James Wong James Wong

James Wong (Chinese: 黄霑, Wong Jim; 16 March 1941 – 24 November 2004, also known as "Uncle Jim") was a Cantopop lyricist and songwriter based primarily in Hong Kong. Beginning from the 1960s, he was the lyricist for over 2,000 songs, collaborating with songwriter Joseph Koo (a.k.a. Gu Gaa-fai) on many popular television theme songs, many of which have become classics of the genre. His work propelled Cantopop to unprecedented popularity.

He was also a well known in Asia as a columnist, actor, film director, screenwriter, and talk show hosts. He took part in creative directing positions within the entertainment industry in Hong Kong.

Wong died on 24 November 2004 of lung cancer after a four-year battle at the age of 64.

Education

Wong was born in Panyu, in what now is part of Guangzhou, China and migrated to Hong Kong with his family in 1949. He completed his secondary education at La Salle College. In 1963, he graduated from Chinese Department, Faculty of Arts of the University of Hong Kong. Wong received an MPhil degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1983 for his study in Cantonese opera. In May 2003, in the midst of his fight with lung cancer, he obtained a PhD degree at the Department of Sociology, University of Hong Kong. The title of his thesis was "The Rise and Decline of Cantopop : A Study of Hong Kong Popular Music (1949–1997)".

Career and contributions

Wong had participated in a variety of media fields including advertisement, movie and music. He was best known for his achievements as a lyricist of Cantonese songs in Hong Kong. Beginning from the 1960s, he was the lyricist for over 2,000 songs, collaborating with composer Joseph Koo (a.k.a. Gu Gaa-fai) on many popular TVB TV drama theme songs, many of which have become classics of the genre. His works had pushed the development of Cantopop to unprecedented popularity.

At the same time of being well known and praised for his creative works in the entertainment and advertisement fields, Wong was also famous for his vulgar and indelicate jokes. He had a series of best-seller joke books. He was regarded as the one breaking the cultural barrier to taboos in Hong Kong during the conservative environment in the 1970s. He is best remembered as the person who came up with the slogan "Two kids are good enough" for The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong.

Wong hosted several TV programs, mostly interviews or talk shows oriented towards adults, on both TVB and ATV. One of the talk shows called "Off-guard Tonight" (今夜不设防), co-hosted by Wong and his close friends Chua Lam and Ni Kuang on ATV, is particularly remembered.

Since the 1990s, Wong's creative works had become less popular, and many entertainment companies featured less of Wong's songs. Some TV shows hosted by Wong were also unpopular. Wong had decided to return to Hong Kong University to get a doctorate degree, about Hong Kong popular culture. His essay is now in the library of Hong Kong University.

On 24 November 2004, Wong died in Union Hospital in Hong Kong. His funeral was a low-key family funeral as per his wishes. At this moment, Hong Kong people reflected on his career and accomplishments. For the following few days, the news of his death had become the headline of media in Hong Kong and his compositions were played throughout the week. A remembrance ceremony took place at Hong Kong Stadium, over 15,000 attended this ceremony.

Personal life

Wong had been officially married twice, but with three notable relationships. He had three children with his first wife, singer Hua Wa. Their marriage ended while Hua Wa was pregnant with their only daughter, Ursule Wong. Wong once said the most important love of his life was Eunice Lam Yin-nei, a writer who he did not marry despite the two living together from 1976 to 1990. Lam was also a radio host, and was the sister of Richard Lam, a Cantopop lyricist. Wong's second marriage was to his long-time assistant, Winnie Chan until his death, but she was never seen with him in public.

Important works in lyrics

• It's a Small World (世界真细小) Chinese adaptation
• Below the Lion Rock (狮子山下)
• The Bund of Shanghai (上海滩), theme song from TV series The Bund (1980)
• All Kind Sentiments (万般情), theme song from TV series The Bund II (1980)
• Shanghai Beach of the Dragon Tiger Battle (上海滩龙虎斗), theme song from TV series The Bund III (1980)
• When I'm Asked (问我)
• Both are forgetten in the mist (两忘烟水裡)
• Tao (道), theme to the Tsui Hark-produced A Chinese Ghost Story
• A laugh in blue sea (沧海一声笑), theme to Tsui Hark's The Swordsman
• A Man Should Stand Strong (男儿当自强), theme song to Tsui Hark's Once Upon a Time in China series about Wong Fei Hung; set to the traditional Chinese tune On the General's Orders (将军令)
• No need to remember old dreams (旧梦不须记)
• Childhood(童年)
• Work Hard (奋斗)
• The Legend of the Book and Sword (书剑恩仇录), theme song from TV series The Legend of the Book and Sword (1976)
• Hotel (狂潮), theme song from TV series Hotel (1976)
• The Legend of the Heroic Knights (近代豪侠传) (1976)
• A House Is Not a Home (家变), theme song from TV series A House Is Not a Home (1977)
• Vanity Fair (大亨), theme song from TV series Vanity Fair (1978)
• The Romantic Swordsman (小李飞刀), theme song from TV series The Romantic Swordsman (1978)
• Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (倚天屠龙记), theme song from TV series Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (1978)
• The Flaming Ceremonial Fire (熊熊圣火), sub theme song from TV series Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (1978)
• The Giants (强人), theme song from TV series The Giants (1978)
• The Oath Must Enter the Mountain of Sword (誓要入刀山), theme song from TV series Luk Siu Fung III (1978)
• Not Sentiments (情未了) (1978)
• Game of Death (死亡游戏), theme song from the movie Game of Death (1978)
• Over the Rainbow (天虹), theme song from TV series Over the Rainbow (1979)
• The Passenger (抉择), theme song from TV series The Passenger (1979)
• Chor Lau Heung (楚留香), theme song from TV series Chor Lau Heung (1979)
• The Heroes of Man and Sea (人海奇谭) (1979)
• Wind and Clouds (风云), theme song from TV series This Land is Mine (1980)
• Leaves Depart From the Tear Hard to Endure (难忍别离泪), theme song from TV series In Search of (1980)
• The Brothers (亲情), theme song from TV series The Brothers (1980)
• The Discovery Bay (发现湾), theme song from TV series The Discovery Bay (1980)
• The Invincible Medic (仁者无敌), theme song from TV series The Invincible Medic (1980)
• Five Easy Pieces (轮流传), theme song from TV series Five Easy Pieces (1980)
• Eunuch (龙仇凤血), theme song from TV series Eunuch (1980)
• The Adventurer's (衝击), theme song from TV series The Adventurer's (1980)
• Famous Sword (名剑) (1980)
• Using Love to Steal a Heart (用爱将心偷), theme song from TV series The Shell Game (1980)
• Personhood Loves Freedom (做人爱自由), theme song from TV series The Misadventure of Zoo (1981)
• Cheers (饮胜), sub theme song from TV series The Misadventure of Zoo (1981)
• In Love and War (烽火飞花), theme song from TV series In Love and War (1981)
• Breath and Depths of Mountains and Waters (万水千山纵横) (1982)
• Forgets With All One's Heart the Sentiment (忘尽心中情), theme song from TV series The Legend of Master So (1982)
• Heart Debt (心债), theme song from TV series Soldier of Fortune (1982)
• Being at a High Game (胸怀大志), theme song from TV series The Emissary (1982)
• You're the One Who Decides to Love (爱定你一个), theme song from TV series The Radio Tycoon (1983)
• Heroine (巾帼英雄), theme song from TV series The Legend of the Unknowns (1983)
• Hands Over My Heart (交出我的心), theme song from TV series Woman on the Beat (1983)
• The Emperor Descendants (皇帝子孙) (1983)
• In Dream Several Sorrow (梦里几番哀), theme song from TV series The Foundation (1984)
• I Cannot See My Tears Flow (不见我泪流), sub theme song from TV series The Foundation (1984)
• It Will Be Throughout Lucky (始终会行运), theme song from TV series The Duke of Mount Deer (1984)
• Me and You, He and Me (我与你 他与我), theme song from TV series The Rough Ride (1985)
• The Song of Chu (楚歌), theme song from TV series The Battlefield (1985)
• The Flying Fox of the Snowy Mountains (雪山飞狐), theme song from TV series The Flying Fox of the Snowy Mountains (1985)
• In the Sentimental Past (当年情), theme song from the movie A Better Tomorrow (1986)
• Leaves Behind My Fond Dream (留下我美梦), theme song from TV series The Return of Luk Siu Fung (1986)
• Holds Up the Head to Sing to the Day (昂首向天唱) (1986)
• Will Rush Toward Future Day (奔向未来的日子), theme song from the movie A Better Tomorrow II (1987)
• The Humanity's Mistake (人类的错), theme song from TV series Born to Be a King (1987)
• Youth Heart (少年心), sub theme song from TV series Born to Be a King (1987)
• Hu Han Dream (胡汉梦), theme song from TV series The Legend of the Book and Sword (1987)
• Heart of Fire (焚心以火) (1990)
• To Die, To A Unique Skill (绝世绝招), theme song from TV series The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1994)
• You Come to My Next Full Moon (圆月下你来依我), sub theme song from TV series Against the Blade of Honour (1994)
• Splendid Story (精彩故事), theme song from TV series Corner the Con Man (1997)
• Has You Rarely (难得有你), theme song from TV series Corner the Con Man (1997)
• Top of the Head, One Piece of the Day (头顶一片天) (1998)
• The Cool Breeze Does Not Dye (清风不染), theme song from TV series Justice Sung II (1999)
• Beautiful Fate (美丽缘份), theme song from TV series Better-halves (2003)
• The Sentimental Often In (情常在) (2004)