tnppostwoman.com archives

Avis Says: For Hong Kong entertainment, last week marked the end of an era with the passing of much-loved comedienne Lydia Sum.

As one of the showbusiness pioneers, she practically “grew up” with the Hong Kong audience. With over 70 movies and TVB shows under her belt over a span of 47 years, she is best remembered for being a bubbly host and a comic actress. And in an industry where looks is paramount, Fei Fei had no qualms laughing at her figure and and making fun of her weight. Singaporeans will also remember Lydia during her stint here in the Channel 5 sit-com Living With Lydia. Her effusive personality, enthusiasm for life and food, and infectious laughter were the trademarks of one of Hong Kong’s greatest celebrities.

But in sickness, another side of Lydia surfaced. She shunned the media, choosing to maintain her privacy and dignity by moving to a service apartment and lashed out when the Hong Kong paparazzi published unflattering photographs of her. Even her last swansong won’t be for the benefit of the media glare. Lydia’s last wish was to be buried in Vancouver in a private ceremony on 1 Mar. A public memorial will be held the following day in Hong Kong.

Her message to her fans seems to be this: Remember me as the happy, bubbly personality. Not the gaunt, sickly wheelchair-bound picture of a woman past her prime.

Tell Us: What are your fondest memories of Lydia Sum?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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As Fei Fei belongs in 60’s era consists of good looking hunks Tse Yin and Lui Kei, she is able to steal lime light from them in the shows that include babes like Siu Fong Fong, Chan Poh Chee and Sit Kar Yin.

As an actress, Fei Fei best remembered for comical roles that also spoof characters from other movies.Examples like as fat version of pretty ghost Nie Xiao Chien of Chinese ghost Story, Wonder Woman, Lady Black rose and so forth.

As a talk show host, Fe Fei is able to converse with guests whether they have any issues with her or controversies from the past.Example is debut episode with her ex-husband Adam Cheng.

As a compere in charity shows, Fei Fei can convince public to donate more money and at the same time get the best out of performing artistes in order to attract more donors.It is Fei Fei’s sincerity like giving thanks to donor in their native Shanghainese language is one of the reasons why repetitve donors keep on giving generously in charity shows which she host.

Fei Fei’s laughter together with her frankness, sincerity, kindness and the joy she brings to people around her will be sadly missed.

Chester Low

What I remember about Lydia … well, really not much, but her death did strike me somehow. That’s because I was on set with her on episode 13, Season 2 of “Living with Lydia”.

That episode was about some school PTA, and Lydia brought along some fishballs … there was commotion and then FOOD FIGHT!! … I remember when she arrived on set … she had that presence about her … those dark plastic-frame glasses and large hairdo! She was very relaxed .. very professional about it … there were several takes, but she just went on and delivered her lines so well.

I was only metres away from her, but there was fun and cheers in the air … the mood on set was warm and she even gave some ideas how certain things could be done. I remember the director was Irani (or something) — she was the neighbour in “Under One Roof”. It was about the closest I got, but that experience was memorable.

Even though I did not know her personally, and also because I seldom watch chinese programmes, Lydia left us too suddenly. She had a lot of hurt inside of her but yet she pushed through. She loved her daughter very much (she accompanied Mommy on set too!).

I have lots of admiration for her, and her professionalism. She will be dearly missed.

Colin Yeo

Avis Says: Shocking lyrics involving sex, vulgarities and violence have often gotten into the vocabulary of modern-day singers. But perhaps nothing beats the jaw-dropping new song from Taiwanese indie singer Waa Wei Ru-hsuan.

Waa is probably the first artiste around to sing about a bloody topic - menstruation - and it’s not even subtly penned.

She boldly grumbles about how menstruation “makes girls feel like dying from the pain” even though it “doesn’t quite feel like shi**ing”. She also complains about spending money on “damn sanitary napkins” and disses “irritating guys”.

Too graphic and crude?

The song’s audacious lyrics has led to a crimson tide of outcry from netizens who slammed the song as tasteless. Most felt it was socially inappropriate to publicly talk about such private matters and turning the topic into a song will only “pollute people’s ears”. But there are those who felt the lyrics were acceptable as it relates closely to real life.

Tell us: Do you think menstruation is a taboo topic? Is it appropriate to sing about it in a song? Would you listen to such songs? What topics do you think should be avoided by singers in their songs?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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To say that menstruation is a tasteless matter best avoided in media is equivalent to saying that the pain, discomfort and agony suffered by the fairer sex is something contemptuous, best hidden and never discussed. That is an extremely narrow-minded point of view because it’s an innate body function and is as normal and required as the likes of sweating.

A woman who experiences menstruation is perfectly healthy and capable of getting pregnant, ultimately delivering a child after ten months of hardship. When they are suffering from such monthly blues, they should be given peer and family support to tide them over. Inherently they will get emotional and human emotion is very much an element that can humanize singers who can appear to be aloof behind their shades and million-dollar houses. If an actress chooses to use this bloody rite as the subject of her song, it’s her prerogative. The likes of ”As i physically bleed a crimson stream, emotionally, I’m a bloody mess” may seem crude but it goes well with the ‘red’ theme. Nothing wrong with that. I can see the correlation.

We all have mums and female associates, even if we don’t experience it physically, such songs can give us further insights to that aspects of their lives and foster communications and stronger relationships. That is a great thing which can trigger when seen in a positive light. I would be more than happy to listen to songs with such themes to learn more about them. As the saying goes, knowledge is power.

As for what kind of topics are true taboos, it has to depend on the genre of the song and the context which the singer finds himself in. A singer has his followings and has to be socially responsible about the kind of feelings he can ignite and inspire. In the local context, any songs about racial disharmony would naturally be a potential time bomb. Now, that’s the kind of red tide we need to avoid. Not some healthy loss of blood from every lady out there.

Peng Tie Lun

Avis Says: Celebrities are always so cautious when it comes to being caught by the paparrazzi flirting with or kissing their real-life romantic interests. But when it comes to flirting with and kissing their guest stars on stage at their concerts, they have no qualms doing so.

With the regional concert scene heating up, singers are hard-pressed to inject elements of surprise into their shows to draw concert-goers. And the oldest trick in the book? To engage in sexy banter with their guest stars.

From goody-two-shoes Gigi Leung shocking fans with a sexy dance with Vanness Wu (you can see it here at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIcZsKkXOS8) at recent charity concert, to Miriam Yeung and Louis Koo fanning further speculation that they are a pair by kissing passionately at her October concert, to JJ Lin making our jaws drop when he kissed A-Do at his concert a year ago, celebrities are certainly trying hard to sex up their concerts.

For sure, concerts are no longer simple song-and-dance affairs.

Tell us: Do you think singers sexing up their concerts make the shows more exciting? What is appropriate and what is too much? Are the singers trying too hard to outdo one another? What kind of singers can pull such antics off and what kind should just stick to singing?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

The man in the streets like you and me seem to be living in a different world from the celebrities. Intimate behavior between friends and colleagues is often seen as unbecoming,unprofessional and getting out of the line but the celebrities make out like there’s no tomorrow, all in the name of a performance.

As we get increasingly westernized, art’s angles rotate accordingly,lots of traditional Asian values are evaporating. Can we really complain about youngsters getting touchy feely in public if they are constantly exposed to liberal and open minded performances?

Adults are mature enough to discern between right and wrong but the young may not be. Too conservative a performance and it may be labeled a downer, too ”colorful” a performance and it may be labeled inappropriate. Maybe the celebrities are not that different from us after all. We merely tread on a different kind of tight rope!

Peng Tie Lun

I pay good money for a concert to see my favourite singers in action singing not sexing it up. Gyrating like no one’s business, barely there costumes, touchy feely with dancers (just look at the recent Eason Chan concert in Hong Kong which traumatised his own young daughter) and other horsing around, I rather watch a titillating DVD (which is so much cheaper and sometimes free!).

Although a concert can get pretty boring when the singer is rooted in the same spot, in the same position singing for hours straight and a little bit of dancing and tearing off shirts is at times welcomed; there is a limit to everything. And sexing up a concert till it’s like a raunchy party between the host and his/her dancers and guest performer is a big turn off for me.

My ears want to get turned on. Give me a concert filled with powerhouse singing and heartfelt music to tug the heartstrings please.

Seah Sye Kuim