Faye Wong

Faye Wong

Wong performing at a concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2011
Chinese name 王菲
Pinyin Wáng Fēi (Mandarin)
Jyutping Wong4 Fei1 (Cantonese)
Birth name 夏林[fn 1]
Xià Lín (Mandarin)
Origin China
Hong Kong
Born (1969-08-08) 8 August 1969
Beijing, China
Other name(s) Shirley Wong
王靖雯
Wong4 Zing6 Man4 (Cantonese)
Occupation singer-songwriter, actress
Genre(s) C-pop (both Mandopop and Cantopop), C-rock, dream pop, Buddhist music, J-pop
Voice type(s) Mezzo-soprano
Label(s) Cinepoly, EMI, Sony Music
Years active 1989–2005, 2010–present
Spouse(s) Dou Wei (1996–1999)
Li Yapeng (2005–2013)
Children
Parents Wang Youlin
Xia Guiyin
Influences Teresa Teng, Cocteau Twins

Faye Wong (born 8 August 1969) is a Chinese singer-songwriter and actress, often referred to as a "diva" (Chinese: 天后; literally: "Heavenly Queen") in Chinese-language media.[1] Early in her career she briefly used the stage name Shirley Wong. Born in Beijing, she moved to British Hong Kong in 1987 and came to public attention in the early 1990s by singing ballads in Cantonese. Since 1994 she has recorded mostly in her native Mandarin, often combining alternative music with mainstream Chinese pop.[2] In 2000 she was recognised by Guinness World Records as the Best Selling Canto-Pop Female.[3] Following her second marriage in 2005 she withdrew from the limelight, but returned to the stage in 2010 amidst immense interest in the Sinophone world.[4][5]

Hugely popular in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, she has also gained a large following in Japan. In the West she is perhaps best known for starring in Wong Kar-wai's films Chungking Express and 2046.[2][6] While she has collaborated with international artists such as Cocteau Twins, Wong recorded only a few songs in English, including "Eyes on Me" – the theme song of the video game Final Fantasy VIII. Wong is known to be reserved in public, and has gained a reputation for her "coolness".[7][8] In Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture, Jeroen de Kloet characterised her as "singer, actress, mother, celebrity, royalty, sex symbol and diva all at the same time".[9]

Life and career

1969–91: Early life and Shirley Wong

The daughter of a mining engineer and a revolutionary music soprano,[10] Wong Fei was born in Beijing in the midst of China's Cultural Revolution.[fn 1] She also has an elder brother named Wang Yi (王弋).[12] As a student, Wong already was involved in singing and attracted interest from several publishers . On occasions, the school had to hide her artistic activities from her strict mother,[13] who as a professional saw singing as a dead-end career.[14] Despite her mother's opposition, Wong released 6 low-cost cover albums from 1985 to 1987 while still in high school, all in the form of cassettes, mostly consisting of songs by her personal idol, iconic Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng. For the last of these early recordings, the producer Wei Yuanqiang chose the title Wong Fei Collection, intending to show that he recognised a distinctive talent in the teenager.[15]

In 1987, after being accepted to Xiamen University for college, she migrated to Hong Kong to join her father, who had been working there for a few years. The plan was for her to stay there for a year to fulfill the permanent residency requirement, and go to a university abroad thereafter.[14] However, since Wong didn't know a word of Cantonese, the language spoken in the British colony, she experienced great loneliness.[10] Following a brief modeling stint, she began singing lessons with Tai See-Chung (戴思聰), who was also from Mainland China and had previously tutored Hong Kong superstars Anita Mui, Andy Lau, Leon Lai and Aaron Kwok.[16] Under Tai's tutelage, the 19-year-old signed with Cinepoly Records after winning third place in an ABU singing contest in 1988.[14] It was a risky move on the part of Chan Siu-Bo, Cinepoly's general manager, since Mainlanders were stereotyped to be "backwards" in Hong Kong.[17]

As a result, Cinepoly asked Wong to change her "Mainland-sounding" name to a "sophisticated" stage name Wong Jing Man. (Her English name was to be "Shirley".)[18] In 1989, her debut album Shirley Wong sold over 30,000 copies and helped her win bronze at the "Chik Chak New Artist Award". Two more albums (Everything and You're the Only One) followed, similarly featuring many cover songs by artists from the US and Japan. However, they sold worse than her debut album, despite relentless promotions by the company. Many in Hong Kong perceived her to be "backwards", lacking personality.

Frustrated with her career decision, in 1991 she travelled to New York City for vocal studies and cultural exchange. Because it was a hurried decision, she also ended up missing the registration deadline for her classes in New York. Faye Wong explained in 1996,

I wandered around, visited museums and sat at cafes. There were so many strange, confident-looking people. They didn't care what other people thought of them. I felt I was originally like that too, independent and a little rebellious. But in Hong Kong I lost myself. I was shaped by others and became like a machine, a dress hanger. I had no personality and no sense of direction.
— [10]

Wong returned to Hong Kong and found a new agent in Katie Chan, who would remain her agent for the next 2 decades. The next album, Coming Home, would prominently feature on the cover the English name "Faye", a homophone to her given Chinese name, and the word "Jing", a reference to her hometown Beijing.

1992–93: Rise to notability

The 1992 album Coming Home incorporated R&B influences and was a change in musical direction from the more traditional Cantopop fare of her earlier albums. One song by her of this time was "Fragile Woman", a cover of a Japanese song "Rouge" originally composed by Miyuki Nakajima and sung by Naomi Chiaki. (Thanks to Wong's cover, this 1972 song–in different language versions–would in the early 1990s become a huge regional hit in Thailand, Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia and even Turkey; the most popular English version was titled "Broken-Hearted Woman".) Coming Home also included her first English-language number, "Kisses in the Wind". Wong stated in a 1994 concert that she very much liked this song,[19] after which various websites listed it as her personal favourite;[20][21][22] however, in a 1998 CNN interview she declined to name one favourite song, saying that there were too many,[23] and in 2003 she stated that she no longer liked her old songs.[24]

The cover for Coming Home prominently shows the name "Faye", and from then on she changed her stage name back to "Wong Fei" (王菲). In 1992–93 she also starred in TVB shows such as File of Justice II (壹號皇庭II) and Legendary Ranger (原振俠).

In 1993, she wrote the Mandarin lyrics for her ballad "No Regrets" (執迷不悔) which led many to praise her as a gifted lyricist. In February, it became the title track to her album No Regrets. No Regrets features soft contemporary numbers, a few dance tracks and two versions of the title ballad: Wong's Mandarin version, and a Cantonese version (lyrics by Chen Shao Qi).

1993–94: Alternative style

Her next album 100,000 Whys (September 1993) showed considerable alternative music influences from the West, including the popular song "Cold War" (冷戰), a cover of "Silent All These Years" by Tori Amos.

Faye has named the Scottish post-punk group Cocteau Twins among her favourite bands,[23] and their influence was clear on her next Cantonese album, Random Thoughts (胡思亂想). Her Cantonese version of The Cranberries' "Dreams" was featured in Wong Kar-wai's film Chungking Express, and gained lasting popularity.[25] Besides covering songs and learning distinctive vocal techniques, Wong recorded her own compositions "Pledge" (誓言), co-written with ex-husband Dou Wei, and her first and only spoken-word song "Exit" (出路), which expresses some of her pessimism about the future.

1994–95: Mandarin market

Besides two Cantonese albums in 1994, Wong released two other albums in Mandarin in Taiwan, Mystery (迷) and Sky (天空). The runaway hit "I'm Willing" (我願意) in Mystery became her trademark hit in the Mandarin-speaking communities for years, and has been covered by other singers such as Gigi Leung, Sammi Cheng and Jay Chou. Sky was seen by fans as a successful amalgam of artistic experimentation and commercialism.

While her hits in Hong Kong were noticeably alternative, her two Mandarin albums were more lyrical and traditional. Critics generally credit Taiwanese producer Yang Ming-huang for their success.

Four best-selling albums in Cantonese and Mandarin, a record-breaking 18 consecutive concerts in Hong Kong, and a widely acclaimed film (Chungking Express) made Faye Wong the most eminent female Hong Kong singer in the mid-1990s. Meanwhile, her distaste for the profit-oriented HK entertainment industry became more and more apparent. She was frequently in touch with the rock circle in Beijing. Given her somewhat reticent and nonchalant personality, she would sometimes give terse, direct, and somewhat unexpected answers when asked personal questions by the HK media.

In 1995, she released Decadent Sounds of Faye (菲靡靡之音), a cover album of songs originally recorded by her idol Teresa Teng, one of the most revered Chinese singers of the 20th century. A duet with Teng was planned for the album, but unfortunately she died before this could be recorded.[26] Decadent Sounds sold well despite initial negative criticism, and has come to be recognised as an example of imaginative covering by recent critics.

In December, she released her Cantonese album Di-Dar which mixes an alternative yodelling style with a touch of Indian and Middle Eastern flavour. This album was a success, partly because it was so different from the mainstream Cantopop music, but—ironically—a couple of very traditional romantic songs topped the charts.

1996: Restless and Cinepoly EPs

1996 saw the release of what many would consider her boldest and most artistically coherent effort to date, Fuzao (浮躁), usually translated as Restless or Impatience. This was her last album with Cinepoly, and Wong felt she could take more artistic risks. The album contains mainly her own compositions, with an aesthetic inspired by the Cocteau Twins, who penned two original songs for the album, "Fracture" (分裂) and "Repressing Happiness" (掃興). As Wong had covered their work in 1994, she had established a remote working relationship with them—even laying down vocals for a special duet version of "Serpentskirt" on the Asian release of the group's 1996 album, Milk And Kisses.

Although the album was Wong's personal favourite, the response from Hong Kong and Taiwan was less supportive. Many fans who enjoyed her previous three Mandarin albums turned their back on Restless, which they considered to be too alternative and self-absorbed. There were few ballads which were radio-friendly and some became disenchanted with Faye's experimental style of recording. However, hardcore fans, known as Fayenatics,[27] adored the album and it became a cult hit. Wong has not released another fully artistic album since. After the release, Wong became the second Chinese artist (after Gong Li)—and the first Chinese singer—to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.

From 1993 to 1995, Cinepoly released an EP of Wong's songs each year: Like Wind (如風), Faye Disc (菲碟), and One Person, Two Roles (一人分飾兩角). Then in 1996–97, she recorded ten original songs in Cantonese all written by lyricist Lin Xi (林夕) and various composers, such as Wong Ka Keung, Adrian Chan, and Chan Xiao Xia, before her departure from Cinepoly. After her contract with Cinepoly expired, the company released eight of these songs in the two subsequent EPs entitled Toy (玩具) and Helping Yourself (自便). Although the EPs contained new songs—ballad hits like "Undercurrent" (暗湧), "Date" (約定), and "On Time" (守時)—and were welcomed by fans, they received lukewarm critical responses. The other two songs were included in later compilations; the last to be released was "Scary" (心驚膽顫) in 2002.

1997: EMI and Faye Wong

Wong signed for the recording giant EMI in 1997 after her first daughter was born, in a contract worth HK$60 million (approx. US$7.7 million), to release 55 songs in five albums. While most of her earlier albums were sung in Cantonese, Wong has since sung almost exclusively in Mandarin, her mother tongue, although she recorded Cantonese versions of a couple of songs in each of her last four albums with EMI to please her Hong Kong audience. Having gone through a period of experimentation, Wong stated that she wished to make "music that I like. I do not care if others don't, though I would be delighted if they do".

Her first album with EMI was Faye Wong (1997) (王菲), released in autumn 1997. Critics expecting another artistic breakthrough after 1996's Restlessness found – much to their dismay – a much more inoffensive and commercially oriented musical album. Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins wrote two original compositions for the album, but only one, "The Amusement Park" (娛樂場), was used. This release included an acoustic cover of the Cocteau Twins' "Rilkean Heart", renamed "Nostalgia" (懷念).[28]

This album is filled with feelings of lethargy, languor and disengagement, yet most of the tracks sound warm and sweet, as opposed to those piquant self-centered ones before her motherhood. Reporters noticed that she began to smile more often in public and was not as icy or aloof as before. However, the album was released during the Asian financial crisis which swept East and Southeast Asia. Wong's old company Cinepoly, which retains the copyright on her previous records, released a Mandarin compilation at the same time in 1997 to counteract her new EMI album (and indeed outperformed it). Later, Cinepoly would release two compilations each year to compete with Faye's new releases, a tactic which has come under fire from her international fans. Faye Wong did not sell well in Hong Kong, but did quite well in Taiwan and mainland China. Although Wong had garnered some popularity with her 4 previous Mandarin albums, it was really this sweet yet slightly alternative album which had the Mainland Chinese audience listening. Her profile began to rise sharply in Asia.

1998: Mainland China

In 1997 singer Na Ying signed with EMI and struck a lasting friendship with Wong. Na had been a regular at the annual CCTV New Year's Gala, the highest-watched TV show in Mainland China, and she invited Wong to do a duet with her on the upcoming show in 1998. The collaboration by the "Mainland Diva" and "Hong Kong Diva", titled "Let's Meet in 1998", became an instant hit and arguably the most played song in Mainland China that year.[29] Thanks to this exposure[fn 2], in late 1998 Wong finally held her first concert in her native Mainland China, and continued her tour in 9 cities.

Chang You (唱遊) was released in October, and contained four songs composed by Faye: the opening track "Emotional Life", "Face", "A Little Clever" and "Tong" (both written for her daughter, the latter produced by Dou Wei). Amongst other songs were "Give Up Halfway" (sung both in Mandarin and Cantonese), which was one of the more commercially successful tracks from the album, along with the successful ballad "Red Bean" (紅豆).

It was the best selling Chinese album in Singapore in 1999. Together with Lovers & Strangers and the compilation album Wishing We Last Forever, it gave Faye Wong 3 albums in the Singapore top 10 selling Chinese albums of 1999,[31] making her one of the best selling artists in Singapore in 1999.[32]

In Japan, the album sold close to 90,000 copies in the first three months after its release.[33]

1999: Venturing into Japan

The video game Final Fantasy VIII was released in Japan in February 1999, for which Faye Wong recorded the ballad "Eyes on Me" in English. It was the first time that a Japanese video game featured a Chinese singer for its theme. The "Eyes on Me" single sold over 335,620 copies in Japan and 500,000 worldwide,[34] making it the best-selling video game music disc to that date, and winning "Song of the Year (Western Music)" at the 14th Annual Japan Gold Disc Awards.[35][36] When the game was released in North America later that year, the theme song became very popular among gamers in the West; while it was not a mainstream hit there (as Wong had no desire to explore these markets), she gained many fans who were not previously familiar with her music.[37]

In March, she held two concerts in Nippon Budokan, with tickets for the first show on 11 March being sold out in one day and an extra show added on 12 March;[33] she was the first Chinese singer to perform in that venue.[38] Earlier in the year, Pepsi-Cola had made Wong a spokesperson, and after these concerts she shot the promotional music video for "Spectacular" (精彩), which Pepsi used in commercials.

The album Lovers & Strangers (只愛陌生人) was released in late September,[39] and sold over 800,000 copies, topping the charts in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia.[40] This was her first album after she parted from her husband Dou Wei, and her first without any musical collaborations with him since their relationship began. The title track was featured in Sylvester Stallone's remake of Get Carter. Wong also became a spokesperson for JPhone in October, performing in several commercials which aired in Japan.

In addition, she began filming for 2046 in August, a project she would pursue on and off over the next few years when her schedule permitted.

2000: Fable

The new millennium saw a shift in Wong's musical career with the album Fable (寓言). The prominent feature of this album is its segregated and distinguishable halves – songs in the first half of the album running in an almost continuous manner and in a format that is akin to a song-cycle, and the second half of discrete, chart-friendly numbers. The album itself derives its artistic merits from the first half, notable for its unique thematic and continuous sequencing of songs unprecedented in the Chinese music industry. The theme itself is ambiguous and the lyrics subject to multiple interpretations, though it is quite certain that the theme of Fable forms the main thematic reference, derived from the motivic elements of the prince and princess in fables and fairytales of European origins. Elements of spirituality, metaphysics and Buddhism hold an important place in the lyrics as well, penned by Lin Xi who has by then, been unanimously identified as Faye's lyricist par excellence. Musically the arrangements display influences of drum and bass, electronica, east-west collage and lush string orchestral infusions.

Her other activities during this year included the Pepsi promotional duet and music video of "Galaxy Unlimited" with Aaron Kwok, the filming of Okinawa Rendezvous, as well as several concerts in China and Taiwan.

2001–04: Faye Wong and To Love

Faye Wong in concert, Hong Kong, 2003.

By this time, Faye had forged a famous alliance with producer/musician Zhang Yadong (張亞東) and lyricist Lin Xi (林夕), often referred to by the HK public as the 'iron triangle'. However, due to Zhang Yadong's unavailability during this period (he was engaged on other projects), Faye decided to treat this last album with EMI as an experiment whereby she would collaborate with new producers/musicians/lyricists and 'see what their vision of her will be'.

Nevertheless, the response from the public and critics alike were lukewarm at best. Faye herself admitted that she was not totally satisfied with some tracks, namely those produced by Taiwan 'father of rock' Wu Bai, which had an industrial electronica flavour reminiscent of Karen Mok's 'Golden Flower' album. She cited the two folk-style songs written by Singaporean singer-songwriter Tanya Chua as her favourite picks on her album. The song that generated most noise from the press turned out to be Vertigo (迷魂記), a ballad penned by former love Nicholas Tse. Faye Wong (王菲) reached number 14 on the Japan Oricon charts.

While she was under contract with EMI and later Sony, she performed in the ensemble movie 2046 which had been in production since 1999 and finally wrapped in 2004. She performed at fund-raising concerts to benefit various charities, including ones that helped those who suffered from AIDS and SARS. She sang on tracks with other celebrities such as Tony Leung, Anita Mui, and Aaron Kwok. She also starred in a Japanese TV serial, Usokoi, and the film Leaving Me Loving You with Leon Lai.

The theme song for Usokoi, titled "Separate Ways", was released as a single; it was one of her few Japanese songs (another being "Valentine's Radio").[41] She recorded several other solo non-album tracks, such as the eponymous hit theme song to Hero and a Buddhist song containing similar sounds to some of her work on her album Fu Zao. In addition, she recorded a recitation of the Heart Sutra. Meanwhile, her former record companies released several more compilations and boxed sets of her records.

For her Sony album To Love (將愛), released in November 2003, she recorded 13 tracks, 10 in Mandarin and 3 in Cantonese. She wrote the music and lyrics for 3 songs, the title track "To Love", "Leave Nothing" (不留), "Sunshine Dearest" (陽寶), as well as the music for "April Snow" (四月雪). Before the album's release, her Cantonese song "The Name of Love" (假愛之名), with lyrics by Lin Xi, was banned in some areas such as mainland China because the lyrics mentioned opium.[42] According to interviews, she said that she preferred the Mandarin version of the song (the title track); she had penned these lyrics herself, and they made no reference to drugs.[24] She also recorded "Passenger" (乘客), a cover of Sophie Zelmani's "Going Home". The album became more successful than her previous self-titled album, both financially and critically. Afterwards, she held numerous successful concerts for over a year. At the 2004 Golden Melody Awards, she was awarded Best Female Artist after being nominated many times. Her acceptance speech, in which she quipped "I've known that I can sing, therefore I will also confirm this panel's decision," was controversial to the local Taiwanese media.[43][44]

2005–09: Hiatus

In January 2005, during the last concert of her tour, the usually reticent Faye Wong left a quote that left her fans wondering: "If I ever retire from showbiz, I hope you all forget about me."[45] In May 2005 her agent Katie Chan (陳家瑛) confirmed to press that Wong was "resting indefinitely".[46] Two months later she wed actor Li Yapeng, and their daughter was born in the following year.

In the four years that followed, Faye Wong would not return, ignoring Live Nation's offer of 100m-HKD,[47] and even rejecting the 3m-yuan offer for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony on her birthday[48] – the Beijing native was the unanimous choice of netizens, receiving over 63% of the tens of millions of votes cast in a CCTV online poll.[49] The honour eventually went to Liu Huan.) She did, however, voluntarily perform for causes she truly cared about: she sang "Wishing We Last Forever" in May 2008 at a CCTV fundraising event for Sichuan earthquake victims,[50] and "Heart Sutra" in May 2009 for a Buddhist ceremony at the Famen Temple.[51]

In May 2009, Wong appeared in an ad for "Royal Wind" shampoo, sparking speculation that it would be the first step in her comeback.[52]

In June 2009, a compilation of 3 CDs and 1 DVD was released by Universal Music and sold very well in the public.[53][54]

2010 to date

In recent years, Faye Wong completed an extensive concert tour, but is otherwise relatively inactive in the music industry. She has not announced any intention to produce further studio albums, although she has made occasional releases of a few singles. She does not attend music awards, nor was she involved in the promotion of her comeback concert tour, which was held in many different cities across Asia from October 2010 to June 2012.

Her main concerns are Buddhism, charity and her own family.

Comeback Tour (2010–2012)

One of Wong's comeback concerts in Beijing Wukesong Arena in November 2010. The concert was directed by Wong Kar-Wai.[55]

Her return was clearly marked in February 2010, when she performed at the CCTV New Year's Gala watched by over 700 million people, covering Li Jian's ballad "Legend".[56] Later in July 2010, she first announced a series of comeback concerts starting from 29 October 2010 onwards, namely 5 in Beijing and another 5 in Shanghai. To satisfy huge overseas market demand, she declared to have more concerts in other cities of Mainland China, Taipei in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and also Singapore.[57] The tour began in October 2010 and concluded in June 2012.

Despite her lengthy absence, interest was overwhelming: in mainland China tickets worth nearly 200 million yuan (US$29 million) were taken up in just 10 days[58] while in Taiwan the computerised ticketing system crashed due to excessive traffic, and 90 percent of the tickets were sold within two hours after it was restored.[59] The story repeated itself in Hong Kong,[60] with 93% of the tickets gone in one morning and 2 ticketing phone lines added to the 3 existing one, to catch up with the huge demand.[61]

Personal life

In 1995, Wong began a relationship with Dou Wei, a Beijing rocker of the band "Black Panther" who was much more famous in Mainland China. In June 1996, the couple married. Their daughter, Dou Jingtong (竇靖童, meaning "child of Dou and Jing" [from Wong's given name Jingwen]) was born on 3 January 1997. The baby's voice appears in the song "Tong" on the 1998 album Chang You (唱遊), as well as the title track of the album Lovers & Strangers (只愛陌生人) released in 1999. They divorced in late 1999 with Wong claiming the rights to the daughter and waiving child support.

After ending a May–December relationship with Nicolas Tse, Wong began dating Mainland television actor Li Yapeng in 2004 in Beijing; their wedding took place in July 2005. Around the time of her wedding, her manager confirmed that she might take an indefinite break from the entertainment business.[62] Their daughter, Li Yan, was born on 27 May 2006. In January 2011, appearing for the first time with her husband on a talk show, Wong told host Yang Lan that the past 5 years of her married life has been "very steady, very satisfying".[63] On September 13, 2013, Wong and Li announced that they had divorced.[64]

On 21 September 2014, Katie Chan confirmed that Wong and Nicholas Tse resumed dating after they had gone their separate ways 11 years prior. Chan refuted rumors that Wong was pregnant with Tse's child.[65][66]

Charities and Smile Angel Foundation

Wong (far right) and friends attend the Beijing premiere of Eternal Moment (starring Li Yapeng), all wearing red scarves which symbolizes youth in China, February 2011

In August 2006, Li published a thousand-word public online letter, "Gratitude (感謝)", on his Sina.com blog.[67] The letter served as an outlet for their gratitude towards all concerned parties, and confirmed rumours their daughter was born with a congenital cleft lip. He expressed their reason for seeking medical treatment in California: due to the severity of Li Yan's cleft, the special reconstructive surgeries she needed were not available in China. Citing a South American folk tale, Li described his daughter as a special child and her cleft as a mark of an angel. The couple has since established the Smile Angel Foundation to assist children with clefts.[68]

On 26 December 2006 Wong made her first public appearance since 2005 at the foundation's inaugural fundraising ball. She opted not to speak or sing, but her new composition "Cheerful Angel" (愛笑的天使) debuted at the event as the official theme song of the charity.[69][70] At the second fundraising ball on 8 December 2007, Wong mentioned that although she would not return to her music career in 2008, she would consider it afterwards. However, she sang and produced an electronica-infused version of the Diamond Sutra for the event.[71] For the foundation's publicity event on 27–28 November 2008, Wong and her husband visited children in Tibet who are in various stages of recovery after being cured with the help of the charity.[72] To date, the foundation has raised over 35 million renminbi, including over 29.5 million from auctions during the three December fundraisers, and helped more than 2008 children.[73]

In May 2008, following the disastrous earthquake in Sichuan, the couple accepted a local girl who lost a leg trying to save her classmates, to their family as she underwent recuperation and treatments in Beijing. The middle school student returned to her hometown a year later[74] but help would not stop; the Lis agreed to continue paying for her medical needs until she turns 22 and visit her at least once a year.[75] In March 2012, the Smile Angel Foundation donated 15 million Japanese yen to ChildFund Japan to help needy children after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[76]

In 2012, Smile Angel Foundation established China's first charity paediatric hospital. The Beijing-based hospital is expected to offer free surgery to 600 children with cleft lips each year and will start operations in June.[77][78]

In April 2010, the China Social Sciences Press recognised Wong as one of the 13 "richest souls" in China.[79][80] In May 2013, Wong and Li topped the inaugural "China Celebrity Philanthropist List" compiled by the China Philanthropist magazine,[81] which used a methodology designed to measure a celebrity's positive influence on charitable donations.[82]

On May 19, 2013, Faye sang four songs in a memorial concert celebrating Teresa Teng's 60th birthday, with a portion of the concert proceeds going to the charity. The concert is notable in that Wong's first song in the concert, Li Bai's "清平調", is a duet with Teng planned 18 years prior, using vocals from Teng released posthumously for the first time.

Microblog

In 2010, Sina Weibo users discovered Wong's microblog under the account "veggieg (Chinese)", and unveiled a Faye Wong who is open, talkative and surprisingly funny with her use of cyberlanguage and puns.[83] As of April 2014, the account has over 23 million followers.

Artistry and Legacy

Concerts

Faye Wong in concert, Hong Kong, 2011.

The focus of Faye Wong's concerts has always been on her vocal performance. She seldom dances or speaks to the audience, and there are generally no supporting dancers. There were two exceptions to the latter in the 1994–95 live concerts; first, many dancers joined Faye on stage for the lively song "Flow Not Fly". In the second half, Faye and a line of male dancers were menaced by a giant mechanical spider overhead during the song "Tempt Me".

Another trademark is her unconventional fashion on stage.[84] Her 1994 concerts were memorable for dreadlocks and extremely long sleeves, as well as for the silver-painted tears. Her 1998 concerts saw her sporting the "burnt" cheek makeup, the "Indian chief" look, and the soleless strap-on boots.[85] At the start of her 2003 concerts her headgear was topped by an inverted shoe supporting a very long feather, and her makeup for that concert went through several changes of painted eye-shades.

Her 2003 concerts set a Hong Kong record, selling 30,000 tickets within three days.[24]

She does not perform encores, and usually exits by sinking below the stage via a platform. After her release of Miyuki Nakajima's "Mortal World" (人間) in 1997, she ended her concerts for the next few years with this song while shaking hands with the audience, then taking a deep bow to a horizontal position before leaving the stage. However, during her recent Comeback Tour from 2010 to 2012, she ended with "Flower of Paradise" (彼岸花), a song from the album Fable (2000).

She has given concerts in North America and Australia as well as many venues in East and Southeast Asia, including charity concerts. She is to date the only C-pop artist to have performed four times in Tokyo's Budokan.[fn 3] The key features of her four major concert tours are set out below.

Public image

Dutch scholar Jeroen Groenewegen credits Wong's mass appeal to some of her perceived "cool" traits including autonomy, androgyny and childishness.[86] The part of Faye Wong's personality that resonated most with her audiences is her independence and her courage to be different. As she wrote for the lyrics of "No Regrets",

This time I stubbornly face [the problem].

[I'm] inadvertently indulgent.
I don’t care whether it's correct or not.
Even if it is a trap, I dare to [face it].
Even if it is stubbornness, I am still stubborn and regretless.

Katie Chan, Wong's agent, once said "Faye does whatever she wants.... it's really quite a miracle that she became a success."[10]

In addition, Faye Wong is seen and thus idolised by many as a woman willing to sacrifice for love. In 1994, on one of the many trips to Beijing to see Dou Wei, Hong Kong paparazzi from Next Magazine followed her and tracked her down. The photographs taken, showing her entering an unhygienic community toilet in a narrow hutong to dump urine – in sharp contrast to the modern and glamorous lives Hong Kong celebrities led – caused quite a stir, with some in Cinepoly fearing that her diva image would be tarnished.[17] But many were impressed. As Taiwanese lyricist Tao Chien, who initially declined to write lyrics for Wong because he never met and knew very little about her, recalled in 2012,

...it just happened that I took a business trip to Hong Kong and on the flight back, I saw that tabloid magazine with photos from Beijing, of her coming out in the morning carrying the chamber pot to dump in the public toilet... That piece from the tabloid moved me... Such a famous female celebrity, willing to do that, and she only had a 2-day break (from work), most of that time must have been spent traveling. Just to be with (him). So the first line (I wrote down) was, "I'm willing to forget even my name". Also "running towards you", they all describe how I felt when I saw those pictures. That's how I wrote "I'm Willing" (for Faye Wong).
— [87]

Legacy

In 2004 and 2005 Faye Wong was ranked in the top 5 on the Forbes China Celebrity 100, as well as in 2011 and 2012 after her hiatus. In a 2011 "most popular celebrity in China" marketing study she was also ranked in the top 5.[88] In 2009, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, a government web portal conducted an online poll on The Most Influential Chinese Cultural Celebrity in the Past 60 Years; out of 192 candidates, Wong received over 7 million votes, second only to the deceased Teresa Teng from Taiwan, Wong's own personal idol.[89] Chen Tao, a China Radio International DJ, compares Wong's influence in the Sinophone world to Madonna's in America: "She represents a certain era of pop music, a certain trend, and a vision of being unique."[25] Beijing-based scholar Wang Dong also believes Wong's popularity reflects a social phenomenon broader than entertainment itself, as people identify themselves through Wong due to her image of being unique.[90]

In the 2010s, fans have started Faye Wong-themed small businesses in Beijing[91][92] and Wuhan.[93][94] Wong probably also has more Western fans than most of her C-pop peers, collectively referred to as "Fayenatics".[2] Songs or albums specifically paying tribute to her include:[95]

Wong's songs have been covered in other languages, for example "Liuxing" (流星) was covered in Japanese by Hanayo,[101] "Xiangnaier" (香奈兒) in Korean by Lim Hyung-joo,[102] and "Hongdou" (紅豆) in Vietnamese by many different artists.[103] English covers of her Chinese songs include Kohmi Hirose's "If You Were Mine",[104] a cover of "Tiankong" (天空); Lene Marlin's "Still Here",[105] a cover of "Wo yuanyi" (我願意); and Emmy the Great's "One Person Playing Two Roles",[106] a cover of "Yat-yan fan-sik leung-gok" (一人分飾兩角).

The female protagonist in the 2013 Chinese film Beijing Flickers was prototyped after Wong, according to director Zhang Yuan. Zhang remembered when he shot his 1993 hit Beijing Bastards with Dou Wei, Wong as Dou's girlfriend would visit the set every day.[107] Japanese director Shunji Iwai had explained that the titular pop-star character of his 2001 film All About Lily Chou-Chou was conceived after attending a Faye Wong concert.[108] Wong's name was also mentioned in the 2003 Japanese film The Blue Light as one of the protagonist's favourites.[109]

China's 2007 spacecraft Chang'e 1 played Faye Wong's version of "Wishing We Last Forever".[110]

Discography

Main article: Faye Wong discography
I'm Willing (我願意; Wǒ Yuàn Yì, 1994)
One of Faye Wong's signature songs. It was covered in many languages, such as English (by Lene Marlin in 2005), Japanese (by JAYWALK in 2002), and Korean (by Seomoon Tak in 2004).[111]
Emotional Life (感情生活; Gǎn Qíng Shēng Huó, 1998)
Faye Wong often includes scat-singing and yodelling in her songs.
Leave Nothing (不留; Bù Liú, 2003)
Faye Wong combines distinct vocal registers in this self-written trip hop tract.
Problems playing these files? See media help.

Cantonese studio albums

Mandarin studio albums

Tours

Concert Series Dates & venues Cover songs by Faye Wong first recorded on concert albums Availability and trivia
Faye Wong Live in Concert 1994–95 (王菲最精彩演唱會) 18 concerts in Hong Kong (Dec 1994 – Jan 1995), 2 in Taipei, 2 in Kuala Lumpur and 7 more in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Atlanta, San Francisco, New York City, and Singapore

Total: 29

 (i) "I Will Marry You Tomorrow" (Mandarin song: 明天我要嫁給你 originally performed by Emil Chau); (ii) "One Thousand Words, Ten Thousand Phrases" (Mandarin song: 千言萬語 originally performed by Teresa Teng) One of the concerts in Hong Kong was published on CD, VHS and Laserdisc. The visual designer for the concerts was the film director Wong Kar-wai. Unlike later series of concerts, these performances included dancers and encores.
Faye Wong Scenic Tour 1998–2001 (王菲唱遊大世界演唱會) 17 concerts at Hong Kong Coliseum: 24 December 1998 – 9 January 1999, 18 concerts in China, 1 in Taipei, 1 in Melbourne, 1 in Sydney, 2 in Japan, 2 in Singapore, 2 in Malaysia and 1 in Las Vegas

Total: 45

 (i) "Bohemian Rhapsody" (English song originally performed by Queen);[85] (ii) "Awakening from Dreams" (Mandarin song: 夢醒了 originally performed by Na Ying) The New Year's Eve concert in Hong Kong was published on CD and VCD. "Auld Lang Syne" is included in the recording, but was actually sung by the background vocalists rather than Faye Wong. In the Japan concert, she covered "Don't Break My Heart", a Mandarin song originally performed by Dou Wei.
Faye Wong Tour in 2001 (全面體演唱會) 3 concerts in China and 3 in Japan

Total: 6

 "Thank You for Hearing Me" (English song originally performed by Sinéad O'Connor) One of the concerts in Budokan concert hall, Tokyo, Japan was released on VCD and DVD.
No Faye! No Live! Tour 2003–05 (菲比尋常) 8 concerts in Hong Kong (Dec 2003), 8 more in Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Singapore, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Beijing, Taipei and Guangzhou

Total: 16

 (i) "Heart of Glass" (English song originally performed by Blondie); (ii) "The Look of Love" (English song originally performed by Dusty Springfield) One of the concerts in Hong Kong was published on CD, SACD, VCD and DVD. The title sponsor was the clothing company Baleno. "Those Flowers" (Mandarin song originally performed by Pu Shu) was covered in the concerts in China.
Comeback Tour 2010–12 (巡唱) 36 concerts in different cities of Mainland China, 5 in Hong Kong, 3 in Taipei, 1 in Kuala Lumpur and 1 in Singapore

Total: 46

 Not yet released See above

Setlists

The following setlists only include songs published in the concert albums, not all songs performed throughout the tours.

Filmography

Films

Year English Title Original Title Role Notes
1991 Beyond's Diary BEYOND日記之莫欺少年窮 Mary
1994 Chungking Express 重慶森林 Faye Nominated—14th HK Film Awards for Best Actress
Won—Stockholm Film Festival for Best Actress
2000 Okinawa Rendez-vous 戀戰沖繩 Jenny
2002 Chinese Odyssey 2002 天下無雙 Princess Wushuang Nominated—22nd HK Film Awards for Best Actress
Won—HK Film Critics Society Awards for Best Actress
2004 2046 Wang Jingwen
Leaving Me, Loving You 大城小事 Xin Xiaoyue

Television

Year English Title Original Title Role Notes
1991 Traces of the Heart 別姬 Mei-fong TVB movie
1992 File of Justice (Part II) 壹號皇庭II Mandy TVB series
1993 Legendary Ranger 原振俠 Hoi-tong TVB series (20 episodes)
Eternity 千歲情人 Bou Ging-hung TVB series (20 episodes)
1994 Modern Love Story: Three Equals One Love 愛情戀曲：愛情3加1 Wun-gwan one part of TVB series
2001 Love from a Lie ウソコイ Lin Fei Kansai TV series (11 episodes)

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 It has been claimed that before the age of 15 she was called Xia Lin, adopting her mother's surname since her paternal family was persecuted in the Cultural Revolution, but this claim has not been confirmed by her or her family. Some of Wong's former neighbours also could not remember this name.[11]
  2. ↑ In 2009, former CCTV president Yang Weiguang revealed that Faye Wong had been "banned" by the station for some time, after refusing to change the lyrics of a song when the station invited her once before (which she did not participate as a result).[30]
  3. ↑ Other C-pop artists who have held concerts in the Budokan include Agnes Chan (2 times), Teresa Teng (1 time), 12 girls band (1 time), Jay Chou (2 times) and F4 (2 times).

References

  1. ↑ "Pop Stop". Taipei Times. 21 November 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2013. Mando-pop's indomitable diva
  2. 1 2 3 Mitchell, Tony (2006). "Chapter 13: Tian Ci – Faye Wong and English Songs in the Cantopop and Mandopop Repertoire". In Homan, Shane. Access All Eras: Tribute Bands and Global Pop Culture. Open University Press. pp. 215–228. ISBN 0-335-21690-0. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  3. ↑ "Best Selling Canto-Pop Female". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 23 March 2005. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  4. ↑ Sun Xi (5 November 2010). "Return of the Inimitable Faye Wong". Women of China. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  5. ↑ Chen, David (28 January 2011). "Pop Stop". Taipei Times. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  6. ↑ Huang Yan; Blanchard, Ben (26 July 2010). "China's Pop Queen Faye Wong Plans Comeback". Reuters. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  7. ↑ Smith, Jeff; Wylie, Jean (2004). "China's Youth Define "Cool"". The China Business Review (US-China Business Council) 7. Retrieved 23 January 2011."The April 2004 "China Cool Hunt" survey polled 1,200 18- to 22-year-old students from 64 universities in Beijing and Shanghai about the who, what, and why of cool... Asian, not Western, musicians are viewed as cool by this generation. No international pop stars were among students' top 10 favorites. China's Wang Fei was the most popular singer, with 17 percent of the votes."
  8. ↑ 上海電台選最酷藝人, 王菲應份得獎 [Faye Wong fittingly wins Shanghai radio station's 'Coolest Celebrity Award']. Apple Daily (in Chinese). 16 July 1999. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  9. ↑ de Kloet, Jeroen (2005). "Wong Fei". In Edward L., Davis. Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture. Routledge. pp. 659–660. ISBN 0-415-24129-4. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Spaeth, Anthony (1996). "She Did It Her Way". TIME Magazine International Edition 148 (16). Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  11. ↑ Huang Xiaoyang (黄晓阳) (2005). 王菲画传 [A Pictorial Biography of Faye Wong] (in Chinese). China Radio & Television Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5043-4429-8. Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  12. ↑ 介绍王菲. 菲迷府 www.wongfei.org (in Chinese). 25 January 2009. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  13. ↑ Lei Dan (雷丹) (23 August 2004). 王菲--她来自北京 [Faye Wong: She Came From Beijing]. Beijing News (in Chinese). Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 Faye Wong (王菲) (1994). "王菲：我的故事" [Faye Wong: My Story]. Oriental Sunday. 183–191. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  15. ↑ Xiaosheng (小生) (12 October 2004). 天后王菲16岁出道 首张珍藏集重见天日 [Diva Faye Wong Debuted at the Age of 16; First Collection Album To Be Reissued]. Sohu Entertainment (in Chinese). Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  16. ↑ "Sad Refrain as Cantopop 'Starmaker' Tai Dies at 69". The Standard. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  17. 1 2 Wu Qi (吴琪) (2010). 王菲从艺之路盘点 香港不曾改变过她 [Looking Back at Faye Wong's Career: Hong Kong Never Changed Her]. Life Week Magazine (in Chinese) 33. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  18. ↑ Fung, Anthony; Curtin, Michael (2002). "The Anomalies of being Faye (Wong)" (PDF). International Journal of Cultural Studies (SAGE Publications) 5 (3): 263–290. doi:10.1177/1367877902005003005. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  19. ↑ Soundtrack video/CD of 1994–95 concert in Hong Kong
  20. ↑ Faye Wong at Sina.com (Chinese)
  21. ↑ Josh's Faye Wong Biography Page
  22. ↑ This is also stated in the sleeve notes of the 2003 re-issue of her 1985 album, Enchanting Kaler.
  23. 1 2 1998 interview on CNN (Mandarin with English translation), available on YouTube.
  24. 1 2 3 China diva, Faye Wang, changes her Ice Queen image?, Straits Times, 2 December 2003. Cited at China Daily. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  25. 1 2 An encore for Faye Wong, China Daily, 11 December 2009
  26. ↑ Xiaobao Chen, ex-CEO of Universal Records Hong Kong (Chinese)
  27. ↑ The term "Fayenatics" was derived from a popular Internet fan mailing list back in 1997. Some members of the mailing list recorded a double disc album in 1998 called Fayenatics – The Album. In a CNN interview that year, Wong mentioned that she had received a copy of this album.
  28. ↑ Cocteau Twins Atlas.
  29. ↑ Chinese A-list entertainers to perform in CCTV gala, Xinhua, 13 February 2010.
  30. ↑ 杨伟光:解密央视"杨伟光：《相约九八》我们审完后，有一天晚上那英给我打电话，问我为什么要把节目拿下。我就去问了这个事情，他们告诉我过去有一台晚会，想让王菲把歌词改了，王菲不改，然后还不唱了，这次就要惩罚她。我说，这个节目很好，还是该上。我们一定要有胸怀，人家不愿意改也要尊重别人。《相约98》这么好的歌，那英跟王菲一起演出，形式多好，为什么要因为过去的事拿下。我一直主张不要“封杀”人家。"
  31. ↑
  32. ↑ Asia E-Online (dead link), cited at wongfaye.org, 5 January 2000
  33. 1 2 China's Wong Is Big In Japan, Billboard, 22 January 1999. Retrieved 21 March 2012
  34. ↑ Greening, Chris. "Square Enix Album Sales". Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  35. ↑ ゴールドディスク大賞受賞者一覧 [List of Gold Disc Awards] (PDF) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  36. ↑ Square Enix USA site staff. "Nobuo Uematsu's Profile". Retrieved 10 December 2006.
  37. ↑ The changing musical tastes of China, BBC News, 23 August 2005. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  38. ↑ 酒井法子與王菲見面 (Chinese), "Noriko Sakai Meets with Faye Wong Backstage", 13 March 1999. Retrieved 6 December 2006. May 2003/http://replay.web.archive.org/20030509095757/http://www.fayefans.com/fayenews/faye0399/fayenew130399.htm Archived 9 May 2003 at the Wayback Machine.
  39. ↑ Faye Wong's new album Only Love Strangers released (Chinese) Apple Daily, 8 September 1999. Retrieved 6 December 2006. May 2003/http://replay.web.archive.org/20030524134625/http://www.fayefans.com/fayenews/faye0999/fayenew080999b.htm Archived 24 May 2003 at the Wayback Machine.
  40. ↑ Cantonese record for Wong, BBC, 17 May 2002
  41. ↑ For the album Queen's Fellows: Yuming 30th anniversary cover album (Japan Version), 11 December 2002, Toshiba EMI (JP) TOCT-25001, Queen's Fellows. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
  42. ↑ Pop diva Faye Wong performs in Kuala Lumpur, China Daily, 23 April 2004. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  43. ↑ Asia pop stars sing Golden Melody China Daily, 9 May 2004. Retrieved 28 March 2007.
  44. ↑ Looking at the 15th GMA Awards through Faye Wong: right to be "rude" (Chinese), TOM Online, 9 May 2004. Retrieved 28 March 2007.
  45. ↑ "Faye Wong Longs for Private Life, Rumors of Retirement Loom". Shenzhen Daily. 2005-03-09. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  46. ↑ 王菲无限期休息, Sina (in Chinese) (CN), May 26, 2005
  47. ↑ "Faye Wong Tipped to Return", China (CN), May 4, 2008.
  48. ↑ 王菲復出唱奧運　全球見證, Sina (in Chinese) (HK).
  49. ↑ 63％网友望王菲唱奥运主题歌 刘欢宋祖英遭冷落 (in Chinese), 163.
  50. ↑ "Faye Wong Returns Late at Night; Sings Wishing We Last Forever", United Daily News (in Chinese), 19 May 2008, retrieved 24 May 2008.
  51. ↑ "Faye Wong Sings at Buddhist Event". The Buddhist Channel. 2009-05-11. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  52. ↑ "Faye Wong's comeback ad released". China Daily (CRI English). 2009-05-14. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  53. ↑ HMV Best Selling Asian Pop Albums (JPEG), Facebook, 2009.
  54. ↑ 卓越亞馬遜 2010年音樂頻道 年度銷售總排行 (in Chinese), CN: Amazon
  55. ↑ Return of the Diva
  56. ↑ Faye Wong, Tigers highlight CCTV Spring Festival gala, CRI, 16 February 2010
  57. ↑ Faye Wong kicks off comeback concert in Beijing (illustrated), sina.com, 2010-10-30. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  58. ↑ Faye Wong turns on the charm, Asia News Network, 2010-08-04. Retrieved 7 January 2011
  59. ↑ "Faye Wong Concert Crashes Taiwan Ticket System". Agence France-Presse. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  60. ↑ "Faye Wong returns to Hong Kong". Asia Pacific Arts. 03/08/2011. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  61. ↑ Faye Wong adds 4 More Cities to her Comeback Tour
  62. ↑ Pop diva Faye Wong "to quit singing for love." China Daily, 28 May 2005. Retrieved 30 October 2006.
  63. ↑ 王菲：结婚五年很踏实很安逸
  64. ↑ Celebrity power couple Faye Wong, Li Yapeng divorce after eight years of marriage South China Morning Post, 13 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  65. ↑ 港媒：經紀人否認王菲懷孕
  66. ↑ 傳懷謝霆鋒骨肉　王菲經紀人「沒有小孩」
  67. ↑ Li Yapeng, Blog (Chinese). 12 August 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2006. Referred to in English language report of second operation, Sina.com, 11 April 2007.
  68. ↑ Smileangel Foundation established, to begin operation on the 21st (Chinese). Sina Entertainment, 8 November 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2006.
  69. ↑ "Smileangel Foundation holds Christmas charity ball; over 12 million yuan raised to date" (in Chinese). Chinese Red Cross. 27 December 2006. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2010. (with pictures). Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  70. ↑ Smileangel Foundation Fundraising Ball Raised 8.447 Million (Chinese) (with pictures). Sina Entertainment, 26 December 2006. Retrieved 30 December 2006.
  71. ↑ Faye Wong Records for Smileangel Banquet (Chinese) (with video). Tom.com, 10 December 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2007.
  72. ↑ "Smile Angel" Flies to Tibet (with photos). chinatibetnews.com, 28 November 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  73. ↑ Faye Wong Shines at the Smileangel Foundation Fundraising Ball, Raises 20.29 Million (Chinese) (with pictures). China News, 9 December 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
  74. ↑ Faye Wong's Smiling Angel
  75. ↑ 发起"新家庭"助养计划 李亚鹏：还孩子一个家
  76. ↑ (Japanese) 李亜鵬、大船渡児童に義援金1500万円
  77. ↑ Requirement for more charity hospitals
  78. ↑ 中国首家儿童慈善医院“北京嫣然天使儿童医院”成立
  79. ↑ China's First 'Soul Rich List' Published
  80. ↑ (Chinese) “心灵富豪” 袁隆平当首富
  81. ↑ (Chinese) 美即2013中国慈善名人榜
  82. ↑ (Chinese)李亞鵬王菲夫婦登中國慈善名人榜榜首
  83. ↑ 貧菲女王馮通社 戴上「圍脖」回人間
  84. ↑ Prelude for Faye Wong Beijing solo concert, CRIENGLISH.com, 8 August 2004. "... the Hong Kong star's eclectic outfits..."
  85. 1 2 實況更勝精選，「黃金組合」終極登場 (in Chinese). EMI Taiwan. 5 January 2000. Archived from the original on 26 January 2002. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  86. ↑ Groenewegen, Jeroen (2009). "Faye Wong: Stardom in Chinese Popular Music". International Journal of Chinese Culture and Management (Inderscience Enterprises) 2 (3): 248–261. doi:10.1504/IJCCM.2009.029405.
  87. ↑ (Chinese) 姚谦：看到王菲倒夜壶 来灵感创作出《我愿意》
  88. ↑ Local endorsers key in China
  89. ↑ 新中国60年最有影响力文化人物网络评选
  90. ↑ The Legend Continues
  91. ↑ Zhao Ziyun (赵子云) (12 November 2010). 去贫去天籁 [Go "pin", go "voice of heaven"] (PDF). The Beijing News (新京报) (in Chinese). Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  92. ↑ (Chinese) 菲比寻常酒吧 Feibixunchang Bar - 新浪微博 Sina Microblog
  93. ↑ Wang Jin (王瑾) (11 April 2013). 菲迷出列 六二班集合！ [Fayenatics come forward, 6-2 class unite!]. New Life (新生活) (in Chinese). Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  94. ↑ (Chinese) 六二班咖啡馆 62 Café - 新浪微博 Sina Microblog
  95. ↑ (Chinese) 等待王菲(Waiting for Faye Wong)
  96. ↑ The song is from their 1996 collection Split 7" with Discount. The disc cover is a photo of Wong, see .
  97. ↑ The song is from their 1998 album The Boring Days Are Over Now.
  98. ↑ The song is from their 2004 album the ok thing to do on sunday afternoon is to toddle in the zoo (在動物園散步才是正經事).
  99. ↑ The song is from their 2005 album A Logic (A逻辑).
  100. ↑ I love Faye Wong on Amazon UK
  101. ↑ The song, "Namida de dekita amanogawa" (涙でできた天の川), is included as "Liulei de yinhe" (流淚的銀河) in composer Tats Lau's 1996 album Numb (麻木) which also included Wong's 1995 original.
  102. ↑ The song, "Gieogui sup" (기억의 숲), is from his 2005 album The Lotus.
  103. ↑ Vietnamese covers of the song include SIM Band's "Cánh Đồng Mùa Đông", Quỳnh Nga's "Níu Giữ Giấc Mơ", and Phan Hà Anh's "Đồng Cỏ May".
  104. ↑ The song is included as "Tenkū" or "Tiankong" (天空) in her 1997 album Thousands of Covers Disc. 1.
  105. ↑ The song is included as a bonus track in many Asian editions of her 2005 album Lost in a Moment. A music video is also available on DVD.
  106. ↑ The song is included as a bonus track in many Asian editions of her 2011 album Virtue.
  107. ↑ Zhang Yuan: Faye Wong Casts Light on 'Beijing Flickers'
  108. ↑ Out of the ether
  109. ↑ Blue Light, The (2004): Full transcript in English language
  110. ↑ China publishes first moon picture
  111. ↑ Marlin's English version, "Still Here", is included as a bonus track in many Asian editions of her 2005 album Lost in a Moment. A music video is also available on DVD. JAYWALK's Japanese version, "Ikanaide" (いかないで), is included in their 2002 album Asia. Seomoon Tak's Korean version, "Geudaemyeon geudae hanamyeon" (그대면 그대 하나면), is included in her 2004 album Now Here Vol. 4 (서문탁 4집).

External links

Awards and achievements
Top Chinese Music Chart Awards
Preceded by
Stefanie Sun		 Best Female Artist, Hong Kong & Taiwan
2004 		Succeeded by
Stefanie Sun
Golden Melody Awards
Preceded by
Karen Mok		 Best Female Artist
2004 		Succeeded by
Stefanie Sun
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