Song Bird (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Song Bird is a historical drama television series produced by TVB
and broadcasted in Hong Kong
in 1989. The story is based on the life of shidaiqu
singer Zhou Xuan
. The Chinese name of the TV series comes from one of the name of the song used in the 1937 film Street Angel
.
) in the Republic of China
1930s era. Zhou originally came from a poor background. She managed to join the Bright Moonlight Song and Dance Troupe
to try to make a living, and met composer Jim Zi-wa (Leon Lai
). A record producer recognized her skill, and helped her launch a music career in a very difficult time.
The backdrop of the falling Republic of China led to the collapse of the Shanghai
shidaiqu music industry. Zhou Xuan would suffer from mental breakdown and die an early age, but her music would make her a legend.
. The songs used in the series did not actually reflect the Mandarin
songs from the era. The producer of the series Siu Xiao (蕭笙) had to incorporate some well known modern Cantopop
composers such as Joseph Koo
, Zeng Gwok-gong (鄭國江), Pun Wai-yun (潘偉源) into readapting some of the songs for the story. Lyrics and melodies were changed.
The series was also accompanied by a soundtrack released with leading actress Nadia Chan
in 1990 using the same name "Song Bird". According to IFPI the album had sales figures that was impressive enough to be in competition with one of Alan Tam
's main album at the time. The album was later re-released as part of Crown Records (娛樂唱片) 50th anniversary gold disc series.
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
and broadcasted 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...
in 1989. The story is based on the life of shidaiqu
Shidaiqu
Shidaiqu is a type of Chinese folk/European jazz fusion music that originated in Shanghai, China, in the 1920s.-Terminology:The term literally means "songs of the era" in Mandarin...
singer Zhou Xuan
Zhou Xuan
Zhou Xuan was a popular Chinese singer and film actress. By the 1940s, she had become one of China's seven great singing stars. She is probably the most well-known of the seven, as she had a concurrent movie career until 1953.-Biography:...
. The Chinese name of the TV series comes from one of the name of the song used in the 1937 film Street Angel
Street Angel (1937 film)
Street Angel is a Chinese film released in 1937. The film was directed by Yuan Muzhi and stars the popular singer Zhou Xuan.-Synopsis:The film deals with two sisters, Xiao Hong and Xiao Yun who have fled from the war in Northeast China to Shanghai, where they are living under the brutal thumb of...
.
Plot
The story is based on the story of young girl Zhou Xuan (Nadia ChanNadia Chan
Nnadia Chan Chung Ling is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She started show business in 1985 at the age of 14 winning a Sally Yeh impersonation contest hosted by TVB, within the show Enjoy Yourself Tonight . Thereafter she hosted many children's show and sang many children's songs which gained her...
) in the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
1930s era. Zhou originally came from a poor background. She managed to join the Bright Moonlight Song and Dance Troupe
Bright Moonlight Song and Dance Troupe
Bright Moonlight Song and Dance Troupe was a group founded by Li Jinhui from late 1920s to 1930s. It is also referred to as "Bright Moon Song and Dance Troupe".-Background:...
to try to make a living, and met composer Jim Zi-wa (Leon Lai
Leon Lai
Leon 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:...
). A record producer recognized her skill, and helped her launch a music career in a very difficult time.
The backdrop of the falling Republic of China led to the collapse of the Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
shidaiqu music industry. Zhou Xuan would suffer from mental breakdown and die an early age, but her music would make her a legend.
Production note
Throughout the series, the songs performed were mostly sung in CantoneseCantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
. The songs used in the series did not actually reflect the Mandarin
Standard Chinese
Standard Chinese, or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
songs from the era. The producer of the series Siu Xiao (蕭笙) had to incorporate some well known modern 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...
composers such as Joseph Koo
Joseph Koo
Joseph Koo Kar-Fai, MBE, SBS is one of the most respected composers in Hong Kong. He used the pen name Moran for Mandarin songs. He is the younger brother of famous Chinese singer Koo Mei .-Career:...
, Zeng Gwok-gong (鄭國江), Pun Wai-yun (潘偉源) into readapting some of the songs for the story. Lyrics and melodies were changed.
The series was also accompanied by a soundtrack released with leading actress Nadia Chan
Nadia Chan
Nnadia Chan Chung Ling is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She started show business in 1985 at the age of 14 winning a Sally Yeh impersonation contest hosted by TVB, within the show Enjoy Yourself Tonight . Thereafter she hosted many children's show and sang many children's songs which gained her...
in 1990 using the same name "Song Bird". According to IFPI the album had sales figures that was impressive enough to be in competition with one of 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...
's main album at the time. The album was later re-released as part of Crown Records (娛樂唱片) 50th anniversary gold disc series.
Cast
| Cast | Role | Note |
| Nadia Chan Nadia Chan Nnadia Chan Chung Ling is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She started show business in 1985 at the age of 14 winning a Sally Yeh impersonation contest hosted by TVB, within the show Enjoy Yourself Tonight . Thereafter she hosted many children's show and sang many children's songs which gained her... |
Zhou Xuan Zhou Xuan Zhou Xuan was a popular Chinese singer and film actress. By the 1940s, she had become one of China's seven great singing stars. She is probably the most well-known of the seven, as she had a concurrent movie career until 1953.-Biography:... (周小紅) |
|
| Leon Lai Leon Lai Leon 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:... |
Jim Zi-wa (嚴子華 /嚴華) | |
| Tam Ping-man (譚炳文) | Father of Zhou Xuan | |
| Helen Ma (馬海倫) | ||
| (梁愛) | ||
| Eddie Kwan (關禮傑) | ||
| (曾慧雲) | ||
| (胡美儀) | ||
| Lau Jing-hung (柳影紅) | ||
| (陳榮峻) | ||
| Gregory Charles Rivers Gregory Charles Rivers Gregory Charles Rivers is a Hong Kong actor of Australian heritage.Growing up in Katoomba, he moved to Hong Kong in 1987 before finishing a medical degree at University of New South Wales. Speaking fluent Cantonese, he is currently a TVB actor... |
||
| Johnny Yip (葉振棠) | ||
| Lee Long-kay (李龍基) | ||
| Aaron Kwok Aaron Kwok Aaron Kwok Fu-shing is a Hong Kong singer, dancer and actor. He has been active since the 1980s to the present. The media refer to him, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings . Kwok's onstage dancing and displays is influenced by Michael Jackson... |
extras | |
| Wayne Lai Wayne Lai Wayne Lai Yiu-cheung is a Hong Kong TVB actor.-Biography:Lai entered TVB in 1983 as a clerk in the business department. In 1985, he gave up the job and trained in the TVB Acting School. He starred in a few series in 1989. He started out in some minor roles, and took on some more significant roles... |
extras |