Why I like you - commemorating the thirty years since Chen Baiqiang's death

▲Chen Baiqiang Photo/profile picture

"He's actually a tragic figure."

What to ask for in life

On November 2, 2023, the 4K restored version of the movie "Applause" will be re-screened in Hong Kong, and the film will also be screened in Xiamen as the closing film of this year's Golden Rooster Chinese Film Festival, especially to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of starring Chen Baiqiang.

"Applause" is director Cai Jiguang's debut film, starring Chen Baiqiang, Leslie Cheung, Paul Zhong and Weng Jingjing, released in 1980, is Chen Baiqiang's first film to play the leading role. At the age of 22, he played Ken, a middle school student, in the film, and Paul Chung played Paul , Leslie Cheung 's Gigo, Weng Jingjing 's Julie developed various youthful entanglements. The following year, Chen, Zhang and Zhong starred in another youth-themed movie "Unemployed Student".

▲ 1981 movie "Unemployed Student", Chen Baiqiang (right) and Leslie Cheung

Although Chen Baiqiang, who has sung songs all his life, is as famous as his contemporaries Leslie Cheung, Anita Mui and other superstars, he rarely shows his face in film and television dramas. In addition to "Applause" and "Unemployed", the only films in which he has played more roles are "Merry Christmas" in 1984 and "Autumn Fairy Tale" in 1987. Chen Baiqiang is not here, but these films have inadvertently become some precious records in his life.

▲1984 movie "Merry Christmas"

In the movie, Chen Baiqiang's role settings are not bad: rich son, good boy, talented, loving, ambitious, youthful and righteous, do not give up their ideals for money. In the camera, he is gentle and elegant, with a shallow smile on his face. But the grind of the years is still captured by the camera: the childish facial features that have not yet grown in "Applause" and the sunshine in the eyebrows are hearty to "Autumn Fairy Tale", and there is already a trace of sadness and melancholy between the red lips and white teeth.

In 1987, Chen Baiqiang's career had entered the second half. The years 1985-1986 were the darkest moments in his life experience. During this period, he was physically ill and everything was not going well. His relationship with the gambling king Qianjin He Chaoqiong was opposed by the He family. The media were unfriendly to him, with rumors that he was infected with AIDS, then schizophrenia, which later turned into rumors that he committed suicide. Sometimes newspapers also received phone calls saying that "Chen Baiqiang died."

"How can you not mind if you tell me, because someone has said that I have contracted that disease, and I walk down the street, and pedestrians look at me like a monster, point and say a lot of things that cannot be heard." Chen Baiqiang recalled. In response to rumors, he had been tested at the suggestion of others, but declined to release the results. PERHAPS AS A COUNTERMEASURE, HE ALSO WORE A T-SHIRT EMBLAZONED WITH THE WORDS "I GOT AIDS" ON THE PLANE. This rumor was not completely dispelled until 1992, when he was admitted to the hospital in a coma, when a doctor tested negative.

His album "Top 100 84", released in 1984, contains a large number of works adapted from European and American songs, which is unique in the Hong Kong music scene where Japanese songs are popularly adapted. However, due to the misalignment with the public taste, none of the songs became his masterpieces. He spent great efforts to prepare for the concert, imitating the prince's appearance and wearing a crystal mask, but was criticized by the media and public opinion. He said: "I have always been depressed inside, and at the same time I realized that someone would deliberately hurt me... At that time, I was fragile, attached great importance to outside news reports, and did not know how to fight back, so I fell into a confused low ebb. ”

▲ "Top 100 '84", 1984

He then released the albums "In Love with You" (1985) and "When I Think of You" (1986), but the company had little publicity about them, resulting in weak popularity. The Hong Kong music scene has also changed from the original Cheung (Leslie Wing) and Chan (Top 100) competition to Tam (Wing Lin) and Cheung (Leslie Wing) for hegemony.

▲ "When I Think of You", 1986

These negative emotions condensed into Chen Baiqiang's face in "Autumn Fairy Tale" - handsome, handsome but tired. Zhang Wanting, the director of "Autumn Fairy Tale", recalled that during the shooting, Chen Baiqiang performed very well, and he could often live it once, but he always pursued perfection and chased the director to shoot another and shoot another one. "He's a perfectionist, always looking for better and wanting to be the best."

Filmmakers Chen Xinjian and Chen Baiqiang have known each other for many years and played the uncle of Chen Baiqiang's role in "Applause". He believes that Chen Baiqiang is unhappy in his bones. "That kind of unhappiness is like the core of the earth, like a raging fire that keeps burning. He had many happy moments and many friends, but each happy time was quickly evaporated by the fire. "He has a lot of pressure, he is very demanding of himself, he doesn't perform well enough, he will be unhappy for a long time." After the performance, I had a little fun, and then I started to worry about the next performance. ”

Such emotions also appear in Chen Baiqiang's songs. In 1987, he released the album "Dream People", and the title song of the same name was "I Love White Clouds" written by him in 1980, which was re-released by Chen Haiqi after filling in new words. In the original song, "Look at the white clouds, dashing and free, hopeful, elusive, floating, can only lead the head, fly that cloud, hurriedly go without staying, floating far away, the back is more and more beautiful" became "This dream man, floating away, for whom, poured his life heartbroken, at this moment thinking that love is permanent, empty turn a thousand times, secretly love non-stop, hurried to go and not stay, the back is more beautiful".

▲ "Dream Man", 1987

More widely circulated in this album is "My Story", composed by Chen Baiqiang and lyrics by Xiang Xuehuai. After the composition was completed, Chen Baiqiang thought that this was a portrayal of himself, and he wanted to fill in the lyrics himself, but he couldn't start, he described his feelings to Xiang Xuehuai and wrote the current lyrics. During the recording, Chen Baiqiang cried several times, saying that the song was true to himself. "Hiding the face of the past story, walking in and out for another day, the blank peek of the eyes every day... When the time continues to cheat on me, I will always wait until a new day... The rumors of pain are tiring, there is no trace of the past, trapped in the walls, who did not let the happiness be rebuilt in the past. The autobiographical song resonated with fans and was named one of the top ten Chinese hits of the year.

Four years later, Xiang Xuehuai filled in the lyrics of another song "Life Cannot Be Self-Determined" for Chen Baiqiang: "I am not pretentious, sorrow and joy cannot be distinguished... Who knows that my heart is hot, who knows that there is no need to say more, I still wish to lack for a lifetime, I don't want to expose me to others again, who will you make people feel loved..." This song is considered to be Chen Baiqiang's inner portrayal at that time.

RTHK disc jockey and Chen Baiqiang's friend Tang Ailin believes that Chen Baiqiang is a very sensitive person, and this is where he succeeds. He is sensitive to feelings and can bring that feeling to life in songs. But at the same time he is also miserable, because he is sensitive and cares about what others think of him. "His music can come out, but his personal emotions can't."

"His melodies are rarely pleasant. Most of his music represents his character and is relatively lonely. Xu Riqin, who has collaborated with Chen Baiqiang on many records, concluded.

In 1989, Chen Baiqiang released the album "What to Seek in a Life", and the title song of the same name "What to Seek in Life" was awarded the Top Ten Chinese Golden Songs of the Year and the Top Ten Powerful Songs of the Year. His unhappiness is concentrated in this song: what I want in my life, I can never see through in confusion, I did not expect that what I lost was already all I had.

▲ "What to Seek in Life", 1989

"Chen Baiqiang in the later stage is more collective, he doesn't want to face people, and he has lost his previous brilliance." Huang Baigao, a manager who has worked with Chen Baiqiang, said. Later in his career, Chen Baiqiang's original works gradually decreased, and Chen Jiaying, the agent at the time, recalled that on the one hand, Chen Baiqiang was worried about his lack of creativity, on the other hand, the four heavenly kings also appeared, and he put more pressure on himself, and his creation decreased. "He doesn't often smile and greet people, drink alcohol to anesthetize himself in the later stage, and only after drinking will he have the guts to pour out his heart and let his mood rise." In fact, a tragic character, he is not a comedy. Chen Jiaying said.

Since 1990, Chen Baiqiang has refused to take any work, and Chen Jiaying once received a call from him late at night: I drink a sip of champagne and take a sleeping pill at home. When he put down the phone and rushed to Chen Baiqiang's house, Chen was already in a coma, but fortunately he was sent to the hospital in time, and there was no danger. "After he was okay, I tried hard to encourage and explain him, but unfortunately he always had his own set of outlook on life, no matter how much I spent on lip service, he always saw things gray." Chen Jiaying said.

Some media photographed Chen Baiqiang's residence at that time, located at 9A Kennedy Road, Central and Western District, Hong Kong, which was personally built by him and was all black. Entering the room, the entire 2,000-foot area is almost pitch black: black carpet, black walls, black sofa, black dining table, black dining chair, black marble candlestick, black shiny piano, the only colorful thing is the painting on the living room wall, a work by the Italian abstract expressionist Adevor. In the bedroom are black sheets, black bedding, black pillowcases, black carpets, black slippers, black cloakroom, black desk, black crystal metallic lion ornaments, black beauty beds... Only the floor lamp is not black. The media described him as "very depressed". Chen Baiqiang also has a house near the Royal Garden, the style is diametrically opposite, the whole house is white. This was seen by the outside world as an externalization of his melancholy state of mind.

From January 30 to February 1, 1992, Chen Baiqiang held three "farewell concerts in Shanghai", announcing his farewell to the music scene at the end of the year. Chen Jiaying recalled that the performance was very complete, "He was so happy, he felt that he had accomplished something. ”

On May 18, 1992, Chen Baiqiang was found in a coma in his residence and sent to the hospital for rescue, where he remained in a coma for 17 months. On October 25, 1993, Chen Baiqiang died of brain failure at the age of 35.

▲In 1993, Chen Baiqiang passed away, and his best friends Anita Mui, Zhou Yunfa and others helped Lingling/profile picture

I like you

Ten years ago, in 1983, Chen Baiqiang's career reached its peak. He released the album "Like You". The soulful song of the same name was quickly sung by fans and ranked high on major charts. His status in the music scene also rose. Musician Lin Yifeng believes that this song speaks to the psychology of the crowd at that time: eager to be understood, but afraid of being hurt.

▲ "I Like You", 1983

This is the most widely circulated of his many golden songs, and it is also the one that best represents his characteristics: fresh, simple, and slightly sad. Compared to his later attempts, these soothing, gentle, and dignified love songs are more integrated with him. Represented by this, Chen Baiqiang is closely linked to the memory of Chinese music, which continues to this day.

Singer and actor Zhong Zhentao analyzed that Chen Baiqiang will use the method of using Cantonese opera to use qi, coupled with his personal temperament, he is good at interpreting minor key songs, and can interpret old and traditional melodies in a modern way. When he was a teenager, Chen Baiqiang often went to see the performance of Wen Na Band, and thus met Zhong Zhentao and Alan Tam.

In 1982, Chen Baiqiang released the album "Talk", in which "How Precious Tonight" is adapted from the classic old song of 1961 - composed by Wang Fuling and sung by Cui Ping. After the release of the Cantonese version of Chen Baiqiang's "How Precious Tonight", it won the first Top Ten Golden Melody Award, and the album sold more than 250,000 copies. At the same time, "Ripple" composed by him also won the Top Ten Chinese Golden Melody Award.

▲ "Talk", 1982

Further on, his first album "First Love" released in 1979 was already very popular, and the song "Tears for You" soon became a top ten Chinese hit. Chen Baiqiang became a popular hit and became a popular star in the Hong Kong pop music scene.

▲《First Love》，1979年

In Hong Kong at that time, adapting and covering Japanese songs was the mainstream, and Chen Baiqiang's repertoire was not much, there were songs from Europe and the United States, and there were a large number of original works, which made him particularly eye-catching among the singers. He was handsome, could sing and write, played the piano very well, played guitar, drew well, and had excellent clothing taste. Such a near-perfect image made him rise in popularity rapidly after his debut.

People were curious about where he came from, and the results of the media search did not disappoint them, it was a noble son's growth history that met people's expectations: on September 7, 1958, Chen Baiqiang was born in Hong Kong, and his father Chen Pengfei was the founder of Central Jinbao Watch Company. His father liked him very much and planned to train him to be his successor. But his mother was not a large house, and throughout his childhood, he and his mother lived elsewhere. Perhaps because of this, his personality is also different from other children, calm and smart, likes to be neat, polite to people, but keeps a distance.

Chen Baiqiang has had a strong musical comprehension since he was a child, and he can hum the tune of many songs once he listens. He learned to play the keyboard and piano without a teacher, but he was not interested in studying, saying that he "had a headache when he saw textbooks."

In middle school, he was already a celebrity. Deng was the emcee at school activities and found that the girls were discussing a boy who was handsome, played the piano well, had no teacher, and could compose. When the later singer Lin Shanshan met Chen Baiqiang for the first time at the third-grade dance party in middle school, she danced in front of Chen Baiqiang with full strength, just to let Chen Baiqiang talk to her. Chen Baiqiang asked her to watch a movie, she looked at Chen Baiqiang's side face the whole scene, and thought: He is laughing, has an expression, is true feelings, can you leave this moment?

▲Chen Baiqiang (middle) and Tony Leung (left), Andy Lau Photo/profile picture

However, his father initially did not support Chen Baiqiang's musical dreams, and only wanted him to take over his class and become a businessman. The two quarreled many times until Chen Baiqiang got tired of school and dropped out. He occasionally guest singer for bands, sang in the band and radio bands, and met Chung Chun-tao and Alan Tam during this period.

His father finally agreed to Chen Baiqiang's choice and sent him to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for further study. In 1977, he returned to Hong Kong and happened to participate in the "Yamaha Electronic Organ Competition" and won the championship. Subsequently, with his English song "Rocky Road", he won the third place in the "Hong Kong Pop Songwriting Invitational Competition". The following year, he again won the third place in the "Hong Kong Pop Songwriting Invitational Competition" with his solo English song "The Sunrise". He soon attracted the attention of EMI Records and became a signed singer under the company.

Musician Huang Xiao recalled: "In his "little demon" era (probably meaning that others are small and very elf), he often played with us, so his artistic cell was a little more than a little bit of people. Danny (Chen Baiqiang's English name) has been learning the piano for two years and has already played it well. At the Yamaha Electronic Organ Competition that year, I was a judge, and everyone agreed that he deserved the championship. Because of his interpretation, there is emotion and delicateness. There are many who have studied longer than him, but none of them are as good as him. ”

Chen Baiqiang took selfies with his camera very early. In the winter of 1979, he set up his camera at a bench on the streets of New York, leaned down, looked at the camera, and gave his future self a smile. He also went to the Greek seashore, set up a tripod and a camera, and photographed himself smiling, the winds blowing the ends of his hair and clothes, and the waves churning behind him.

▲Chen Baiqiang Photo/"Breakthrough"

Chow Yun-fat said: "Danny Boy (Chen Baiqiang) he is a big boy, don't treat him as an adult, love him as a child, love him, hurt him..." Chen Xinjian commented on Chen Baiqiang at that time: his sorrow, coupled with his black eyes, fascinated many women, he made people feel like a protected, pitiful, kitten in the rain.

Various factors superimpose, Chen Baiqiang's image is even more endearing. When she was still studying, Chen Huixian loved Chen Baiqiang very much, and asked all the boys around her to comb Chen Baiqiang's hairstyle and make up Chen Baiqiang. And she skipped class to watch Chen Baiqiang's movie "Applause".

Chen Baiqiang in this movie freezes an ideal boy image: clean and thin, short hair and white shirt, light in his eyes, a slightly sad smile, and persistent for his dreams. He would have lived only in every girl's dream, but he appeared in reality.

If you know his later life, how many people will want time to stop at this moment and say to him: "I like you." ”

(References: "Chen Baiqiang Emotional Portrait", "Remembering Chen Baiqiang in this way", "Chen Baiqiang Don't Go to the 30th Anniversary Commemoration Collection", "The Undead Legend Chen Baiqiang", etc.) ）