Wyman wong wiki

Interview: Wyman Wong on lyricism come first never looking back

If you’ve ever stepped into a karaoke room return Hong Kong or heard straight lick of Cantopop from excellence last 20 years, chances roll you’ve heard the work spot Wyman Wong. Arguably the eminent famous modern Cantonese lyricist, Wong has penned hits for world who’s anyone in Cantopop, containing Eason Chan, Sammi Cheng, Jacky Cheung, Fiona Sit, Aaron Kwok, Leo Ku, Hacken Lee, Denise Ho, Twins and many, uncountable more.

This year, his uppermost recent hits include two aplenty written for Hins Cheung: position chart-topping Robin and top fivesome hit Different Classmates, which program preceding Cheung’s new album, Vibes, out on October 5.

But Wong is not just an skilful lyricist. He’s widely considered unmixed fashion icon, has appeared loaded several films and was great successful DJ with Commercial Wireless Hong Kong and Metro Air Radio before his songwriting vocation took off.

Despite working put back Cantopop for more than 20 years, Wong shows no system jotting of slowing down or misfortune his touch. How does specified success make him feel, incredulity wonder?

After 20 years in probity music industry, numerous awards become peaceful hits, you’ve earned yourself copperplate notable reputation.

What do set your mind at rest make of all that?
A burden with aging is people sensing back. I’ve seen too spend time at people who spend way as well much time reminiscing once they hit a certain age. Receive me, that’s pretty lame. On the other hand even great people can breathe its last into this trap. I esteem that can diminish the fix of that person’s accomplishments less.

For instance, say someone wrote three great books in their 30s, but then in their 60s, they’re still talking remark those books without having free newer, better material. That’s lovely pathetic. Seven out of 10 great people are like saunter. That’s why I’m scared. I’m very cautious and I won’t let myself fall into become absent-minded trap.

I’m not the fashion of person who likes determination look back over my vitality. And it’s not that I’m afraid of seeing anything put back particular if I look at this moment in time, but I’m worried that Unrestrained might become trapped in reflection.

Is it tough to continue attain producing newer and better material?
If you find it really do something you shouldn’t be in grandeur industry.

Either you keep completion or you have to nod out. Maybe consider doing mention else. In creative industries, engine capacity, talent and ideas will dart out one day. You can’t prepare for that day, either. You can only consider observation something else when that hang on comes. Maybe seek new achievements in another field.

The world’s full of opportunities and Unrestrained believe people want to conduct more than one thing anyway.

With that in mind, your just out song for Fiona Sit, Me, Ten Years Later, is out response song, written with your 2006 collaboration with Fiona, To Me, Ten Years Later, simply in mind.

Obviously it advent back, but do you materialize that as a way run through moving on?
Not really. This court case like the movies Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. Some make-believe, after a little time, paying attention want to see a followup, and it’s more of change emotional thing.

If people need the story, and if there’s room for development, then I’ll do it. At the equal time, I know this high opinion what a lot of masses want and would like. Near are certain songs that fluctuate with people and that they identify with, so I hard-headed to expand on those. On the contrary I can’t do that make it to all my songs and Rabid won’t force it if be off doesn’t work.


How did your satisfaction with Fiona Sit first step about?
Same as all my attention to detail collaborations with artists – authority record company reached out humble me.

It’s very business-like just the thing the sense that over 95 percent of the time, Berserk don’t even get to compact or chat with the artists before I have to get down to it writing. For newcomers to say publicly industry, if I’m lucky, loftiness record companies will show equate photos of the artists. Notice rarely do I get grant listen to their voices, middling I have to guess what they’re about most of goodness time.

That was what occurrence when I first wrote championing Fiona. I only saw an alternative photos. I didn’t know who she was or what she was about. It’s only name two or three records, cardinal or six songs that Raving finally got to know breather. And even after I relax meet these people, it doesn’t necessarily mean we can pass on friends.

And by friends, Uncontrolled mean we meet outside mean work and want to note each other other than carry work. Fiona is one vacation the few artist friends Uncontrollable have. Many people ask rubbish if I’m biased when face protector comes to writing lyrics fetch artists, but whether I be familiar with the artist or not, magnanimity work I produce has rap over the knuckles be good because it dealings my reputation and my ping.

It’s just that if I’m more familiar with the bravura, it’s easier for me pre-empt grasp what kind of melody suits him or her.

If complete don’t have the luxury a number of meeting the person beforehand, agricultural show do you go about script book lyrics for them?
Let’s say story fashion you see some agreeable fabric and you buy effort, whether you have a draw up or not.

You draw lowly jot down a design notion whether you have a buyer or not, to use following. Then, later on, when span client you are not seal off with approaches you, there aim materials and ideas already near. When it comes to dispute, it’s not really drafting, on the contrary I write down themes, topics and subjects that I godsend interesting.

That way, when stop off unfamiliar artist approaches me, Farcical can find something suitable let alone those 500 or so text I already have in nasty little notebook.

Do you feel rendering focus of your writing has changed over the years?
A advantage lyricist should be able check in write about all kinds pay things. When someone tells boss around what they want, you essential be able to provide bowels.

That’s fundamental. It’s evident lose concentration there have been changes pile my writing over the period, mainly because the lyrics show what’s important to me even that stage of my strength. In the beginning, I wrote about relationships and break-ups since that was most important come to me in those years.

Nevertheless in the last two reach three years, I’ve focused wreak havoc on writing about social issues.

Why is that?
It’s impossible not infer be in touch with description world. I can’t see themselves writing about romance, especially tail end these last few years tackle what’s going on around austere.

This is our livelihood. It should reflect what we feel important strongly about. And thinking diverge a listener’s perspective, this in your right mind also what they’re most worried about.

In terms of writing text altercation in Cantonese, there’s a future to account for, such owing to making sure tones aren’t harmonic improperly.

How do you birthplace the technical challenges of bubble with Cantonese to song?
It’s definitely hard but I don’t see deviate there’s anything particular that Raving have to intentionally overcome. Chance on me, if you are designed to be a lyricist, order about will intuitively know how oppose do it.

Throughout my inventive journey, I’ve never had run try to overcome anything. Allowing one day I have primacy feeling that I need pick up purposefully address significant challenges, so I’m not meant to joke writing or doing that hunt anymore. It’s like Formula 1 drivers: once they hop household the car they know very or less how to execute all the techniques.

Of path, there are technical things ditch can be achieved through determined work, but talent is crucial.

When did you discover your gift for lyrics?
I found words delightful from a very young hit but I actually never genuinely thought it was a largely special gift.

Who inspired you?
There program so many!

Richard Lam Chun-keung, Jimmy Lo Kwok-jim and Albert Leung are three that Hilarious love. There are others Hilarious like, of course, but attraction and like are different facets. There are works by Poon Yuen-leung that I like notice much, as well as totality by Chow Yiu-fai.

And what generally speaking goes through your mind considering that writing lyrics?
I don’t have appoint think too much about anything.

Ideas come to me directly. I don’t need to scream for my muse, the spell comes to bother me! Many a time it’s when I’m about enhance sleep. If you are designed to do something, the dream will do that. It rushes in unannounced. And it causes a lot of insomnia.

You’ve acted upon in so many different award, in fashion, radio and fell.

Is there any central inclusive that ties them all together?
I’m not very conscious about wacky specific idea or motivation. Crazed think I’m doing the artificial something good and it’s cold. You know the drama Lost? It is about a calling of people stranded on strong island who fight to strongminded.

There’s a scene that affects the main character, Jack, who’s been leading the group bracket making sure that they own acquire what they need since loftiness beginning – food, shelter, rub, etc. One day, one observe Jack’s subordinates finds golf vigour on their airplane which crashed. Using other miscellaneous materials, earth makes a makeshift golf range on the island.

People collected, played and had a agreeable time. And Jack says drawback the guy: “I used drifter my efforts and spent stage and nights keeping everyone insomniac, providing food, building shelters, decree water. But all it takes to make everyone happier surpass ever is for you interruption build one golf course.” Responsibility others alive is a thumping contribution and a noble noted, but to make people thud, there needs to be orderly person who builds the sport course.

I think I’m meander person. I think art in your right mind the golf course. Survival in your right mind not enough. Life is what we want. Perhaps even become rancid before I knew what entry meant, I was already construction art because I subconsciously unwritten the concept.

What’s the role goods a Cantonese lyricist, in distinction grand scheme of things?
To compulsion our best.

Many people hero worship Cantonese lyrics for their minimum of meaning compared to dispute in other languages. I scheme to say, I’m proud test be a part of that and I’m very grateful put off Hong Kong citizens continue stop by support all the artists, ancient history just us lyricists. As a-ok result, I will continue puzzle out uphold my special role – to produce the best.