A year or so ago, a Chinese exchange student from Lingnan University who was spending a semester at Belmont University turned me on to Chinese singer Faye Wong. I've since become a fan of her music and her uniquely pop-oriented, but also somewhat alternative influenced style.
In addition to being one of China's most popular singers, Faye Wong has had some memorable acting roles in Chinese films, one of the most notable being Chungking Express (重庆森林), produced by Wong Kar-wai (王家衛). The film consists of two separate stories, both about a Hong Kong cop's relationship with a odd, mysterious woman. The second story features Faye with male co-star Tony Leung. As with most of Wong Kar-wai's films, the story is vague, but the visual imagery and characters are often fascinating. The film also has a very unique soundtrack, including repeated snippets of the song California Dreamin' by The Mamas and the Papas and Faye Wong's Cantonese cover version of the song Dreams (originally by The Cranberries) which is played during the ending credits.
Music video of Faye Wong's version of Dreams
Faye has been mostly out of the limelight since around 2003, but recently recorded the theme song for the Chinese film Confucius, about the famous Chinese philosopher. The song entitled You Lan Cao is based on an ancient Tang Dynasty poem about orchids which Confucius was apparently quite fond of. I found the following translation of the lyrics:
Alone stands the orchid, aroma shimmering around;
Rejoiced by all else, above and beyond;
Of sorrow shall it be, unnoticed all along?
Days and years, wondering around like a vagabond,
Wisdom the Old King seeks, hence wise and strong
May the Lord see mine as the one
Blossom my wisdom for my lord, like the orchid under the cold,
Long last my lawful words, till generation of prosperity unfold.
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