Throughout the history of pop music, the 70s, 80s and 90s of the Hong Kong music scene was undoubtedly a shining golden age. In the past 30 years, many talented musicians have emerged in the Hong Kong music scene, creating countless popular classic hits, leaving countless unforgettable memories for the Chinese music scene.
The old saying: "Thirty years in Hedong, thirty years in Hexi" seems to predict the rise and fall of the Hong Kong music scene. In that era when there was no Internet and short videos, the influence of Hong Kong singers crossed geographical boundaries, and their singing voices spread throughout the Chinese-speaking world.
Countless fans follow their favorite singers on the radio, tapes, and TV shows, and see these singers as idols and spiritual sustenance.
On this competitive stage, a number of powerful and idol popular singers have emerged. Some of them have maintained a high degree of popularity and become evergreens in the music scene; There are also people who gradually fade out of the public eye for various reasons after becoming popular for a while.
Today, we want to focus on the stories of five Hong Kong singers who were once smash hits, but finally disappeared because of suppression, which is not only a personal joys and sorrows, but also a microcosm of that era, which is worth pondering.
The five most brilliant singers of the golden age of Hong Kong music are Choi Fung-wah, Liu Ximing, Lu Fang, Wang Jie and Wong Hoi-qin, and their respective talents shine like stars, and each name has a legendary story behind it.
Cai Fenghua, a powerful singer in the early 80s, has a unique and moving voice. His songs are soft, clear, and graceful, with a fusion of Cantonese opera minor and folk songs. He has a rich voice that touches the hearts of his listeners every time he sings.
His masterpieces such as "Absolute Emptiness", "Why Have You Ever Met", "Lunar Eclipse", "High Temperature Realm", etc., are still widely sung today.
In 1988, Liu Ximing, known as the "successor of Andy Lau", was born. He made his debut through the wireless artist training class, not only has a handsome appearance, but also has both acting skills and singing talents.
In the same year, he won the runner-up in the 6th Rookie Singing Competition, and since then he has officially stepped into the music scene, and Liu Ximing's all-round performance has made people have high hopes for him, thinking that he has hope to become Andy Lau in the future.
At the same time, in the field of Chinese music, another excellent singer, Lu Fangzheng, is rising at an astonishing speed. He was the second Chinese rookie singing contest winner after Anita Mui, and quickly became known as a "double star" with Jacky Cheung.
His warm and powerful singing voice touched countless listeners, and songs such as "Friends Don't Cry" and "Every Way" have become classics.
In the years when the "Four Heavenly Kings" of the Hong Kong music scene were prevalent, another person's name could not be ignored, he was Wang Jie. Although Wang Jie is not among them, his strength and influence are not inferior to Zhong Zhentao, Liming, Aaron Kwok and others, and he, like Li Hacken, is an important representative of the Hong Kong music scene in that era.
Wang Jie's singing voice is full of power, and each song seems to tell a moving story.
In 1987, Huang Kaiqin, who became famous in the Hong Kong music scene, was honored by fans as "Diamond Singer" or "Poet Singer" because of her extraordinary talent and beautiful voice. After graduating from Chinese University of Hong Kong, Huang Kaiqin officially signed with PolyGram Records, starting his high-profile career as a professional singer.
Whether it is education, talent, singing skills or cultivation, he is a leader in that star-studded era.
Each of these five singers has a unique charm and talent, and their songs have been heard on the streets of Hong Kong, and countless listeners have been deeply moved. However, fate arranged an unexpected turn for them, and at the peak of their careers, they both encountered varying degrees of suppression and setbacks, which not only changed the trajectory of their lives, but also added a bit of regret and melancholy to the history of the Hong Kong music scene.
In the golden age of Hong Kong's music scene, there were five singers who were like dazzling stars, each shining brightly. Their famous songs flowed through the streets and alleys, and at their peak, countless fans went crazy.
Cai Fenghua's singing voice is like a breeze blowing through the heart, bringing people endless enjoyment. Whether it is "Absolute Emptiness", "Why Have You Ever Met", "Eclipse", "High Temperature Realm", "Love Is Not a Game" or "A Shadow" and other works, each one is a classic of classics.
His unique vocal style, which perfectly blends elements of Cantonese opera and folk songs, creates a unique musical aesthetic When he sings these songs affectionately, the audience seems to be transported into a poetic world.
In 1988, Liu Ximing participated in the 6th Rookie Singing Contest and won the runner-up, and officially entered the music scene. Subsequently, he won the gold medal of the Most Popular Newcomer Award, becoming another new generation idol after Liming.
As a strong student of TVB, Liu Ximing had a bright future in the early 90s, and his reputation as "Andy Lau's successor" made him attract much attention.
Lu Fang and Jacky Cheung are equally famous, and are known as "double stars". Many of their songs, such as "Friends Don't Cry", "Every Journey", "The Crooked Moon", "Love You One More Day", etc., are still sung in people's mouths today.
Lui Fang is the second winner of the Chinese Rookie Singing Contest after Anita Mui, and his undeniable strength and his warm and powerful singing voice make him stand out in the highly competitive Hong Kong music scene.
Although Wang Jie is not as well-known as the Four Heavenly Kings, his strength and influence are not inferior because of this. In that era of talents, he won the love of many fans with his unique voice and distinctive style.
His singing voice is full of power, and each song carries a moving storyLike Li Keqin, Wang Jie was also an important representative of the Hong Kong music scene of that era.
In 1992, Huang Kaiqin impressed many fans with a song "Lovers in the Rain", which brought his music career to a peak. Subsequently, he signed a contract with Feitu Records, and became popular in the mainland with the Hong Kong version of "Late Autumn".
During this period, Huang Kaiqin's talent was fully displayed, and his singing voice was like a glass of mellow wine, which made people have endless aftertaste.
The peak moments of these singers are like bright fireworks, blooming the most brilliant light in the night sky of the Hong Kong music scene. Their success is not only a testament to individual talent, but also a microcosm of that golden age.
However, no one expected that fate would bring them an unexpected turn.
However, just when the careers of these five singers were in full swing, fate played a cruel joke on them. Each of them has been hit by a series of pivotal events that could have changed their lives, and these events have been like a hammer that has slammed down on their careers.
Cai Fenghua, who is known as a powerful singer, was banned because of the phrase "a moment of brilliance does not mean eternity", which makes people wonder whose interests are offended. From that moment on, Cai Fenghua's career fell to the bottom in an instant, and the media even portrayed him as "Cai Mad Hua", and his former glory seemed to be just a dream.
Cai Fenghua could only bear this feeling of "absolute emptiness" helplessly alone.
The turning point in Liu Ximing's life came a little suddenly. He met Zhou Huimin in the TV series "Ugin Blood Sword", and publicly expressed his admiration for this "Jade Girl Head".
However, this move angered Ni Zhen, Ni Zhen even did not hesitate to use the power of the entire magazine to carry out a crazy attack on Liu Ximing, overnight, Liu Ximing changed from "Andy Lau's successor" to "tumor Ming", and he had to retreat to Taiwan with a bright future.
Lü Fang's frustration stemmed mainly from false media reports. In an interview, Lu Fang said with tears in his eyes: "The media always say that I have an arrogant attitude, but in fact I am a person who is being robbed of a song when I am recording a song but dare not say anything; The media also said that I was addicted to gambling, but in fact, I only played occasionally, and it was not a bad gamble at all; The media also said that I ate soft rice, but in fact I never spent a penny on the other side.
Lu Fang believes that he is one of the singers who have been hurt the most by the media, and these false reports are like a sharp blade, which deeply stabs this powerful singer.
Wang Jie's twists and turns stem from his outspoken personality. He has criticized the Hong Kong music scene many times in public, believing that the Hong Kong music scene in the 90s was full of gods and Buddhas, and was finally destroyed by these people.
He even expressed dissatisfaction with Jacky Cheung's title of "God of Songs" and questioned the authenticity of his live singing ability, which although he won the appreciation of some people, it also made it difficult for him to gain a foothold in the Hong Kong music scene.
The turning point in Huang's career came from a conflict with the record label's philosophy. After the success of the "Late Autumn" record, Feitu Records wanted Huang Kaiqin to continue singing similar style songs.
However, Huang Kaiqin declined this request, saying that he would prefer to make more music than blindly consume music, and this insistence eventually led to him being hidden and even terminated.
These turning points are like the ruthless tricks of fate, which have brought these five once brilliant singers into a low point in their careers, and also cast a shadow on the development of the Hong Kong music scene.
The twist of fate forced these five singers to leave the stage they were once familiar with, and they either left voluntarily or were forced to leave, but they all had deep helplessness and regret.
After Cai Fenghua was banned, it seemed to evaporate from the world and disappeared from public view in an instant. The glorious years have become empty in a blink of an eye, and he can only bear this huge psychological gap alone.
Cai Fenghua's departure is like a dazzling star suddenly extinguished, which is regrettable.
After being attacked by the media, Liu Ximing decided to go to Taiwan to seek development. He was once known as "Andy Lau's successor", but he had to leave the place where he dreamed of starting - Hong Kong and start over in a foreign land.
This once promising artist can only look for new opportunities in another country.
Although Lu Fang has been in Hong Kong, his popularity is gradually decreasing. He used to be called a "double star" with Jacky Cheung, but now he can only watch his former partner become a "god of songs", and he is gradually forgotten.
His good voice is still there, and his songs are often played, but he himself is forgotten by many.
Wang Jie's controversy over his remarks is difficult to gain a foothold in the Hong Kong music scene, mainly due to his unique personality, which makes it difficult for him to develop in the Hong Kong music scene for a long time. In the end, Wang Jie chose the broader market in the mainland and continued his music path.
Huang Kaiqin moved to Taiwan after a conflict with the record company. However, three years later in Taiwan, he clashed with his agent. In the end, he chose to leave the Asian entertainment industry and settle in Canada.
The departure of these five singers is like five meteors across the night sky, leaving a bright but short-lived light, which is a pity for them personally, and for the entire Hong Kong music scene, their departure is undoubtedly a loss.
Their story became the last footnote of that golden age.
Looking back on the experiences of these five singers, it is really lamenting the impermanence and cruelty of fate. Cai Fenghua, Liu Ximing, Lu Fang, Wang Jie and Huang Kaiqin, they all have outstanding talents, and they were all smash hits, but they were suppressed for different reasons and finally disappeared.
Their story is like a tragic parting song, which makes people sigh.
The major changes in the Hong Kong music scene can be observed in their experiences. As Wang Jie said, the Hong Kong music scene has gradually changed from the early competition of strength to a scene of "gods and Buddhas".
This change may be one of the reasons for the setbacks of these powerful singers.
What was once the golden age of Hong Kong's music scene is a thing of the past. Now, we can only reminisce about those glorious years through those classic hits. The experience of these five singers is like a microcosm of that era, allowing us to see the cruelty and ruthlessness of the entertainment industry.
Among these five singers, who is the most pity? Everyone may have their own answer in their hearts, but whatever the answer, they were an important part of that golden age, and their talents and efforts deserve to be remembered forever.
Their story will forever become one of the most moving chapters in the history of Hong Kong music.