Songs of Zhou Xuan -( CD 1 copy)

Author: Zhu Tianwei Zhou Wei Li Ningguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: Zhou Xuan (1920–1957) was a renowned Chinese film actress and singer. From the mid-1930s to the early 1950s, she starred in 43 films and performed over 300 film songs and other songs. After interrupting the filming of the movie Peace Dove in 1951 and leaving the film industry, it has been 53 years since she departed, and 47 years since she left this world at the prime of her life at 38. Yet today, people still remember this singer with the nickname "Golden Voice." In China and around the world, wherever Chinese people live, her songs can be heard. In the hearts of film audiences and song fans both at home and abroad, she holds a special and enduring charm. Her singing is sincere and pure, with a sweet tone; her performances are innocent and moving, portraying gentle and graceful images. In the history of Chinese cinema and music, she was an exceptionally unique artist, and to this day, almost no one can replace her influence on audiences and viewers. Nearly half a century after Zhou Xuan's passing, her fans and film enthusiasts have not only remained but grown, their love for her bordering on "obsession." Understanding and studying the film actress and singer who achieved remarkable artistic success in both acting and singing is an important aspect of my research on the history and current state of film music. During my study and research on the history of Chinese cinema, particularly the history of Chinese film music, I watched all the films starring Zhou Xuan in our museum's collection, read a vast amount of historical materials about her, and collected numerous sheet music scores of her songs. Under the guidance of several of my professors in film history and musicology, I have clarified Zhou Xuan's artistic path and gained a certain level of understanding and recognition of her artistic achievements. This song anthology reflects the results of such understanding and recognition. This book is a selection of songs performed by Zhou Xuan, featuring 125 songs, including 86 film songs and 39 other songs. To help readers understand the origin of the name "Zhou Xuan," the song Light of the Nation is specially arranged at the beginning of the book. The film songs are organized in chronological order based on the release dates of the films in which Zhou Xuan starred. After the introduction of each film, the corresponding songs are listed in order, with the theme song first, followed by other arranged according to their order of appearance in the film. To provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of Zhou Xuan's artistic achievements, this book also includes brief introductions to films in which she acted but did not sing. The other songs performed by Zhou Xuan are arranged in alphabetical order by their Chinese pinyin titles. To allow readers to hear Zhou Xuan's performances firsthand, this book comes with a CD containing recordings of her songs. Additionally, the book features multiple portraits, personal photos, and scenes from her films for readers to enjoy. It is worth noting that as a scholar studying the history and current state of film music, I have placed a stronger emphasis on the selection and introduction of film songs, which is a characteristic of this song anthology. If this may cause some readers to feel unsatisfied with certain aspects of the book, I hope for your understanding. Zhou Xuan's achievements in singing art stem from her love and relentless pursuit of it. To help audiences understand her artistic aspirations, this book places her article I Love Singing at the very beginning. Throughout her artistic career, many accomplished artists in Chinese film history collaborated with her. This book includes two remembrance articles about Zhou Xuan written by them. Reading their recollections will undoubtedly give us insight into the era in which Zhou Xuan lived and the process by which they collectively created classics. Zhu Tianwei August 2004