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James Wong Jim

James Wong Jim (Chinese: 黃霑; Jyutping: wong4 zim1; Cantonese Yale: wòhng jīm; 18 March 1941 – 24 November 2004, also known as "霑叔" or "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. Koo Kar-Fai) on many popular television theme songs, many of which have become classics of the genre. His work propelled Cantopop to unprecedented popularity.[1][2][3][4]

He was also well known in Asia as a columnist, actor, film director, screenwriter, and talk show host. 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 63.[5]

Early life and education

Wong was born Wong Jum-sum[6] (Chinese: 黃湛森; Jyutping: wong4 zaam3 sam1; Cantonese Yale: wòhng jaam sām) in Panyu, in what now is part of Guangzhou, China. He migrated to Hong Kong with his family in 1949.[7]

He completed his secondary education at La Salle College. In 1963, he graduated from the 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,[8] he obtained a PhD degree from 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)".[9]

Career and contributions

Exhibition of Dr. James Wong's works during University of Hong Kong's CAS Openday in October 2005
Music Blanket is one of James Wong's favourite personal collection

Wong participated in a variety of media fields including advertising, movies and music. Nicknamed a "genius" (Chinese: 鬼才; Jyutping: gwai2 coi4; Cantonese Yale: gwái chòih; lit. 'ghost talent') for his prodigious abilities,[10] 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 pushed the development of Cantopop to unprecedented popularity.

While 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-selling joke books. He was regarded as responsible for breaking the barrier to many cultural 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" (今夜不設防), co-hosted by Wong and his close friends Chua Lam and Ni Kuang on ATV, is particularly remembered.

As a singer, he is a tenor with 2.5 octaves in chest voice[11] due to him being a heavy smoker. Due to his narrow vocal range, he only released one album despite being a keen singer.

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

On 24 November 2004, Wong died at the Union Hospital in Hong Kong. His funeral was a low-key family funeral as per his wishes. Hong Kong citizens reflected on his career and accomplishments during this time. In the following days, the news of his death became the primary media headline in Hong Kong, and his compositions were played throughout the week. A remembrance ceremony took place at Hong Kong Stadium, with over 15,000 attending this ceremony.[12]

Personal life

Wong was officially married twice, but had three notable relationships. He had three children with his first wife, singer Wah Wa. Their sons were Wong Yue-hon (黃宇瀚) and Wong Yue-man (黃宇文). Their marriage ended while Hua Wa was pregnant with their only daughter, Ursule Wong (黃宇詩).

Wong once said the most important love of his life was Eunice Lam, a writer whom he lived with from 1976 to 1990, but did not marry.[13][14] Lam was also a radio host, and was the sister of Richard Lam, a Cantopop lyricist. Lam died from cancer in 2018.[15]

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

Awards

Wong received numerous awards for his works.

– Music Awards

– Film Awards

Filmography as actor

See also

References

  1. ^ Growing With Hong Kong: The University and Its Graduates... 2002– Page 317: "Good lyrics are an essential ingredient of Cantonese songs and James Wong Jum-sum, lyricist and composer, has created more than a thousand to ..."
  2. ^ Yiu-Wai Chu Lost in Transition: Hong Kong Culture in the Age of China – 2013 Page 83 "The Cantonese version was written in 1974 by James Wong, the Godfather of Cantopop, when a Walt Disney show... While Hong Kong Disneyland highly valued James Wong's lyrics, the Hong Kong government tended to think differently."
  3. ^ Jingzhi Liu – A Critical History of New Music in China – 2010 Page 584 "stage—songs in Cantonese by popular composers like Sam Hui (Xu Guanjie), Joseph Koo (Gu Jiahui), James Wong (Huang Zhan) and Lai Siu-tin (Li Xiao- tian). These new-style Canto-pop songs were welcomed with open arms by the young people of Hong Kong, because the lyrics, ..."
  4. ^ World Music Volume 2 Latin and North America Caribbean India Asia ... Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham, Richard Trillo – 2000 – Page 49 "Amongst the Chinese – and particularly the Cantonese-speaking population of southern China and Hong Kong – by far ... Cantopop (Cantonese pop) began to appear in the 1970s – an amalgam of Western soft-rock and mellow Cantonese lyrical singing – 'Southern China-meets-the West', ... Joseph Koo and James Wong were the groundbreakers, composing Cantopop song for TV themes in the 1970s."
  5. ^ "Hong Kong Government statement on Wong's death (Chinese only)". Hong Kong Government. 24 November 2004. Archived from the original on 7 March 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
  6. ^ "他位列香港四大才子，一生嬉笑怒骂│日签". news.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 24 November 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  7. ^ Yau, Elaine (21 April 2014). "Lyricist James Wong's legacy goes digital with the launch of website". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  8. ^ "In memory of Dr James Wong". Hong Kong University. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
  9. ^ Wong, Jum Sum (2003). The Rise and Decline of Cantopop : A Study of Hong Kong Popular Music (1949–1997) (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Hong Kong. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2015.
  10. ^ Growing with Hong Kong : the University and its graduates : the first 90 years. University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong. 2002. p. 302. ISBN 9622096131. OCLC 50911833.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ^ airstanley23 (4 May 2008), 葉振棠, 黃霑 – 難為正邪定分界, archived from the original on 22 December 2021, retrieved 8 January 2019{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Memorial Service at Hong Kong Stadium". China Daily. 6 December 2004. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
  13. ^ Wong, Martin (6 December 2004). "Private grief of the one Uncle Jim loved best". South China Morning Post.
  14. ^ Chow, Vivienne (2 December 2004). "Uncle Jim puts family first at the end". South China Morning Post.
  15. ^ "Eunice Lam, novelist and ex-sister-in-law of Bruce Lee, dies at age 75". South China Morning Post. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2019.

External links