Faye and Carina Celebrate Their Birthdays in Shanghai

On 6 August 2010, Faye Wong (王菲) and Carina Lau (刘嘉玲) celebrated their brithdays in Shanghai’s Peace Hotel. Faye’s birthday is on Aug. 8, and Carina’s, on Aug. 6. (Source Sohu Entertainment News, et.21cn, ent.cina, 8.7.10)

Correction by Cejan on 8.8.10: Carina’s birthday is on December 8. Thus, the celebration was for Faye!

Faye’s Press Conference 19 July 2010

In a press conference in Beijing, 19 July 2010, Faye Wong (王菲) celebrates the advance ticket sales for her comeback concerts, which reached 18,880,000 yuan. Faye will take the stage on October 29, 30, and 31, and November 5 and 6 at the Beijing’s Wukesong Stadium.  The Chinese words in the fourth photo below read: “Faye Wong 2010 tour.” (Sources for info and photos below: Reuters, China Daily, Agencies, Zhengzhou, Netease 7.20.10)

Update 7.19.20: Faye’s red and black outfit is apparently, on the one hand, a tribute to the passing of Dai Sicong, Faye’s teacher, and, on the the other, a symbol for the beginning of a new phase in her career. Reporters thought, at first, that Faye was barefoot. They later realized that she was wearing flat, nearly transparent shoes.

Update 7.19.20: According to Mr. Yang, the ticket agent, the remaining tickets are now middle-priced (Source: Beijing News, Sina.com, 7.20.10).

Update 7.19.20: As usual, Faye didn’t have much to say at the press conference. Her greetings to the media and fans was a simple, “It’s been a long time.” When asked about ticket sales and if she had any tips on how to get them, she replied, “No ticket tips.” When asked to comment on the 18.8 million dollars in ticket sales, she replied, “Is that data correct?” When asked if there’s a relationship between the style of the posters and the modeling that she’s doing for Celine and Elle, she replied, in a small voice, “No.” And that was all she had to say. (Source: Information Times, Netease 7.20.10)

Faye’s reticence and totally honest replies are legendary, and this is no exception. She doesn’t talk for the sake of filling up the silence. If she has nothing to say, she remains quiet. And this is why we love her so much. She doesn’t fake it, nor does she play up to the media to win their favor. She’s always true to herself and says what she thinks and feels.

New rumors are beginning to spread in the media, as they always do with a blitz like this one. The latest is that Katie, Faye’s manager, has confirmed that Faye will tour the Mainland next year, 2011, and will, at the start of the tour, release a new album for the comeback series. (Source: China Entertainment Network News, 7.19.10)

Faye Concerned About Her Former Teacher

Faye Wong (王菲) is concerned about her former teacher, Dai Sicong (戴思聪)，aged 69, who, according to Hong Kong media reports, had a heart attack. Dai Sicong, a singing teacher to stars such as Faye, Andy Lau, Leon Lai, Aaron Kwok, and Daniel Chan, is known as the “Father of Hong Kong Stars.” Katie Chen (陈家瑛 Chen Jiaying), Faye’s manager, said, “Faye has asked me to find out how he is doing. I immediately called his wife, Wei-Wei (Tai Xin Wei), but my call didn’t get through to her at the hospital. I sent text messages, but they haven’t responded. Faye is really concerned about his condition. After all, he is her teacher!” (Source Sina.com 7.18.10)

Faye Wong (王菲) and Dai Sicong (戴思聪)

Update 17 July 2010: Dai Sicong (戴思聪) died at Ruttonjee Hospital in Hong Kong where he was hospitalized. His daughter said that death was due to “complications from acute coronary heart disease.”

Update 18 July 2010: At the end of 1991, Faye, unhappy with the direction that her career was taking, decided to study in the United States. But when she arrived in the U.S., she learned that she had missed the start date of the new term and could not enter the school. On New Year’s Day 1992, Faye called Dai Sicong from New York and asked him for advice on what to do next. Dai Sicong very firmly told Faye, “You have to come right back! If you stop your career in Hong Kong for as long as six months, people will forget who you are, and all your previous efforts will be in vain.” He analyzed the situation for her. Anita Mui had announced she would no longer accept music awards, which meant that the dominant force in pop music would be gone. This would be the perfect time to step into the void left by Anita. Faye left New York and flew back to Hong Kong. In her next album, Coming Home (Aug. 1992), Faye’s “Fragile Woman” was a blockbuster hit, and her career soared to unparalleled heights after that. (Source: Liao Shen Evening News, 7.19.10)

Update 18 July 2010: Photos added. Faye considered Dai Sicong one of the three most important men in her life.

Faye and Aaron Kwok 1993: ‘Endless Love for You’

Here are Faye Wong (王菲) and Aaron Kwok (郭富城) in a live and, apparently, impromptu 1993 duet on “Endless Love for You” (对你爱不完). It was uploaded to YouTube by wcc010487 on 22 May 2010. The performance is fun and demonstrates Faye’s willingness and ability to improvise and go with the flow. Faye is at her best in situations like this where she’s just being herself, natural. I think this is one of the reasons why her fans are so loyal. Faye is a real human being at all times, always true to herself and never phony. And in duet situations, she always tries to work with the other person. In this case, she’s trying to complement Aaron, who’s into his own routine, oblivious of Faye.

Faye at Eason’s Concert on 30 April 2010

Faye Wong (王菲) was at Eason Chan’s (陈奕迅) concert, “Meet in Beijing After Ten Years,” on 30 April 2010, at Beijing Workers Stadium. To avoid attention, she quietly took her seat after the lights were lowered for the first number, and she quietly left while Eason sang the closing song. Zhou Xun (周迅), Li Yapeng’s (李亚鹏) ex-girlfriend, was seated in the same row as Faye, just a few seats over. Interestingly, LYP didn’t accompany Faye, and the two women did not interact.

Faye Is ‘Busy’ Writing Songs for Her New Album

About a week ago, a rumor spread through the media that Faye Wong’s (王菲)
good friend, Li Jian (李健), who wrote “Legend,” has said that Faye has been busy working on her new album. He said that he would be very happy to write a few songs for her.

Dan 15 March 2010: This photo was taken when Faye sang Liu Nian at an award ceremony in China in 2002.

Yan Kiat 15 March 2010: Here’s the video of Faye’s live performance of “Liu Nian.”

I resisted publishing the rumor at the time, opting instead to wait for corroboration from a valid source. In the last few days, the rumor making the rounds in the media is that Li Yapeng (李亚鹏), Faye’s husband, has confirmed to reporters that Faye is busy writing songs for her new album.

Twelve has been mentioned in terms of the number of songs she’s written thus far. According to the reports, Faye often stops what she’s doing at home to jot down notes for her songs, and she seems to be happy in this creative mode. When asked about the compositions, LYP said that he hasn’t heard or seen the actual songs. He said that even between husband and wife, some privacy is important.

Katie Confirms Faye’s 2010 Concerts

Katie Chen  (陈家瑛 Chen Jiaying) confirmed yesterday that preparations for Faye Wong’s (王菲) 2010 concerts are progressing. She said that the Shanghai concert is scheduled for November at the Pudong Expo Performing Arts Center, and the plan is for five performances. The Beijing concert will be held at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium. Katie said the concert details will be worked out after the Spring Festival. Re the reputed high cost of tickets, she said that ticket sales haven’t begun and that the price “has nothing to do with us. The price is set by the organizers.” (Source NetEase 2.9.10 and 022net 2.10.10)

Faye Shopping for Clothes – 7 Feb 2010

On 7 Feb 2010, at 2:30 in the afternoon, reporters found Faye Wong (王菲) shopping on East Third Ring Road (Beijing) in the vicinity of a clothing market.

(Source NetEase and CFP, 2.10.10)

Click here for more 2.7.10 photos.

Faye’s ‘Seasonal Gale’ with Erhu – Rare 1993 Live Performance

This is a rare video of Faye Wong’s (王菲) live 1993 performance of “Seasonal Gale” (季候风 aka “Monsoon”). The song is from her Feb 1993 album, No Regrets. Alone with the erhu (二胡), this performance has an a cappella quality. This is hauntingly beautiful, and just another demonstration of Faye’s immense talent. The MP3 is a rip from the video. (Source Tudou)

Will Faye Attend Chen Kun’s Feb 4 Concert?

On 4 Feb 2010, Chen Kun (陈坤 aka Aloys) will hold his first ever concert in Beijing’s Chaoyang Gymnasium. Since Faye Wong (王菲) is a good friend, there’s a possibility that she and Li Yapeng (李亚鹏) may attend. However, considering the logistical nightmares that her appearance might generate, she may decide to stay away. Hopefully, they’ll be able to find a secure way to get her in and out of the arena. The first photo below is from 10 Feb 2009; the middle three from 21 May 2008; the last from 23 Dec 2009.

Faye to Sing ‘Legend’ at the 2010 Spring Festival Gala

Speculation among the media is that Faye Wong (王菲) will sing her good friend Li Jian’s (李健) song, “Legend” (传奇), at the 2010 Spring Festival Gala, which will be aired live on Chinese New Year’s Eve (Feb 13) on CCTV (China Central Television). The videos that I found of Li Jian performing “Legend” are of poor quality, and all had a 40-second segment where the audio was corrupted. The version below was edited to remove the talking intro and conclusion as well as the bad 40-second segment. Click here for an article, including photo and video, on Faye at Li Jian’s 29 Apr 2008 concert. Added 1.29.10: MP3 from Aiting.

Faye and Tong at Wedding, 24 Jn 2010

Faye Wong (王菲) and Tong Tong (窦靖童, Dou Jing Tong) on 24 Jan 2010 at TV actress Luo Haiqiong’s (罗海琼) wedding at the Park Hyatt Hotel (柏悦酒店) in Beijing. (Source Ifeng, CFP 1.24.10)

23 Jan 2010 – Faye at Yang Lan’s Store Opening

Faye Wong (王菲) at friend Yang Lan’s (杨澜) jewelry store opening in Shanghai on 23 Jan 2010. (Source Mop Entertainment 23 Jan 2010)

Faye on Her Way to Carina’s Place, 22 Jan 2010

Faye Wong (王菲), 22 Jan 2010, on her way to Carina Lau’s (刘嘉玲) place for dinner.

Faye in Shanghai 21 Jan 2010

Faye Wong (王菲) arrives at Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airporton on 21 Jan 2010 for friend Yang Lan’s (杨澜) jewelry store opening. (Source Netease, Xinmin, Ent163)[Updated 22 Jan 2010 with info from Sohu 1.23.10.)

Faye’s Concert in Shanghai in November 2010

One of the locations for Faye Wong’s (王菲) comeback concert in November 2010 will be Shanghai’s Pudong Expo Performing Arts Center. Ticket prices are expected to break all previous records, earning Faye more than stars Andy Lau (刘德华), Jacky Cheung (张学友), and Jay Chou (周杰倫). (Source Sina.com 1.21.10)

Rare Video: ‘Bride with White Hair 2’ – Theme Sung by Faye

Faye Wong (王菲) sings “Forgetting You Is Like Forgetting Me,” theme song for The Bride with WhiteHair 2 (白髮魔女2). The song was released in Faye Best (1994) in February 1994. Brigitte Lin (林青霞) and Leslie Cheung (张国荣) starred in this 1993 film. In 1994, Faye and Bridgette would play starring roles in Wong Kar-wai’s (王家衛) classic Chungking Express (重庆森林). In 2000, Faye would star with Leslie in Okinawa Rendezvous (戀戰沖繩). The video was added to YouTube by ce004004 on 8 Jan 2010.

Good Friends Concert Video – 72 Minutes

Faye Wong (王菲) with Na Ying (那英) and Jeff Chang (张信哲) at the Good Friends Concert in Hong Kong on 29 Sep 1998. Carina Lau (刘嘉玲) makes a brief appearance. This is rare — 1:11:10 in length. The quality, compared to the versions available to date, is fabulous. It’s wonderful to have this continuous version. It’s the next best thing to actually being there, live. Related articles: 1, 2.

Two Rare Videos: Faye’s Pineapple ‘Do

Faye Wong (王菲) sings “No Regrets” (执迷不悔), from the title track of her February 1993 album, at the 1993 Hong Kong and Taiwan Top 10 Gold Songs awards. With this song, we have a couple of critical firsts: Faye’s first foray into songwriting — she wrote the lyrics — and her first Mandarin release. This also happens to be one of my all-time favorite albums. We see the pineapple ‘do again in the now classic Susie Au (區雪兒) video for “Pledge” (誓言), from Faye’s June 1994 album Random Thoughts. Faye wrote the music and lyrics for “Pledge.”

Added to YouTube by usharimau on 25 April 2010.

No Regrets (執迷不悔)

Composed by Yuan Wei-Ren; Lyrics by Faye Wong
[Translation Wongfaye.org]

This time I resolutely face
Uninhibitive obssession
I don’t really mind
Whether this being right or wrong
Even if fallen deep
I don’t really care
Even if I grasp on to uncertainty
I grasp on to it with no regrets

Don’t say that I should give it up
That I should open my eyes
I use my heart
To see and to feel
You are not me
How can you understand
Even if I grasp on to uncertainty
Let me hold on to it with no regrets

I am not as perfect as you may think
Sometimes I also can’t distinguish being right from being wrong
It’s not that I don’t want to walk out of uncertainty
But only this time
This time it’s myself and no one else

Whose heart should I use to realize
To truly touch upon my surroundings
Even if it’s pain
Even if it meant tears
It’s just my self’s own sorrow

Whose heart can I still use to realize
To truly touch upon my surroundings
Even if I’m fatigued
Even if it’s exhaustion
I can only grasp on to uncertainty with no regrets

Pledge (誓言)

Music and Lyrics by Faye Wong
[Translation Wongfaye.org]

I thought that we could be together forever
Lots of times, I think of this and I don’t want to fall asleep
If you could give me a sincere certainty
It doesn’t matter; nothing matters to me

The road ahead is perhaps not too clear
After I proceed on confidently, perhaps I’ll find it exhausting
Perhaps I’ll want to stop but can’t stop

The darker the sky becomes, the more tired my heart becomes
I saw your face, listened to your unvoiced pledge
At that moment I discovered
That one day I walked past you and didn’t catch your gaze

I take my heart and give it to you to console
Is it possible for me not to have to take it back?
[Please] don’t think that an assiduous heart is unbreakable
[Please] don’t think that nothing matters to me

Faye’s Best Wishes to Chen Kun

Faye Wong (王菲) appeared in a video in support of her friend Chen Kun’s (陈坤) new album, “Mystery of ME,” his first in three years. It was played at a press conference in Beijing on December 23, at the Millennium Hotel. Faye says, “I think Chen Kun is a very wise person. He is multi-talented. I hope his new album does well. Best of luck.”

Faye Wins 2 Press Awards

The first annual 2009 “Big Fish Award” is based on a poll of 100 entertainment reporters and editors from major Chinese publications. This award is unique because of its comprehensive standards. It is based on popularity in the entertainment media, on news value, on reader feedback, and on artists’ performance. It announced winners in 15 categories, and Faye Wong (王菲) is the only star to win in 2 different categories:

Most popular artist: Faye Wong (and Andy Lau 刘德华)

Most sought after interview: Faye Wong

More from Sweet Angel 2009

In this video, Faye Wong (王菲) and Li Yapeng (李亚鹏) deliver heartfelt thank you speeches. Faye’s is, as usual, compact and thoughtful; LYP’s is moving.

(Click here for more videos.)

Some observations from the video and the event in general:

• Na Ying (那英) and Eason Chan (陈奕迅) performed at the event, and clips are included in the video.
• Katie Chen (陈家瑛), Faye’s manager, won the vase that was painted by Tong Tong (竇靖童) and Li Yan (李嫣). She said, “Faye Wong’s daughters are like my granddaughters, and as a grandmother, I am very happy to have their work.”
• Carina Lau (刘嘉玲) showed up in a striking yellow coat.
• Carina’s husband, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (梁朝偉), was a no-show.
• Vicki Zhao (赵薇), too, was a no-show. (Na Ying, Carina, and Vicki are Faye’s closest friends.)
• Chow Yun-Fat (周润发) and his wife, Chen Hui Lin (陈荟莲), after a lot of pre-event hype, failed to show. Rumors are rife re the reasons. In one of the articles, I read that he made remarks to the press that were “critical” of the fundraiser. Still, he donated valuable photographs for the auction.
• Small S’s (小S, 徐熙娣, Xu Xi Di) kissing of Faye was probably the most sensational event of the evening.

Smile Angel Fund 2009 Dinner in Beijing, Dec 18

Faye Wong (王菲)  and Li Yapeng (李亚鹏) will be holding the 2009 Smile Angel Fund charity dinner on December 18 in Beijing. According to director Zhang Jizhong (张纪中), the hosts for the event will be Chow Yun-Fat (周润发) and his wife, Chen Hui Lin (陈荟莲). (See photo below, L-R, of Chow Yun-Fat, his wife, and LYP, at a press conference on 25 Nov 2009.)

Guests will include Faye’s long time friends Tony Leung (梁朝偉), Carina Lau (刘嘉玲), and  Na Ying (那英).

Among items up for auction is a vase  that’s painted by Faye and LYP’s daughters, Dou Jingtong (竇靖童) and Li Yan (李嫣). (Source:  People.com, 15 Dec. 2009)

November-December 2009 Photos of Faye!

This photo was taken at the Central Shoppes on 1 Dec. 2009. Faye Wong (王菲), three girfriends, and assistants were out shopping. After about 10 minutes, they left by car to go to another shopping mall. (Source Sina.com, 3 Dec 2009)

The following photos were taken “recently” so I’m assuming sometime in late Novemer 2009. (Date: 11.28.09.) That’s Tong Tong (竇靖童, Dou Jingtong), who will be 13 on 3 Jan. 2010. (Source cnwest.com, 3 Dec. 2009)Video added 3 Dec 2009. (Source: Sichuan Online, 12.3.09; NetEase)

Faye Comeback Concerts in October 2010?

According to China News Net (20 Nov. 2009), Hong Kong and Taiwan record company executives are claiming that Faye Wong (王菲) will be staging a series of comeback concerts in October 2010. She will receive 50 million yuan for performances in ten stadiums in cities such as Shanghai and Beijing. Katie Chen (陈家瑛), Faye’s agent, is reported to have confirmed this news. When asked for details about time and place, she replied, “It’s still under study.”

Update 22 Nov. 2009: Chengdu Daily’s Zhang Shihao (张世豪）reported today that the comeback will be staged in Shanghai and Beijing, with five performances in each. Their reporter spoke with Faye’s agent, Katie, who said, “Indeed, we are talking about it. It is proceeding smoothly.” When asked what form the return would take, she said, “It may be a concert.” She also said that the event will not be in October. The date has not been finalized.

Faye’s ‘Les Rues de Paris’

This is an MP3 of Faye Wong (王菲) singing “Les Rues de Paris” in a live performance in Hong Kong in 1994. It has never been included in an official release. I’ts been available online (audio only) for some time, but I never got around to posting it in Faye Wong Today — that is, until now.

Faye’s 1997 Live Performance of ‘Lake Waves’

This is Faye Wong’s (王菲) live solo of “Lake Waves” (洪湖水浪打浪, Honghu Waves), in a performance to celebrate Hong Kong’s return in 1997. She is accompanied by Liu Shih-kun (刘诗昆) on piano. (Source: NetEase ent.163.com.) The MP3 audio was ripped from the video. This is a rare performance, and many have never seen or heard it.

Photos 27 Oct 2009

A few days ago (27 Oct. 2009?) Faye Wong (王菲), Li Yapeng (李亚鹏), and their daughter, Li Yan (李嫣), were out shopping and dining in the shopping arcade of East Third Ring Road. (Source: Tencent Entertainment, 10.30.09)
Click here for more photos.

Faye Wong and Sally Yeh Duet — ‘Never Give Up’

This Faye Wong (王菲) and Sally Yeh (葉倩文) duet, “Never Give Up” (永不放棄), was added to YouTube by 1992wtk on 26 Oct. 2009. The video is audio only. The mp3 audio version below was ripped from the video. I’d never heard this before. At the 1:34 mark, the banter between the two is really cool. The song and tune are catchy. Look out. You won’t able to stop listening. Can you tell when Faye’s singing?

Faye and Yan at Wedding

Faye Wong (王菲) and Li Yan (李嫣) at the wedding of Wang Xue Bing (王学兵) and Sun Ning (孙宁) on 16 Oct. 2009. The event was held at Beijing’s East Third Ring Road. Yan caught the bouquet thrown by the bride.

Faye and Sandy – 1992 Revolving Mike Performance

In this 1992 video, Faye Wong (王菲) and Sandy Lam (林憶蓮) perform live on TV, taking turns at a revolving mike. The quality of this video is superior to anything that’s been available up until now. This video was added to YouTube by sandyandme3 on 4 Oct. 2009.

Anaesthesia Remix – Rare Bonus Track from Japan Release

Here’s a rare remix of Faye Wong’s (王菲) “Anaesthesia,” which was included as a bonus track in the Japan release of Scenic Tour (Chang You, Oct. 1998). The original version appeared in Faye Wong 1997 (Sep. 1997), which was Faye’s first EMI album. It was added to YouTube by wanderlustliu on 3 Oct. 2009. The audio below was ripped from the video.

Yan Kiat – Faye’s Rare 1994 Videos: ‘Cold War’ and ‘I’m Willing’

Yan Kiat uploaded these two Faye Wong (王菲) videos to YouTube on 21 August 2009. In his notes, he thanks kcskywelcome1, who uploaded the originals. “I’m Willing” (Mystery, Apr. 1994) was originally in two segments, but Yan Kiat combined the two in this version. He says that this video “Is very precious, and I have never seen it before.” He says that the original “Cold War” (Hundred Thousand Whys, Sep. 1993) had disappeared from YouTube so this is a re-upload.

Update: Dan, on September 20th, 2009 said:

She also sing ‘liu fei fei’ at this event with tony leung. [Click here for this video.]

And faye also sang ‘memories’ with sandy lam and sally yeh at the beginning of this event.

Rumor: Faye to Star in ‘Journey to the West’

At a recent news conference, Zhang Jizhong (张纪中), producer and director of the upcoming mega-film and 50-episode TV drama “Journey to the West” (西游记), was asked if he wanted to have Faye Wong (王菲) play the critical role of the Goddess of Mercy (观音 Kuan Yin). He seemed to be surprised, with eyes wide open, and repeatedly asked, “Who said that?” He pondered the question for a moment, then said he had not decided but would be interested in discussing it. He said she would definitely be within the scope of possibilities.

For many, Faye seems like the perfect match for the role because of her recent appearance in a Buddhist performance. The photo below is an artist’s conception of how Faye might look in the part.

The following is from Wikipedia: “Zhang Jizhong is in the pre-production phase of his adaptation of Journey to the West movie trilogy, another one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese Literature, with the story focusing on the Monkey King, a household name in China and in other Asian countries like Japan and South Korea. Each of the three films in the trilogy are expected to have a budget of $100 million, which would make them the most expensive movies made in Chinese history. . . . The high budget for the Monkey King will be used for the visual effects and foreign talent, which will rival those Hollywood fantasy trilogies such as Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter film series. Zhang Jizhong is also developing a theme park, an online game and a television series based on his company’s digitized content of the Monkey King and Journey to the West.”

(Source epochtimes 8.18.09)

Dancing Queen Video – Complete

This is the full-blown Dancing  Queen (飛躍舞台) live TV performance with Faye Wong (王菲), Sally Yeh (葉蒨文), and Sandy Lam (林憶蓮), in Taiwan (台慶),  1993. It was added to YouTube by imchi001 on 17 July 2009. The video quality is excellent, but the audio is slightly out of synch. The version in the recently released “The True Story of Faye Wong” inexplicably omits Sandy.

Here are the songs:
Faye Wong (王菲) – Flow Not Fly (流非飛)
Sally Yeh (葉蒨文) – Tilt (傾斜)
Sandy Lam (林憶蓮) – No Longer Frivolous (不再兒嬉)
Faye Wong – Shock (震撼)
Sally Yeh – Possessed by the Devil (走火入魔)
Sandy Lam – Day the Earth Large (天大地大)
Faye Wong – Heart of the Sun (心裡的陽光)
Sally Yeh – Summer of Love
Sandy Lam – The Letter Itself, chorus (信自己, 合唱)