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Chan Di-yee (1908-2007) was a lyricist who wrote for numerous pop songs and movie soundtracks, including the famous songs "You are the Only One in My Heart", "Phoenixes Flying Together", "Night Bells at Nanping" and "Lover's Tears" as well as the Chinese version of "Seven Lonely Days". The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has organised a thematic exhibition entitled "The Hong Kong Musicians Series: The Vibrant Lyricist: Chan Di-yee" to showcase Chan's valuable manuscripts, trophies and records, enabling visitors to learn more about this renowned lyricist in the earliest pop music industry of China.
Born in Changzhou of Jiangsu Province, Chan started reading extensively at a young age. He was talented in writing even without completing secondary education. In 1933, Chan established the first Shanghai entertainment newspaper, Mingxing Daily, and then became the editor and chief editor in different newspapers and magazines. He remained active in Shanghai's literary industry in the 1930s and '40s.
Chan was later invited to write lyrics for a movie song. Named after the movie's title, the song "Phoenixes Flying Together" started Chan's career as a lyricist. In 1952, Chan moved to Hong Kong from Shanghai and continued to write lyrics. His works brought enormous fame to their singers and created a golden period of Hong Kong pop songs. Chan created more than 50 film scripts, and wrote for more than 3,000 pop songs and movie theme songs. Chan's talent won him a number of music awards in Hong Kong, including a Radio Television Hong Kong Golden Needle Award and a Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong Hall of Fame Award.
The exhibition is now being held in the Arts Document Reading Room at 10/F of Hong Kong Central Library until October 31. Admission is free. For enquiries, please call 2921 0259.
Ends/Friday, July 3, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:06
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