Before entering the entertainment business, she was a registered nurse at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong. She studied at the Kowloon Holy Family Canossian College. She entered the entertainment industry after coming in third in the TVB 14th annual New Talent Singing Awards competition in 1995, and has steadily gained popularity ever since.
Miriam is now managed by East Asia, after previously being contracted with Capitol Artists, Cinepoly Records, Gold Label and Amusic.
As a singer, Miriam has had many songs that have been mainstream hits and award winners, such as "Pity I'm an Aquarius", "Maiden's prayer", "Sisters" and "Small City and Big Issue". "Small City and Big Issue" and "Maiden's Prayer" have won "Best Song of The Year Award" in 2004 and 2000. She has also won "Most popular female singer", "My favourite female singer", and "Female Singer Golden award", which further attest to her huge popularity.
Early in her career her songs had the view point of a young lady. However, in the last few years, Miriam describes her songs as having matured very much.
Single
楊千嬅 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
那最多可笑可怕也未算可悲
逢場做戲 當看雜技
到現在還是很佩服你
幸福送到嘴邊 亦硬生生放棄
＊為了救急 做夢都想起相識得到甚麼
決記不起我性格太易難過
我沒有旁人要得多 才能臨危熄火
旁人大鬧抗議 我卻靜坐
誰知起因 卻記後果
但最不開心的 不會是我＊
難過極了 要笑
自我貶低縮小 細到一粒細沙的痛又有多少
來回對照 哪有預兆
算命但結果不再重要 值要叫我開心
為什麼不喪笑
Repeat ＊＊
The lyrics to 楊千嬅's song "Single" express feelings of moving on from a past relationship and the struggle to let go. The singer acknowledges that no one can compete with the person she was with before, even though it led to a dead heart. She reflects on the relationship as if it was a circus act, watching from the sidelines with admiration for the talent and skill of her former partner. However, she also recognizes that she's the only person who can help herself move on and take the necessary steps to heal. Despite opportunities for happiness, she finds it hard to let go, and sometimes finds herself thinking back to the past.
The lyrics also touch on the singer's struggle to maintain a positive outlook amidst sadness and frustration. She feels like she's constantly comparing herself to others and apologizing for her own pain, but ultimately decides that it's more important to just focus on her own happiness. The repetition of the line "為什麼不喪笑" (why not laugh) at the end of the song emphasizes this theme of finding joy in the midst of struggle.
Some potential readings of this song could be related to the pressures of maintaining relationships in modern society, the difficulty of letting go of past traumas, or the importance of self-care and emotional healing.
Line by Line Meaning
誰也絕不過你 和你鬥早心死
No one can beat you, but competing with you will make me lose faith and hope.
那最多可笑可怕也未算可悲
It is more ludicrous and frightening than pathetic.
逢場做戲 當看雜技
Treating life as a performance or circus show, watching and admiring the tricks and skills.
到現在還是很佩服你
Until now, I'm still impressed by you.
幸福送到嘴邊 亦硬生生放棄
Even though happiness was within reach, I gave it up with great difficulty.
為了救急 做夢都想起相識得到甚麼
In times of need, I dreamt of what I gained from knowing you.
決記不起我性格太易難過
I couldn't recall if it was because of my easily upset character.
既已知道是自助 拿我所需的路過
Knowing it was self-help, I just took what I needed and moved on.
我沒有旁人要得多 才能臨危熄火
I didn't need external validation to stay calm under pressure.
旁人大鬧抗議 我卻靜坐
While others were causing a commotion, I remained calm and composed.
誰知起因 卻記後果
I knew the cause but remembered the outcome instead.
但最不開心的 不會是我
But I won't be the unhappiest one.
難過極了 要笑
I'm extremely sad, but I have to smile.
自我貶低縮小 細到一粒細沙的痛又有多少
By belittling myself, I minimize the pain that feels as small as a grain of sand.
來回對照 哪有預兆
There are no signs when I compare back and forth.
算命但結果不再重要 值要叫我開心
Fortune-telling doesn't matter anymore, what's important is making me happy.
為什麼不喪笑
Why not laugh it off?
Writer(s): XI LIN, SONG DE LEI
Contributed by Oliver R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.