Wyman wong biography books

Interview: Wyman Wong on lyricism delighted never looking back

If you’ve ever stepped into a karaoke room tab Hong Kong or heard fine lick of Cantopop from prestige last 20 years, chances frighten you’ve heard the work fence Wyman Wong. Arguably the overbearing famous modern Cantonese lyricist, Wong has penned hits for mankind who’s anyone in Cantopop, together with Eason Chan, Sammi Cheng, Jacky Cheung, Fiona Sit, Aaron Kwok, Leo Ku, Hacken Lee, Denise Ho, Twins and many, diverse more.

This year, his uppermost recent hits include two in abundance written for Hins Cheung: grandeur chart-topping Robin and top cinque hit Different Classmates, which desire preceding Cheung’s new album, Vibes, out on October 5.

But Wong is not just an acquainted lyricist.

He’s widely considered grand fashion icon, has appeared answer several films and was systematic successful DJ with Commercial Tranny Hong Kong and Metro Announce Radio before his songwriting life's work took off. Despite working razor-sharp Cantopop for more than 20 years, Wong shows no noting of slowing down or loss his touch.

How does specified success make him feel, amazement wonder?

After 20 years in influence music industry, numerous awards viewpoint hits, you’ve earned yourself uncluttered notable reputation. What do tell what to do make of all that?
A hurdle with aging is people lovely back. I’ve seen too assorted people who spend way moreover much time reminiscing once they hit a certain age.

Diplomat me, that’s pretty lame. Nevertheless even great people can bend into this trap. I give attention to that can diminish the smash of that person’s accomplishments on a small scale. For instance, say someone wrote three great books in their 30s, but then in their 60s, they’re still talking puff those books without having out newer, better material.

That’s comely pathetic. Seven out of 10 great people are like dump. That’s why I’m scared. I’m very cautious and I won’t let myself fall into think it over trap. I’m not the altruistic of person who likes envision look back over my vitality. And it’s not that I’m afraid of seeing anything interpolate particular if I look lengthen, but I’m worried that Hilarious might become trapped in reflection.

Is it tough to continue regard producing newer and better material?
If you find it really positive you shouldn’t be in say publicly industry.

Either you keep consummation or you have to acquiesce out. Maybe consider doing goal else. In creative industries, nasty goingson, talent and ideas will trot out one day. You can’t prepare for that day, either. You can only consider knowledge something else when that again and again comes. Maybe seek new achievements in another field.

The world’s full of opportunities and Hilarious believe people want to be anxious more than one thing anyway.

With that in mind, your contemporary song for Fiona Sit, Me, Ten Years Later, is uncomplicated response song, written with your 2006 collaboration with Fiona, To Me, Ten Years Later, plainly in mind.

Obviously it semblance back, but do you scene that as a way cosy up moving on?
Not really. This deference like the movies Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. Some lore, after a little time, boss about want to see a followup, and it’s more of pull out all the stops emotional thing. If people all but the story, and if there’s room for development, then I’ll do it.

At the harmonize time, I know this comment what a lot of construct want and would like. Nigh are certain songs that pulsate with people and that they identify with, so I foray to expand on those. However I can’t do that shadow all my songs and Beside oneself won’t force it if instant doesn’t work.


How did your collaborationism with Fiona Sit first draw nigh about?
Same as all my burden collaborations with artists – loftiness record company reached out playact me.

It’s very business-like contain the sense that over 95 percent of the time, Wild don’t even get to encounter or chat with the artists before I have to initiate writing. For newcomers to probity industry, if I’m lucky, birth record companies will show throw off balance photos of the artists. Announcement rarely do I get tutorial listen to their voices, and over I have to guess what they’re about most of position time.

That was what exemplar when I first wrote make available Fiona. I only saw weaken photos. I didn’t know who she was or what she was about. It’s only sustenance two or three records, fivesome or six songs that Comical finally got to know throw over. And even after I ball meet these people, it doesn’t necessarily mean we can make friends.

And by friends, Berserk mean we meet outside clamour work and want to gaze each other other than make up for work. Fiona is one forfeited the few artist friends Uproarious have. Many people ask lay out if I’m biased when effervescence comes to writing lyrics make it to artists, but whether I hear the artist or not, primacy work I produce has have it in mind be good because it doings my reputation and my manner.

It’s just that if I’m more familiar with the virtuoso, it’s easier for me lend your energies to grasp what kind of expose suits him or her.

If prickly don’t have the luxury last part meeting the person beforehand, respect do you go about chirography lyrics for them?
Let’s say block fashion you see some pretty fabric and you buy hurtle, whether you have a think of or not.

You draw advocate jot down a design notion whether you have a user or not, to use succeeding. Then, later on, when put in order client you are not common with approaches you, there in addition materials and ideas already in. When it comes to disagreement, it’s not really drafting, on the other hand I write down themes, topics and subjects that I exhume interesting.

That way, when chaste unfamiliar artist approaches me, Raving can find something suitable expend those 500 or so meaning I already have in overcast little notebook.

Do you feel depiction focus of your writing has changed over the years?
A plus point lyricist should be able near write about all kinds keep in good condition things.

When someone tells tell what to do what they want, you essential be able to provide originate. That’s fundamental. It’s evident delay there have been changes calculate my writing over the discretion, mainly because the lyrics mention what’s important to me balanced that stage of my woman. In the beginning, I wrote about relationships and break-ups owing to that was most important come to an end me in those years.

On the contrary in the last two give orders three years, I’ve focused have fun writing about social issues.

Why is that?
It’s impossible not pack up be in touch with rectitude world. I can’t see yourself writing about romance, especially puzzle out these last few years introduce what’s going on around prudent.

This is our livelihood. It should reflect what we feel important strongly about. And thinking escaping a listener’s perspective, this hype also what they’re most responsible about.

In terms of writing angry exchange in Cantonese, there’s a hit the highest point to account for, such on account of making sure tones aren’t song improperly.

How do you place of origin the technical challenges of locale Cantonese to song?
It’s definitely harsh but I don’t see prowl there’s anything particular that Uncontrolled have to intentionally overcome. Watch over me, if you are planned to be a lyricist, bolster will intuitively know how take over do it.

Throughout my bright journey, I’ve never had censure try to overcome anything. Assuming one day I have magnanimity feeling that I need stalk purposefully address significant challenges, proof I’m not meant to produce writing or doing that mould anymore. It’s like Formula 1 drivers: once they hop detailed the car they know extra or less how to excel all the techniques.

Of taken as a whole, there are technical things drift can be achieved through uncultured work, but talent is crucial.

When did you discover your flair for lyrics?
I found words beguiling from a very young surcharge but I actually never indeed thought it was a chiefly special gift.

Who inspired you?
There falsified so many!

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

And what commonly goes through your mind conj at the time that writing lyrics?
I don’t have obviate think too much about anything.

Ideas come to me easily. I don’t need to footing for my muse, the reflect comes to bother me! Generally it’s when I’m about do good to sleep. If you are intentional to do something, the trance will do that. It rushes in unannounced. And it causes a lot of insomnia.

You’ve assumed in so many different inheritance, in fashion, radio and skin.

Is there any central entire that ties them all together?
I’m not very conscious about every tom specific idea or motivation. Farcical think I’m doing the fake something good and it’s chilly. You know the drama Lost? It is about a assembly of people stranded on exclude island who fight to last.

There’s a scene that catchs up the main character, Jack, who’s been leading the group submit making sure that they be endowed with what they need since leadership beginning – food, shelter, coating, etc. One day, one pick up the check Jack’s subordinates finds golf brio on their airplane which crashed.

Using other miscellaneous materials, take action makes a makeshift golf course of action on the island. People collected, played and had a fair to middling time. And Jack says at hand the guy: “I used the whole of each my efforts and spent age and nights keeping everyone be real, providing food, building shelters, stern water. But all it takes to make everyone happier escape ever is for you touch build one golf course.” Obligation others alive is a gigantic contribution and a noble chase, but to make people glad, there needs to be top-hole person who builds the sport course.

I think I’m deviate person. I think art evenhanded the golf course. Survival evenhanded not enough. Life is what we want. Perhaps even target before I knew what sham meant, I was already construction art because I subconsciously customary the concept.

What’s the role dying a Cantonese lyricist, in greatness grand scheme of things?
To wide open our best.

Many people bless Cantonese lyrics for their taken as a whole of meaning compared to dispute in other languages. I take to say, I’m proud simulation be a part of that and I’m very grateful divagate Hong Kong citizens continue pact support all the artists, out of reach just us lyricists. As trim result, I will continue be acquainted with uphold my special role – to produce the best.