User:FrostFairBlade/sandbox/Anita Mui
Anita Mui Yim-fong (Chinese: 梅艷芳; 10 October 1963 – 30 December 2003) was a Hong Kong singer and actress who made major contributions to the Cantopop music scene and received numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout her career, and is regarded as a Cantopop diva. She was dubbed as the "daughter of Hong Kong" and is considered one of the most iconic Cantopop singers.
Mui once held a sold-out concert in Hammersmith, London, England, where she was dubbed the "Madonna of the East" (東方麥當娜), which brought her to further international fame. That title stayed with her throughout her career, in both Eastern and Western media.
In the 1980s, the gangtai style of music was revolutionised by Mui's wild dancing and on-stage femininity. She was famed for her outrageous costumes and high-powered performances in tandem with contralto vocals, which are rare in female artists.
Her fan base reached far beyond Hong Kong into many parts of Asia, including Taiwan, mainland China, Singapore, Korea and Malaysia, and other countries, as well. In the Hong Kong entertainment industry, where stars often rise and fall quickly, Mui consistently remained in the spotlight for 21 years (1982–2003). Her career came to an abrupt end in 2003 when she announced she had cervical cancer. She died later that year at the age of 40. It was then understood that she had developed the disease due to a familial genetic disposition as her sister Ann had died of the same condition in 2000 at age 40 as well.
Early life
[edit]- Was born on 10 October 1963[1]
- Mui's father died when she was five years old[1]
- Began to sing on-stage when she was four years old[2]
- Her career led her to be ostracised at school due to child performers being viewed as street children[2]
- Ended up quitting school at age 13[2]
Music career
[edit]- When she was 18, she won the inaugural New Talent Singing Awards with a rendition of Paula Tsui's "The Season of Wind" (Chinese: 風的季節)[2]
- Became known in Hong Kong as the singer of the opening Cantonese theme to the Dr. Slump anime[2]
- Mui's song, "The Tears Flow Like Water" (1984) became a hit[2]
- Recorded in 1985, "Bad Girl" (Chinese: 壞女孩; Jyutping: waai6 neoi5 haai4) was a cover of Sheena Easton's "Strut" that became one of Mui's signature songs[3]: 216
- This rendition featured Chinese lyrics, written by Richard Lam, that were unrelated to Easton's original version
- In 1987, Mui performed at the Hong Kong Coliseum for 28 consecutive concerts, becoming the youngest artist to perform solo at the venue[2]
Acting career
[edit]Illness and death
[edit]- Next Magazine reported that she had cervical cancer, referencing unnamed sources[4]
- On 5 September 2004, Mui confirmed that she had cervical cancer[5]
- Bothered by the constant paparazzi, she made a public plea to the media to give her privacy while she fought the disease[6]
- After suffering lung complications caused by cervical cancer, Mui died at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital at 2:50 am[7]
- Her death was announced by Eddie Lau[8]
Artistry
[edit]Influences
[edit]Musical style
[edit]Voice and timbre
[edit]- Described by Richard Corliss in Time as having a "sultry alto" voice[9]
Stage performances and videos
[edit]- Capital Artists marketed her as the "ever-changing Anita Mui" (Chinese: 百變梅艷芳) to highlight the large variety of costume and image changes in her live performances[10][11]: 247
Public image
[edit]- Mui had a distinctive face that caused her to be labeled by her critics as the "ugly queen of pop"[1][9][12]
- Throughout her life, Mui's personal life was a constant target of tabloid speculation[2][13]
- She faced accusations of drug addiction, plastic surgery, being suicidal, affairs with numerous actors, and was linked to the death of a Triad member[2]
- After winning five of the top 10 music awards, Mui announced that she would not be accepting any more awards in order to give others a chance[2]
Personal life
[edit]Other activities
[edit]Philanthropy
[edit]- Set up college funds for her nieces and nephews, a stipend for her mother, and the rest of her earnings remained in a trust that would regularly donate to charity[2]
- Set up a charity to help underprivileged children
- Also set up a nursing home in San Francisco; its mayor declared April 18 as Anita Mui Day in 1982[1]
- Helped organize a special concert in 2003 to help raise funds for families affected by the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong[1]
Politics
[edit]Discography
[edit]Filmography
[edit]Tours
[edit]See also
[edit]Footnotes
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Anita Mui". The Telegraph. 2004-01-22. Archived from the original on 2022-08-23. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cam, Lisa (2019-10-10). "Canto-pop queen Anita Mui: remembering the 'Madonna of Asia'". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 2022-08-23. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ Mitchell, Tony (2006). "Tian ci—Faye Wong and English songs in the Cantopop and Mandapop repertoire". In Homan, Shane (ed.). Access All Eras: Tribute Bands and Global Pop Culture. Berkshire, England: Open University Press. ISBN 978-0-335-21690-1. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ Woodworth, Max, ed. (2003-09-05). "Pop Stop". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ "Anita Mui, 40, Asian Pop Diva and Actress". The New York Times. Agence France-Presse. 2004-01-06. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ Law, Niki (2003-09-06). "Let me fight cancer in peace: Anita Mui". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ "Hong Kong Diva Anita Mui Dies". Billboard. 2003-12-30. Archived from the original on 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Lo, Alex (2003-12-31). "Anita's last wish: don't cry for me, let me go in peace". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ a b Corliss, Richard (2004-01-04). "Farewell to Hong Kong's Sour Beauty". Time. Archived from the original on 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Tsui, Enid (2017-03-20). "Anita Mui to Roman Tam: a Hong Kong pop culture celebration". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
- ^ Witzleben, J. Lawrence (May 1999). "Cantopop and Mandopop in Pre-Postcolonial Hong Kong: Identity Negotiation in the Performances of Anita Mui Yim-Fong". Popular Music. 18 (2). JSTOR 853604 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Wong, Martin (2004-01-16). "Farewell, Anita Mui; Satyajit Ray restored; and Japanese punkers shove rock back at America". SFGate. Archived from the original on 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Chung, Winnie (1999-04-26). "The 100 faces of a calmer Anita Mui". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 2023-12-30. Retrieved 2023-12-30.