Faye Wong is perhaps the most distinguished female singer in contemporary Chinese musical circles. She's been a main fixture on the Chinese pop scene for over 15 years, and never stops coming up with innovative new strings to her musical bow. In every one of her albums, you find something new and fresh.

    Faye Wong was born in 1969 in Beijing. She inherited her musical talent from her mother, who was also a singer, and was a gifted child. In 1987, at the age of seventeen, she went to Hong Kong. After two years studying music, she released her debut album Shirley Wong, her stage name.

    Faye went to America to continue studying music in 1991. She stayed for a year, and after returning home, she re-launched her career with songs like ¡®A Woman Easily Hurt' and ¡®Be Perverse' on her critically acclaimed 1993 album.

    In 1994, she changed her name back to Faye Wong, which also marked a major change of her musical style. From that point on, she started on her own musical path, and forged her own unique way of singing.

    ¡®Oath' from the 1995 album "Sky" was written by Faye and her boyfriend Dou Wei who is a singer and a producer of experimental music. Have a listen.

    Seemingly aloof, Faye is always longing for love. As she says in her autobiography, her mother didn't have enough time to look after her. She recalls two years spent with her aunt's family in Shanghai and her lonely schooldays, all of which made her hate being separated from her family. She says when she felt lonely, she would use her imagination to get rid of the loneliness.

    Faye's distinctive voice has been influenced by several western singers and bands. In her voice, you can find the imprint of the Cranberries, Cocteau Twins, Bjork and Tori Amos.

    Her 1996 album, Impetuous, symbolized the first peak of her career. But this album is considered a milestone because Faye had already formed her own style by absorbing musical influences of different kinds. Let's listen to the theme song of the album, Impetuous.

    That was Impetuous sung by Faye Wong.
Faye and Dou Wei's marriage brought her great happiness. After giving birth to her daughter in early 1997, she joined EMI and released her album Faye Wong, appearing with a completely new look.

    The song You're Happy so I'm Happy was interpreted by the media and some critics as a song written for her new-born baby girl. But Faye says the song simply expresses the feeling of happiness. However, you can still feel her delight about becoming a mother. Here is the song You're Happy so I'm Happy.

    That was You're Happy so I'm Happy from the album Faye Wong 1997.
In this album, Faye developed her various styles of singing, and the contents of the songs also showed her unrestrained character. The lyrics of the song Bored, shows the unwillingness of being forced to choose a steady and secure life. She sings "I don't want security, and I don't want to be sacrificed." Have a listen to Bored.

    That was Bored by Faye Wong.
The title of Faye's 1998 album ¡®Singing and Traveling' referred to traveling in the world of music, and the album attempted to give the audience the feeling of freedom and happiness wandering in the world of music. It was an album which received high praise in both mainstream and alternative fields of music, since it united various musical elements, including acid, electronic, folk and pop.

    In the song Face, Faye tried to use a little bel canto in the first part, in a quite elusive way. Its lyrics were full of images and implied meaning. "Your breath is your face, and your curve is stretching ¡­On the ever-changing coastal line, grows up narcissus so beautiful and sad¡­" Have a listen to Face.

    That was ¡®Face', from Faye Wong's 1998 album, ¡®Singing and Traveling'.
Her international reputation has definitely been helped by the songs she sings in foreign languages, the most famous of which is the theme to the game Final Fantasy 8, Eyes on Me.

    At the end of the year 1999, Faye ended her three-year marriage with Dou Wei, and in the following album Love Strangers Only, she poured out her feelings. The song Hypnosis appears as Brit-pop. The Strong rhythm and her languid voice combines almost perfectly in this song. "From the beginning to the end, Whom I remember and whom I forget". In these words, Faye indicated she cannot do anything about her loss of love.