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Cantopop Classics: A Playlist of the Best Cantonese Songs
- Beyond - Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies 海闊天空 (1993) The song that brought Beyond’s journey to stardom. Written by band member Wong Ka Kui, this song was an epic rock ballad and the last huge hit of the band before his tragic death in 1993 due to an accident while filming a Japanese game show in Japan.
- Hacken Lee - Red Sun 紅日 (1992) A catchy and rhythmic song, Red Sun is the Cantonese cover of the Japanese megahit song, Sore Ga Daiji, sung by the Daijiman Brothers back in 1991.
- Beyond - Glorious Years 光輝歲月 (1990) Another cult favourite by Beyond, Glorious Years pays tribute to the revolutionary leader Nelson Mandela – and his struggles against apartheid in South Africa.
- Sam Hui - From the Heart of a Loafer 浪子心聲 (1976） Widely considered as the ‘God of Songs’, legendary Cantopop singer Sam Hui’s From the Heart of a Loafer is a song about the philosophy of life.
Cantopop songs are usually sung by one singer, sometimes with a band, accompanied by piano, synthesizer, drum set and guitars. They are composed under verse-chorus form and are generally monophonic. Practically all early Cantopop songs feature a descending bassline.
- Boundless Oceans Vast Skies (海闊天空) Beyond is probably the most influential Cantopop band of all time, and they often used their songs to speak out against social injustice.
- Vulnerable Woman (容易受傷的女人) A signature piece from Faye Wong’s early career, “Vulnerable Woman” offers up a drunken woman’s musings on the highs and lows of love, with a particularly heart-breaking refrain of that begs the listener to “please have pity on my heart.”
- Shanghai Tang (上海灘) One of TVB’s most beloved series of all time is The Bund (上海灘), a riveting drama set in Shanghai in the 1920s and often hailed as “The Godfather of the East.”
- Love Trap (愛情陷阱) A master of slow love ballads, it’s curious that Alan Tam’s catchiest hit is fast-paced and riveting. Anyone who has listened to “Love Trap” can’t help but groove to the beat, and sing along with the theatrical last lines of “This trap, this trap, this trap—I have encountered it!”
- Roman Tam. Roman Tam—or “Law Man” (羅文)—as he’s more commonly known, is truly the undisputed “Grand Godfather of Cantopop.” His illustrious career began in 1962 when he immigrated to Hong Kong from Guangzhou for better opportunities after being rejected by a Cantonese opera academy.
- Sam Hui. Known as the “God of Songs,” Sam Hui Koon-kit was credited with popularising Cantopop with his 1974 album Games Gamblers Play, which was also the soundtrack to a film of the same name.
- George Lam. George Lam is a veteran Cantonese artist who played a part in shaping the landscape of the genre. He grew up exposed to western cinema and music by his family, and was also educated overseas, which influenced his music.
- Danny Chan. Danny Chan Pak-keung was one of those stars that just possessed a certain magnetism. He has had a passion and talent for music since a young age, teaching himself how to sing and play the piano despite not being able to read sheet music.
Dec 23, 2022 · Our list below includes some of the best Cantopop songs released in 2022. For big fans of the genre, do you agree with our rankings? For those who are new, consider this your first Cantopop...
May 17, 2023 · Since the 1970s, Cantopop has melded Western genres with local sounds to create a musical melting pot — much like Hong Kong itself. Read on for 10 Cantopop artists who have shaped the genre.
