Released July 1995 Release date July 1995 Genre Mandopop | Artist Faye Wong Label Cinepoly Records | |
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Decadent Sounds of Faye
(1995) One Person Playing Two Roles
(1995) Similar Faye Wong albums, Mandopop albums | ||
Decadent Sound of Faye (Chinese: 菲靡靡之音; pinyin: Fēi mǐmǐ zhī yīn), also translated as Faye Beautiful Music, is a 1995 Mandarin album recorded by Chinese Cantopop singer Faye Wong when she was based in Hong Kong.
Contents
Etymology
The word ‘decadent’ is an ironic echo of early PRC condemnation of music such as that of Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng's music as mǐmǐ zhī yue (靡靡之樂). The title of this album is a pun: during the Cultural Revolution, Teng's songs were condemned as "decadent sounds" (靡靡之音) by the Communist Party of China. The album title is literally translated as Faye's Decadent Music (菲靡靡之音), but as the character "菲" (fēi, i.e. the name Faye in Mandarin) has the same pronunciation as the related character "非" (fēi, no/not/non prefix in Classical Mandarin), the title can also be construed as "Non-Decadent Sounds".
Word play on Faye's name 菲 fēi in Mandarin has also been used on two Cinepoly compilation albums: 菲卖品 Fēi mài pǐn ("Faye sale product", a pun on 非卖品 fēi mài pǐn, "Not-for-sale product") and 菲主打 Fēi zhǔdǎ ("Faye main beat", a pun on 非主打 Fēi zhǔdǎ "not main beat").
Tributing to Teresa Teng
The album consists entirely of cover versions of songs originally released by her idol Teresa Teng, one of the most revered Chinese singers of the 20th century. Teng's music remains extremely popular in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and mainland China. A duet was planned for the album, but Teng died before this could be recorded; Wong considered scrapping the project out of respect. However, Faye sang this duet, Li Bai's "清平調" with Teresa posthumously in a memorial celebrating her 60th birthday.
Reception
Decadent Sounds sold quite well despite initial negative criticism. It has come to be recognised as a classic by her fans and is held as an example of imaginative covering by recent critics. Not only did Wong show that she shared Teresa Teng's clear, sweet singing voice, but the arrangements added an unexpected freshness to many of the songs.
Track listing
- "雪中蓮" (Xuĕ Zhōng Lián) –
- "你在我心中" (Nĭ Zài Wŏ Xīn Zhōng) –
- "但願人長久" (Dàn Yuàn Rén Cháng Jiŭ) –
- "君心我心" (Jūn Xīn Wŏ Xīn) –
- "初戀的地方" (Chū Liàn De Dì Fāng) –
- "南海姑娘" (Nán Hăi Gū Niáng) –
- "假如我是真的" (Jiă Rú Wŏ Shì Zhēn De) –
- "翠湖寒" (Cuì Hú Hán) –
- "黃昏裡" (Huáng Hūn Lĭ) –
- "奈何" (Nài Hé) –
- "一個小心願" (Yī Gè Xiăo Xīn Yuàn) –
- "又見炊煙" (Yòu Jiàn Chuī Yān) –
- "原鄉情濃" (Yuán Xiāng Qíng Nóng) –
Songs
你在我心中4:24
Fang Fu Shi Chu Lian3:37
Nan Hai Gu Niang3:08