Kelly Chen - 真感覺 (True Feelings) 1999

Kelly is one of those idol cpop artists that rose to stardom in the late 90s.  She's half pop star, half actress.  She's not the demure, perky idol that you see in kpop or the bitchy bad girl popular in America.  She's is typical of what's popular in cantopop, that chic, trendy, lively but feminin pop starlet.

She is mainly focused on dance music, whether it's EDM or rock flavored dance pop and karaoke ballads.  She started out very popular and gradually lost steam and this was the song that turned things around and allowed her to eventually become a diva.  "True Feelings" is a dance pop song with a Chinese melody and guitar riffs.  It's catchy and lively.  The lyrics is nothing spectacular and cumbersome to translate..so I didn't bother.

Kelly Chen - 真感覺 (True Feelings)
From album: 真感覺 (True Feelings) 1999

Lyrics:
似看破四面牆　似看到太平洋
我與你去翱翔　飛得那麼歡暢
是你的一張肖像　叫我這麼多聯想

我看見你眉頭　我看見你鼻樑
我看見你面容　一些美好印象
是你的一張肖像　佔據這刻的意向

不必變身　只需非常留神
相信　你的心　便能超過限制
凝望眼前人　眼前人　我靈魂　你靈魂
剎那接近　更加逼真

情是　即刻想到你　已經　即刻想見你
其實我　掛念你　無限的神奇
即刻想到你　已經　即刻感覺你
無論你　遠或近　這一刻我要吻你

發覺這晚悠長　發覺我懶洋洋
我要你也在場　方可覺得歡暢
讓你的一張肖像　叫我這麼多聯想

看到你佻皮時　看到你困惑時
看到我已茫然　一些美好印象
讓你的一張肖像　佔據這刻的意向

不必變身　只需非常留神
相信　你的心　便能超過限制
凝望眼前人　眼前人　我靈魂　你靈魂
剎那接近　更加逼真

情是　即刻想到你　已經　即刻想見你
其實我　掛念你　無限的神奇
即刻想到你　已經　即刻感覺你
無論你　遠或近　這一刻我要吻你

Maria Cordero - 充滿希望 (Full of Hope) 1987

Maria Cordero is a large Chinese-Portugese mixed race singer born in Macau.  Her parents passed away when she was 11 and she had to get fake IDs to work and make money for the family.  She sang at a Hong Kong club as a blues singer and that big voice captured the customers and the word spread and soon she was discovered and offered to sing a theme song "Light of Friendship" for the popular movie "Prison on Fire" starring chow yun fat.  She became a star overnight, the song was a huge hit just like the movie the song was featured in. Her album soon went platinum and she was everywhere in the media.  Her mixed looks and big size and voice made her an icon and she later became a famous film and tv personality.   "Full of Hope" is her followup to "Light of Friendship", it became a minor hit.  It's a retro blues single with a chinese erhu (a wailing chinese violin) interlude.   There are not that many husky big voices in Asian music and Maria Cordero is a stand out in the industry.

Maria Cordero - 充滿希望 (Full of Hope)
From Album: Maria Cordero (1987)

The world has so much pain and sorrow
The road is rough so persevere
If wounded, please don't be frightened
The reality is that's life
Don't fear sky high, heart is higher
Don't remember the pain, venture my path with courage
Encounter predicaments, don't be dishearted
it's because I haven't tried my best to get up


Chorus:
Today, just toss away all worries
No turning back, see pass it, strive again
Failures, winning and losing becomes my strength

World's harship must break through
Don't carry pessimism and disappointment
On this day even if feeling sorrow
Still willing to try my best to get up

Vow to completely let loose and completely break through..
yeah..yeah
If disappointed, if exhausted
This is only a mandatory part of life
Vow to, I vow to break... through
yeah..yeah

Failures should be, Victories should be
Full of Hope
Don't think about triumph and failure
Tomorrow, everything must change
My heart's fullest, dream will come true

Rose Garden - 沒有明天的少年 (Youth without tomorrow) 1991

There is a little known about this band, one album and competely disappeared from the mainstream. It's hard to even find one copy of this cd on the 2nd hand market. Fortunately, somebody traded me this cd for some album I didn't care for anyways. They had 3 singles that charted on their debut album, but none of them had a huge impact despite getting some decent radio play.  Hong Kong used to welcome bands, from the 60s there were local bands singing in local venues and playing both original songs and cover of western bands, some of the prominent solo singers in the early 80s were once band members.
Most bands disappeared by the early 90s because the media airwaves and their focus were saturated with the four heavenly kings and new idols.   Rose Garden is one of those rare bands that's got signed to a record label, although a pretty small label and managed to debut in the idol populated cantopop market in the early 90s. Bands are an indie thing at that time ..very few managed to make it in the mainstream and things haven't changed since.  This is a pop rock single and I like it.  It's catchy with fast guitar solos and riffs.

Rose Garden - 沒有明天的少年 (Youth without tomorrow)
From album: 樂與怒的變奏 (A Rock & Roll Variation) 1991

Lyrics:
Never had tomorrow
Never desired money
They scoffed at me, I just stay silent

Never had sunny days
Only had self-pity
Although with big dreams,
they are hard to realize

Home in my heart has no roots
still holding onto regrets
Sorrow I swallowed alone
Pain left me scars
I can't take it anymore

Heart repressed with anger
No one to talk to
The world is callous
I want someone to care
my intentions are wasted
A stomach full of anger

Heart repressed with anger
No one to talk to
love hate left me confused
I want happiness
I don't want to hear again:
Your life is like shit

Jacky Cheung - 輕撫你的臉 (Gently caress your face) 1986

Jacky Cheung is the king of Chinese ballads and is frequently referenced as the "song god" in Chinese pop.
He has one of the longest careers in cantopop, as well as chinese pop in general out of the 4 heavenly kings. 
He is doing 100+ stop concert tour around Asia at this day and age. 
He won a local singing competition in the mid 80s and was signed by Polygram (now universal music).  Although the record company didn't have much faith in him in the beginning due to his homely looks, he managed to start with a bang.  His debut album sold quadriple platinum and produced 3 number one singles, including this pretty piano ballad, "Gently caress your face".  Jacky Cheung went onto becoming THE biggest selling male solo artist in chinese pop history with many multiple million selling albums across Asia. He has many of the best selling album in Chinese music history. Despite not being movie star handsome and lack of hardcore screaming fangirls, he is widely popular with an enormous amount of casual fans, which guarantees his stellar album sales and sold out concerts.

Jacky Cheung - 輕撫你的臉 (Gently caress your face)
From album: Smile (1986)

Lyrics:
A hand gently caress your face
Gentle to the touch, soft like cotton
Innocent eyes, closed firmly waiting
Like intoxicated, waiting to hear my words of love

Do you know I have fabricated a lie
Don't know where to start, hard to put it bluntly
Lighting up a cigarette, my heart scattered like the smoke
Forget it, I'll hide behind the smoke and pretend to be invisible

That bit of candlelight is like a cold arrow
My voice under the rapid breathing is gradually changing
This moment, my heart is a complete choas
I can't withhold from explaining
that Our love has changed

That day I impulsively said:
my love for you never will change
It was a sincere moment
never meant to deceive
Your heartfelt sacrifices, truly made me feel warm
Unfortunately today, I am no longer the same

A hand gently caress your face
Gentle to the touch, soft like cotton
Innocent eyes, vaguely revealing tears
Broken, broken memories, is plugged with a hundred arrows

A hand gently caress your face...

Aaron Kwok - 地獄天堂 (Hell Heaven) 2000

Aaron Kwok is also one of the 4 heavenly kings, being the youngest, the most youthful and energetic one.
He started out as a dancer, appearing on music videos and was picked up by a major label despite his lack of singing abilities, he has the showmanship and looks to make up for it.  He specialises in dance music, mainly house and techno pop and of course, being an idol in cantopop, you MUST sing some ballads for the female fans.  Aaron is the one with the least longevity of the 4 kings in cantopop, Hell Heaven is the continuation of his career downward spiral.  The previous album was the beginning of that spiral.  Hell Heaven was the first aaron lead single that failed to chart in the top 10.
The song barely made it in the top 20, the album sales while still good thanks to his large fanbase, but was nowhere stellar as most a-list artists of the time.  At this point, Aaron started to heavily focus on the movie industry and eventually faded out from cantopop and only to return once every few years for his return concert tours.  Aaron is a big influence on many Chinese solo dance artists, including Show Luo.  Hell Heaven is an electro-house song, interchanging between an etheral piano section and a heavily synthesized, beat-heavy electronic section. 

Aaron Kwok - 地獄天堂 (Hell Heaven)
From Album: 著迷 (Fascinating) 2000



Lyrics:

la la la ....
This world of love, two special zones, separated into dark and light factions
Sweetness and failure, neglected and spoiled, Romance on sale without license

In reality, love is limited in allocation, People love challenges without resolution
commitment and dependence, evasion and misunderstanding
Many struggles, still stayed happy

Love is separated, into Hell and Heaven
Everytime getting into the battle, everyone forgets easily
Fate and desinty, hopefully has Heaven
Love will forever shine, blazing and illuminating, is an ideal

la la la ....

Love is separated, into Hell and Heaven
Everywhere it's the same, who will never let go and never forget
This moment, hopefully has Heaven
Love forever the same, boundlessly illuminating, the extreme ideal

Andy Lau - 答案就是你 (The Answer is you) 1993

Speaking of the 4 heavenly kings the last time, in the early 90s, there were 4 solo male singers that caused an extreme craze in cantopop. The media was talking about them, they get mobs of fans chasing after their cars, their fans get into arguements and physical fights over their tense rivalry.  Their albums go quadriple platinum the day it's released and causing line ups at record stores.  For most of the 90s, they reigned the cantopop industry and leave everyone else in the dust.  The 10 yearly most popular songs are mainly shared amongst the four of them.  It made things tough for other artists as the four of them topped the charts for a total of 23 out of the 52 weeks in 1993.  Companies wanted to replicate their success and ended up unsuccessful.  This was what started the rampant idol manufacturing and over commercialization in cantopop which ultimately had a hand in leading to its own demise.  Andy Lau was one of the heavenly kings.  He was initially a very popular TV actor, then turned into a successful movie star and singer. ...he gives off a smooth boyish Tom Cruise vibe and was often called the chinese Tom Cruise.  His specialty is mainly catchy romantic love ballads.  The Answer Is You was a #1 hit as expected.  The song is a european style ballad.   30 years since his debut, Andy Lau is still very popular today with mega sold out concerts in Chinese speaking communities in Asia.

Andy Lau - 答案就是你 (The Answer is you)
From album: 答案就是你 (The Answer is you) 1993

Lyrics:
Why would I love, why would I open a closed heart
Why would I be intoxicated, soul and body cannot stay sober
Why the world that was lonesome, became a warm comforting dream
My past was only a pointless existence
Why is the present a passionate lust for life

Chorus:
Very clearly, the answer is you.
Do you know that my eyes, when looking at you,
I discover that my heart can only fall for you,
as if everything was predestined.
Very clearly, the answer is you.
Do you know this heart, from the night I met you,
I was certain that I will love you my entire life.
Inexplicable surprise (cannot be stopped)


Lost Perplexed Searching Finding, the past is always alone
Coming Going Turning in circles, wasted half my life
Searching for an answer, searching for a life that I can feel attached to
Just as I was endlessly depressed, who knew you'd fortunately drifted near

Beyond - 海闊天空 (Vast ocean and sky) 1993

Beyond is one of the most influential pop rock bands in Chinese history, and not just in cantopop.  Many of their songs are still being heavily played today all over Chinese speaking nations.  Vast ocean and sky's lyrics might sound a bit corny to the average listener and the lyrics seem to be a bit ambiguous, but knowing the background story explains everything.  The song was written at a time when cantopop music is at its commercial peak, when the industry is flooded with pretty idols and newcomers with nothing more than a pretty face is popping up by the second, cantopop was becoming overly commercial and manufactured.  Bands that were once relevant in the 80s have disappeared off the radar. The media at the early 90s was mainly focused on the 4 heavenly kings (which I will talk about later). Koma Wong at one point said "Hong Kong has no music industry, there is only an entertainment circle" .  Beyond, feeling dishearted by the future prospects of the industry as well as their career, decided to focus on Japan, the lyrics describes their sentiments with reference to their situation at that time.  I personally love Vast ocean and sky, the arrangement is perfect.  The song started with a quiet piano verse, then comes beautiful string sections that builds up to an emotional soaring guitar solo.  It's a beautiful rock ballad with a memorable melody and a raw heartfelt rendition.  It's one of those songs that I cannot get tired of because it's so full of real emotion.

Althought Vast ocean and sky was only a modest hit at the time of release, it soon became a huge smash due to the death of its lead, Koma Wong, who fell off a stage on their Japanese promo tour and sustained a fatal head injury.  Ironically, the song was released not long before his accident, which coincidentally contain lyrics about "falling".  The song has become the song to commerate his passing and has since become the ultimate Beyond classic as well as one of the biggest classics in cantopop.

Beyond - 海闊天空 (Vast ocean and sky)
From album: Rock & Roll (樂與怒) 1993

Lyrics:
Today I saw snow drifting by in the cold night
with a heart turned cold, drifting off to faraway places
Hurrying in the storm,
unable to tell the shadows apart
Vast ocean and sky, you and I,
will we change? (Who wouldn’t change?)

Many times, facing cold shoulder and ridicule
Never gave up on the ideals in my heart
A moment of absentmindedness,
a feeling of loss
Unwittingly, it faded,
..the love in my heart (Who understands me?)

Forgive my whole life of indulgence and love of freedom
I'm also afraid that one day I might fall,
Abandoning your ideals, anyone can
Not afraid that someday there’s just you and me

Still free and independent. Forever chating my song, Traveling through thousands of miles

Kay Tse - 開卷快樂 Happy read (2005)

Kay Tse started off as an indie artist and thanks to radio support, her indie albums became commercially successful and was soon picked up by Universal Music.  Since then, she has become more commercial and made a few mainstream hits and managed to stay relevant until today.   Her debut album Kay One has a mix of different blues leaning pop music and in the mix bag of styles is a bebop jazz song dedicated to the intrusive, sensationalistic and integrity-lacking Hong Kong paparazzi & entertainment reporting.  The song is a bit far from mainstream and fared mediocrely, but a rare attempt for cantopop at jazz nonetheless, a genre not widely appreciated in the east.

Kay Tse - 開卷快樂 Happy read
From album: Kay One (2005)

lyrics:
Uneven breast, bloated belly,  reported like breaking news
Good personality, except her calves are too big
Back of the evening gown, shots of exposure, every angle fastidious and particular
excessively low waistband, belly strap too revealing, hunted down at all cost

Did I think too much
After being entertained, I shouldn't be fuming.

No time, but still have to follow unparalleled outrageous coverage　
Who is dating, Who lost their virginity too early
gossip add conspiracy　
gimmicks never get old　
how can anyone get enough of entertainment news
Sold everyday, good or ugly, truth or fabrication are all accepted　

Who cares if she is dedicated to her work
Only want to know if she spend lavishly
The wealthy Mrs. High-Tea carelessly, T-Back is enjoyed with the public
Freshly published magazines, too much explosive speculations
to make the masses read happily

Highly famous, buried in the earth, has special coverage
not satisfied, last and next lives need to be mentioned
reason for self-destruction, mother's appeal, pursuing all responsility
ancestor's blessing, life-line breaks, the more mysterious the more applause

Reporter, Editor,  Mr. Photographer, sophisticated setup in every corner
Hotel corners fully equiped with wide angle lens to capture every type of ugly and ugly
Sad, Happy, Haggard, Morbid state,  who's staying at whose home
Ten ingenious experts, exposing every type of blunder
Commited to let the masses see thoroughly

Is she is dedicated to her work
Did she spend lavishly today
Is she playing the lead
everything is entertainment to the masses
Freshly published magazines, too much explosive speculations
to make everyone read happily everyday

Thank you for the acerbic and hilarious touch,...
cover woman's shoulders,
meticulous investigation, creating low budget entertainment
Tabloid news handiwork, absolutely won't be too accurate
As long as you are willing to spend, treat it as a pastime
Do not measure it with too high standards

Anthony Wong - 多情城市 (Amorous City) 1994

The popular multi-platinum electronic pop duo Tat Ming split up in 1991 and Anthony Wong, half of Tat Ming went solo.

After two moderately successful cantonese albums, the third album was recorded in Mandarin. 
The album was commercially unsuccessful and its singles did not do well.  "Amorous City" was the relatively more popular single off the album.
The song is a fusion of Chinese folk and electronic music and features the chinese instrument suona (also known as dida), which sounds like a wailing trumpet.  I personally love this song ALOT and it's one of my favorite from Anthony.

Anthony Wong - 多情城市 (Amorous City)
From Album: 明明不是天使 (Obviously no angel) 1994

Lyrics:

I have a little secret   I need to secretly tell you
Please don't secretly laugh at me  
I am already searching from the morning till night
I've lived to such age and have never been in love
The love that others sing praises about
seems like only I have never encountered

Since a certain age, I have listened to many love stories
I heard some weep forever while some love are forever beautiful
Living in this amorous city, seems like everyone has been in love
Is it that I have not been blessed
Don't tell me that only I am lonely

Love is just love  What can anyone say
Love is just love  ai-ya-yi-ya-yi-yo
Love is just love  Whose fault is it?
Love is just love  ai-ya-yi-ya-yi-yo

I figured you are just like me, have listened to many love stories
Can you honestly tell me, how did you find your love

Anita Mui - 緋聞中的女人 (Woman in scandal) 1986

Anita Mui is the 80s queen of cantopop music. THE biggest selling cantopop female artist of the era and a very successful actress.
She is the original Lady Gaga, outrageous outfits and image. Growing up from a single parent family, she was already singing and performing in amusement parks and bars from the age of 4 and was later discovered in a TVB singing contest.  She was selling multi-platinum from the get go and became one of the biggest divas in Asian music in the 80s.
Her main focus is on melancholic ballads and dance-pop music that are a bit dark and often with rock influences.  She is known for her mega stage presence and extremely low alto range.  Woman in scandal is the 4th single off of the commercial mega smash album "Vamp". In contrast to her usual musical style, the song and her rendition is on the lighter side as oppose to her usual rigid and cold interpretation.  The single received moderate airplay. This is during her prime in her singing career. 


Anita Mui - 緋聞中的女人 (Woman in scandal)
From album: 妖女 (Vamp) 1986

Lyrics:

Please don't be obssesed
Please don't be obssesed
Please approach someone else

If you want a real lover, don't come and sip champagne with me
A goddess full of scandals will only leave you completely heart broken
Hope you know it's impossible, for me to be faithful and innocent
Always attracting gossip and scandals
If you get close and regret it later
Don't come and blame me for not caring

Chorus:
If you are determined, willing to fall for me,  Call me
If you rather willingly become a plaything from now on,  Call me
If tonight I show off my sexiness,　Gently rub my hands over your body
Ah...it only means tonight, you and I happen to be close.

If you are seeking a real lover, please turn around and don't come sacrifice yourself
A goddess in daily scandals never loves a man and only loves to seek fun

Swing - 黑雨天白鋼琴 (Black Rainy Day, White Piano) 2001

SWING debuted in the late 90s, at the end of cantopop's golden era.  The musical duo is better known for one of its member, Eric Kwok, who has become a prominent writer/producer/singer in cantopop. Black Rainy Day, White Piano is one of many minor top 10 hits for the duo.  It's a piano ballad fused with a hip hop beat.  Swing mainly does very western sounding music, mainly ballads and jazz fusion pop.

Swing - 黑雨天白鋼琴 (Black Rainy Day, White Piano) 
From Album: On Fire (2001)


Lyrics translation:

Just reported, as if it was heard in my dreams
7 O'clock , Severe rainstorm cancelled half day of work
Realising it's been thousands of days, occupied by over all sorts of business
As if it's neverending, not knowing why

Black and white　Rising and sinking between hands
Turning the page
Piano keys urging my fingertips to tap
Seems like this habit has been neglected
Used to spend days and nights at the piano
On worse weather, it did not matter much

Chorus 1:
Dust covering the wooden bench　
uncovering this white piano on a black rainy day
Let me gently caress this resonating sound texture
Piano chords accompanying melody
can't help but take avantage of this black rainy day
Leaving this host shaken
Cherishing the black rain that made this day captivating

Chorus 2:
Dust covering the wooden bench　
uncovering this white piano on a black rainy day
Let me gently caress this resonating sound texture
Piano chords accompanying melody
Let go of yesterday's distress
Even in a downpour and dark clouds　
Don't make me wait
Let my pair of hands rediscover those lost footprints

Karen Mok - 這等待眼睛 (These awaiting eyes) 1993

Karen Mok has huge success in mandarin pop, but her cantopop music unfortunately never had the same impact. "These awaiting eyes" is the second single off of her debut self titled cantonese album.
The first single "來吧" (Come On) , which was such a complete flop that most people don't even know it was a single. With that being said, "These awaiting eyes" only managed to hit top 30.
Her debut album, with the lack of hit singles to support it became a commercial disaster as well.
Karen departed from the music industry for years and turned to acting and got to sing theme songs for the movies and eventually got her chance at recording music after the long hiatus and you know the rest.
It's an upbeat britpop style song.  The instrumental is tight and Karen's rendition is assertive and sensual without going overboard into tackiness.


These Awaiting Eyes
from album: Karen (1993)

Lyrics translation:

Need not, need not, need not stare at the stars
Your thoughts can't escape my eyes
I saw through you long ago
You cannot stay calm any longer

No need to neglect my intimacy
No need to refuse fun together
No need to repress your instinct
Come and honestly admit it
Tonight I want to hear about love

Chorus:
Please do not avoid it anymore
No need to play decent
Comfort is probing
These awaiting eyes

Need not, need not, need not quiver
One night love and don't be startled
Only waiting to hear you say
You can't stay clam anymore

Tonight, accept my invitation
Tonight, make firey passionate love
Tonight, let yourself loose
Come on indulge yourself tonight
Not looking for guarantees about tomorrow

Faye Wong - 無奈那天 (Regrettably that day) 1989

If you know anything about Asian music in the 90s, you'd know Faye Wong (王菲).  This legendary 90s diva of Chinese music started out singing cover version of Teresa Tang songs on cheap cassette in China and moved with her family from Beijing to Hong Kong in 1987.   She was soon discovered from appearing on a televised original songs contest.  Cinepoly (a local subsidiary of Polygram Records, now Universal Records) signed her and gave her a generic stage name Shirley Wong (王靖雯) to make her seem less Mainland Chinese.  Anything from Mainland China was unfashionable and labelled as backward, redneck and communist in British colonial Hong Kong. 
 
She started out as a pop/r&b singer.  Fortunately for her, her first single 無奈那天 (Regrettably that day) was well received on radio, a top 3 airplay hit and was pushed heavily by the Commercial Radio network (CRHK) in Hong Kong, getting the bronze prize newcomer award the following year.  None of that did much for her sales though.  The album was initially a flop despite having 2 relatively heavily played singles.

The song is predominantly a ballad with some Chinese keyboard harmonies and jazz flourishes.
It's an easy listening song, pretty saxophone, pretty melody and voice. It's a play it safe debut single.  There are some pronounciation issues here and there, but pretty good overall and not very noticeable.
Here on the album cover, Faye looks sweet, mature and laid back, it wasn't until after her hiatus when she started building her own style and image to become the eccentric diva she is known for.


無奈那天 Regrettably That Day (1989)
From album: Shirley Wong

lyrics translated into English:

If one day, the past can reappear
pausing at a certain part
hoping to make amends, on the part where we broke up
and weep before you once more...
cuddle once more, let you discover me trembling
Like pleading for your pity, hanging on till this day

Chorus:
Regrettably that day I walked away on my own , no tears, no pleading
Staring at the long lonely road, thinking it might be better
Regrettably I find out today that you are the best one, because ultimately you're not mine, ooh...
If we meet again one day,  I will surely be better to you

Even if today, we talk about the past
You still won't understand my thoughts
hoping to make amends, while you are still paying attention
make you say one more..
one more vow, so on the days after you're gone
when cuddling with your love, you will feel not so comfortable

cantopop

Cantopop originates from Hong Kong during its British colonial period.  Along with the thriving movie and TV industry, Hong Kong music sung mainly in Cantonese (hence Cantopop) rode on the back of these popular media and crossed over to many regions of Asia during the 80s and 90s.  Cantopop incorporates musical styles from Jpop, American and European pop along with traditional Chinese opera, Chinese classical and folk music.  There are alot of cover versions as well as original compositions.  It's a mixed bag of styles, but it's catchy, pretty, melodious. 

The purpose of this blog is to revisit those long forgotten hits and misses from its golden era, along with a few newer songs from the current era and offers both historical information and personal opinion on cantopop.