User:FrostFairBlade/sandbox/Anita Mui

Anita Mui Yim-fong (10 October 1963 – 30 December 2003) was a Hong Kong singer and actress who made major contributions to the Cantopop music scene and received numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout her career, and is regarded as a Cantopop diva. She was dubbed as the "daughter of Hong Kong" and is considered one of the most iconic Cantopop singers.

Mui once held a sold-out concert in Hammersmith, London, England, where she was dubbed the "Madonna of the East" (東方麥當娜), which brought her to further international fame. That title stayed with her throughout her career, in both Eastern and Western media.

In the 1980s, the gangtai style of music was revolutionised by Mui's wild dancing and on-stage femininity. She was famed for her outrageous costumes and high-powered performances in tandem with contralto vocals, which are rare in female artists.

Her fan base reached far beyond Hong Kong into many parts of Asia, including Taiwan, mainland China, Singapore, Korea and Malaysia, and other countries, as well. In the Hong Kong entertainment industry, where stars often rise and fall quickly, Mui consistently remained in the spotlight for 21 years (1982–2003). Her career came to an abrupt end in 2003 when she announced she had cervical cancer. She died later that year at the age of 40. It was then understood that she had developed the disease due to a familial genetic disposition as her sister Ann had died of the same condition in 2000 at age 40 as well.

Early life

 * Was born on 10 October 1963
 * Mui's father died when she was five years old
 * Began to sing on-stage when she was four years old
 * Her career led her to be ostracised at school due to child performers being viewed as street children
 * Ended up quitting school at age 13

Music career

 * When she was 18, she won the inaugural New Talent Singing Awards with a rendition of Paula Tsui's "The Season of Wind"
 * Became known in Hong Kong as the singer of the opening Cantonese theme to the Dr. Slump anime
 * Mui's song, "The Tears Flow Like Water" (1984) became a hit
 * In 1987, Mui performed at the Hong Kong Coliseum for 28 consecutive concerts, becoming the youngest artist to perform solo at the venue

Illness and death

 * Next Magazine reported that she had cervical cancer, referencing unnamed sources
 * On 5 September 2004, Mui confirmed that she had cervical cancer
 * Bothered by the constant paparazzi, she made a public plea to the media to give her privacy while she fought the disease
 * After suffering lung complications caused by cervical cancer, Mui died at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital at 2:50 am
 * Her death was announced by Eddie Lau

Voice and timbre

 * Described by Richard Corliss in Time as having a "sultry alto" voice

Stage performances and videos

 * Capital Artists marketed her as the "ever-changing Anita Mui" to highlight the large variety of costume and image changes in her live performances

Public image

 * Mui had a distinctive face that caused her to be labeled by her critics as the "ugly queen of pop"
 * Throughout her life, Mui's personal life was a constant target of tabloid speculation
 * She faced accusations of drug addiction, plastic surgery, being suicidal, affairs with numerous actors, and was linked to the death of a Triad member
 * After winning five of the top 10 music awards, Mui announced that she would not be accepting any more awards in order to give others a chance

Philanthropy

 * Set up college funds for her nieces and nephews, a stipend for her mother, and the rest of her earnings remained in a trust that would regularly donate to charity
 * Set up a charity to help underprivileged children
 * Also set up a nursing home in San Francisco; its mayor declared April 18 as Anita Mui Day in 1982
 * Helped organize a special concert in 2003 to help raise funds for families affected by the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong