UNFORGETTABLE LESLIE CHEUNG KWOK
WING
Unconsciously, Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing has left
us for six years already.
Our nostalgia for him has not diminished or weakened with the
passage of time but instead has deepen and solidified. In
recent years more people want to know and understand him;
everyone have united through the power of the internet and formed
different groups to communicate, discuss, through reviewing his
psychological history and film work explore his roles, dialogues,
songs to find the pulse of the era and social change in them, and
even sum up their place.
When I read these sites' long articles, messages, words from the heart and after careful consideration, pictures and many private collections, I would feel everyone's love and respect for him, and pride for this superstar. Over the years, I have always thought what has this superstar left us?
Apart from his good old music, film and television work that has stood the test of time, and today everybody still feel great about; apart from his persistence in the pursuit of perfection in his arts; apart from his hard work, refusal to easily give up and determination on his singing career; apart from his positive exploration of different performing arts range after his comeback, his courage to try a variety of different types of performances, and hope to scale new heights in his career, what else is there?
From the look of the local music scene the past two years, those new young singers because of various reasons like record companies' pursuit of quick success that have forced some out before they even rose, unable to develop their own special talent; and at the same time the sex photo scandals and the most recent drug possession case have made everyone turn on young singers with terms like "one generation worse than the previous", "lack of strength, inability to perform live", "completely off key", "ordinary looking, guy/girl next door with indistinguishable names" to further their accusations.
Yet in all honesty, they perhaps may not be able to persist and work hard but have we provided encouragement and opportunities to these young singers? While we are asking too much from them and criticizing them, the society is filled on an "everything on the Government" passive attitude, how do we adjust? When Brigitte Lin recalled how Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing took extra care of her back then, a moment of clarity suddenly struck my heart: back then he physically embodied the tradition of helping new comers and constantly strived for passing the music from generation to generation, perhaps the time has come for us to face up and act.
- Chui Hiu
from TakungPao - April 5, 2009 on Hong Kong Film Top Ten