Today, let's delve into the history of Chinese pop music, and I guarantee you'll be amazed. Did you know that the pioneer of Chinese pop music was Mr. Li Jinhui? Musical giants like Zhou Xuan and Nie Er all emerged from his folk music and dance troupe.
Back in his Peking University days, Li Jinhui wrote China's first pop song, "Wang Mao" (Wang the Cat). However, unexpectedly, this song and his later pop music works sparked enormous controversy. During that unique historical period, many musicians' contributions didn't receive fair recognition.
In recent years, Mr. Li Jinhui's reputation has been steadily rising. Especially after Comrade Li Lanqing retired, he dedicated himself to rearranging Li Jinhui's musical dramas and invited me to be the music director for two musicals. One of them, called "Night of Joy for the People," included the children's song we all grew up with, "Little Bunny Be Good."
The Golden Age of Chinese Pop Music: Shanghai During the War of Resistance
You'd never guess that the peak of Chinese pop music's development was actually during the War of Resistance! From 1937 to 1945, centered in Shanghai and marked by Zhou Xuan's "The Wandering Songstress," Chinese pop music reached unprecedented heights.
Why was the war period a peak? Because Shanghai was a haven at that time, attracting wealthy individuals. Furthermore, Shanghai was one of the first Chinese cities to embrace foreign culture and become an international metropolis.
Frankly, pop music needs a city to thrive. It's like folk music in the city, a combination of Chinese folk tunes and jazz. Think of the American blues, also the result of black folk songs moving from the countryside to the city.
Shanghai: The Cradle of Pop Music
Besides the urban environment, political reasons also contributed to Shanghai's role as the cradle of pop music. After the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, the Wang Jingwei regime took over Shanghai and produced a large number of soft films, indirectly promoting the development of pop music.
After liberation, pop music was suppressed, but it quietly continued in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Shanghai's pop music went south, taking root and flourishing in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Hong Kong and Taiwan: Inheritance and Innovation of Pop Music
In the 1950s and 60s, Mandarin songs entered a transitional period in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Classic songs like "Unforgettable Love," "Green Island Serenade," and "Nanping Evening Bell" were representative of that era.
The 1970s brought significant changes to both Hong Kong and Taiwan.
In Hong Kong, Cantonese songs rose sharply. The emergence of Samuel Hui completely changed the fate of Cantonese songs. He transformed Cantonese songs from operatic tunes into pop songs and incorporated rock elements.
In Taiwan, a "folk song movement" swept through the island. This movement is considered the Renaissance of Taiwanese pop music and is of great significance.
The folk song movement completely overturned the previous "era song" style, which was characterized by gentle, graceful, and delicate love songs. It was now created by amateur young people, and the content became more real and lifelike.
For example, "Grandma's Penghu Bay" captures the smallest fragments of life, making people feel particularly close to it. The creation of pop songs thus returned to life itself.
Luo Dayou, Jonathan Lee, Xiaochong, Li Zisheng... these later giants of the Chinese music scene all emerged from the folk song movement.
Teresa Teng: A Cultural Icon of an Era
Speaking of Taiwanese pop music, Teresa Teng is a must-mention. She's not just a singer but a cultural icon of an era.
Teresa Teng's music blends Western and Chinese local cultural elements. She sang songs in Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, English, and Japanese, showcasing the integration of Taiwan's diverse cultures.
Teresa Teng's singing also carries a lot of historical memories. Many "era songs" that were banned in mainland China returned to people's memories through her singing.
| Song Title | Singer |
|---|---|
| Fragrant Evening Primrose | Teresa Teng |
| When Will You Return? | Teresa Teng |
In short, Teresa Teng is a great synthesizer who promoted pop music and has a very high representativeness.
The development of Chinese pop music has experienced a shift from Shanghai to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and now it's flourishing everywhere. It carries historical memories and reflects the changes of the times.