Anita Mui

Anita Mui

Mui performing 孤身走我路 (Walk My Lonely Path of My Life) at "Anita Classic Moment Live 2003" at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hong Kong.
Chinese name 梅艷芳 (Traditional)
Chinese name 梅艳芳 (Simplified)
Pinyin Méi Yànfāng (Mandarin)
Jyutping mui4 jim6 fong1 (Cantonese)
Ancestry Hepu, Guangxi
Origin Hong Kong
Born 10 October 1963(1963-10-10)[2]
Hong Kong[3]
Died 30 December 2003(2003-12-30) (aged 40)[1]
Hong Kong
Resting place Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Other name(s) 阿梅 (Ah Mui)
梅姐 (Mui Je; lit. Big Sister Mui)
何加男 (Karen Ho)
Occupation Singer, actress
Genre(s) Cantopop
Label(s) Capital Artists (1982-2002)
Music Nation Group (2002-2004)
Years active 1982-1992
1994-2003
Partner(s) Michael Miu
Masahiko Kondō
Vincent Zhao
Parents Tam Mei-kam (mother)
Influenced Grasshopper (band), Andy Hui, Denise Ho, Patrick Tam, Edmond Leung, Eason Chan, William So

Anita Mui Yim-fong (10 October 1963 - 30 December 2003) was a popular Hong Kong singer and actress. She was also the younger sister of Hong Kong singer, Ann Mui. During her prime years she made major contributions to the cantopop music scene, while receiving numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout most of her career, and was generally regarded as a cantopop diva.[1] Once she held a sell-out concert at Hammersmith, London, England, where she was dubbed the "Madonna of Asia".[3] That title has stayed with her throughout her career, and has been used as a comparison for both Eastern and Western media.[4][5][6]

In the 1980s the gangtai style of music was revolutionized by her wild dancing and femininity on stage.[7] She was famous for having outrageous costumes and also high powered performances.[3] Her fanbase reached far beyond Hong Kong, and into many parts of Asia including Taiwan, Mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia as well as the overseas market. In the Hong Kong entertainment industry where stars often come and go, Mui was able to remain a major star in the spotlight for 20 years. Her career only came to a stop in 2003 when she was suddenly diagnosed with cervical cancer, dying at the early age of 40.[1][5] Even so, her music and film legacy continues to live on. Her success reached well beyond that of the entertainment circle with humanitarian work, donations and charities that played a major role in helping society even well into the present day.

Contents

Career

Early years

Mui experienced many hardships and difficulties in her childhood. She was the youngest daughter of a family with five children.[5] Her father died when she was only five years old, thus Mui and her siblings were raised in a single parent family. At an early age she had to help provide for her siblings, dropping out of school to do so. Other hardships follow in her family as her mother ran a bar, which had also been burnt down.[3] To make a living, Anita herself, first entered show business at the age of five.[4][8] She performed Chinese operas and pop songs in theatres and the streets.[4][8] Both Anita and her older sister Ann Mui basically performed in any night club that offered them a chance to make a living.[3]

Music

In 1982 the first New Talent Singing Awards was held. Mui got a big break by winning the contest with the song "The Windy Season" (風的季節), beating over 3,000 contestants.[8][9] Despite her title as "new talent" at that time, she had already been a singer for more than 10 years from street and club performances during her childhood.[10]

As an award to winning the New Talent contest at the time, Mui's first album was released with the local record company Capital Artists.[10] Her debut drew a lukewarm response from the audience. But subsequent albums fared much better, as she developed her personal style and image. In 1983 and 1984, she won the RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs award back to back.[11] [12] Her winning streak continued as she won another major award in 1985, her first top 10 Jade Solid Gold Best Female Singer award.[13] For the next four years, she won the award consecutively every year until 1989.[14][15][16][17]

Mui released 50 albums in total.[18] Her best selling album was the 1985 "Bad Girl" (壞女孩), which sold over 400,000 copies (platinum 8x over by Hong Kong's standards).[10] In her career she sold 10 million albums.[4][8] It should be noted that the population of Hong Kong in the 1980s was only about 5 million.

In terms of live performances, her first concert was held in 1985 lasting 15 nights. Beginning in late 1987, a series of 28 consecutive concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum were held through early 1988. This established a record at the time and dubbed Mui the title of "Ever Changing Anita Mui" (百變梅艷芳), which had become her trademark.[19] Her popularity was also gaining prominence outside of Hong Kong. As she was invited to sing at the 1988 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Seoul, Korea on the same stage with Janet Jackson.[20] She performed in 300 concerts in her career.[4][8]

In 1990, Mui announced that she would put an end to receiving music awards to give a chance to newcomers. She held farewell concerts for 33 consecutive nights before retiring from the stage. At the age of 28 she stepped down from the industry, only to return from retirement in 1994.[21] Anita mentored several Hong Kong newcomer singers who have since become successful, most notably Andy Hui, Denise Ho, Edmond Leung and the band Grasshopper.[10] As a lifetime achievement award in music, Mui was awarded the RTHK Golden Needle Award in 1998.[22]

Mui's star on the Avenue of Stars

Awards

Concert Tours/Specials

Year Native name English Name Released Formats
1985–1986 梅艷芳盡顯光華演唱會 Anita Mui in Concert '85 television broadcast
1987–1988 百變梅艷芳再展光華演唱會 Anita Mui in Concert 87-88 LD/CD/VHS
1990 百變梅艷芳夏日耀光華演唱會 Anita Mui in Concert '90 LD/CD
1991–1992 百變梅艷芳告別舞台演唱會 Anita Mui Final Concert VHS (limited edition)/DVD/VCD
1994 情歸何處II梅艷芳感激歌迷演唱會 Anita Mui Appreciating the Fans Concert TV broadcast only
1995 梅艷芳一個美麗的回嚮演唱會 Anita Mui in Concert '95 LD/CD/VCD
1999 百變梅艷芳演唱會1999 / 百變梅艷芳演唱會1999延續篇 Anita Mui in Concert 1999 / Anita Mui in Concert 1999 Part 2 Not released
2001 梅艷芳 Mui Music Show Anita Mui Mui Music Show Radio / TV broadcast only
2002 梅艷芳極夢幻演唱會 Anita Mui Fantasy Gig 2002 CD/DVD/VCD
2003 梅艷芳經典金曲演唱會 Anita Classic Moment Live CD/DVD/VCD

Acting

Mui was also well-known as an actress across the Asian region. As she starred in more than 40 movies over a 20 year period.[23] Her films were mainly of the action-thriller and kung fu variety, but she had also taken comedic and dramatic roles. Her first acting award as a supporting actress was won at the Hong Kong Film Awards for the movie Fate in 1984. Three years later in 1987, the film Rouge won her Best Actress at Golden Horse Award.[5] She won the award again in 1989 at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

In 1993, she starred in The Heroic Trio with Michelle Yeoh and Maggie Cheung, and it proved to be one of her most popular action films. In 1995, she found some international recognition by starring opposite Jackie Chan in Rumble in the Bronx.[3]

Later on in 1997, she also won another best supporting actress at Hong Kong Film Award with the movie Eighteen Springs. In 2002, she won Best actress at Changchun Film Festival Golden Deer Awards for Best Actress with her performance in July Rhapsody.[24] Her ability to successfully play a wide range of roles from comedy to tragedy, allowed her to take part in many lead roles.

Anita was originally cast for Zhang Yimou's 2004 movie House of Flying Daggers. She resigned from her role in the movie only two weeks before her death. Zhang had held her parts of filming to the last due to her poor health.[25] Out of respect for Mui, Zhang did not cast another actress in the role and the character was removed from the screenplay. She received a dedication during the closing credits.[25]

Year # Title Chinese name Role Leading man Director
1983 1 The Sensational Pair 叔侄．縮窒 - - -
2 Mad Mad 83 瘋狂83 - - Yuen Chor
3 Let's Make Laugh 表錯七日情 Fong - Alfred Cheung
1984 4 Behind the Yellow Line 緣份 Anita Leslie Cheung Taylor Wong
1985 5 The Musical Singer 歌舞昇平 Jannie Fong Russell Wong Dennis Yu
6 Lucky Diamond 祝您好運 - - Yuen Cheung-Yan
7 Young Cops 青春差館 - Tony Leung Chiu-Wai -
1986 8 Why, Why, Tell Me Why? 壞女孩 - Anthony Chan -
9 Happy Din Don 歡樂叮噹 Singer in Club - -
10 Last Song in Paris 偶然 Anita Chou Leslie Cheung Yuen Chor
11 100 Ways To Murder Your Wife 殺妻二人組 Fang Kenny Bee Kenny Bee
Chow Yun-fat
12 Mr. Boo VII: Chocolate Inspector 神探朱古力 Chiao-Chiao Michael Hui Philip Chan
1987 13 Scared Stiff 小生夢驚魂 Miss Mui Miu Kiu Wai Chia Yung Liu
14 Happy Bigamist 一屋兩妻 Park Anthony Chan Anthony Chan
Kenny Bee
15 Troubling Couples 開心勿語 Mui Tai-Heung Eric Tsang Eric Tsang
1988 16 Rouge 胭脂扣 Fleur Leslie Cheung Stanley Kwan
17 One Husband too Many 一妻兩夫 Park Anthony Chan Anthony Chan
Kenny Bee
18 The Greatest Lover 公子多情 Anita Chow Yun-fat Clarence Fok Yiu-leung
19 Three Wishes 黑心鬼 Mui Tsai-Fa, Mui Lan-Fa Anthony Chan Billy Chan
1989 20 Mr. Canton and Lady Rose 奇蹟 Luming Yang Jackie Chan Jackie Chan
21 A Better Tomorrow 3: Love & Death in Saigon 英雄本色3:夕陽之歌 Chow Ying Kit Chow Yun-fat Tsui Hark
Tony Leung Ka Fai
1990 22 The Fortune Code 富貴兵團 Jone Sammo Hung Kent Cheng
Andy Lau
23 Kawashima Yoshiko 川島芳子 Kawashima Yoshiko Andy Lau Eddie Ling-Ching Fong
24 Shanghai Shanghai 亂世兒女 Mary Sung Chia Pi Biao Yuen Teddy Robin Kwan
Sammo Hung
George Lam
1991 25 The Top Bet 賭霸 - Ng Man Tat Corey Yuen
Jeffrey Lau
26 Au Revoir, Mon Amour 何日君再來 Mui Yee Tony Leung Ka Fai Tony Au
Kenneth Tsang
27 The Banquet 豪門夜宴 Herself Eric Tsang Alfred Cheung
Joe Cheung
Clifton Ko
Tsui Hark
28 Saviour of the Soul 91神鵰俠侶 Yiu May-kwan Andy Lau David Lai
Corey Yuen
1992 29 Justice, My Foot 審死官 Madam Sung Stephen Chow Johnnie To
30 Moon Warriors 戰神傳說 Yuet Andy Lau Sammo Hung
1993 31 Fight Back to School III 逃學威龍3之龍過雞年 Judy Tong Wong Stephen Chow Wong Jing
32 The Heroic Trio 東方三俠 Tung/Wonder Woman/Shadow Fox - Johnnie To
33 Mad Monk 濟公 Goddess of Mercy Stephen Chow Johnnie To
34 The Magic Crane 新仙鶴神針 Pak Wan-Fai Tony Leung Chiu-Wai Benny Chan
35 Executioners 現代豪俠傳 Tung/Wonder Woman/Dorothy - Ching Siu-Tung
Johnnie To
1994 36 Drunken Master II 醉拳2 Wong Fei-Hung's Step-Mother Jackie Chan Lau Kar-Leung
1995 37 Rumble in the Bronx 紅番區 Elaine Jackie Chan Stanley Tong
38 My Father Is a Hero 給爸爸的信 Inspector Fong Jet Li Corey Yuen
1996 39 Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars 1996 運財智叻星 Herself Natalis Chan Wong Jing
40 Who's the Woman, Who's the Man 金枝玉葉2 Fan Fan Leslie Cheung Peter Chan
1997 41 Eighteen Springs 半生緣 Gu Manlu - Ann Hui
2001 42 Wu Yen 鍾無艷 Emperor Qi - Wai Ka-Fai
Great Great Great Great Great Ancestor Johnnie To
43 Midnight Fly 慌心假期 Michelle - Cheung Chi-Leung Cheung
44 Let's Sing Along 男歌女唱 Chu Wai Tak Dayo Wong Matt Chow
45 Dance of a Dream 愛君如夢 Tina Cheung Andy Lau Andrew Lau
2002 46 July Rhapsody 男人四十 Lam Man-Ching Jacky Cheung Ann Hui
48 The Business of Strangers - Dottie - Patrick Stettner

Anita Classic Moment Live, Death and legacy

In early September 2003, Mui made the public announcement that she had cervical cancer to the media.[1][8] It was widely believed that she received treatment because she wanted to preserve the possibility to conceive. Knowing that she would not make it past the illness, she had a final series of shows entitled the "Anita Classic Moment Live Concert". The series consisted of eight shows held at the Hong Kong Coliseum in 2003. It was her last concert series before her death.[10] Musical guests included Jacky Cheung, Sandy Lam, David Tao, Eason Chan, Andy Hui, Alan Tam, Hacken Lee and Kelly Chen.[26] Her final symbolic act was to "marry the stage", which was accompanied by her hit "Sunset Melody" (夕陽之歌) as she exited the stage for the final time. Her very last song performed on stage was "Cherish When We Meet Again" (珍惜再會時), a rendition of The Manhattans' "Let's Just Kiss And Say Goodbye". Mui eventually lost her battle to cervical cancer and died of respiratory complications leading to a lung failure at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on 30 December 2003 at 02:50 (HK local time).[1][5][6] She was 40 years old.[8] Thousands of fans turned out for her funeral in North Point in January 2004.[4][8]

Throughout her career, the tabloid magazines were unforgiving. Rumors never ceased to plague Mui, who was accused of being addicted to drugs, undergoing plastic surgeries, being suicidal, being linked to the death of a triad leader.[10] Rumors of affairs with leading actors were also known.[3]

In 2007 a TV series was produced in China titled "Anita Mui Fei" (梅艷芳菲) to tell the many dramas in her life. The 42 episode series was broadcast by China Education Television. Fellow actors Andy Lau and Leslie Cheung were also portrayed in the series, though some of the sensitive subjects such as her suffering of cancer, Leslie's suicide and her mother's real estate dilemma were avoided.[27] Actress Alice Chan (陳煒) plays the role of Mui in the series.[28]

On October 11, 2008 a show on TVB was dedicated to her titled "Our Anita Mui" (我們的梅艷芳). Many off-stage fans and personnel who worked with her got a chance to talk about their personal experiences with Mui. Singers who participated in the show included Andy Hui, Edmond Leung and Stephanie Cheng.[29][30]

Her ashes are interred at the Po Lin Monastery's mausoleum on Lantau Island.

Community work

Mui was actively involved in charitable projects throughout her career. The Tibetan red-crown Shamar Rinpoche once said "She had a true heart. She was an unconventional woman and brought happiness to lots of people during her life."[4][8] Her establishment of a nursing home in San Francisco, prompted the mayor of the city in 1992 to name April 18 as "Anita Mui Day".[3] In 1993, she established the "Anita Mui True Heart Charity Foundation" (梅艷芳四海一心基金會). That same year, she was also one of the founders of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild.[10][31] October 23, 1993 was also announced to be "Anita Mui Day" in Toronto, Canada.[32]

One of the care centres established by Mui

During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, she initiated a fund raising concert titled the 1:99 Concert to raise money for SARS-affected families.[5] She was also awarded the "Fighting Against SARS Award" from RTHK and Ming pao newspaper.[31]

In 2003, she wrote and published the fundraising book The Heart of the Modern Woman (現代女人心). Profits from the book went to the "Children's Cancer Foundation".[6]

On September 23, 2004, the "Anita Mui True Heart Digital Multimedia Studio" was opened at The University of Hong Kong. It included state of the art equipment for digital audio and video editing.[33] In Causeway Bay, an Anita-mui themed cafe called "Happiness Moon" (囍月) is also dedicated to her legacy.[34]

Incidents

Citizenship

Mui moved to Canada in the 1990s where she lived for two years and was granted landed immigrant status. However, her constant absence from Canada resulted in her status being revoked. She never gained Canadian citizenship.

Censorships

In 1995 Mui performed the song "Bad Girl" (壞女孩) in Guangzhou, China where the song was banned at the time.[7][35] It was considered wild and pornographic in nature.[7] Government authorities were infuriated when she chose to sing the song on the last day of her concert.[35]

Contested will

In 2008, the mother of Mui, Tam Mei-kam, aged 84, contested the will. Anita Mui's estate was estimated to be worth HK$100 million. Tam was a beneficiary under the will, to the sum of HK$70,000 per month, for life. Tam argued that Anita was mentally unfit when she executed her will in 2003, weeks before her death from cancer. The High Court ruled that Mui was of sound mind when she signed the will, and that Mui simply did not trust her mother on managing money.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Standard HK. ""Anita Mui's Mom loses court fight over $100m estate", The Standard, Retrieved on 2008-06-14.
  2. ↑ (Chinese) Sina.hk. "Sina.hk." 梅艷芳 focus. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 UK telegraph. "UK telegraph." Anita Mui. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Lexisnexis. "Lexisnexis." Star with a 'true heart' brought happiness to thousands of fans. Retrieved on 2008-06-23.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 People Daily. "People Daily." The legend of Anita Mui: Shining star's lonely life. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Thestar. "Thestar." Anita Mui, 40: Singer called Chinese Madonna. Retrieved on 2008-06-19.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Baranovitch, Nimrod. China's New Voices. University of California press. ISBN 0520234502. pg 164.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 SCMP. "SCMP." Star with a 'true heart' brought happiness to thousands of fans. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  9. ↑ Broughton, Simon. Ellingham, Mark. Trillo, Richard. 2000 World Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides Publishing Company. ISBN 1858286360.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 HKVPradio. "HKPVradio." Anita Mui: Number One and Only . Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  11. ↑ RTHK. "RTHK." RTHK award 1983. Retrieved on 2008-07-14.
  12. ↑ RTHK. "RTHK." RTHK award 1984. Retrieved on 2008-07-14.
  13. ↑ TVB. "TVB." Top ten songs award 1985, Tvcity.tvb.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  14. ↑ TVB. "TVB." Top ten songs award 1986, Tvcity.tvb.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  15. ↑ TVB. "TVB." Top ten songs award 1987, Tvcity.tvb.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  16. ↑ TVB. "TVB." Top ten songs award 1988, Tvcity.tvb.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  17. ↑ TVB. "TVB." Top ten songs award 1989, Tvcity.tvb.com. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
  18. ↑ SCMP. "SCMP." Thousands say farewell to a superstar. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  19. ↑ CNN. "CNN." Cancer claims Canto-pop diva Mui. Retrieved on 2008-06-19.
  20. ↑ (Chinese) Anitamuinet.com "Anitamuinet." 封面女郎 1988 section. Retrieved on 2008-06-21.
  21. ↑ SCMP. "SCMP." Actresses hit wrong note in a year of off-key performances. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  22. ↑ (Chinese) RTHK. "RTHK." 歷年十大中文金曲頒獎音樂會. Retrieved on 2008-06-27.
  23. ↑ Chinadaily. "Chinadaily." HK pop diva Anita Mui dies of cancer. Retrieved on 2008-07-14
  24. ↑ Hanban.edu. "Hanban.edu." Film Festival Closes in Northeast China. Retrieved on 2008-06-19.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Lovehkfilm.com. "Lovehkfilm.com." House of Flying dagger review. Retrieved on 2008-06-19.
  26. ↑ Yesasia.com. "Yesasia.com." Anita Classic Moment Live Karaoke (DVD) . Retrieved on 2008-06-23.
  27. ↑ (Chinese) Sina. "Sina entertainment." 梅艳芳传记北京悄然开播 负面内容一概不提. Retrieved on 2008-07-04.
  28. ↑ (Chinese) Xinhuanet. "Xinhuanet." 梅艷芳菲. Retrieved on 2008-07-04.
  29. ↑ Paper.wenweipo. "Wenweipo.com." 《我們的梅艷芳》特輯 下月11日播出. Retrieved on 2008-11-01.
  30. ↑ Sina.com. "Sina.com." 許志安梁漢文等出席梅艷芳紀念特輯錄制活動. Retrieved on 2008-11-01.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 HKpag. "Hong Kong performing artistes guild." Profile. Retrieved on 2008-06-23.
  32. ↑ TVB. Our Anita Mui (我們的梅艷芳).
  33. ↑ Hong Kong university. "Hong Kong university." A Star's Legacy to HKU Students. Retrieved on 2008-06-23.
  34. ↑ (Chinese) Kwongwah e-newspaper. "Kwongwah e-newspaper." 香江懷舊情. Retrieved on 2008-06-23.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Straitstimes. "Straitstimes, orig date May 29, 2000. Archived by Asiaone.com." Did China over-react with A-mei ban?. Retrieved on 2008-07-06.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
None		 Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
1985
for Behind the Yellow Line		 Succeeded by
Deannie Yip
for My Name Ain't Suzie
Preceded by
Sylvia Chang		 Golden Horse Awards for Best Actress
1987
for Rouge		 Succeeded by
Carol Cheng
Preceded by
Josephine Siao
for The Wrong Couples		 Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
1989
for Rouge		 Succeeded by
Maggie Cheung
for A Fishy Story
Preceded by
Shu Qi
for Viva Erotica		 Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
1998
for Eighteen Springs		 Succeeded by
Shu Qi
for Portland Street Blues
Preceded by
Alan Tam		 Golden Needle Award
1998		 Succeeded by
Leslie Cheung
Preceded by
Cho Tat Wah, Shek Kin		 Professional Spirit Award
2004		 Succeeded by
Jackie Chan, Yu Mo Wan
Golden Horse Award for Best Actress (1981-2000)

Sylvia Chang (1981) · Ping Wong (1982) · Xiao Fun Lu (1983) · Huei San Yang (1984) · Huei San Yang (1985) · Sylvia Chang (1986) · Anita Mui (1987) · Carol Cheng (1988) · Maggie Cheung (1989) · Brigitte Lin (1990) · Maggie Cheung (1991) · Lindzay Chan (1992) · Carrie Ng (1993) · Joan Chen (1994) · Josephine Siao (1995) · Josephine Siao (1996) · Maggie Cheung (1997) · Li Xiaolu (1998) · Loletta Lee (1999) · Maggie Cheung (2000)

 · (1981–2000) ·
Deceased Famous Singers in Hong Kong (Ref.)
Wong Ka Kui (aged 31) | Danny Chan (aged 35) | Roman Tam (aged 57) | Leslie Cheung (aged 46) | Anita Mui (aged 40)