Anita Mui

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Anita Mui

Anita Mui at her final concert, 2003
Chinese name 梅艷芳 (Traditional)
Chinese name 梅艳芳 (Simplified)
Pinyin Méi Yànfāng (Mandarin)
Jyutping mui4 jim6 fong1 (Cantonese)
Origin Hong Kong
Born October 10, 1963(1963-10-10)
Hong Kong
Died December 30, 2003 (aged 40)
Hong Kong
Other name(s) 阿梅 (Ah Mui)
梅姐 (Mui Je; lit. Big Sister Mui)
Occupation Singer, Actress
Genre(s) Cantopop
Label(s) Music Nation Group
Capital Artist
Years active 1982 – 2003

Anita Mui Yim-fong (Traditional Chinese: 梅艷芳 , Simplified Chinese: 梅艳芳; Jyutping: Mui4 Jim6 fong1; Mandarin Pinyin: Méi Yànfāng) (October 10, 1963 - December 30, 2003) was a popular Hong Kong cantopop singer and actress. During her prime years she received numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol through out most of her career and eventually became a music legend after her passing.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Background

Mui was born in Hong Kong and had one elder sister and two brothers. Before she was born, her father left the family and later her mother moved in with a boyfriend. Mui and her siblings hoped that their father would look after his children. However, Mui and her family later discovered he was already married. Mui told a local magazine that her mother became very temperamental from that point and always took it out on them. Mui said that she had been desperately trying to get away from her family.

From the early 1980s to 2003, she was a close friend of Leslie Cheung's, another Hong Kong pop star, who committed suicide in April 2003. She was devastated by his death.

Anita Mui announced in early September 2003 that she had cervical cancer and was undergoing treatment. Some of her friends and the media were baffled as to why she took so long to undergo treatment when it appeared she knew of her ailment at a fairly early stage. It's also possible that it was a late detection like most cases or that she secretly had treatment.

It was widely believed she forwent early treatment because she wanted to preserve the possibility to conceive. Mui eventually lost her battle to cervical cancer and died of respiratory complications at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on 30 December 2003 at 02:50 (local time). She was 40 years old and single. Her sister, Ann Mui, also a Hong Kong singer, died from the same illness in 2000.

Her death, following Leslie Cheung's, was a great loss to the Hong Kong entertainment industry.

[edit] Music career

Mui first entered show business as a singer when she was four and turned professional when she was seven. Anita and her sister, Ann Mui, performed Chinese operas and pop songs in numerous restaurants and nightclubs, until she won the first New Talent Singing Awards in 1982 with the song "The Windy Season" (風的季節), beating over 3,000 contestants. Despite her title as "new talent" at that time, she had already been a singer for more than ten years.

Mui's first album was released with the local record company Capital Artists within a year of the contest. Her debut drew a lukewarm response from the audience. But subsequent albums fared much better, as she developed her personal style and image. Two years later, in 1985, Mui won her first 10 Best Solid Gold Best Female Singer award. The same award went to her in the following four years. Mui also won best songs awards, both for album songs and movie theme songs.

Mui had her first concert in 1985, lasting 15 nights. Her 28 consecutive concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum in late 1987 through early 1988 established a world record at the time. By then, her title of "Ever Changing Anita Mui" (百變梅艷芳) had become her trademark.

Mui also gained popularity overseas. She held a concert in Taiwan in 1988, and became the first artist from Hong Kong to give a solo concert there[citation needed]. That same year, she was invited to sing at the 1988 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Seoul, Korea.

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. She stepped down at only 28 years old, but returned from retirement in 1994.

Over the years, Mui has released over 40 albums. Her best selling one was her fourth album, released in 1986 and named "Bad Girl" (壞女孩) which sold over 400,000 copies (platinum eight-times over by Hong Kong's standards). She was also the first female artist to break record sales of 10 million in Hong Kong. She is extremely well known throughout Chinese communities worldwide. Because of her huge success as a pop singer, and her ever-changing image, she is often referred to as the "Madonna of Hong Kong," a comparison resented by some fans who feel that she deserves to be recognized in her own right. Her singing career was once compared to that of Diana Ross by CNN.

Anita mentored several Hong Kong newcomer singers who have since become successful, most notably Andy Hui, Denise Ho, and the band Grasshopper.

In 1998, Mui was awarded RTHK Golden Needle Award the most prestigious award for lifetime achievement in music.

The "Anita Classics Moments Live" Concert, eight shows held from 6 November to 11 November and from 14 November to 15 November in 2003 at Hong Kong Coliseum was her last concert series, in which her final symbolic act was to "marry the stage", which was accompanied by her classic 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 Manhattan's "Let's Just Kiss And Say Goodbye".

[edit] Acting career

Mui was also well-known as an actress across the Asian region. Her films were mainly of the action-thriller and kung fu variety, but she had also taken comedic and dramatic roles. 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, the film that was largely responsible for Jackie Chan himself breaking into the American market. Of her performance in Chan's Drunken Master II (released in America as The Legend of Drunken Master), Variety film critic Joe Leydon said she "appears to be channeling the spirit of Lucille Ball."

Apart from singing, Mui won her first acting award as a supporting actress at Hong Kong Film Awards with the role in the movie Fate in 1984. In 1987, the film Rouge won her Best Actress at Golden Horse Award in 1988 and at Hong Kong Film Awards in 1989. 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 Award for Best Actress with her performance in July Rhapsody.

Anita was originally cast for Zhang Yimou's 2004 movie House of Flying Daggers. She resigned from her position in the movie only two weeks before her death. Zhang had held her parts of filming to the last due to her poor health condition. The filming was already 80% done when she died. Out of respect for Anita, Zhang didn't replace her role with another actress. The screenplay was changed to take the storyline off the original character. The new lead actress of the film never makes an appearance in the film because it was Anita's role. The film was dedicated in her memory.

[edit] Discography

  • Debts of the Heart 心債 (1982)
  • 強吻之前(日語細碟)(Japanese Album)(1983)
  • Crimson 赤色 (1983)
  • 日い花嫁(日語細碟)(Japanese Album)(1983)
  • Flying Across the Stage 飛躍舞台 (1984)
  • The Years Flow By 似水流年 (1985)
  • Bad Girl 壞女孩 (1985)
  • Manjusaka (Mandarin version) 蔓珠莎華(國語大碟) (1986)
  • The Temptress 妖女 (1986)
  • Tango of Fire 似火探戈 (1987)
  • Flaming Red Lips 烈焰紅唇 (1987)
  • Drunken Dreams 夢裡共醉 (1988)
  • 百變梅艷芳再展光華87-88演唱會 (1988)
  • 百變梅艷芳-烈焰紅唇(國語大碟) (1988)
  • We'll be Together (3" CD Single) (1988)
  • The Lady 淑女 (1989)
  • In Brasil (1989)
  • 愛我便說愛我吧 (1989)
  • Cover Girl 封面女郎 (1990)
  • 百變梅艷芳夏日耀光華演唱會90 (1990)
  • 親密愛人(國語大碟) (1990/1991)
  • Wild Streets 慾望野獸街 (1991)
  • The Legend of the Pop Queen Part I (1992)
  • The Legend of the Pop Queen Part II (1992)
  • 情幻一生 (1993)
  • Change 變 (1993)
  • 皇者之風 (1993)
  • 戲劇人生 (1993)
  • 是這樣的 (1994)
  • Caution 小心 (香港版 及 台灣版) (1994)
  • Song Girl 歌之女 (1995)
  • 一個美麗的回響演唱會 (1995)
  • 鏡花水月 (1997)
  • Love Songs 情歌．梅艷芳(精選大碟) (1997)
  • 芳蹤乍現台北演唱會實錄(國語大碟) (1997)
  • 女人花(國語大碟) (1997)
  • 仲夏變奏 (1998)
  • Love Songs Part II 情歌II (精選大碟) (1998)
  • Moonlight on My Bed 床前明月光 (國語大碟) (1998)
  • Larger Than Life (1999)
  • 沒話說 (1999)
  • I'm So Happy (2000)
  • 眾裡尋芳45首 (2001)
  • With (2002)
  • Anita Mui Fantasy Gig 2002 梅艷芳極夢幻演唱會2002 (2003)
  • Anita Classic Moment Live 梅艷芳經典金曲演唱會 (2004)
  • Tribute to Anita Mui 梅 憶錄 (2004)
  • Anita Mui Forever(1997-2003 Greatest Hits/Tribute) 永遠的...梅艷芳(1997-2003 新歌+精選) (2004)

Source: [1] and Booklet found in the Capital Artist - Anita Mui Memorial Stamp Collection and Inside Cover of Tribute to Anita Mui 梅 憶錄 CD Collection.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Films

Year # Title Chinese Title Role Leading Man Director
1983 1 The Sensational Pair(s) 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 祝你好運 - - Cheung-Yan Yuen
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 - Stephen Chow 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 - 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 - 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

[edit] Television series

[edit] TVB

  • 1983 - Summer Kisses, Winter Tears香江花月夜

[edit] Contributions

Mui's star on the Avenue of Stars
Mui's star on the Avenue of Stars

Mui was actively involved in charitable projects throughout her career.

In 1992, the Mayor of San Francisco declared April 18 of that year as "Anita Mui Day" to honor her contributions to society by raising funds for the Nursing Home which bears her Chinese name. October 26, 1993 was then again declared as "Anita Mui Day" in San Francisco.

In 1993, established Anita Mui "True Heart" 四海一心 Charity Foundation. Her foundation continues to donate and raise money to help the needy even after her death.

During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, she initiated a fund raising concert titled "1:99 Concert" which was the second concert allowed to be held at the Hong Kong Stadium.

In 2003, Anita initiated the Project Blossom Campaign Charity Fund for SARS victims while as the chairman of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild. The Charity Fund continues to help SARS victims. The fund as of 2008 is in it 5th year.

She was one of the founders of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild (HKPAG, 香港演藝人協會), which was established in 1993, and was its chairlady. She resigned because of her health.

In 2003, Mui wrote and published the book "The Heart of the Modern Woman" 現代女人心. All proceeds donated to Children's Cancer Foundation.

In 2003, during her 5th show at the Anita Mui Classic Moment live concert, MingPao Weekly awarded her with the highest and most respectable award for her contribution for organizing the Project Blossom and the 1:99 concert to help the SARS victims and their children during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in Hong Kong. HK$22 million was raised. The award was also a tribute for her work in representing the Hong Kong Performing Artists Guild to work with Beijing to remove the quota requirements for films and for cultural exchange.

In September 23, 2004, Anita Mui "True Heart" Digital Multimedia Studio was opened at The University of Hong Kong. The Anita Mui "True Heart" charity foundation continues to improve and help society.

[edit] Extras

[edit] See also

[edit] External links (in English)


[edit] External links (in Chinese)

[edit] Awards

Awards
Preceded by
Nil		 New Talent Singing Awards winner
1982		 Succeeded by
David Lui 呂方
Preceded by
—		 Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress
1985
for Behind the Yellow Line		 Succeeded by
Deanie Ip
for My Name Ain't Suzie
Preceded by
Sylvia Chang
for Passion		 Golden Horse Awards for Best Actress
1988
for Rouge		 Succeeded by
Carol Cheng
for Moon, Stars & Sun
Preceded by
Sammo Hung (Actor)
for Painted Faces		 Asia-Pacific Film Festival Awards for Best Actress
1989
for Rouge		 Succeeded by
Ken Takakura (Actor)
for Buddies
Preceded by
Josephine Siao
for Not an Enemy No Assembly Leader		 Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actress
1989
for Rouge		 Succeeded by
Maggie Cheung
for A Fishy Story
Preceded by
Shu Qi
for Viva Erotica		 Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress
1998
for Eighteen Springs		 Succeeded by
Shu Qi
for Portland Street Blues
Preceded by
Alan Tam		 Golden Needle Award of RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award
1998		 Succeeded by
Leslie Cheung
Preceded by
Youbin Li (Actor)
for Roaring Across the Horizon		 Golden Deer Awards for Best Actress
2002
for July Rhapsody		 Succeeded by
Leon Lai (Actor)
for Leaving Me, Loving You