Zhang Yimou is hip

Zhang Yimou's new hobby is music. He writes the lyrics and raps for I am Only a Legend (Wo Zhishi Ge Chuanshuo), the theme song of his new film The First Gun (Sanqiang Pai'an Jingqi), which will premiere on Dec 11.

It is the second time Zhang (pictured) has written the lyrics for a song. His first work was the theme song for Red Sorghum (Hong Gaoliang) in 1987.

Comedian Xiao Shenyang will provide the vocals. Zhang tried but gave up, joking that he has no flair for singing. However he raps the song's conclusionin in his hometown Shaanxi's dialect.

Adapted from the Coen Brothers' Blood Simple, the film tells of the uncanny and funny incidents that happen to a hotel owner and the hit man he hires to murder his wife.

Zhao Ling, son of renowned composer Zhao Jiping, who composes the scores of Red Sorghum and Raise the Red Lantern (Dahong Denglong Gaogao Gua), wrote the score.