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(Josephine Shao, Siew, Xiao, Siao, Fong Fong, Fung Fung, Fang Fang. The same name but spelled differently.)
I had often seen 60s Hong Kong movies which starred Siew Fong Fong and it didn't matter then whether I understood the language or dialect that the script was in. She was a joy to watch and what attracted me then was her pretty face and her ability to entertain her audience with her Jane Bond kiss-bang, wuxia chops, sword-wielding choreography, and hippy-hippy-shake dancing.
Examples were movies like SwordsOf Swords, I Love A-Go-Go, The Lady Killer and much more. She was one Chinese actress that most fans in the 60s would remember. On the silver screen, Josephine Siao was a major star in both Mandarin and Cantonese movies. In that decade alone she had acted in more than 200 movies and those days the Hong Kong film studios churned out films like factories produced chopsticks. Personally, she felt manipulated, like a "puppet."
Delving into her life and history, I found that she was born in Shanghai in 1947 with a career spanning some five decades, from her beginnings as a child star up till the highly respected professional that she is today. She was the most popular princess in the group of actresses termed the 'Seven Cantonese Princesses' and became one of the biggest teen idols in Hong Kong along with frequent co-star Connie Chan Po Chu.
Unlike many child stars, Siao made a successful transition to adult stardom, winning so many awards and remaining one of Hong Kong's most prolific and popular actresses today. Having largely missed out on a formal education because of her acting career as a child, Siao pursued her studies in later years despite the handicap of increasing deafness and the demands of raising a family. She holds an MA in Child Psychology and is also a published author.
Digging into my drawers lately, I managed to find some western pops by Shao Fong Fong on EMI vinyl (images). And the recordings were proof enough of the fluidity and ease with which she used the English language. The lyrics were beautifully enunciated and her gentle, soft but clear voice was sufficiently suitable for the covers she was interpreting as she delivered them with grace and dignity. These few western covers she did were a contrast to many of the Cantonese and Mandarin songs she had sung on screen and those recorded on other vinyl labels.
Her diction and phrasing reminded me of Malaysian teacher and pop singer Frankie Cheah's English language recordings on EMI. (Click 'Frankie Cheah on 'Label' below to read the posting.)
Vinyl Notes: EMI ECHK 527 (1969). Bluer Than Blue, Who Will Buy this Wonderful Morning, Running Free, Goodbye. EMI ECHK 523 (1968). L.O.V.E, Love, Ding Dong Song, Kiss Me Goodbye.Images/Original article: Andy Lim Collection. Information from Websites.
*Notes from a Website about the actress:
Josephine lost all the hearing in her right ear at age two and has become nearly deaf in her left ear since 1990 so decided to retire for good. Fredric Dannen relates the following about his meeting with Josephine Siao - who he noted has impeccable English.
"At her request, we met in the conference room of a hotel, because, she explained, 'my gadgets do not work so well in noisy places.' Siao did not seem to miss a word I said, and I thought perhaps she had exaggerated her condition until Ann Hui (the director of Summer Snow) later told me that Siao often has to lie down after a conversation because the strain of using her hearing-aid left her exhausted. I was all the more amazed at Siao's acting skill - her deafness is indiscernible in her movies - and all the more grateful for her interview."
Images: Andy Lim Collection.
Video: justiniong1120.
COMMENTS 2019:
Angela Leow:
I remember the classic Mandarin song sung by her 世上只有妈妈好。 It was my fav mandarin song when I was a child
Michael Lee
Hi, Andy she and co-star Connie Chan Po Chu were my favourite actresses till today. Yes, she sings well in English with excellent diction. She has hearing difficulties. Like her, I have hearing difficulties too. Often unable to hear things properly except music.
Cheerio
Stephen Han
Used to watch Josephine Shai Fong Fong And Chan Poh Chu’s Cantonese movies with my wife at Metropole, Jubilee and Marlborough theatres in the 50s and 60s. Agreed with you she can sing in Cantonese as well as English. She is a good actress too like her role with Jet Lee in an action movie. Sad she’s hard on hearing
Andy Young
Thank you all who LIKE this post about our lovely lady. And to Angela, Michael and Stephen appreciate your comments about SFF. I'm learning so much about the Chinese singers from FB friends like you. All comments will be posted below the blog story permanently. Appreciate.
Michael Lee
Hi Andy as I have always said, when you have real talents, you have the ability to overcome many odds and do incredible things many often think not possible. Fong Fong is one of those truly talented.
People who didn't know Fong Fong, but just watch her movies or singing wouldn't have known that she had hearing problems. Despite her hearing handicap, she was still able to be a successful and accomplished actress and singer. This is the real difference between a truly talented and the average ones, the ability to overcome incredible odds. Cheerio.
The classic Mandarin song by her 世上只有妈妈好。 A favourite mandarin song when I was a child: Angela Leow. Video from DoreenChoo.
Andy Young:
Thanks again, Michael.
The comments you make opens a whole new world to readers who are not familiar with 50s music, especially ones from HongKong and the mainland.
Stephen Han:
I remember the Hong Kong music scene as I watched “Enjoy Yourself Tonight produced by Robert Chua. I used to purchase LPS by Kong Ling and The Fabulous Echoes from Kwang Sia Record Shop. I also watch Cantonese movies of Chan Poh Chu, Nancy Sit, and Shu Fong Foong. Sometimes these stars appeared live in theatres. The Ku Mei concert at Gay World was good but it attracted only a handful of the crowd.
Andy Young
Again thank you, Stephen. It's taking us all back to the late 50s and early 60s. Your vivid and detailed description of the crowd, stars and record shop show your first-hand knowledge of the activities then.
Michael Lee
Yes, Stephen, those were the days, Enjoy Yourself Tonight, Kwang Sia Record Shop and those Cantonese movies especially of Chan Poh Chu and Shu Fong Fong. These two were my heartthrobs. One other was Ivy Lim Po. Cheerio.
Images: Andy Lim Collection.
Video: justiniong1120.
COMMENTS 2019:
Angela Leow:
I remember the classic Mandarin song sung by her 世上只有妈妈好。 It was my fav mandarin song when I was a child
Michael Lee
Hi, Andy she and co-star Connie Chan Po Chu were my favourite actresses till today. Yes, she sings well in English with excellent diction. She has hearing difficulties. Like her, I have hearing difficulties too. Often unable to hear things properly except music.
Cheerio
Stephen Han
Used to watch Josephine Shai Fong Fong And Chan Poh Chu’s Cantonese movies with my wife at Metropole, Jubilee and Marlborough theatres in the 50s and 60s. Agreed with you she can sing in Cantonese as well as English. She is a good actress too like her role with Jet Lee in an action movie. Sad she’s hard on hearing
Andy Young
Thank you all who LIKE this post about our lovely lady. And to Angela, Michael and Stephen appreciate your comments about SFF. I'm learning so much about the Chinese singers from FB friends like you. All comments will be posted below the blog story permanently. Appreciate.
Michael Lee
Hi Andy as I have always said, when you have real talents, you have the ability to overcome many odds and do incredible things many often think not possible. Fong Fong is one of those truly talented.
People who didn't know Fong Fong, but just watch her movies or singing wouldn't have known that she had hearing problems. Despite her hearing handicap, she was still able to be a successful and accomplished actress and singer. This is the real difference between a truly talented and the average ones, the ability to overcome incredible odds. Cheerio.
Andy Young:
Thanks again, Michael.
The comments you make opens a whole new world to readers who are not familiar with 50s music, especially ones from HongKong and the mainland.
Stephen Han:
I remember the Hong Kong music scene as I watched “Enjoy Yourself Tonight produced by Robert Chua. I used to purchase LPS by Kong Ling and The Fabulous Echoes from Kwang Sia Record Shop. I also watch Cantonese movies of Chan Poh Chu, Nancy Sit, and Shu Fong Foong. Sometimes these stars appeared live in theatres. The Ku Mei concert at Gay World was good but it attracted only a handful of the crowd.
Andy Young
Again thank you, Stephen. It's taking us all back to the late 50s and early 60s. Your vivid and detailed description of the crowd, stars and record shop show your first-hand knowledge of the activities then.
Michael Lee
Yes, Stephen, those were the days, Enjoy Yourself Tonight, Kwang Sia Record Shop and those Cantonese movies especially of Chan Poh Chu and Shu Fong Fong. These two were my heartthrobs. One other was Ivy Lim Po. Cheerio.
