Decadent Sounds of Faye

Decadent Sounds of Faye (Chinese: 菲靡靡之音; pinyin: fēi mí mǐ zhī yīn) is a 1995 album recorded by Chinese Cantopop singer Faye Wong when she was based in Hong Kong.

The album consists entirely of cover versions of songs originally released by her idol Teresa Teng, one of the most revered Chinese singers of the 20th century. Teng's music remains extremely popular in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and mainland China. A duet was planned for the album, but Teng died before this could be recorded; Wong considered scrapping the project out of respect.^[1]

The title of this album is a pun: during the Cultural Revolution, Teng's songs were condemned as "decadent sounds" (靡靡之音) by the Communist Party of China. The album title is literally translated as Faye's Decadent Sound (菲靡靡之音) where the character "菲" (Faye) has the same pronunciation as "非" (no/not/non). Hence the title can be reconstrued as "Non-Decadent Sounds".

Decadent Sounds sold quite well despite initial negative criticism. It has come to be recognised as a classic by her fans and is held as an example of imaginative covering by recent critics.

Track listing

1. "雪中蓮" (Xuĕ Zhōng Lián) –

   Lotus In The Snow

2. "你在我心中" (Nĭ Zài Wŏ Xīn Zhōng) –

   You Are In My Heart

3. "但願人長久" (Dàn Yuàn Rén Cháng Jiŭ) –

   Wishing We Last Forever

4. "君心我心" (Jūn Xīn Wŏ Xīn) –

   His Heart, My Heart

5. "初戀的地方" (Chū Liàn De Dì Fāng) –

   Place of First Love

6. "南海姑娘" (Nán Hăi Gū Niáng) –

   Girl of Nanhoi

7. "假如我是真的" (Jiă Rú Wŏ Shì Zhēn De) –

   If I Was Bonafide

8. "翠湖寒" (Cuì Hú Hán) –

   Green Lake Coldness

9. "黃昏裡" (Huáng Hūn Lĭ) –

   At Dusk

10. "奈何" (Nài Hé) –

    Frustration

11. "一個小心願" (Yī Gè Xiăo Xīn Yuàn) –

    One Small Wish

12. "又見炊煙" (Yòu Jiàn Chuī Yān) –

    Sighting Of Chimney Smoke

13. "原鄉情濃" (Yuán Xiāng Qíng Nóng) –

    Sentiments Of A Native Village

References

1. ^ Xiaobao Chen, ex-Universal Records Hong Kong CEO, 前環球總裁披露王菲舊事 與鄧麗君難了合唱緣 (Chinese)

External links

• Faye's Decadent Music at zompist.com (American linguist's site)