A Study of Hong Kong Cantonese Pop Lyrics: Mid-1970s to Mid-1980s I & II_Taiwan Exclusive

Price: NT$1000 ***This product ships to Taiwan only. Author: Professor Chu Yiu Wai Publisher: Bright Culture Size: 150mm x 210mm Pages: 200 pages, 256 pages (2-book set) Publication Date: April 2016 ISBN: 9789888365296 [Synopsis] Hong Kong Cantonese pop lyrics are intrinsically linked to Hong Kong's popular culture. Looking back at the themes and vocabulary of past lyrics offers a glimpse into the life and facets of Hong Kong at those times. Professor Chu Yiu Wai, a long-time researcher of Hong Kong Cantonese pop lyrics, believes that "researching Hong Kong popular culture is a sustained endeavor, a commitment to the cultural responsibility of Hong Kong society." Originally titled "A Study of Hong Kong Popular Lyrics: Mid-1970s to Mid-1990s," this book was reissued more than a decade later, divided into two volumes for readers' convenience. The current new edition reorganizes the period "Mid-1970s to Mid-1980s" into a two-volume set. (I) The upper volume focuses on the flourishing period of the mid-to-late 1970s, studying lyricists such as James Wong, Lo Kwok-chim, Cheng Kwok-chiang, Sam Hui, Peter Lai, and others. Cultural developments in Hong Kong in the 1970s cannot be discussed without mentioning the popularization of television, which provided a production space for Cantonese TV drama theme songs. The rise of Cantonese films also spurred the vibrancy of Cantonese pop music. The record market prospered, and a new system for singers emerged. The author posits that "the mid-to-late 1970s can be described as the 'foundational' era of Hong Kong popular lyrics." (II) The lower volume concentrates on the transformations of the early 1980s, featuring lyricists like Dickson Poon, Ricky Fung, Pun Yiu-leung, Pun Wai-yu, Andrew Lam, Calvin Lo, Albert Luk, and others. Hong Kong's economy continued to grow, living standards improved, and entertainment options increased, leading to a proliferation of diverse film genres that offered new creative spaces for emerging lyricists. The record industry, facing a slowdown, attempted to produce different types of songs, ushering in a transformation in music production. Opportunities for new lyricists to participate in competitions and debut became more abundant.