My Favourite MandoPop Ballads of the 90s (Vol.1)

The 90s had always been somewhat of a blur for me in my life - I'd started my career only in my early 20s in the early 90s, through a hazy year of Hard Rocking and of being drunk on being paid to be "independent", and of self-serving excess ... then subsequently starting down a behind the scenes path in local media, and started to be influenced, surrounded by all forms of media - particularly in the instance of this hobby-blog: "MUSIC".

I remember the countless all-nighters while the TV set played MTV (and HBO movies), and of being exposed to more beyond the "Top 40s".

I had (re)discovered MandoPop, and how it subtly influenced my subconsciousness, even though my focus has been on American pop/pop-rock during that period (the 80s had been predominently British New Wave).

I had always sucked in the Chinese language, even from school (especially from school lol), and had avoided it in my early adult life, quite frankly, until "music" (re)hacked my life then, offering me a semblence of solace and even "direction", and took root ... and thus was re-inspired again this morning while watch a throwback performance of Sky Wu on tv! And so here we are - a selection of my favourite and memorable MandoPop songs of the 90s!



Featuring Ballads and Power Ballads, and realising I needed to split the post, as I delved (too) deep into my music-pasts, this Saturday afternoon LOL

"Give My Special Love to the Special You" / "特別的愛給特別的你" by Sky Wu 伍思凱 is as memorable as it is a clear burst of the past for me, a freeing feeling as I hear the melody soar, and Sky Wu's voice pleading to a past since faded...

AUDIO ONLY

LIVE STAGE PERFORMANCE


This following track is etched so much in my mind's soundscape, it pains me even though I no longer remember why ... "明明白白我的心" ("So transparent is my heart") by 陳淑樺 Sarah Chen&成龍 Jackie Chan...



"You Are My Only One" by Eric Moo 巫啟賢 (Audio Only):


Aside: Eric Moo was supposed to do a surprise cameo in "Forever Fever" feature film (1998) - my first ever feature film involved in, for which I was the credited Art Director at the time ... the thing was, he could not turn up at on the day (night) of his shoot, and I was roped in instead to take over his role, as a (somewhat) "gangster boss" role! I even had lines! OMG LOL

It's okay you've not watched the film nor know of the scene, thanks :p

"想著你的感覺" by Eric Moo:


"為你我受冷風吹 Suffer for you" by 林憶蓮 Sandy Lam:


"夢醒時分 Dream to awakening" by 陳淑樺 Sarah Chen (1989):


"讓我歡喜讓我憂 / You Make Me Happy and Sad" by Wakin Chau:


"愛如潮水 / Love is Like Tidal Wave" by Jeff Chang (Audio Only):


"領悟 / Understanding" by Winnie Hsin:


And what is as amazing and interesting, is that the above 5-listed songs had been produced by Jonathan Lee 李宗盛, for when he joined Rock Records in 1994; "...and has been credited with catapulting Rock Records into one of the foremost independent music labels in Asia. He helped pave the way for the golden era of Chinese pop.". (Source). Here is a memorable tune from Jonathan lee himself - a duet Wirth Sandy Lam (whom he married in 1998, and divorced in 2004);



"領悟" by 李宗盛:


Mavis Hee's "城里的月光 Moonlight in the City" really helped me take a pause down nostalgia lane, and I'll cherish the music memories this weekend, cheers.

MANDARIN VERSION (fan-made video with lyrics):

CANTONESE VERSION (This MV is precious, as it shows a older Singapore):

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