By Genesis Oquendo
September 10th, 2024, marked the 25th anniversary of notorious Chinese-Hong Kong singer-songwriter Faye Wong’s studio album “Only Love Strangers” (只愛陌生人). So, who exactly is Faye Wong?
Faye Wong—who previously went under the stage name of Shirley Wong, Faye, and Wong Jing Man— is a celebrated C-pop singer and actress due to her groundbreaking contributions between both spheres. She debuted in 1989 with her Cantonese album Shirley Wong, captivating audiences with her unique innovative blend of alternative pop and traditional Chinese music.
Aside from her musical achievements, Faye Wong has impacted cinema by starring in several movies: the most notable were critically acclaimed Wong Kar-Wai films, specifically Chungking Express (1994)— which effectively showcased Faye Song’s musical talents through her cover of The Cranberries’ song “Dreams” in Mandarin— and 2046 (2004) which launched her “debut” into the Western sphere of media.
Her “debut” in western media was characterized by several key factors. Most notoriously, her song Eyes on Me was featured in the popular video game Final Fantasy VIII and served as the main theme for the rest of the game’s soundtrack. The series’s popularity ensured it was a hit and led her to win the first video game song award “Song of the Year (Western Music) at the 14th Annual Japan Gold Disc in 2000.
Additionally, The Cocteau Twins wrote “Fracture” (分裂) and “Repressing Happiness” (掃興)for her 1996 record and even spoke about the transatlantic relationship in an interview on BBC Sessions “Mark Radcliffe Radio Show.” The Cocteau Twins aligned their alternative music style with Faye Wong’s style and introduced her in a sense to their Western fan base through showing her versatility outside of China.
Analysis on “Only Love Strangers:”
The notable track begins with the song “The Last Blossom” (開到荼蘼) that symbolizes themes of love and loss along with how they are both fleeting in nature. The song itself reflects onto those fleeting specific romantic connections that define relationships, using blossoms in a metaphorical sense to relationships that bloom fast and intensely but eventually die. Faye Wong uses her ethereal voice to empathize such points by building up the intensity to slowly dimming it down by the end of the, engaging the listener. Her voice throughout the song also reflects a melancholic tone that perfectly ties into the lyrics.
The album itself harbors one of Faye Wong’s most notable tracks that explores themes of love, loss, and the complex nature of human behavior that evokes a powerful sense of longing and nostalgia to the listener. The album’s versatility is portrayed through the unique genre blends ranging from pop to rock and the emotional range where some have a serious tone whilst others have a more playful tone. Compared to her other albums, “Only Love Strangers” stands out by being more experimental in terms of lyric depth and by being different from her traditional genre, marking a shift that highlights her evolution as an artist.
Faye Wong’s is trailblazer in the fusion of eastern and western music styles whose lyrical influence goes beyond music. Her 1999 album continues to be a timeless classic.
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