''Decadent Sound of Faye'' (), also translated as ''Faye Beautiful Music'', is a 1995 Mandopop album recorded by the Chinese singer Faye Wong when she was based in Hong Kong. It consists entirely of rearranged versions of songs originally released by Teresa Teng.

Name

The word ‘decadent’ is an ironic echo of early PRC condemnation of music such as that of Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng's music as ''mǐmǐ zhī yue'' (靡靡之樂). The title of this album is a pun: during the Cultural Revolution, Teng's songs were condemned as "decadent sounds" () by the Communist Party of China. The album title is literally translated as ''Faye's Decadent Music'' (), but as the character "" (''fēi'', i.e. the name Faye in Chinese) has the same pronunciation as the related character "" (''fēi'', "not" in Classical Chinese), the title can also be construed as "Non-Decadent Sounds". Word play on Faye's name ''fēi'' in Mandarin has also been used on two Cinepoly compilation albums: 菲卖品 ''Fēi mài pǐn'' ("Faye sale product", a pun on 非卖品 ''fēi mài pǐn'', "Not-for-sale product") and 菲主打 ''Fēi zhǔdǎ'' ("Faye main beat", a pun on 非主打 ''Fēi zhǔdǎ'' "not main beat").

Tribute to Teresa Teng

The album consists entirely of cover versions of songs originally released by her idol Teresa Teng, one of the most revered Chinese singers of the 20th century. Teng's music remains extremely popular in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and mainland China. A duet was planned for the album, but Teng died before this could be recorded; Wong considered scrapping the project out of respect.Xiaobao Chen, ex-Universal Records Hong Kong CEO
前環球總裁披露王菲舊事與鄧麗君難了合唱緣
However, Faye sang this duet, Li Bai's "清平調" with Teresa posthumously in a memorial celebrating her 60th birthday.

Reception

''Decadent Sounds'' sold quite well despite initial negative criticism. It has come to be recognised as a classic by her fans and is held as an example of imaginative covering by recent critics. Not only did Wong show that she shared Teresa Teng's clear, sweet singing voice, but the arrangements added an unexpected freshness to many of the songs.

Track listing

Tracks are listed with their original Chinese titles, along with a transcription in pinyin and an unofficial English translation. #"雪中蓮" (Xuĕ zhōng lián) – #: Lotus in the Snow #"你在我心中" (Nĭ zài wŏ xīn zhōng) – #: You Are in My Heart #"但願人長久" (Dàn yuàn rén chángjiŭ) – #:

Wishing We Last Forever Shuidiao Getou () is the name of a traditional Chinese melody to which a poem in the '' cí'' style can be sung. Different poets have written different lyrics to the melody which are usually prefixed by this melody's title, the Song dynasty poet S ...

#"君心我心" (Jūn xīn wŏ xīn) – #: His Heart, My Heart #"初戀的地方" (Chūliàn de dìfāng) – #: Place of First Love #"南海姑娘" (Nánhăi gūniáng) – #: South China Sea Girl #"假如我是真的" (Jiărú wŏ shì zhēn de) – #: If I Were for Real #"翠湖寒" (Cuì hú hán) – #: Cold Blue-Green Lake #"黃昏裡" (Huánghūn lĭ) – #: At Dusk #"" (Nàihé) – #: Naihe #"一個小心願" (Yī ge xiăo xīnyuàn) – #: One Small Wish #"又見炊煙" (Yòu jiàn chuīyān) – #: See the Chimney Smoke Again #"原鄉情濃" (Yuán xiāng qíng nóng) – #: Sentiments of a Native Village

Notes and references

{{Authority control 1995 albums Faye Wong albums Cinepoly Records albums Teresa Teng tribute albums Mandopop albums