Zhong Chuhong: I heard more than once from Leslie (Zhang Guorong) that he was worried about Ah Mei. He said he was worried that Ame would be cheated on the job, he was worried that Ame would be cheated on the road, and he was worried that if one day, Ame did not sing and did not perform, what would happen to her life.
In the Hong Kong showbiz circle, there is a pair of brothers and sisters who are not related by blood, which is a legend in everyone's eyes.
They met in 1983, when Mei Yanfang was 19 years old and Zhang Guorong was 26 years old, they were not related by blood, but they were the best brothers and sisters in everyone's eyes.
Zhang Guorong: I was like a brother and sister with Ah Mei, once I was out performing with her, that day I was too tired, I lay on her lap to rest, and then I fell asleep, lying on her lap for several hours, she didn't move;
Ame she is quiet as a virgin, moving like a crazy rabbit, she is also a master of spending money, every time I see her spend money to buy something will make me nervous, my heart stops beating;
She had a class of friends who were very close to her, but some of them were not suitable for me, not very talkative, but since she could have fun, I would send her to their doorstep.
Ame has a problem of being afraid of itching, casually touching, will laugh non-stop, plus the two of us are too familiar, every time we shoot a pestering scene together, there will be a laughing field.
Many people may not know that the song "The Wind Continues to Blow" was not originally written for Zhang Guorong, but for Mei Yanfang, who had just won the first "Rookie Singing Competition" in 1982.
The company feels that she made her debut by singing Xu Xiaofeng's "Season of the Wind", and it is not very good to sing another song "The Wind Continues to Blow"? Moreover, the song is adapted from the Japanese singer she admires, Momoe Yamaguchi's "さよならの向う側".
At that time, Zhang Guorong's career was at a low ebb, and his contract with Li's TV station was about to expire, but he did not want to continue to develop in the direction of TV dramas, he preferred movies, so he did not renew his contract. After leaving Li's TV, TVB threw an olive branch to him, but he still did not want to focus on TV series, so this matter was not negotiated, and finally chose to join Mei Yanfang's Huaxing Records Company.
Zhang Guorong is very fond of the song "The Wind Continues to Blow" and wants to re-climb his career through this song, so he hopes that the company can sing this song to himself. Unexpectedly, after Mei Yanfang knew about this matter, she did not say a word and gave this song to Zhang Guorong. At that time, the two were not familiar with each other, but had only heard each other's names.
In 1983, after the release of "The Wind Continues to Blow", the response was not as good as expected, and the radio host did not pay attention to publicity, but his career began to pick up because of this song, and it became a masterpiece that had to be mentioned.
Because of various coincidences, the opportunity for the two to perform on the same stage has become more and more numerous, and the two have traveled around at home and abroad together, gradually becoming familiar with each other and becoming relatives and friends. But after Zhang Guorong changed companies, the opportunities for the two to cooperate became less and less.
△ The movie "Fate" was released in 1984
△ The movie "Rouge Buckle" was released in 1988
△ The movie "Golden Branches and Jade Leaves 2" was released in 1996
Initially, during the development period of the two people's careers, many gossip media began to report their false news to win attention, and Mei Yanfang, who had just debuted, was often falsely reported by the media such as "because of drug abuse, it leads to thinness" and "because of tattoos, she never leaks her shoulders".
Although Mei Yanfang never made any response, Zhang Guorong repeatedly expressed his position in the interview, took the initiative to speak for Mei Yanfang, and did not want the media to treat a powerful and kind newcomer in this way, and Zhang Guorong did not care about whether the reporter would fight back.
(Li Xiaotian once said that the two of them will be restless as soon as they meet, and I am too lazy to pay attention)
Mei Yanfang: Do you know why I wear this dress to set you up?
Zhang Guorong: Why?
Mei Yanfang: Because you will never let me wear high heels, because you know that I wear high heels and I am higher than you.
Zhang Guorong: Yes, everyone knows that I am short!
Mei Yanfang: Well, you are notoriously short, Mr. Zhang Guoxiao.
Zhang Guorong: "Miss Mei Yanzhu".
After the last "farewell concert" in 1992, Mei Yanfang officially announced that she would withdraw from the stage and would not hold concerts again, but she was not ready to do any sealing ceremony because she would start singing again because of charity fundraising. In the years after saying goodbye to the stage, she made several movies one after another, and many fans went to visit the class and waited until late at night, and in the end, she did not resist the enthusiasm of the fans.
She recorded a new album in 1994, held a mini concert to thank her fans, filmed a music special...
After Mei Yanfang returned to the music scene, the words "Sister Mei's comeback on the stage" became the headlines of major newspapers and periodicals, but some media said that she was rebellious, but Zhang Guorong did not think so.
Zhang Guorong: We all used to sing very stuffy and tired, that is, if your status is so high, sometimes it will be very hard and stressful. But Frank Sinatra sang a my way, and after a few years he could return to the music scene with a let me try again, so why can't Ame do that?
In 1994 and 1995, Li Bihua was preparing to shoot "Little Star". The story is a humble singer born in the 20s and 30s, singing flat throat, good at southern tone, a life of ups and downs, a bumpy love road, suffering from terminal illness, twenty-nine years old in Guangzhou to sing "Autumn Grave", a song is not over, vomiting blood on the stage and passing away.
Originally, Li Bihua wanted To let Mei Yanfang play the heroine, thinking that no one else could act out, but Zhang Guorong (who originally asked him to play Wang Xinfan) said: "Amei herself has a hard life, she should play a happy play, are you not afraid of a word?" Don't shoot anymore. ”
So the script was shelved by Li Bihua.
In 1995, Zhang Guorong held his 40th birthday party, the reporter asked him what his birthday wish was, and Zhang Guorong, who was slightly drunk, jokingly told the reporter: "My birthday wish is to hope that Ah Mei can come, but she has come, so I am very happy." ”
In Zhang Guorong's comeback concert, one was "across 97". That night, he invited Mei Yanfang as a guest. That time, they reunited on the stage after a gap of ten years, and on that day, Mei Yanfang's health was extremely unwell, but she also flew back to Hong Kong from India to attend the guests, and received three injections of painkillers to support him.
Before Mei Yanfang appeared, Zhang Guorong knelt on the ground and said this paragraph:
"Everyone has their own New Year's resolution every year, and today, my New Year's wish is to be the same, a friend who has not worked with me for a long time to perform here, the immortals, the gods, such a voice she will not come out of the gods." 」 Let's use the applause and cheers of the explosion, friends, my best friend, the stage queen, Mei Yanfang. ”
On the evening of October 9, 1997, Zhang Guorong came to Mei Yanfang's home for a private birthday party and gave her an oil painting purchased in France as a birthday gift. There is a woman and two finches in the painting, which means freedom. Zhang Guorong said: "I wish Ah Mei always happy and free. ”
In 1998, Zhang Guorong's mother died, although Mei Yanfang was famous for her love and righteousness, she personally sent away many friends, but she rarely attended the funerals of her friends' relatives, and this time, she came.
Zhang Guorong did not like to have too much communication and contact with reporters, so he rarely attended funerals in private, but in 2000, after Mei Yanfang's sister (Mei Aifang) died of cancer, his figure also appeared at the funeral.
△ 1999 "Changeable Mei Yanfang" concert
Mei Yanfang: When we are 80 years old, I will be why tell me why
Zhang Guorong: You sing this song? Then I'll just oh, no sleep
Mei Yanfang: Well, at 80 years old, if we don't die, we will have a concert
Zhang Guorong: Free
Mei Yanfang: It's free for everyone
Zhang Guorong: You have 80 years of life first
Mei Yanfang: When I am 80 years old, you will be 100 years old
Zhang Guorong: You have exposed me like this, you have hurt you so much, and I have grabbed you when I fight
△ The public welfare film "Smoke And Smoke" was released in 2000
Zhang Guorong has always had a dream of becoming a director, and the public welfare film "Smoke And Smoke" is directed and starred by himself.
But the budget of this public welfare film is very small, even the actors have to bring their own makeup team, when Zhang Guorong chose the role, he wanted Mei Yanfang to play the heroine for free, so he called her agent, but was rejected. Zhang Guorong did not give up, asking that she must be allowed to know about this matter, he did not believe that he would not agree to the friendship with Amei for so many years, and the results of this matter were also seen by everyone.
△ In the last performance of Mei Yanfang's "Extreme Dream" concert in 2002, Zhang Guorong held his illness and endured pain as a guest for Ah Mei.
In fact, neither of the two was healthy at that time. Zhang Guorong's depression is very serious, the hand holding the microphone on the stage is constantly shaking, and the stomach acid is flowing backwards; Mei Yanfang is also emaciated. But they still performed "Fanghua Absolute Generation" and "Fate" impromptuly and tacitly without rehearsing the dance steps, which can be called a masterpiece.
But at that time, there was friction between Zhang Guorong and Mei Yanfang's superiors, and Mei Yanfang invested tens of thousands of efforts to keep the image of Zhang Guorong singing with Zhang Guorong in "Extreme Dream", but the attempt was fruitless and the plan was in vain. So Mei Yanfang immediately asked Zhang Guorong for help, and then he tried to mediate from it, and this classic picture was released.
On November 3, 2002, when it was raining lightly, outside the SAR government, Mui Yanfang called on many friends to boycott The East Weekly, held a "Heaven and Earth Intolerable" denunciation activity, spoke out for Liu Jialing, spoke out for the women's group in society, and strongly condemned this immoral behavior of the East Weekly.
At that time, Zhang Guorong's depression had reached a very serious point, and he had wanted to take his own life many times, but when he learned that Mei Yanfang had held this protest, he still came. Although he did not speak on stage, he stood there and already represented his firm position.
On April 1, 2003, at 6:41 p.m., Zhang Guorong jumped off the 24th floor of the Culture Hotel and died, and Mei Yanfang knew it very late, because she was recording songs in the recording studio that day. After everyone knew the news, it was difficult to imagine what would happen if Ame knew about this matter, after all, she was already very sad when Rowan died, who expected that in less than half a year, her favorite good brother was also gone.
Because of the fear of affecting Ame's mood, everyone chose to tell her about this matter after recording the song, and everyone put the radio, TV... It's all off.
After the recording of the song, Mei Yanfang, who knew the news, cried bitterly on the spot, and when she returned home, she locked herself in her room and constantly scolded Zhang Guorong: "You are so stupid! ”
Liu Tianlan once said that on the night of Zhang Guorong's departure, Liang Jiahui and himself were very worried about her, because Liu Tianlan's residence was closest to Heng'an Pavilion (Mei Yanfang's home), so he immediately rushed over and saw her very broken side. It is also because of this state that everyone is more worried about her, afraid that she will do stupid things, and friends and apprentices are responsible for taking turns to accompany her at home, 24 hours a day.
At the farewell ceremony, Mei Yanfang's heartbroken desire was no less than that of Mr. Tang, she needed the support of several people to walk, her eyes were unfocused, her face was haggard, she could not cry, her body was thin and weak, and she almost fainted. A friend said that her state that day was almost devoid of "soul".
After the ceremony, Mei Yanfang gave Zhang Guorong a letter and whispered a paragraph. Exactly what was said, no one knows. Afterwards, everyone came to the restaurant to eat together, and everyone threw concerned eyes at Ame.
Since then, Mei Yanfang has refused to leave home for several days, does not participate in any activities, and spends all day chanting and copying the scriptures for Zhang Guorong, and her condition has become more serious because of this blow. The assistant once said that Ah Mei knew that Zhang Guorong's wish was to be a director, so she specially went to find a master who made paper tying, specially made a camera, and when the weather was good, burned it to her brother.
△ On April 30, 2003, Mei Yanfang attended Zhang Guorong's press conference on "Light and Shadow on Earth".
Mei Yanfang: My brother is gone, and it has been exactly a month now, from the time I first learned the news, to today, it can be said that it is a big test for my life. The heart is very painful and very painful, can not breathe, to the end, the heart seems to be paralyzed, unconscious, very haggard, many friends around me told me, Ame you must cheer up.
Today, we see that Hong Kong has a difficult dilemma (SARS), if the brother is still there, he will stand up and say, don't be afraid, we will spend this difficult time together. If there is a spirit in heaven, I hope he will bless us to get through this difficult time soon.
I've been with him for more than twenty years, and everyone is starting from scratch, nothing, flying is economy class. When we went out to perform, the suite where the two of us stayed was cramped, but both survived. For me, he is a relative, a feeling of being closer than a loved one.
The hotel suite that Mei Yanfang said actually has a story:
Mei Yanfang has been afraid of the dark since she was a child and has no sense of security. Once with Zhang Guorong to perform abroad, after checking into the hotel, the night owl Ame slept late, a high-level thief with chains entered the room through the security door, frightened her to scream. Zhang Guorong, who lived next door, woke up and immediately rushed to her room, and the strange man said "I'm sorry, I went to the wrong room" and left.
Zhang Guorong immediately took her to change the room, but because she was too frightened, she refused to sleep or turn off the lights, until Zhang Guorong coaxed her to sleep, and then she went to rest. Zhang Guorong blamed himself for not taking good care of Mei Yanfang, and since then, no matter where the two perform together, he will set up a suite that can open up the room so that he can take care of her at any time.
On September 10, 2003, Mei Yanfang, who had received chemotherapy, appeared on the stage of the "Continue Zhang Guorong Charity Concert", and the funds raised would be donated to Zhang Guorong's "Children's Cancer Fund" and "Seedling Care Fund".
On that day, she wore a wig, black costumes all over her body, and one person sang the song "Fate" that belonged to two people, which made many people in the audience can't help but feel sorry for her. The songs that used to be sung by two people together are now the only ones left.
When she sang "How far apart are you and me, what year and day can we see each other", she suddenly turned around and sang on the stage screen, which constantly played the image of her brother before he died.
"Thank you, this song was given to you by my brother and I."
Soon after, Mei Yanfang used her weak body and enthusiastic heart to complete the 1:99 anti-SARS concert with the help of friends and apprentices (Mei Yanfang was the director of the conference and did not perform), as well as her last wish, "Classic Golden Song Concert", to say a final goodbye to the fans and the stage, and married herself to the stage and all the fans. He then went to Japan to shoot commercials and raise money for children with cancer. After returning to Hong Kong, his body was very weak and his condition worsened.
Mei Yanfang: In the next song, we will miss this mutual friend (Zhang Guorong) together, and listen to what songs we have chosen to give to this good friend, he will always be a star in my heart.
In the song Skewer (Like a Dream Confused + This Life and This Life + Deeply In Love with You), when Mei Yanfang sang Zhang Guorong's "This Life and This Life", if you listen carefully, you will find that she changed a few words in the lyrics.
The lyrics of the original climax are like this: laughing in the wind and singing in the wind, grateful for Providence touching you, even if the bitterness becomes beautiful, the sky is old, Ren Hai is also old, only hope that this love is not old, willing to agree in this life that he will embrace again.
In the concert, Mei Yanfang sang like this: Even if it is bitter, it is the same (becoming) beautiful; only (hope) this love is not old.
After the concert and the Shooting of a Japanese commercial to raise money for a cancer child, Mei Yanfang has been living in the hospital for treatment and has not been able to participate in "Ten Faces Ambush". Friends would come to the hospital to accompany her as soon as they had time, chat with her, joke with her...
One night, late at night, Miss Su accompanied her in her hospital room (Miss Su was a fan who had become an assistant and best friend), and they had not yet slept in the hospital room, and songs were playing on the TV.
Mei Yanfang's mental state was still good at that time, she slept on the bed, and Miss Su sat in the chair next to her bed, and the two watched TV together.
Suddenly, the TV broadcast the picture of Mei Yanfang singing "Fanghua Absolute Generation" with Zhang Guorong in the 2002 "Extreme Dream Concert", Miss Su looked at the TV and did not dare to look back, she did not want Mei Yanfang to see herself holding back tears. After the clip was played, Miss Su quietly looked at Mei Yanfang, how did she expect that she was in tears, so the two embraced each other and cried, Miss Su said: "Sister, you must be well!" ”
But she didn't answer, just cried.
On December 30 of the same year (2003), at 2:50 a.m., she left following in her brother's footsteps (Zhang Guorong left on the first Tuesday of April 2003, while Mui Yanfang left on the last Tuesday of December).
They never please each other because of fame and fortune, they will not be surrounded by each other all the time, but when they meet, they have endless words, ridiculing, pampering, and caring for each other. When they work together on stage, they never rehearse, and they know what to do with one look. If something happens to the other party and there is a low, they will immediately drop everything and rush to the side.
They never deliberately hide anything from each other, but who would have thought that such a close "brother and sister" did not choose to tell each other about their illness, and they all seemed to understand the other party's unspoken thoughts: "Don't worry about me, feel sorry, you have to be happy forever." ”
Sometimes, these stories, like movies, are hard to imagine happening in real life. However, it did exist. Because of their existence and stories, we see a kind of beauty in the world, a kind of innocence, a kind of truth, a kind of courage.