Prudence Liew
Encyclopedia
Prudence Liew Mei-Gwan (born 10 December 1964) is a multi-platinum selling Hong Kong pop
singer and Golden Horse Award winning actress, having released 14 studio albums and appearing in numerous films.
. From the age of 8, she began appearing in television commercials. In 1986, while working as a film producer, Liew was approached to sing the theme song for a movie. The song, Midnight Love was on heavy rotation at major Hong Kong radio stations and she was quickly signed as the flagship
artist to Current Records. In December 1986, she released her self-titled début album
to rave reviews and high sales. The album eventually sold over 500,000 copies and was certified 10x platinum
by the Hong Kong IFPI
. The lead single from the album, The Last Night is a cover of the Bad Boys Blue
song You're a Woman, and is considered Liew's signature song
.
In addition to music, Liew has also appeared in films and television dramas as an actress. In 1988, she was nominated for a Hong Kong Film Awards
Best Supporting Actress award in the movie Law or Justice.
Between the period of 1986 and 1995, Liew has released 11 studio albums under Current Records, which was bought out by BMG Music in 1989 and later Columbia Records
from 1992 to 1995.
, which she practices regularly. She also met her second husband, whose name she will only disclose to the media as "Mr. Yan" for privacy reasons, while in San Francisco. Together they have a daughter. In an interview in September, 2008, Liew announced that she has separated from Mr. Yan.
, Liew landed a record deal with Taiwan
-based record company, Rock Records
and released her first mandopop
studio album entitled Love Yourself
. However, she returned to the US quickly after the first single, Everytime, I Take it Very Seriously was released, thus no other singles, nor follow-up albums were released afterwards in Taiwan. In the same year, Liew also appeared in the ATV
series The Love You Want, co-starring Amy Chan and Tanny Tien.
. Also, a compilation greatest hits album
was released to accompany the concert. And after a 20-year hiatus from motion pictures, she took the lead part to the movie, True Women For Sale
, directed by Herman Yau
. The film was the opener for the 2008 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
and her role as a drug-addicted prostitute won Liew the award for Best Leading Actress at the 2008 Golden Horse Awards, as well as a Best Actress
nomination at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards
.
In 2009, Liew was announced as the host for season 1 of the TVB program, The Voice
. The Voice is a 26-part singing coompetition that eliminates one or several contestants each episode in the same fashion as American Idol
but scores are based solely on professional judges with no viewer voting involved. On October 22, 2009, Liew released her first Cantonese studio album in 15 years, titled The Queen of Hardships
.
On December 30, 2009, it was announced that TVB is relieving Liew of her hosting duties from The Voice, three episodes shy of the season finale due to the controversy between TVB and the HKRIA over song royalties. Liew, who is currently signed to Cinepoly Records
under the Universal Music label governed by the HKRIA, is part of the group of Hong Kong singers all signed to HKRIA record labels that are currently banned from appearing on all TVB programming until the issue is resolved. In 2010, Liew spent most of the year in the United States.
In 2011, Liew returned to Hong Kong and released her second mandopop album, Love Addict in June. The album topped the charts for two weeks straight on Hong Kong HMV
's Asian Album Chart upon its release. In November, she was invited to be a regular judge on season 4 of the Asia Television Limited
talent program, Asian Millionstar.
|-
! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Golden Horse Award
|-
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer and Golden Horse Award winning actress, having released 14 studio albums and appearing in numerous films.
Career start
Liew was born in 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...
. From the age of 8, she began appearing in television commercials. In 1986, while working as a film producer, Liew was approached to sing the theme song for a movie. The song, Midnight Love was on heavy rotation at major Hong Kong radio stations and she was quickly signed as the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
artist to Current Records. In December 1986, she released her self-titled début album
Prudence Liew (album)
劉美君 Prudence Liew is the self-titled debut album of cantopop singer Prudence Liew, released on December 23, 1986.-Album information:While working as a film producer, Liew was faced with the task of coming up with a theme song to the movie Midnight Beauties ...
to rave reviews and high sales. The album eventually sold over 500,000 copies and was certified 10x platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the Hong Kong IFPI
IFPI
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland...
. The lead single from the album, The Last Night is a cover of the Bad Boys Blue
Bad Boys Blue
Bad Boys Blue are a multinational pop group that was formed in Cologne, Germany. The group performed many international hits including You're a Woman, Pretty Young Girl, I Wanna Hear Your Heartbeat and Come Back and Stay.- History :...
song You're a Woman, and is considered Liew's signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
.
In addition to music, Liew has also appeared in films and television dramas as an actress. In 1988, she was nominated for a Hong Kong Film Awards
Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
Best Supporting Actress award in the movie Law or Justice.
Between the period of 1986 and 1995, Liew has released 11 studio albums under Current Records, which was bought out by BMG Music in 1989 and later Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
from 1992 to 1995.
Retreat
In 1995, Liew decided to leave the Hong Kong music industry after the divorce from her director husband, Tai-Loi Wong (with whom she had 1 son and 1 daughter) and due to having problems with her vocal chords. She then relocated to San Francisco, USA with her children to find peace. During her time in the US, Liew found a love for yogaYoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, which she practices regularly. She also met her second husband, whose name she will only disclose to the media as "Mr. Yan" for privacy reasons, while in San Francisco. Together they have a daughter. In an interview in September, 2008, Liew announced that she has separated from Mr. Yan.
Love Yourself
In 2000, with help from her longtime friend and fellow singer, Sandy LamSandy Lam
Sandy Lam, also known as Lam Yik Lin, is a Cantopop singer who sings in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Japanese.-Career:...
, Liew landed a record deal with Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
-based record company, Rock Records
Rock Records
Rock Records is a Taiwanese record label founded in 1980 by Sam and Johnny Duan . The record label had their first multiseller in 1989 with Sarah Chen.It is now Asia's largest independent record label....
and released her first mandopop
Mandopop
Mandopop is a colloquial abbreviation for "Mandarin popular music." It is categorized as a subgenre of commercial Chinese-language music within C-pop. Mandopop was the first variety of popular music in Chinese to establish itself as a viable industry. As the name implies, Mandopop features songs...
studio album entitled Love Yourself
Love Yourself
愛自己 Love Yourself is the first mandopop album and 12th overall studio album of Hong Kong pop singer Prudence Liew, released on May 1, 2000 in Taiwan.-Album information:...
. However, she returned to the US quickly after the first single, Everytime, I Take it Very Seriously was released, thus no other singles, nor follow-up albums were released afterwards in Taiwan. In the same year, Liew also appeared in the ATV
Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
series The Love You Want, co-starring Amy Chan and Tanny Tien.
Return to Hong Kong
On 19 April & 20, Liew held a 2-night performance called Opening the Sexual Boundaries Concert at the Hong Kong ColiseumHong Kong Coliseum
Hong Kong Coliseum is a multi-purpose indoor arena, in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.It was built by the Urban Council and inaugurated on 27 April 1983....
. Also, a compilation greatest hits album
Opening the Sexual Boundaries
大開色界新曲+精選 Opening the Sexual Boundaries is a greatest hits compilation album by cantopop singer Prudence Liew, released on April 11, 2008.-Album details:...
was released to accompany the concert. And after a 20-year hiatus from motion pictures, she took the lead part to the movie, True Women For Sale
True Women For Sale
True Women For Sale is a 2008 drama film directed by Herman Yau and starring Prudence Liew and Anthony Wong Chau Sang.-Plot:...
, directed by Herman Yau
Herman Yau
Herman Yau Lai-To , born 1961 in Hong Kong is a film director, actor, cinematographer, scriptwriter and film producer.-Background:A Chiuchow by origin, Yau studied film at The Department of Communications, Hong Kong Baptist College from 1981 to 1984 where he spent much of his early days hanging out...
. The film was the opener for the 2008 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
Hong Kong Asian Film Festival is a film festival held annually in Hong Kong. Started in 2004 as an indie film festival, it has since grown into a large film festival known in Hong Kong....
and her role as a drug-addicted prostitute won Liew the award for Best Leading Actress at the 2008 Golden Horse Awards, as well as a Best Actress
Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
The Hong Kong Film Award for Best actress is an annual Hong Kong industry award presented to an actress for the best performance by an actress in a leading role.-Records:-1980s:*1982 Kara Hui - My Young Auntie as Cheng Tai-Nan...
nomination at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards
28th Hong Kong Film Awards
Ceremony for the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 19 April 2009 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and hosted by Eric Tsang, Teresa Mo, Sandra Ng, Vincent Kok, Kay Tse, Denise Ho, Lam Chi Chung, Chin Kar-lok, Louis Fan, Tin Kai Man, Michelle Lo and Wong Cho Lam.-Best Film:-Best Director:-Best...
.
In 2009, Liew was announced as the host for season 1 of the TVB program, The Voice
The Voice (Hong Kong singing competition program)
The Voice 超級巨聲 is a Hong Kong reality show style singing competition broadcast by TVB, and also selects Hong Kong's representative to the New Talent Singing Awards International Finals. It is unrelated to the singing competition franchise, The Voice of Holland.The first season was presented by...
. The Voice is a 26-part singing coompetition that eliminates one or several contestants each episode in the same fashion as American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
but scores are based solely on professional judges with no viewer voting involved. On October 22, 2009, Liew released her first Cantonese studio album in 15 years, titled The Queen of Hardships
The Queen of Hardships
The Queen of Hardships is the 13th studio album by cantopop singer Prudence Liew. This album marks the first Cantonese language studio album release from Liew in 15 years since her 1994 release of 夜有所思，日有所夢 Thoughts in the Night, Dreams During the Day and the first studio album release in 9 years...
.
On December 30, 2009, it was announced that TVB is relieving Liew of her hosting duties from The Voice, three episodes shy of the season finale due to the controversy between TVB and the HKRIA over song royalties. Liew, who is currently signed to 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...
under the Universal Music label governed by the HKRIA, is part of the group of Hong Kong singers all signed to HKRIA record labels that are currently banned from appearing on all TVB programming until the issue is resolved. In 2010, Liew spent most of the year in the United States.
In 2011, Liew returned to Hong Kong and released her second mandopop album, Love Addict in June. The album topped the charts for two weeks straight on Hong Kong HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
's Asian Album Chart upon its release. In November, she was invited to be a regular judge on season 4 of the Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
talent program, Asian Millionstar.
Motion pictures
- 1983 毀滅號地車 On the Wrong Track
- 1986 猛鬼學堂 The Haunted Cop Shop II
- 1988 法中情 Law or Justice
- 2008 我不賣身．我賣子宮 True Women For SaleTrue Women For SaleTrue Women For Sale is a 2008 drama film directed by Herman Yau and starring Prudence Liew and Anthony Wong Chau Sang.-Plot:...
- 2010 72家租客 72 Tenants of Prosperity72 Tenants of Prosperity72 Tenants of Prosperity is a 2010 Hong Kong comedy film by Shaw Brothers Studio, Television Broadcasts Limited, United Filmmakers Organization, Sil-Metropole Organisation and Sun Wah Media Group. Directed by Eric Tsang and starring Eric Tsang, Jacky Cheung and Anita Yuen...
Television (as actress)
- 1989 奪命情人 The Killing Lover ( TVB TV movie co-starring Leon LaiLeon LaiLeon Lai is a Hong Kong-based actor and Cantopop singer. The media refer to Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings . He uses the stage name "Li Ming" or "Lai Ming" which literally means "dawn."-Biography:...
) - 1992 我為錢狂 Source of Evil ( TVB series co-starring Anita YuenAnita YuenAnita Yuen Wing-yi is a Hong Kong film and television actress. She was the winner of the 1990 Miss Hong Kong Pageant.-Pageant career:At the age of 18, Yuen entered the Miss Hong Kong 1990 pageant. She was a heavy favorite to win the crown from the semifinal to final. During the semifinals on August...
) - 2000 妳想的愛 Anything But Him ( ATVAsia Television LimitedAsia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
series co-starring Amy Chan )
Television (as presenter)
- 2009-2010 超級巨聲 The VoiceThe Voice (Hong Kong singing competition program)The Voice 超級巨聲 is a Hong Kong reality show style singing competition broadcast by TVB, and also selects Hong Kong's representative to the New Talent Singing Awards International Finals. It is unrelated to the singing competition franchise, The Voice of Holland.The first season was presented by...
- Season 1 (TVB) - 2011 亞洲星光大道 Asian Millionstar - Season 4 Regular Judge (ATVAsia Television LimitedAsia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | For | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards 1987 RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards The 1987 RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards was held in 1987 for the 1986 music season.-Top 10 song awards:The top 10 songs of 1987 are as follows.-Other awards:-References:*... |
Most Promising Newcomer Award | Gold Award | ||
| Best Produced Album | Prudence Liew Prudence Liew (album) 劉美君 Prudence Liew is the self-titled debut album of cantopop singer Prudence Liew, released on December 23, 1986.-Album information:While working as a film producer, Liew was faced with the task of coming up with a theme song to the movie Midnight Beauties ... |
Producer: Joseph Chan | |||
| Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards 1987 Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards The 1987 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation was held on January 1988. It is part of the Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation series held in Hong Kong.-Top 10 song awards:... |
Best Produced Album | ||||
| 1988 | Hong Kong Film Awards Hong Kong Film Awards The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,... |
Best Supporting Actress | Law or Justice | ||
| 2008 | CASH Golden Sail Music Awards Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong The Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong Ltd. is a copyright society in Hong Kong which aims to administer and enforce collectively the rights of composers and authors of musical works subsisting under the copyright law of Hong Kong SAR. Its motto is: "Protect Copyright - Let Creativity... |
Best Female Vocal Performance | "浮花 (Floating Flower)" from Opening the Sexual Boundaries Opening the Sexual Boundaries 大開色界新曲+精選 Opening the Sexual Boundaries is a greatest hits compilation album by cantopop singer Prudence Liew, released on April 11, 2008.-Album details:... |
||
| Golden Horse Awards | Best Actress | True Women For Sale True Women For Sale True Women For Sale is a 2008 drama film directed by Herman Yau and starring Prudence Liew and Anthony Wong Chau Sang.-Plot:... |
|||
| 2009 | Hong Kong Film Awards 28th Hong Kong Film Awards Ceremony for the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 19 April 2009 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and hosted by Eric Tsang, Teresa Mo, Sandra Ng, Vincent Kok, Kay Tse, Denise Ho, Lam Chi Chung, Chin Kar-lok, Louis Fan, Tin Kai Man, Michelle Lo and Wong Cho Lam.-Best Film:-Best Director:-Best... |
||||
| Ming Pao Weekly Magazine Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | tied with Karena Lam Karena Lam Karena Lam is a Hong Kong based award-winning actress and singer, born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.- Career :... for Claustrophobia |
|||
| Chinese Music Awards (華語金曲獎) | Top 10 Albums of the Year - Cantonese | The Queen of Hardships The Queen of Hardships The Queen of Hardships is the 13th studio album by cantopop singer Prudence Liew. This album marks the first Cantonese language studio album release from Liew in 15 years since her 1994 release of 夜有所思，日有所夢 Thoughts in the Night, Dreams During the Day and the first studio album release in 9 years... |
5th Place | ||
| 2010 | Best Female Singer - Cantonese |
External links
- Prudence Liew at TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
|-
! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Golden Horse Award
|-