Gu Jiahui passed away, what a pity! i heard your song
"Shanghai Bund", "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", "Xiao Li Feidao", "Wu Zhuangyuan Su Qier", "Yi Tian Tu Long Ji", "Swordsman"... Are you familiar with these names if you like watching movies and TV series?
In fact, these works of different styles and periods have one thing in common - the name Gu Jiahui can always be seen in their theme song lists.
It is a pity that at the beginning of the new year in 2023, the "Godfather of Hong Kong music scene" who has composed more than 1,200 works quietly unloaded his life's luggage and went to the world.
On January 4, many Hong Kong media reported that the famous musician Gu Jiahui died on the 3rd local time in Vancouver, Canada, at the age of 92.
Yang Runxiong, director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Special Administrative Region Government, issued a eulogy saying, "His spirit and the immortal Hong Kong music that touches people's hearts will be handed down to future generations, and we will always miss him." Enriched the lives of Chinese people around the world.
After the news came out, the reporter immediately contacted well-known Hong Kong musicians Mai Zhenhong, Xiang Xuehuai, Chen Shaoqi and his closed disciple Zhou Qisheng. In the world, he changed the whole era with his music.
Gu Jiahui, who is he?
If you like to listen to Cantonese songs, you must not avoid the name Gu Jiahui.
Gu Jiahui has created thousands of works in his life, and classic works appear frequently.
It can be said that the melody he created has become the childhood memory of countless people.
In 1961, he participated in the composition competition of the Hong Kong Shaw Brothers film "No Love", officially starting his music career.
Afterwards, he created many popular movie songs and TV drama theme songs. From the 1970s to the 1980s, Gu Jiahui was at the peak of his creation. He wrote many masterpieces. The most impressive one is "Shanghai Beach theme song.
In this year's TVB variety show "Our Theme Song", Ye Liyi, the singer of the song, broke the news that Gu Jiahui, who was the composer at the time, called her to sing. Gu Jiahui sang for two full hours before nodding.
Ye Liyi said that after singing for so many years, "If you don't sing this song at a concert, you won't step down."
"Shanghai Beach", which Gu Jiahui took two days to compose, has been sung for 43 years. It has been sung since the TV series was released in 1980.
The picture shows Gu Jiahui delivering a eulogy speech at the memorial service of "Best Partner" Dr. Huang Zhan during his lifetime.
Photo by Deng Qingle
The originator of the Hong Kong music scene
The creator of soundtracks for movies and TV dramas, this is most people's impression of Gu Jiahui.
But many people don't know that Gu Jiahui's works are the beginning of "Hong Kong Cantonese pop songs", which has cross-age significance.
In 1974, Gu Jiahui was invited by Wang Tianlin to compose the theme song for the TV series "Laughing Marriage".
During the same period, Gu Jiahui produced the theme song for "Ghost Horse Twin Stars".
This directly broke the "curse" that Cantonese songs are not suitable for playing music, and opened the era of Cantonese pop songs.
In the 1980s, Hong Kong movies and TV dramas ushered in a golden age of development, and Gu Jiahui's music career also reached new heights.
Gu Jiahui used "Chinese melody" to create a martial arts style of an era. Ye Liyi once said that wherever there are Chinese, Gu Jiahui's songs will be played.
It is enough to show Gu Jiahui's status in the music world.
"The True Colors of a Hero" released in 1986 is the pinnacle of Chinese-language films. Among them, the theme song "Love in the Past" sung by the famous Hong Kong singer Leslie Cheung was written by Gu Lao. Dajinge Golden Melody" and "Top Ten Chinese Golden Melody" list.
"Hong Kong's Daughter" Anita Mui was also discovered by Gu Jiahui. In the "First Rookie Song Contest", Gu Jiahui saw Mei Gu's talent and gave her 49 points (out of 50 points).
It can be said that Anita Mui officially started her singing career after receiving the gold medal from Gu Jiahui.
According to incomplete statistics, Gu Jiahui composed more than 1,200 pieces of music in his life, with almost no overlap, and won awards at major music festivals in Hong Kong.
In 1990, Gu Jiahui won the honorary award of Top Ten Golden Songs, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic stars sang congratulations for him, including Anita Mui, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Ye Qianwen, Sandy Lam, Beyond and other singers.
In 1998, he was awarded the "Bronze Bauhinia Star" and later the "Gold Bauhinia Star". In 2018, he was invited to be a judge of the Oscars.
In his many years of creative career, Gu Jiahui has collaborated with countless artists, many of whom, Gu Jiahui participated in their process from unknown to big hits.
Many people in the industry were very sad to hear the news of his passing.
Xiang Xuehuai, a well-known Cantonese pop song lyricist in Hong Kong, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency, "Gu Jiahui is the most professional person in the music world. He is very talented in music and has a solid musical foundation. He can definitely be said to be a leader in the music world. " He mentioned that he came into contact with Gu Lao's songs when he was a producer in a record company, "His arrangement perfectly shows the elements of traditional Chinese music, and he is the first person." Many years later, Xiang Xuehuai hosted Radio Hong Kong During the music show, I met Gu Jiahui again, "At that time he became my guest, and I knew more about his experience. He is a lifelong learner and a good role model worthy of my lifelong study. Not only musical accomplishment , and be more human.”
Mak Chun-hung, a famous music producer in Hong Kong, told the reporter, "I will miss him forever." He said that he was very sad when he heard the news of Gu Jiahui's death, "I recalled many past events, and I hope he can continue to be happy there. "
In the eyes of his apprentice Zhou Qisheng, "The elder brother of the Hong Kong music scene is my master. Without him, the development level of Chinese songs and theme songs for TV dramas and movies may not even be 1% of what it is today." In his opinion, Gu Jiahui is The embodiment of Hong Kong Cantonese song culture, every Hong Kong composer is more or less influenced by Gu Jiahui, and he has contributed a lot to the Hong Kong music scene.
From the age of 16, I studied music with Gu Jiahui, "I only had 4 days off from my teacher in five or six years." Zhou Qisheng felt that the most obvious character of Gu Jiahui he knew was "a very childish person. He doesn't look at He looks so taciturn, but he likes to joke in private, has a very nice personality, and never quarrels with others." Zhou Qisheng remembered that once he saw the staff of the record company making things difficult for Master, but Master just waved his hand without refuting a word.
But Zhou Qisheng said that this "good man" will change his usual modest attitude when facing music creation, "As long as he is super serious about things related to music, he will not let go of every detail. He is a super strict person. Master, but I have been grateful to him for his strict teaching at that time all my life."
For this point, Chen Shaoqi, a well-known music creator in Hong Kong, also felt the same. He mentioned that Gu Jiahui was passionate and sincere no matter he was making music or being a person. And Gu Jiahui practiced in it by himself." He said that he was lucky to have cooperated with Gu Jiahui in his music career. "People are flying like flowers, clouds are like short songs." (Chinanews WeChat official account)