100 Songs of Chinese Music

5. Who Says Women Are Not As Capable As Men – Chang Xiangyu (常香玉)

Because Mulan has to show up!

Chang Xiangyu (RIP) was considered the “Queen of Yuju Opera,” style which originated in Chang’s birthplace of Henan (south of Hebei). Born to one of the many poor families of the time, her father chose to train her in the art of Yuju Opera than to marry her off. Ostracized by her hometown for becoming an opera singer, she gained popularity and became a household named playing the staple figure of the girl warrior Hua Mulan also in the 1956 film opera version of Hua Mulan (花木兰).

There’s a Tudou upload available.

6. Iy Iy Iy 恰恰恰 – Lin Dai (林黛)

Director Doe Ching (陶秦) released a 1961 Shaw Brothers’ musical titled Les Belles (千嬌百媚) featuring actress Lin Dai (who tragically killed herself three years later). The film featured a Mandarin version of I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much) [Clip], which Carmen Miranda made famous in the 1941 musical That Night in Rio.

7. From Me to You – Maggie Wong (黄鶯) & the Jungle Lynxs

Years ago, I ran into this clip of Malaysian/Singaporean (nobody is sure) singer Maggie Wong, who apparently released a Beatles cover album in 1964, where this clip supposedly titled From Me to You comes from.

They’re such a rare band, I only found this eBay link.

8. Youthful A-Go-Go (青春阿哥哥) – Connie Chan (陳寶珠)

Teen idol Connie Chan Po-chu did a movie in 1968 called A Romantic Thief (多情妙賊), which featured this a-go-go number… as well as this amusing (nameless) cover of the Beatles’ Eight Days a Week.

amy

YAM Magazine editor, photographer, blogger, translator and part-time web designer. Film junkie, music junkie… and lately series (a.k.a. TV) junkie.

7 Responses

  1. Such a great feature! “Mama Get Me a Guitar” is cute. The Chin Tsai song is so good- what is the title? Either characters or pinyin romanization. Wow at Ding Wei. Laure Shang has such a cool voice. And I’ve probably said before that I really like the clarity of the voices of the Tibetan/-influenced? singers.

    • Amy says:

      The Chin Tsai song is The Forgotten Times (被遺忘的時光) :) – and yes, they all have such quality to their voice. I love it.

    • amy says:

      My favorite new one is #4, Chinese Cabbage. Every time it comes on, I have to sing lol and my mom was listening to it, and translated saying it’s a super sad song! Something about not having your mom and your dad re-marrying, and being poor with your brother having something to wear and something to eat, while you are left with just broth and asking for something to wear.

      You have to be grateful of the excess many live in now, the biggest complain has to be that iPhones and Galaxy phones are getting bigger. Seriously. Grateful for the food that I enjoy every single day.

  1. October 1, 2015

    […] Visit YAM Magazine for the list with a link included to the YouTube playlist. […]

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