Frances Yip 葉麗儀

December 16, 2006

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Frances Yip is a Cantopop singer from Hong Kong but also recorded in English, Mandarin, Malay, Thai and Japanese. In 1974, she recorded the popular Mandarin hit Green Island Serenade. Her signature song, “Shanghai Beach” (called Sheung Hoi Tan in Cantonese), was the theme song for the Bund, a popular 60-episode TVB drama series. Frances is acknowledged as Hong Kong’s Cosmopolitan Star because of her diversity and international appeal.

(綠島小夜曲 GREEN ISLAND SERENADE)
这绿岛像一只船
在月夜里摇呀摇
姑娘哟妳也在我的
心海里飘呀飘
让我的歌声随那微风
吹开了妳的窗帘
让我的衷情随那流水
不断地向妳倾诉
椰子树的长影
掩不住我的情意
明媚的月光
更照亮了我的心
这绿岛的夜已经
这样沉静
姑娘哟妳为什么
还是默默无语

(Pinyin)
zhè lǜ dǎo xiàng yì zhī chuán
zài yuè yè lǐ yáo ya yáo
gū niang yo, nǐ yě zài wǒ de
xīn hǎi lǐ piāo ya piāo
ràng wǒ de gē shēng suí nà wēi fēng
chuī kāi le/liao nǐ de chuāng lián
ràng wǒ de zhōng qíng suí nà liú shuǐ
bú duàn de xiàng nǐ qīng sù
yē zi shù de cháng yǐng
yǎn bú zhù wǒ de qíng yì
míng mèi de yuè guāng
gèng zhào liàng le/liao wǒ de xīn
zhè lǜ dǎo de yè yǐ jīng
zhè yàng chén jìng
gū niáng yo, nǐ wèi shén me
hái shì mò mò wú yǔ

(English translation)
This green island, is like a boat
meandering through the moonlight
Darling, you are
floating in the ocean of my heart
Let the melody of my song follow the breeze,
blowing through your curtains
Let my love go with the flowing water,
serenading you
The coconut tree’s long shadow
cannot hide my gentle love
The clear bright moonlight
brightens my heart
This green island night
appears so peaceful
Darling, why are you
still silent?

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Nancy Sit 薜家燕

December 16, 2006

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Nancy Sit was a popular teen idol (“Fifth Princess” of the Seven Princesses of Cantonese teen movie royalty in the mid-60’s) in Hong Kong. Nancy got her first lead role at age 17 in the musical Bunny Girl 兔女郎 (1967) and solidified her fame with Teddy Girls 飞女正传(1969). Nancy was also a popular go-go (aka Hala Hala) girl releasing a string of hits records in Chinese and covers of English pop songs. She left the entertainment business after getting married. In the 1990’s, she returned to show business and was able to make a successful comeback in the role of “Auntie Ho” 好 姨 in the television drama A Kindred Spirit 真情. It was a ratings bonanza that lasted over 1,000 episodes and inspired a musical stage version. Nancy was also successful on the big screen with the blockbuster The God of Cookery 食神(1996), followed by the lead in The Black Rose II 黑玫瑰结义金兰 (1997).

Some early popular English-language recordings: Hippy hippy shake, Love potion #9. Hang on sloopy, Day tripper, Wooly Bully, I’m a believer, Pretty flamingo, You can’t do that.

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