Ep. 228 | The Seven Great Singing Stars of Shanghai (Part 3)
We finish off the series on the Seven Great Singing Stars of Shanghai by examining the lives of the three remaining women, Li Xianglan, Yao Li, and Zhou Xuan. Yao Li sadly passed away only a month ago on July 19.
I hope you enjoyed this little three-part overview covering the lives of many of these early 20th century singers and musicians who gave us this amazing sound that’s still enjoyed by millions around the world.
Check the links below or search for any of the seven stars introduced. Their music is freely available all over the internet and wherever you stream your music.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bái Guāng | 白光 | 27 June 1921 – 27 August 1999, One of the Seven Great Singing Stars of 1930's-40's Shanghai |
| Bái Hóng | 白虹 | 1920–1992, One of the Seven Great Singing Stars of 1930's-40's Shanghai |
| Chángzhōu, Jiāngsū | 常州江苏 | Changzhou is a city located in Jiangsu province. Birthplace of Zhou Xuan |
| Chén Gēxīn | 陈歌辛 | 1914-1961, Great Chinese songwriter. |
| Dēngtǎ | 灯塔 | City an hour south of Shěnyáng, Liáoníng |
| Fèng Fēifēi | 凤飞飞. | 1953-2012, Taiwanese singing great and actress too. |
| Fúshòuyuán Cemetery | 福寿园 | Cemetery located in the Qīngpǔ District 青浦区 of Shanghai |
| Gōng Qiūxiá | 龚秋霞 | The oldest of the Seven Great Singing Stars of 1930's-40's Shanghai. December 4, 1916 to September 7, 2004 |
| Gōngxǐ Gōngxǐ | 恭喜恭喜 | Che Gexin tune from 1945. Congratulations! Congratulations! |
| Jīn Sǎngzi | 金嗓子 | The Golden Voice, Zhou Xuan's nickname |
| láogǎi | 劳改 | Reform through labor |
| Lí Jǐnhuī | 黎锦晖 | 5 September 1891 – 15 February 1967, Called the Father of Chinese Popular Music |
| Lí Lìlì | 黎莉莉 | 1915-2005, one of the greatest singers and actresses of the 1930's and 40's |
| Lǐ Xiānglán | 李香兰 | 12 February 1920 – 7 September 2014, One of the Seven Great Singing Stars of 1930's-40's Shanghai. Known in Japan as Yamaguchi Yoshiko |
| Méigui Méigui, Wǒ Ài Nǐ | 玫瑰玫瑰我爱你 | “Rose Rose, I Love You” |
| Míngyuè Gēwǔtuán | 明月歌舞团 | The Bright Moon Song and Dance Troupe |
| Qī Dà Gēxīng | 七大歌星 | even Great Singing Stars |
| Rénshēng Jiù Shì Xì | 人生就是戏 | “Life is just a play”, a Yao Li song featured in the 2018 film “Crazy Rich Asians” |
| Sìjì Gē | 四季歌 | The Zhou Xuan song “Song of the Four Seasons” |
| Sū Pú | 苏璞 | Zhou Xuan's birth name |
| Tiānyá Gēnǚ | 天涯歌女 | The Zhou Xuan song “The Wandering Songstress” |
| Táng Dì | 唐棣 | Another love in Zhou Xuan's life. He was incarcerated on fraud charges in 1957, the year Zhou Xuan passed. He was the father of Zhou Xuan's second son. |
| Wáng Ruòlín | 王若琳 | The famous pop singer Joanna Wang |
| Wú Yīngyīn | 吴莺音 | June 23, 1922 – December 17, 2009, One of the Seven Great Singing Stars of 1930's-40's Shanghai |
| Wǒde Māmā Zhōu Xuán | 我的妈妈周旋 | “My Mother Zhōu Xuán” |
| Yamaguchi Yoshiko | 山口淑子 | Li Xianglan's Japanese name |
| Yán Huá | 严华 | Early Chinese actor and pop singer. An alum from Li Jinhui's song and dance troupe. Married Zhou Xuan |
| Yáo Lì | 姚莉 | Born Yáo Xiùyún 姚秀云, September 1922, also known as Nancy Yao Lee, One of the Seven Great Singing Stars of 1930's-40's Shanghai. Died July 19, 2019 |
| Yáo Mǐn | 姚敏 | 1917-1967, brother of Yao Li. Prolific Chinese pop songwriter |
| Yín Sǎngzi | 银桑子 | The Silver Voice |
| Zhōu Mín | 周民 | Oldest son of Zhou Xuan |
| Zhōu Wěi | 周伟 | Younger son of Zhou Xuan |
| Zhōu Xuán | 周旋 | August 1, 1920 – September 22, 1957, One of the Seven Great Singing Stars of 1930's-40's Shanghai |
| Zhōu Xuán Rìjì | 周旋日记 | The Zhou Xuan Diary |
| Zhū Huáidé | 朱怀德 | Father of Zhou Xuan's first son. The two never married. Zhu was a Hong Kong based businessman |
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