Frances Yip Lai-yee (born 1947) is a Hong Kong English pop and C… Read Full Bio ↴葉麗儀
Frances Yip Lai-yee (born 1947) is a Hong Kong English pop and Cantopop singer. She is best known for performing many of the theme songs for television series produced by TVB in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Born in 1947, Yip is of Hakka ancestry, and is the youngest of 5 siblings. She grew up in a rural area in Hong Kong, and studied in St. Clare's Girls' School, an English Catholic school.
Her first singing job was in 1969 when she won a talent contest called Sharp's Night Four Lights Competition on Hong Kong television where she met the composer, Joseph Koo. Koo used Yip to sing commercial jingles while she was working as a secretary in HSBC, one was the jingles was a song about savings account for HSBC. Her first record, Bu Liao Qing (Love Without End) was recorded in the same year. She recorded predominantly English covers of Mandarin songs and Mandarin songs then.
In 1972, Yip and Joseph Koo went to Japan's World Singing gathering in Nippon Budokan. In 1973, Yip was working for Cathay Pacific as an Ambassador of Hong Kong under Hong Kong Tourism Board for a year, and her album, Discovery, was based on her experiences travelling. Discovery was sung in nine different languages to represent the 9 major destinations for Cathay Pacific then, and the album inspired a London talent agent to find her. She signed onto EMI records and lived in London for two years.[3]It was a worldwide contract, meaning she can have one English album released in 6 different languages in different areas of the world. Since then, she had renewed her two-year contract until now.
Yip hit international fame with her signature tune, The Bund from the TVB drama of the same title.[4] After she recorded The Bund, she returned to Hong Kong.
In her 45-year career, Yip has released more than 80 albums, mostly of songs in American English, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Mexican Spanish, Japanese, Tagalog, Hong Kong Cantonese, and Taiwanese Mandarin. She has performed on television, and in films, concerts and cabarets in more than 30 countries on five continents. Her linguistic skills, with unique interpretations of lyrics in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, as well as several other Asian languages, have led to a fan base across a wide range of cultures and countries.
Yip has worked with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Macau Chinese Orchestra, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, the Youth Orchestra from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Thammasat University Philharmonic Orchestra in Bangkok as well as large orchestras in Kuala Lumpur.
Yip achieved worldwide recognition when she was selected by the Hong Kong government to be a co-presenter at the British Farewell Ceremony to mark the transfer of sovereignty in Hong Kong. The event on June 30, 1997, was watched by a television audience estimated at 120 million, in more than 80 countries worldwide.
In 2012, Yip recorded her first Christian album, Grace and Glory Psalm 84.
Yip is fluent in Chinese (Hong Kong Cantonese and Taiwanese Mandarin) and English. She often spends time in Sydney where her son and grandchildren live.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, but was considered free of cancer in 2002. To celebrate eight years of being cancer-free, in 2010, she held a charity concert in Kuala Lumpur to benefit cancer research and treatment.
Since 2013, she and her husband have lived in the rural suburbs of Sydney, Australia with their son and grandson. They have Australian citizenship, and also own rental properties in England. She occasionally returns to Hong Kong to perform and make TV appearances.
Shang Hai Tan
Frances Yip Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
long lau
man lei tou tou
kong suy wen pat yau
tou chung liu...
shai tan shi.
wan chok tou
tou yat tin chiu lau
shi sau
long loi fan pat
chin fung siu pei yau
sing kong
sat baai
long loi hong
pat chuk yau wei yau
ngoi nei man nei
man kwat chi fau
chi tai ko
yat fat pat sau
chun chi nei wan
chin chi hin kang
yet mei peng
fuk ching chun chang tou
yau yau hei
yau yau sau
chau sin fan pat
chi fun siu pei yau
yun yiun fong
pat chin lok
chau ngo sam
chan hei fuk tau
ngoi nei man nei
man kwat chi fau
chi tai ko
yat fat pat sau
chun chi nei wan
chin chi hin kang
yet mei peng
fuk ching chun chang tou
yau yau hei
yau yau sau
chau sin fan pat
chi fun siu pei yau
yun yiun fong
pat chin lok
chau ngo sam
chan hei fuk tau
yun yiun fong
pat chin lok
chau ngo sam
chan hei fuk tau
The lyrics to Frances Yip's song "Shang Hai Tan" describe the bustling and vibrant city of Shanghai, with its crowded streets and lively atmosphere. The song starts by mentioning the "long pan" and "long lau," two types of traditional Chinese buildings that are common in Shanghai. The singer then goes on to describe the busy streets and the hustle and bustle of the city, with people rushing about and the sound of voices all around.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Shang Hai Tan," which means "Shanghai Beach." This is a reference to the historic riverfront area of the city that used to be a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The singer talks about the different sights and sounds of the city, with its towering skyscrapers, colorful buildings, and busy markets. She mentions the "sing kong" (star ferry) and the "sat baai" (market stalls) that are commonly found in the city.
Overall, the lyrics to "Shang Hai Tan" paint a vivid picture of the energy and excitement of the city of Shanghai, capturing its unique blend of traditional and modern culture.
Line by Line Meaning
long pan
A vast expanse
long lau
Towering skyscrapers
man lei tou tou
Crowds of people hustling about
kong suy wen pat yau
Noisy, never silent
tou chung liu...
All bustling around...
shai tan shi.
This is the scene of Shanghai.
wan chok tou
Myriad lights
tou yat tin chiu lau
Reaching up to the sky
shi heii
It's black (with buildings)
shi sau
It's majestic
long loi fan pat
A dragon lying on the bed (the city)
chin fung siu pei yau
Breathing wind and exhaling mist
sing kong
City of commerce
sat baai
From all over the world
long loi hong
A dragon rising
pat chuk yau wei yau
No matter the time of day or night
ngoi nei man nei
Everywhere you look
man kwat chi fau
Full of cranes and scaffolding
chi tai ko
The style is unique
yat fat pat sau
Cannot be matched by anyone else
chun chi nei wan
Summer the day I was there
chin chi hin kang
Really magnificent
yet mei peng
Beautiful beyond measure
fuk ching chun chang tou
Abound with wealth and prosperity
yau yau hei
And more, and more beside
yau yau sau
There is plenty
chau sin fan pat
Scenery and feelings
chi fun siu pei yau
Cannot express fully
yun yiun fong
Always bustling
pat chin lok
Not quiet for a moment
chau ngo sam
As I walk about
chan hei fuk tau
I feel happy and proud
yun yiun fong
Always bustling
pat chin lok
Not quiet for a moment
chau ngo sam
As I walk about
chan hei fuk tau
I feel happy and proud
Contributed by Lincoln V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NW
I assume this "translation" was a joke. OP literally just made everything up. Not a single line is even REMOTELY right. I got a good laugh out of it though.
Kek Joo
I just happened to see your translated lyrics. I am afraid they are absolutely incorrect. The song speaks of the rise and ebbing of the tides and likens the experiences of love and hate/revenge to the changing tides. There is no mention of buildings (long pang long lau means the tide/current rises and ebbs). Shi hei shi sau is not it’s black, it’s majestic but whether it is joy or whether it is sorrow. Etc etc. This is very in line with the themes of the drama and movie versions which has this song as its theme song. This is a melancholic song and not one prompting SH as a tourist attraction toon
@dumbbell5564
可以試聽這些。有些不是最hot但很好聽。Youtube 可以找到。
王傑 林憶蓮 溫柔的你
梅艷芳 他令我改變. 張德蘭 何日再相見. 鄭少秋 歲月無情. 鄭少秋 能否再遇上. 譚詠麟 痴心的廢墟. 張學友 親親. 張學友 關淑怡 年少無情. 張德蘭 心藥. 泰迪羅賓 這是愛. 關淑怡 一首獨唱的歌. 陳松伶 淒淒煙雨間.林子祥 似夢迷離. 張德蘭 情若無花不結果. 葉倩文 願死也為情.
鄺美雲 小島風雲. 關正傑 盡在不言中. 徐小鳳 人生满希望. 陳潔靈 星夜星塵. 故地濃情 何家勁. 湖海爭霸錄 陳秀雯. 張學友 紅葉舞秋山.
徐小鳯 嘆息 鲍翠微 夢裏幾翻哀. 陳秀雯 艷陽. 張國榮 奔向未來日子.千枝針刺在心 林子祥. 風雲 仙杜拉. 蔣麗萍 情是枉癡心. 徐小鳯 婚紗背後.
詠麟 雨絲情愁. 徐小鳳 情比雨絲
黃凱芹 晚秋. 譚詠麟 關淑怡 舊情復熾. 張學友 無情冷雨夜. 張學友 情已逝. 陳百强 我的故事. 黎瑞恩 明白我這世界沒有別人. 鲍翠微 兩地情. 林憶蓮 早晨. 問 張學友 & 關淑怡.
林志美 感情的段落. 吳若希 你在我心間. 熱爱多年在心藏 關正傑 .
風筝 曾路得. 變幻是缘分 鐘鎮濤.
心事 黄绮嘉. 堆積情感 鄺美雲.
雪中情 關正傑. 紅颜 葉麗儀.
停不了的愛 (雷安娜 & 彭健新).
關淑怡 一切也願意. 葉倩文 焚心似火. 盧業媚 為什麼 .
@dumbbell5564
試聽這些
王傑 林憶蓮 溫柔的你
梅艷芳 他令我改變. 張德蘭 何日再相見. 鄭少秋 歲月無情. 鄭少秋 能否再遇上. 譚詠麟 痴心的廢墟. 張學友 親親. 張學友 關淑怡 年少無情. 張德蘭 心藥. 泰迪羅賓 這是愛. 關淑怡 一首獨唱的歌. 陳松伶 淒淒煙雨間.林子祥 似夢迷離. 張德蘭 情若無花不結果. 葉倩文 願死也為情.
鄺美雲 小島風雲. 關正傑 盡在不言中. 徐小鳳 人生满希望. 陳潔靈 星夜星塵. 故地濃情 何家勁. 湖海爭霸錄 陳秀雯. 張學友 紅葉舞秋山.
徐小鳯 嘆息 鲍翠微 夢裏幾翻哀. 陳秀雯 艷陽. 張國榮 奔向未來日子.千枝針刺在心 林子祥. 風雲 仙杜拉. 蔣麗萍 情是枉癡心. 徐小鳯 婚紗背後.
詠麟 雨絲情愁. 徐小鳳 情比雨絲
黃凱芹 晚秋. 譚詠麟 關淑怡 舊情復熾. 張學友 無情冷雨夜. 張學友 情已逝. 陳百强 我的故事. 黎瑞恩 明白我這世界沒有別人. 鲍翠微 兩地情. 林憶蓮 早晨. 問 張學友 & 關淑怡.
林志美 感情的段落. 吳若希 你在我心間. 熱爱多年在心藏 關正傑 .
風筝 曾路得. 變幻是缘分 鐘鎮濤.
心事 黄绮嘉. 堆積情感 鄺美雲.
雪中情 關正傑. 紅颜 葉麗儀.
停不了的愛 (雷安娜 & 彭健新).
關淑怡 一切也願意. 葉倩文 焚心似火. 盧業媚 為什麼 .
@IvanHunglin
2024還再聽嗎？ 😊
@ilovesea6276
还在听
@edlew1992
Of course.
Never tired of this version.
Long live Frances Yip, Joseph Koo and James Wong for this song from the last century until 2024. 😊
@user-gq2sz7mq5m
我是看姐夫而來的
@a.w.3858
在 !
@endtheworld9456
Ray lui
@user-jq5wh8lj2l
我母親最愛❤這首歌 。幾天就想聽 儘管她已經 73歲。 我還是打開喇叭 讓母親 聽個夠。因為 我愛❤母親。
@rickchan6608
這是我最愛的香港粵語歌曲，沒有之一！
1980年特別跑去上海，為的就是看看上海灘和上海。