. Next, ten comic book artists set to work creating stories inspired by the songs of this classic playlist.
Some stories are based on childhood interactions with family and friends, with the song acting as a gateway to the memories of bygone times. In other stories, the main character hears the song, and, touched by the lyrics and melody, comes to a new understanding of their life situation. In some cases, the songs are the basis for constructing imaginary worlds in which the characters undertake new adventures.
All of the songs in the book are available for listening online. In addition to the comics, the book also contains a listening guide written by music critic Hung Fang-Yi to enhance the reading and listening experience.
