A Song to Remember (TV series)

A Song to Remember (simplified Chinese: 星州之夜) is a MediaCorp Channel 8-produced 30-episode history-musical drama which is set in the 1930s to 1940s in early Singapore before World War II. This drama will be broadcast on MediaCorp Channel 8 in 22 November 2011 on every weekday night at 9.00 pm.

This drama stars Qi Yu Wu and Joanne Peh who had paired up thrice after The Little Nyonya and C.L.I.F., and Eelyn Kok, Julie Tan and Desmond Tan. It is reported that Chen Hanwei will be acting as a villain in this drama after A Life of Hope. Eelyn Kok is also another antagonist. Viewers can catch episodes on xinmsn catchup from 23 November.

Synopsis

In the 1930s and 1940s, troupes from Shanghai, Southern China as well as local cabaret groups thronged the scene and enlivened the night. Reveling in song and dance drowned out anxieties of the impending war and blues of the real world. Set in this backdrop, this drama serial relives the glittering Singapore nightlife of old.

Flames of war ignite in the 1940s. Swaying in the midst of a raging turmoil, Yuhong (portrayed by Joanne Peh) and Song Qiao-er (portrayed by Eelyn Kok), rivaling doyennes of Shanghai Li Ming Troupe, fight it out on stage. Qiao-er vows to remove the thorn in her flesh, and Yuhong retaliates.

A young musician from Shanghai, Mo Liguang (portrayed by Qi Yuwu), arrives on the eve of the outbreak of World War II in Singapore. A bookish "cultural youth", he indulges in fantasy and music. His insensitivity to mundane affairs often lands him in comic situations! He develops feelings for Yuhong after meeting her on-board the ship to Singapore.

Liguang's aunt is a vicious landlady who puts him in charge of collecting rents from the difficult tenants of an old building. Taunted by a motley bunch of characters, he is helped by Liu Jiumei (portrayed by Julie Tan) from being driven back to Shanghai by his aunt.

Jiumei is mistreated by her adopted mother to sing for a living, and ends up being bullied as the "soda girl" at New World Nightclub. An optimistic girl by nature, she daydreams about making a debut on stage. She falls for Li Guang after a series of tribulations but suppresses her love for him because his heart is with Yu Hong.

The captivating Indian, Malay, Peranakan and Western dances inspire Liguang to compose songs for Jiumei. Both are the quintessential composer and singer duo.

The rivalry between Yuhong and Qiao-er intensifies when they come to Singapore. Qiao-er works her charms on tycoon Xu Kun (portrayed by Chen Hanwei) in the hope of eliminating Yu Hong, but the latter counter-attacks by sexual seduction to rise as the doyenne of the troupe and a star in Singapore.

Yuhong ropes in Liguang to the troupe and redeems Jiumei from the brothel. Jiumei is filled with gratitude for her savior but Yu Hong realizes that Jiumei's talent for singing and dancing poses a threat to her. She tries to stunt her popularity but the latter makes tremendous progress under Qiao-er's mentorship. To safeguard her position, Yu Hong seeks to destroy Jiumei, just like how she was previously victimized by Qiao-er.

To raise funds for the medical costs of a neighbour's infant, Jiumei and Liguang call on everyone to participate in a spectacular street show - "Night of the Stars". Jiumei becomes an overnight sensation and banking on her fame, Jiumei's adopted mother sells her to a rogue businessman to be his minor wife. How will Liguang save Jiumei from the devil's clutches? Will he choose to love Yuhong or Jiumei eventually? In the chaotic period leading to a world war, what is the fate of everyone?

Cast

Filming

• This drama was scheduled to broadcast in 2010 but however was postponed to 2011. It is also one of two anniversary dramas in 2011, the other is Devotion.
• There are three year-blockbusters in 2011, the other two being Devotion and The Oath.
• This drama started lensing in August 2011.
• It is also scheduled to have 40 episodes but was reduced to 30.

TVCs

• The TVCs many days before the debut show the main cast.
  • The women TVCs show Joanne Peh, Pan Lingling, Eelyn Kok and Julie Tan singing Shanghai Nights (夜上海).^[1] Among them, Joanne Peh holds a gun,^[2] Eelyn Kok holds a pair of scissors,^[3] Pan Lingling holds a broken bottle,^[4] and Julie Tan held a cleaver.^[5] The slogan is 星州之夜的女人不简单 (The women of A Song to Remember are not easy to go with).
  • Pan Lingling sung in the TVC, however she is not a songstress.
  • The man TVCs show Qi Yu Wu, Desmond Tan, Chen Hanwei showing off their capabilities.^[6] Qi Yu Wu plays his violin,^[7] Desmond Tan throws a cleaver to the screen,^[8] and Chen Hanwei's character obession is money.^[9] The slogan is 星州之夜的男人有看头 (The men of A Song to Remember are a must-watch).

Songs

So many songs were being sung on A Song to Remember. Mavis Hee "sung" for Yu Hong, Liu Liyang "sung" for Song Qiao'er and Xu Yijing "sung" for Jiumei.

Trivia

• The Singapore theatre's name is "Paramoun" compared to "Paramount".
• This drama was supposed to be an anniversary drama. It was however also added as an end-year blockbuster as the episodes were broadcast.
• Being the main villains for this drama, Chen Hanwei and Eelyn Kok were not offered any new roles in 2012 dramas currently.

References

See also

• List of programmes broadcast by MediaCorp Channel 8
• Episodic Synopsis for A Song to Remember (TV series)