100 Songs of Chinese Music

17. Bygone Love (當愛已成往事) – Leslie Cheung (張國榮)

The same year Anita Mui passed away, Leslie Cheung committed suicide, devastating the Hong Kong industry. Cheung was one of the great talents of the HK entertainment industry, and he was fondly called Gor Gor (哥哥, aka. Brother). He recorded this song, which was included in his 1995 album Most Beloved (寵愛), but was also used to promote Chen Kaige’s Beijing Opera film, Farewell My Concubine (霸王别姬).

Apparently, Cheung had trouble letting go of the tragedy of the character he played on the film, he identified as bisexual at a time and place that just probably made things worse.

18. Conquer (征服) – Na Ying (那英)

This is the only song that everyone sings when they think or see Mainland China singer Na Ying. Like- literally, in The Voice of China, they’d just drop and sing this when they chose Na Ying as a mentor.

Warning: Video contains a lot of intimate caressing, especially when you think of 1998 China. xD

19. Crescent Moon (弯弯的月亮) – Liu Huan (刘欢)

The Father of Modern Mainland Pop.

Liu Huan is, of course, famous for his duet with Sarah Brightman You and Me (我和你) [clip], which was the main theme of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His voice is pristine, as if naturally autotuned by god [also see: Sonu Nigam].

Another one of his most popular songs, however, is this one called Crescent Moon, which is often played during the Autumn or Moon Festival.

There’s also a really cool 2004 concert available in YouTube.

20. Annoyed (煩) – Shino Lin (林曉培)

Asian girls can also get annoyed!

21. Winter Comes (冬天来了) – Ding Wei (丁薇)

Ding Wei’s 2004 album Dear Ding Wei (亲爱的丁薇) made it to my list of Ten Chinese Albums to Brag About, and years after that post, I still don’t know much about her. She hasn’t released studio material in ten years, but apparently she finished a new album earlier this year [according to Xiami], so crossing fingers.

Winter Comes is one of her most dramatic and moody songs, and was also covered (quite masterfully) in an episode of The Voice of China, with arrangements by Liu Huan himself.

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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