Priscilla Chan
Encyclopedia
Priscilla Chan Wai-han is a female Cantopop
singer in Hong Kong
.
. She attended Marymount Secondary School in Happy Valley, Hong Kong
(formerly known as Maryknoll Sisters School). Active in extracurricular activities and pastimes, as a teenager she would often enter singing contests, and eventually got discovered by a recording company. She currently lives in Happy Valley, Hong Kong
, with eight cats; she is known for expressing great passion and emotion in her love songs, in which many of them are cantopop classics.
's version, titled "Dancing Hero" (ダンシング・ヒーロー)), "Loving Accident" (痴情意外), "Love Me Once Again", "Revolt" (反叛), and "Hugging with Tears" (與淚抱擁). Chan had a rough 1987, but she rebounded nicely in 1988 with the album 嫻情 1988, and the song "Silly Girl" (傻女, a Cantonese rework version of the Spanish song "La Loca" by María Conchita Alonso
) that first confirmed her status as a serious contender in the golden age of Cantopop
. "Silly Girl" was re-made into a disco-version by a newcomer in Hong Kong in 2007.
Chan chose to retire in 1989 in order to pursue her degree in psychology at the Syracuse University
in Syracuse, New York
, a promise to her parents that she kept. In her supposed-to-be last album, (永遠是你的朋友) "Always Be Your Friend", the everlasting hit "Thousands of Songs" (千千闕歌) elevated her status in the legendary mega pop stars heavy industry including Leslie Cheung
, Anita Mui
, Alan Tam
, and Sally Yeh
. This best-selling album of 1989 also recorded hits like "Night Flight" (夜機) and "Dancing Boy."
During her academic career, she returned to Hong Kong and recorded three albums from 1992–1994 during the summer vacations. The song "Snowfall" (飄雪) was very popular for karaoke at the time; other hits included "Red Tea Shop" (紅茶館), which was voted among the Top 10 song of the Year in 1992, "Come Back!" (歸來吧!), and "Jealousy." The album sales were surprisingly good despite the fact that she spent most of the time in the U.S. with minimum publicity.
By 1995, Chan has returned to the music industry in full force. Her initial return brought her back to the top of the pop chart with two albums: "Welcome Back" and "I'm Not Lonely" (我不寂寞). In fact, "Welcome Back" topped the sales chart for a modern record of six weeks! Songs like "It's Always Raining Tonight" (今天夜裡總下雨), "Missing You" (留戀), "Missing Love and Dust" (戀戀風塵), "I'm Lonely" (我寂寞), and "Flow" (飄) became instant classic. Her 10-night series of concerts in 1996 reaffirmed her popularity with the public. Another concert in 1997 with Hong Kong Philharmonic Symphony (HKPS) in Hong Kong made her the second pop artist ever to work with the HKPS.
With the signing of a new recording company, Cinepoly
, her fame started to decline. The death of her beloved cat, Remington, in 1998 marked the start of three year period when she found life difficult as the new recording company wasn't working well for her. In 2000, after the last album with Cinepoly named "Good For You" (為你好), she retreated from the music scene until 2003 when she made a come-back with an album named "Loving Knot" (情意結) and a series of concerts in Hong Kong. However, due to album sales that fell below her expectations, mostly because of illegal online downloading and piracy, she decided to retreat once more. She criticized the trend of Cantopop audiences, whom she believed was only interested in admiring the entertainers' images and not appreciating their music. However, she has reiterated her desire to continue singing, as many loyal fans still remain around the world.
In 2007, Chan signed to IEC - EC Music
and the following year released a new live album recorded at a series of concerts in Hong Kong.
press. She was not the press' favorite as the Hong Kong tabloids often reported negative news of her. Since 2003, she has not been particularly active, preferring to appear on TVB or Mainland television programmes and singing in overseas concerts; sometimes she'd attend some private events in Hong Kong as well. But in 2007, she started to be active again as she prepared for a new album and new concert.
Many in Hong Kong believed she made a wrong decision to leave the music industry at the peak of her career for college in 1989. In a radio interview, Chan disagreed. She considered singing was an important part of her, but she valued education more. Furthermore, she reiterated the reason for getting a college degree was to fulfill her promise to her parents.
Her love life is of great interest to the media as well. She has had three boyfriends during her adult life. First, was her music producer Michael Au
in the 1980s, but they ended their relationship before her return to Hong Kong in 1995. (Au has since married). After Au, Chan dated an artist/designer Michael Cheung, and that relationship ended in 2001. Last, her latest boyfriend was Dr.Tony Tse; they mutually agreed to end the 5-year relationship in July 2007. The cause of the break-up, according to Chan, was personality differences. The break-up was a painful one and had imposed substantial impact on their personal lives. According to some of their close friends, both of them really cherished the relationship immensely. They would never part if it were not the enormous differences of their personalities and lifestyles. Nevertheless, Dr. Tse, as her family physician, is still taking good care of her health and their relationship remains close.
Cantopop
Cantopop is a colloquialism for "Cantonese popular music". It is sometimes referred to as HK-pop, short for "Hong Kong popular music". It is categorized as a subgenre of Chinese popular music within C-pop...
singer in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
Background
Chan has a younger brother and sister. Her father is a retired senior officer of Hong Kong Immigration ServiceImmigration Department (Hong Kong)
The Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. After the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty of the territory in July 1997, Hong Kong's immigration system remained largely unchanged from its British predecessor model...
. She attended Marymount Secondary School in Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Happy Valley is a mostly residential suburb of Hong Kong, located in the northern part of Hong Kong Island. Administratively, it is part of Wan Chai District....
(formerly known as Maryknoll Sisters School). Active in extracurricular activities and pastimes, as a teenager she would often enter singing contests, and eventually got discovered by a recording company. She currently lives in Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Happy Valley is a mostly residential suburb of Hong Kong, located in the northern part of Hong Kong Island. Administratively, it is part of Wan Chai District....
, with eight cats; she is known for expressing great passion and emotion in her love songs, in which many of them are cantopop classics.
Career
Chan started her life as a professional singer when she was 18 in 1983. Her first song was titled "Forgotten Promise" (逝去的諾言), which is recorded in an album "Girl Magazine" (少女雜誌) that also featuring two other newcomers. The song propelled Chan's career; thus, she released her own first album "The Feelings of a Story" (故事的感覺) in 1984. The next year, she released "Priscilla", which included the hit "Flower Shop" (花店). In 1986, the album "Revolt" (反叛) had several classics and push Chan to new heights. Song included "Dancing Street" (跳舞街) (a version of Angie Gold's "Eat You Up" but based production wise, on Yōko OginomeYoko Oginome
, real name , is a singer, actress and voice actress. Oginome spent most of her elementary and junior high years living in the town of Ranzan in Saitama Prefecture, though she attended school in the city of Sakura. She graduated from Horikoshi High School in Nakano, Tokyo. She is represented by the...
's version, titled "Dancing Hero" (ダンシング・ヒーロー)), "Loving Accident" (痴情意外), "Love Me Once Again", "Revolt" (反叛), and "Hugging with Tears" (與淚抱擁). Chan had a rough 1987, but she rebounded nicely in 1988 with the album 嫻情 1988, and the song "Silly Girl" (傻女, a Cantonese rework version of the Spanish song "La Loca" by María Conchita Alonso
Maria Conchita Alonso
María Conchita Alonso , better known as María Conchita, is a Venezuelan Grammy Award-nominated singer and actress.- Early life :...
) that first confirmed her status as a serious contender in the golden age of Cantopop
Cantopop
Cantopop is a colloquialism for "Cantonese popular music". It is sometimes referred to as HK-pop, short for "Hong Kong popular music". It is categorized as a subgenre of Chinese popular music within C-pop...
. "Silly Girl" was re-made into a disco-version by a newcomer in Hong Kong in 2007.
Chan chose to retire in 1989 in order to pursue her degree in psychology at the Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, a promise to her parents that she kept. In her supposed-to-be last album, (永遠是你的朋友) "Always Be Your Friend", the everlasting hit "Thousands of Songs" (千千闕歌) elevated her status in the legendary mega pop stars heavy industry including Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing , nicknamed elder brother , was a film actor and musician from Hong Kong. Cheung was considered as "one of the founding fathers of Cantopop", and "combining a hugely successful film and music career".In 2000, Cheung was named Asian Biggest Superstar by China Central...
, Anita Mui
Anita Mui
Anita Mui Yim-fong was a popular Hong Kong singer and actress. 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...
, Alan Tam
Alan Tam
Wing Lun Alan Tam, MH is an award-winning Hong Kong Cantopop and English pop singer and actor. During the early 1980s he played a major role in developing the cantopop scene as he was known for singing romantic ballads with modern arrangements. As of 2008, he is still active in the music...
, and Sally Yeh
Sally Yeh
Sally Yeh , sometimes written as Sally Yip or Yip Sin-Man, is a Cantopop singer in the Hong Kong music industry and an actress in the Hong Kong film industry.-Overview:...
. This best-selling album of 1989 also recorded hits like "Night Flight" (夜機) and "Dancing Boy."
During her academic career, she returned to Hong Kong and recorded three albums from 1992–1994 during the summer vacations. The song "Snowfall" (飄雪) was very popular for karaoke at the time; other hits included "Red Tea Shop" (紅茶館), which was voted among the Top 10 song of the Year in 1992, "Come Back!" (歸來吧!), and "Jealousy." The album sales were surprisingly good despite the fact that she spent most of the time in the U.S. with minimum publicity.
By 1995, Chan has returned to the music industry in full force. Her initial return brought her back to the top of the pop chart with two albums: "Welcome Back" and "I'm Not Lonely" (我不寂寞). In fact, "Welcome Back" topped the sales chart for a modern record of six weeks! Songs like "It's Always Raining Tonight" (今天夜裡總下雨), "Missing You" (留戀), "Missing Love and Dust" (戀戀風塵), "I'm Lonely" (我寂寞), and "Flow" (飄) became instant classic. Her 10-night series of concerts in 1996 reaffirmed her popularity with the public. Another concert in 1997 with Hong Kong Philharmonic Symphony (HKPS) in Hong Kong made her the second pop artist ever to work with the HKPS.
With the signing of a new recording company, Cinepoly
Cinepoly Records
Cinepoly Records is a Hong Kong-based record label founded in 1985. It was a subsidiary of PolyGram Records and the film company Cinema City. Ownership of Cinepoly Records switched to Universal Music Group after Universal acquired PolyGram Records in 1998 and albums are now distributed by...
, her fame started to decline. The death of her beloved cat, Remington, in 1998 marked the start of three year period when she found life difficult as the new recording company wasn't working well for her. In 2000, after the last album with Cinepoly named "Good For You" (為你好), she retreated from the music scene until 2003 when she made a come-back with an album named "Loving Knot" (情意結) and a series of concerts in Hong Kong. However, due to album sales that fell below her expectations, mostly because of illegal online downloading and piracy, she decided to retreat once more. She criticized the trend of Cantopop audiences, whom she believed was only interested in admiring the entertainers' images and not appreciating their music. However, she has reiterated her desire to continue singing, as many loyal fans still remain around the world.
In 2007, Chan signed to IEC - EC Music
EC Music
EC Music is the record label of IEC Record, subsidiary of IEC and fellow subsidiary of Media 8 Entertainment. EC Music label aims to specialize in particular genres of music to provide marketing insight and high quality music. The first artist signed by EC Music is Sam Hui...
and the following year released a new live album recorded at a series of concerts in Hong Kong.
Concert tours
- Opening
- 地球大追蹤
- 憂鬱，你好
- 夜機
- 癡情意外
- 不羈戀人
- 與淚抱擁
- 反叛
- 花店
- 玻璃窗的愛
- 跳舞街
- Yesterday Once MoreYesterday Once More (song)"Yesterday Once More", written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, is a hit song by The Carpenters from their 1973 album Now & Then. Composed in the key of E, "Yesterday Once More" preceded an "Oldies Medley" on the album, consisting of nine songs from the 1960s. At the end of the song a...
- Dancing Boy
- 逝去的諾言
- 變、變、變變變
- 貪貪貪
- Medley:
- 為何仍是你
- 夜半歌聲
- 秋色
- 冰點
- 夜半驚魂
- 傻女
- Love Me Once Again
- 去吧
- 千千闋歌
- 人生何處不相逢 (encore)
- 忘記悲傷
- 幾時再見?!
- Opening
- 人生何處不相逢
- 玻璃窗的愛
- Love Me Once Again
- 花店
- 我寂寞
- 不清晰的戀愛
- 愛是空氣
- 今天夜裡總下雨
- 夜機
- 去吧
- 紅茶館
- 今天的愛人是誰
- 從來是一對
- 逝去的諾言
- 月亮
- 飄
- 銷魂夜
- Jealousy
- 月夜的隨想
- 拋拋
- 傻女
- 我心不死
- 與淚擁抱
- 飄雪
- 千千闕歌
- 痴情意外 (encore)
- 戀戀風塵
- 心滿意足
- Jealousy
- 奇妙旅程
- 心就要飛了
- 飄雪
- Medley:
- 每當變幻時
- 明日話今天
- 仙花滿月樓
- Don't Cry for Me Argentina
- 二人時間
- Medley:
- 夜機
- 傻女
- 戀戀風塵
- 緣了, 就是完
- 千千闕歌 (instrumental)
- 這一天
- 花店
- Joe Le Taxi
- Dancing Boy
- 明日有明天
- Love Me Once Again
- Interlude
- 梁祝
- 碎花
- 人生何處不相逢
- 逝去的諾言
- 紅茶館
- 戀戀風塵
- 地球大追蹤
- 今天夜裡總下雨
- 月亮的隨想
- 秋色
- 玻璃窗的愛
- 夜半輕私語
- 痴情意外
- 夜機
- 與淚抱擁
- 距離
- Medley: (encore)
- 變、變、變變變
- 貪貪貪
- 不住怨婦街
- 跳舞街
- "I Will Always Love YouI Will Always Love You"I Will Always Love You" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton in 1973, who first released the song as a single in 1974.-Dolly Parton version:...
" - 愛你
- 傻女
- 飄雪
- 千千闕歌
- My Love Will Get You Home
- 明日有明天
- 花火
- 喝采
- 最愛是誰
- 愛在深秋
- 左右手
- "Close to You(They Long to Be) Close to You" Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as "They Long to Be Close to You," without parentheses. However, it was the single's flip side, "Blue Guitar," that became a hit...
" - 相識非偶然
- 默契
- 月半小夜曲
- 等了又等
- 原來只要共你活一天
- 一對寂寞的心
- 傻女
- 花店
- Joe Le Taxi
- 今天的愛人是誰
- 玻璃窗的愛
- 人生何處不相逢
- 痴情意外
- 情意結
- 飄雪
- 夜機
- 無名指
- Love Me Once Again
- 幾時再見?!
- 逝去的諾言 (encore)
- 紅茶館
- 千千闕歌
Personal life
Her personal life was closely scrutinized by the Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
press. She was not the press' favorite as the Hong Kong tabloids often reported negative news of her. Since 2003, she has not been particularly active, preferring to appear on TVB or Mainland television programmes and singing in overseas concerts; sometimes she'd attend some private events in Hong Kong as well. But in 2007, she started to be active again as she prepared for a new album and new concert.
Many in Hong Kong believed she made a wrong decision to leave the music industry at the peak of her career for college in 1989. In a radio interview, Chan disagreed. She considered singing was an important part of her, but she valued education more. Furthermore, she reiterated the reason for getting a college degree was to fulfill her promise to her parents.
Her love life is of great interest to the media as well. She has had three boyfriends during her adult life. First, was her music producer Michael Au
Michael Au
Michael Au Ding Yuk is a Hong Kong music producer. He is well known for his collaboration with Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung.He won six consecutive Best Record Producer Award in RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards, all in collaboration with Jacky Cheung...
in the 1980s, but they ended their relationship before her return to Hong Kong in 1995. (Au has since married). After Au, Chan dated an artist/designer Michael Cheung, and that relationship ended in 2001. Last, her latest boyfriend was Dr.Tony Tse; they mutually agreed to end the 5-year relationship in July 2007. The cause of the break-up, according to Chan, was personality differences. The break-up was a painful one and had imposed substantial impact on their personal lives. According to some of their close friends, both of them really cherished the relationship immensely. They would never part if it were not the enormous differences of their personalities and lifestyles. Nevertheless, Dr. Tse, as her family physician, is still taking good care of her health and their relationship remains close.
Albums
| Year | Title | Native name | Language(s) | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Girl's Magazine | 少女雜誌 | Cantonese | Polygram PolyGram PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:... Records Ltd. |
| 1984 | Thousand Years Lover EP | 千年戀人 | Japanese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1984 | Thousand Years Lover | 千年戀人 | Japanese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1984 | The Feelings of a Story | 故事的感覺 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1985 | Priscilla | - | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1986 | Revolt | 反叛 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1987 | Transform | 變、變、變 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1987 | Remix + Best of | Remix + 精選 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1988 | Priscilla's Love | 嫻情 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1988 | Silly Girl | 傻女 | Mandarin | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1988 | The Color of Autumn | 秋色 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1988 | Priscilla Chan Remix | - | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1989 | Forever Friends | 永遠是你的朋友 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1989 | Priscilla Chan in Concert | 陳慧嫻幾時再見演唱會 | Cantonese/English | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1990 | Get Up and Dance | - | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1992 | Come Back | 歸來吧 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1993 | I'm always on your side | 你身邊永是我 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1994 | Who is my lover today | 今天的愛人是誰 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1995 | Welcome Back | - | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1995 | I am not lonely | 我不寂寞 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1996 | Satisfy | 心滿意足 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1996 | Priscilla Chan in Concert '96 | 雪映美白'96陳慧嫻演唱會 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1996 | Priscilla Chan Polygram 88 Compilation | 陳慧嫻寶麗金88極品音色系列 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1996 | Problematic Woman | 問題女人 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1997 | Musical Encounters with Priscilla and the Philharmonic | 慧嫻‧港樂奇妙旅程 | Cantonese/Mandarin | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1997 | Priscilla Chan 2 Polygram 88 Compilation | 陳慧嫻２寶麗金88極品音色系列 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1997 | My heart is about to fly away | 心就要飛了 | Mandarin | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1998 | Priscilla Chan AVCD | - | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd. |
| 1998 | In love for 2000 hours | 愛戀二千小時 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd./Cinepoly Records Cinepoly Records Cinepoly Records is a Hong Kong-based record label founded in 1985. It was a subsidiary of PolyGram Records and the film company Cinema City. Ownership of Cinepoly Records switched to Universal Music Group after Universal acquired PolyGram Records in 1998 and albums are now distributed by... Co Ltd. |
| 1998 | Priscilla Chan and William So William So William So Wing Hong is a Hong Kong actor and a cantopop singer. He began his musical career by participating the New Talent Singing Awards in 1985 and won the competition as the first runner up. His performance at that event earned him a record contract with Capital Artists... Music is Live |
陳慧嫻+蘇永康拉闊音樂 | Cantonese | Polygram Records Ltd./Cinepoly Records Co. Ltd. |
| 1999 | This is Love | 正視愛 | Cantonese | Universal Music Group Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations... /Cinepoly Records Co. Ltd. |
| 2000 | Good For You | 為你好 | Cantonese | Universal Music Group/Cinepoly Records Cinepoly Records Cinepoly Records is a Hong Kong-based record label founded in 1985. It was a subsidiary of PolyGram Records and the film company Cinema City. Ownership of Cinepoly Records switched to Universal Music Group after Universal acquired PolyGram Records in 1998 and albums are now distributed by... Co Ltd. |
| 2003 | Loving Knot | 情意結 | Cantonese | Universal Music Group |
| 2003 | Priscilla Chan Live | 陳慧嫻珍演唱會2003 | Cantonese/English | Universal Music Group |
| 2008 | Priscilla Chan Concert Live 2008 | 陳慧嫻活出生命II演唱會2008 | Cantonese | Universal Music Group |