永遠的飛

Her lawyer came on tv and announced the news. A Taiwanese diva, immensely popular with people of my parents' generation, passed was put to rest yesterday. It was a shock to this nation, for her songs and moving voice was one which could instantly capture people's hearts, longings and sense of nostalgia.

Fong Fei-Fei was born in a humble environment in the Taiwanese countryside, and went to sing at a young age in order to help her family financiallu, as many stars those days did. Her singing in Taiwanese is reminds one of the voice of a mother whose care and love knows no bounds. Her songs in Mandarin carry a Taiwanese accent that is endearing, even to Chinese-speaking communities around the world.

Even more shocking is that she passed away on 3 January, over a month ago. She requested that her passing be kept secret and that her funeral arrangements be kept low-key. The lawyer explained that she did not want to trouble people and make her fans sad especially with the run-up to the lunar new year. Till the very end, she thanked her fans and cared about them, and did not want to sadden them with news of her passing during a most festive season...

As a child, a tape with Fong Fei-Fei's (鳳飛飛) songs would be played over and over again on the car cassette deck (remember, this was back in the eighties...). I didn't really understand the words back then, and even less the sentiments about love and loss. Even so, I knew somehow that she was special, for dad at times would hum happily to the tunes. I would often ask mum and dad to explain certain Taiwanese words that I did not understand. In short, her voice accompanied me throughout my childhood, her songs was the background music to many family outings in the car.

She died of lung cancer. Metastasis to the spine. She was sixty years old. Like mum.



The diva may have left this world, but the first song that made her so popular and famous still has a special place in many people's hearts...

祝你幸福 Wish you happiness

Fong Fei-Fei(Translation mine)

[I] Give you a gift of love, I wish you happiness.
No matter when, or where you are,
Do not forget my well-wish.

The journey of life contains sweetness and bitterness,
[you] must have strong will,
Develop your wisdom, leave behind your beads of sweat,
Create your happiness.

心肝寶貝 Baby sweetheart

(translation mine)

Softly, softly, listening to the sound of breathing,my dear baby child.
You are my happiness, hope, full heartedly I raise you up,
Hoping you are bright, hoping you are knowledgeable, hoping you will grow upsoon.
Hoping you are cute, healthy and lively,
Unafraid of the cold of the wind.