Uniquely great! William Wu (吳文修) sings "杯底毋通飼金魚 (Bottom up)" by 呂泉生. Live, Taipei, 1992.

Maestro William Wu (吳文修教授, 1935-2009) was a primo dramatic tenor of the National Opera House in Berlin during 1973-79. His biography has been included in The New York Times Who’s Who in Opera since 1976, where he was further selected as one of the 50 leading classical singers in the world. His outstanding performance as Radames in Verdi’s Aida in Tokyo won him the 1984 Vienna World Opera Award. His faultless vocalization is mainly based upon anatomic physiology and modern sound science fascinating with uniquely perfect high notes and solid middle register. It is the profound feelings in the every note he sings that is particularly touching. Among his numerous students in Taiwan and Japan, baritone Te-Tsung Hsu (許徳崇) is one of the best and tenor Yun-Seng Giang (姜雲生) used to receive the most care.

*《杯底不可飼金魚》由劇作家陳大禹(筆名居然、田舍翁)作詞，呂泉生教授作曲，1949發表於台北市中山堂，當時亦由呂泉生教授自彈(鋼琴伴奏)自唱。

「杯底毋通飼金魚」乃台灣俗諺，係勸人乾杯、飲盡杯中酒之意。本曲的創作靈感來自趙元任教授《茶花女中飲酒歌》的「天公造酒又造愛」一句。創作動機則是呂泉生教授有感於「二二八事件」造成傷亡無數、族群對立，希望各方一如歌詞「朋友弟兄無議論」，無本省與外省之分，大家都可坐下來喝杯酒，並一飲而盡、肝膽相照，雙方都不要有猜忌或仇恨，往後和樂過生活。實則創作的近因是1949某日有位朋友來訪，由於閒聊中兩人因228事件分持不同意見與看法而起爭執，遂不歡而散，讓呂泉生教授深感人與人之間若能剖腹相見、興到食酒免揀時、情投意合上歡喜、朋友弟兄無議論，當千杯飲盡後，ㄧ笑泯去恩仇，大氣又豪邁，誤會自然能冰釋。

* Chinese lyrics & English translation of the lyrics of "杯底毋通飼金魚 (Bottom up)" by 呂泉生:

* 杯底不可飼金魚 / 陳大禹(居然) 詞；呂泉生 曲

飲啦！杯底不通飼金魚，好漢剖腹來相見；
拚一步，爽快麼值錢！

飲啦！杯底不通飼金魚，興到食酒免揀時；
情投意合上歡喜，杯底不通飼金魚！

朋友弟兄無議論，欲哭欲笑據在伊；
心情鬱卒若無透，等待何時咱的天！
哈…醉落去！杯底不通飼金魚！

* Bottom up / Lyrics, D.-Y. Chen; Music, C.-S. Liu

Drink it! The bottom of the cup is not for feeding goldfish.
We heroes come to meet only with our bellies all cut open.
Go on! It is worth it!

Drink it! The bottom of the cup is not for feeding goldfish.
We would drink whenever we like.
People being congenial in tastes and temperament is most delightful!
The bottom of the cup is not for feeding goldfish.

We are all friends and brothers making no distinction between each other.
Whether we want to cry or laugh just depends on ourselves.
If we keep feeling gloomy and hopeless, then our good days will never come!
Ha... Just get drunk! The bottom of the cup is not for feeding goldfish!