Anita Mui Yim-fong (梅艷芳; pinyin: Méi Yànfāng; Cantonese Yale: muìh yihm fòng) (October 10, 1963 - December 30, 2003) was a popular Hong Kong pop singer and actress.
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2 Musical career 3 Actress 4 Her Other Contributions 5 See also 6 External links (in Chinese) |
Mui had one elder sister and two brothers. Her father died when she was young and when she was eight, her mother moved in with another man, hoping he would look after her 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 claimed to have been desperate to get away from her family.
Anita Mui announced in early September 2003 that she had cervical cancer and was undergoing treatment. She lost her battle to cervical cancer and died of respiratory disorder at Hong Kong's Sanitorium Hospital on December 30, 2003 at 02:50 (local time); she was 40 and single at death. Her sister, Ann, also a Hong Kong singer, died of cancer earlier in 2000.
Well-known in Chinese communities the world over, Mui shot to stardom after winning the first New Talent Singing Contest in 1982, beating over 3,000 contestants. She entered show business as a singer when she was five and turned professional when she was seven. Although they did not complete their secondary education, Anita and her sister, Ann Mui. performed Chinese operas and pop songs in numerous restaurants and nightclubs, until she won the singing contest in 1982 with the song "Season of Wind" (風的季節). Despite her title as "new talent" at that time, she had already been a singer for ten years.
Because of her huge success as a pop singer, and her ever-changing images, she is often referred to as the "Madonna of Hong Kong". Her singing career was once compared to that of Diana Ross by CNN.
Mui's first album was released with the Capital Artist Record Company within a year of the contest. Her debut drew a lukewarm response from audience.
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. She maintained an unbroken record. Mui won also best songs awards, both for album songs and movie theme songs.
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. That same year, she was invited to sing at the Olympics opening ceremony.
Mui had her first concert in 1985, lasting 15 nights. Her 28 consecutive concerts in late 1987 won her the title of "Ever Changing Anita Mui"(百變梅艷芳), which became her trademark.
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 stage. She stepped down at only 28 years old, but returned from retirement in 1994.
Over the years, Mui has released over 40 albums. Possibly her best was her fourth album, released in 1986 and named "Bad Girl" (壞女孩) which had an eight platinum-selling record (about 400,000 pieces sold). "Bad Girl" is holding the best-selling Cantonese album in Hong Kong.
"Anita Classics Movement Live" Concert, held from November 6 to November 11, 2003 at Hong Kong Colosseum, was her sixth and the last concert.
Anita Mui is also well-known as an actress across the Asia region. Her films have mainly been of the action thriller and kung fu variety, but she has also taken comedic roles. In 1995 she found some international recognition by starring opposite Jackie Chan in 1995's Rumble in the Bronx, the film that was largely responsible for Jackie Chan himself breaking into the American market.
Apart from singing, Mui won her first acting award as a supporting actress in the movie "Fate" in 1984. In 1987, her movie "Rouge" presented her with the Golden Horse Best Actress award. Later on in 1997, she also won another best supporting actress award with the movie "Eighteen Springs".
Anita 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 name. October 26, 1993 was then again declared as "Anita Mui Day" again in San Francisco.
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.
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.
Personal background
Musical career
Albums
Sources: [1], [1]Actress
Filmography
# - Anita Mui wasn't the leading or supporting actress in the film
* - She was the supporting actress in the film
Sources: [1], [1]Her Other Contributions
See also
External links (in Chinese)