Lasting Legend - Leslie Cheung (Part 1)

By RTHK
Downloaded from YouTube

[Note from Daydreamer: Dear friends, please follow the YouTube links I state herein because I just found out that there are more than one version of this episode being posted on YouTube. As a result, the episode was broken up into parts differently. If you have to rely on this translation to understand the episode, I strongly recommend that you use the links I used to prepare for the translation. Enjoy!!!]

Translated by Daydreamer on January 13, 2008

不死傳奇 - 張國榮part1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZjirIi5_8w&feature=related (run time 9:15 min.)
不死傳奇 - 張國榮part2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2rsu0Qdh7Q&feature=related (run time 8:43 min.)
不死傳奇 - 張國榮part3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sb-qr3K2bE&feature=related (run time 8:52 min.)
不死傳奇 - 張國榮part4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0gVY2ycE4E&feature=related (run time 8:05 min.)
不死傳奇 - 張國榮part5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yugbJkDgw4&feature=related (run time 9:07 min.)

Hostess / Narrator: Karen Mok

PART 1 from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZjirIi5_8w&feature=related

[Fans showing Gorgor’s memorabilia]
[The song “For Your Love Only” was played]

Fan: Here is where Gorgor lived in the 80s.

[TV showed set where “Days of Being Wild” was filmed]

Antique Shopowner at Cat Street (“SO”): Gorgor once shot a scene here.
SO: Every year at the anniversary of his death, many tourists [fan friends] from the States, Taiwan, Beijing, Shanghai will come here.

Reporter: From all over the world?

SO: Yes, there are also people from Shenzhen. They all know how to come here. Most of them know how to come. Some come every year. I can recognize them when I see them. Among them, there are a few, whom I recognize, have come here before.

Reporter: Are you a fan yourself?

SO: Yes, I am.

Reporter: You are too?

SO: Here on this key chain, I have put his photos.

SO: On this side also. [Showing her key chain to the reporter]

SO: About him … how should I put it … I really don’t know how to describe. He was very friendly, really nice. He wouldn’t put on air or be arrogant. [She looked at Leslie’s picture]

SO: Once every two or three days, I will take the picture out and look at it.

[RED – 1997 Crossover Concert was played]

Karen Mok: I will definitely consider myself as Gorgor’s first fan.

Karen Mok: When I first met him, he was singing in the Rediffusion’s song contest.

Karen Mok: My mom was a senior official at that TV station, so whenever there were big variety shows that required little kids to present flowers, I would be one of them.

Karen Mok: When Gorgor sang, he was dressed in white. Extremely cool! He sang “American Pie”, an English song. He danced and sang, really stylish; it was just fascinating and pleasant to watch.

Narrator announcing: The 7th contestant is Mr. Leslie Cheung from Hong Kong. He is 20 years old, a student.

[“American Pie” was played]

Michael Lai: He sang “American Pie” which was 7 minutes long. I said, “Man, when you are in a song contest, we can only spare you 3 to 4 minutes”. He said how could he bring out the mood of the song if it had to be cut short. I said I knew that would affect the feeling but nothing could be done since show time for each contestant had to be equal.

Michael Lai: He was very skinny, with dark complexion. He also carried some air of royalty.

[“American Pie” continued to play]

Mrs. Mok Ho Mun Yee (Karen Mok’s mother, former vice manager of Rediffusion TV): I and my boss went backstage. When Steve Wong Chek Chiu [then boss of Rediffusion] saw Leslie, he went to him and shook his hand. In front of us, he said, “Leslie, I’ll make you a star”. Leslie’s happiness and hope were expressed in his eyes. When we had eye contact and looked at each other, we knew it would be the case.

[“American Pie” continued to play]

[Showing TV series “Make a Wish” clip, the song “Need You Every Minute” was sung by Leslie]

Narrator: For Leslie who had just started his showbiz career, the title of a runner-up from the Asian Song Contest did not help him to have a smooth sail. He joined the then Rediffusion TV and went through a period of hard time, full of bitter memories.

[Song “Need You Every Minute” continued to play]

Leslie: At that time, my image was not very pleasing as I was really uptrend, wearing a suit and a navy’s hat; my outfit was avant garde.

Leslie: While I was singing, I saw a hat being blown at me, it looked really familiar and when I took another look, it was my own hat.

[Song “Silently Swimming Upstream” was played]

Lo Kwok Jim (lyricist): When I wrote “Silently Swimming Upstream”, I was describing the Leslie whom I knew at that stage, because he was very ambitious and full of confidence, believing that he would emerge and be successful.

Florence Chan: He was an artist full of confidence. Even at moments of despair, he never thought of giving up his performing career. He only thought of finding a new company or new performing ways to strive forward in this circle.

[1983 TVB Variety Show clip was played]

Narrator: In 1982, Gorgor joined Capital Artists Recording Company, like a wind-up spring waiting to explode, waiting for the arrival of the 80s, the golden era of Hong Kong’s pop music.

Michael Lai: At first, he tried to imitate different singers. Later, I felt that he should set up his own unique way, I therefore played Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight” for him. After he finished listening to it, I asked him to try to lower his key a bit. It was my view that, first, singing in a lower key would make his voice sound more manly and sensual. Second, those who listen to the songs are not singers, so if they unknowingly follow you to hum or sing along, then you are half way to success already.

[Song “Wind Continues to Blow” was played]

Leslie [excerpt from his radio autobiography]: “Wind Continues to Blow” was my first record at Capital Artists Recording Company. When it first came out, the response was not ideal. I could say it was worse than what we expected. But perhaps I was lucky, people loved it more and more after listening to it many times. The number of people writing to the radio stations to dedicate this song got larger and larger. It therefore began my new stage. I signed up with TVB as its contract singer.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Lasting Legend - Leslie Cheung (Part 2)

Part 2 from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2rsu0Qdh7Q&feature=related

Leslie [excerpt from his radio autobiography]: It therefore began my new stage. I signed up with TVB as its contract singer.

[Song of “Fallen Family” was played]

[Song of “Once an Ordinary Girl” was played]

Lo Kwok Jim: He did not like to follow the contemporary rule of singing a song. According to the term used in Cantonese opera, he was touching the string and then sliding up and down [Note of translator: I believe he means “like striving to not follow the fine balance demanded by Cantonese opera”]. He did not conform completely according to the rhythm.

[Song of “Refuse to Play” was played]

Michael Lai: For those good boys who always stick to the rules it is difficult to rise and become popular. It’s got to be those who, apart from possessing some playful nature, should also be at the same time naughty, because in the artistic field, there is something called “the brush of God”; with that stroke, that splash of red in the picture, like that expression “ah”, it can hit the audience and grab their attention.

[Song of “Monica” was played]

Florence Chan: How popular was “Monica”?

Florence Chan: Because of “Monica”, the sale of his album reached the number of 400,000 copies. Really incredible!

[Song of “Monica” continued to play]

[Karen Mok came out from the backstage]

Karen Mok: I believe Gorgor’s stage charisma is irreplaceable.

Karen Mok: A very important point that he taught me is when standing on the stage, I have to strike a pose, i.e. you have to set up a pose so that all the people’s attention is on you.

[Song “Side Face” was played at the same time.]

Karen Mok: Another golden sentence of Gorgor’s that I like very much is “haau4, leng3, jing4, cyun3”.

[Song of “Red” was played – clip from Red - 1997 Crossover Concert]

Karen Mok: When you have sex appeal, that is “haau3”.

Karen Mok: “leng3” means beauty, it requires no further explanation.

Karen Mok: “jing4” is a kind of manner, apart from your outward appearance.

Karen Mok: For “cyun3”, I think this is the most classic one, i.e. sometimes you yourself do not have to care about what other people think or whether the audience are there supporting you or others, you just ignore their existence [laugh].

Leslie: No one can drive me over the edge and make me quit. If I do not stay in this field any more, it’s because it’s my choice and I will retreat with glory. [excerpt from James Wong et al’s interview of Leslie in 1989]

[Song “Wind Continues to Blow” – clip from Final Encounter (1989) was played]

Florence Chan: Hong Kong was the last stop of Leslie’s 1988 World Tour. During the world tour, he repeatedly told me that, “I feel the pressure is really great. I want to have my own life. I don’t want to do it anymore. I feel that Momoe Yamaguchi (山口百惠) can retire at the age of 21, I can …”. Actually the retirement of Momoe Yamaguchi affected him a lot.

[Song “Fear Not Able to Encounter Again” (1984) was played]

Eliza Chan: I think he was very clever. I think he understood full well that if he continued to stay in the singing field and did not take a break, he could never present yet another fresher image. The only thing that could enable him to establish or breakthrough himself was to take a break.

[Clip of Sam Hui’s Retirement Party was played]

Leslie: I sing here purely because this is a private party, besides, Sam is my favourite artist so tonight I will have to make an exception and sing again.

[Leslie singing “Silence is Golden”]

Narrator: No one would believe that in 1989 when it was the peak of Gorgor’s career, he would make the decision to retreat. As well, no one could foresee that when Gorgor came back from the retreat he would give us so many surprises. [Song “Silence of Golden” goes on]

[Song “Chase” was playing] Gorgor came back to the singing field in 1995

Hui Yuen (Musician): When he returned and was involved in music recording, he didn't have the burden of being a pop idol. His artistic pursuit became higher.

[Leslie at music studio with Hui Yuen]

Hui Yuen: You could see that the songs he chose or the songs that he invited others to write for him, starting from “Chase” until the end when he asked people to tailor-make the songs for him, you could tell that his taste got higher and higher.

Lam Yik (Lyricist): Perhaps without the burden of music awards or any other elements, he could record songs that he liked. Themes of songs were beyond the basic elements of a pop singer, thus gave me an opportunity to put my imagination and creative ideas into lyrics.

[Song “Blame You for your Beauty” (1996) was played]

Lam Yik: The most unforgettable one was the song “I” at the latter stage of his career. “I” is a song through which he ignored the others and openly sang out words that were from the bottom of his heart, exposing his identity.

[Leslie speaking at the Passion Tour]

Leslie: The theme of “I” is other than knowing how to love each other, the most important thing is to know how to appreciate yourself.

[Song “I” (2000) was sung at the Passion Tour – clip]

Chan Wing Go (Concert Producer): Leslie was a very brave, creative and uptrend performer. He wouldn’t worry whether the audience would accept it or not, ...

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Lasting Legend - Leslie Cheung (Part 3)

Part 3 from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sb-qr3K2bE&feature=related

Chan Wing Go: He wouldn’t worry whether the audience would accept it or not. He wanted to let his fans and audience know, in his heart, what kind of a person he was.

[Clip of opening song at Passion Tour 2000]

Florence Chan: Passion Tour was a very daring attempt. I remember that at that time, after the media watched the performance, we met them face to face. They all praised that the performance was great. However, the next day when I looked at the newspapers, the facts were twisted, they smeared Leslie’s image badly. [Paper clippings shown]

Eliza Chan: I immediately surfed the internet to take a look, and I said, “What's he doing?” At that time, he was wearing a beard and long hair.

[Song “Big Heat”, clip from Passion Tour was played]

Eliza Chan: When I returned to Hong Kong, the first thing I did was go to his concert. After watching that, I felt that he had insight and guts. On stage, it is a must to have good singing and dancing skill, but the requirements he set for himself on stage and his ability to walk a new path so nicely, I think probably there won't be another one after him.

[Song “Big Heat”, clip from Passion Tour continued to play]

[Lok Fung sorting out her pictures of Leslie with background music “Spring Summer Autumn Winter]

Lok Fung (Professor, author): I don’t know if other people will agree with me or not, yet I insist that in eight to ten years time when we talk of Hong Kong culture we will talk of Leslie Cheung still and realize that he is a very important component.

[Song “And Who Else” was played]

[Lok Fung opening the door of her office]

Lok Fung: There is one here also.

Lok Fung: He was a pop singer, thus could not break away from the production mode of the pop industry, for example markets, statistics, yet he would find some gap or space to do something that he wanted to do, making some special elements that he believed could be changed and varied, to go beyond the norm and exhibit them on stage, for example, man can express and show the feminine side, or perhaps whether we need to change or broaden our views a bit towards men and women.

[Clip of song from Passion Tour was played 03:10 of 08:52]

Lok Fung: Since he could do it, then why don’t we show more people or make an in-depth study? I am really interested to know how the cultural environment of Hong Kong could produce someone like him, I am really interested in finding this out. I could say that I use my own way to understand him, but this does not mean that that is him. Artists do not want to be understood; because then they can retain some mystery. It would not be fun if we know everything. If Gorgor said to me one day that he was not as I wrote him to be, then I would smile and say I understand why you say that.

[Clip of dance at TVB Variety Show in 1984]

[Clip of 2001 Hong Kong Movies Award Ceremony]

Leslie: Having been in this field for so many years, without realizing it, I have made almost 70 films. In these 70 films, I have played many different roles, such as, a weak scholar who bumped into a ghost, a swordsman who escaped to the desert from love, a Dan [female Peking opera leading actress] played by a man, Master Twelve, as to more modern ones, a cold-blooded killer, and many many more.

[Clips of various movies were played]

Karen Mok: This is “Viva Erotica”, filmed in 1996. That was my first time officially collaborating with Gorgor. At that time, I could not believe I would have the chance to play with my own idol. In it, I played as his girlfriend, there was also a love scene.

[Clip from “Viva Erotica” was played]

Karen Mok: Of course, apart from playing the role as my boyfriend, we would never forget Gorgor’s other excellent performing skills that we saw on big screen.

[Clip from “A Better Tomorrow” was played]

[Clip from 22nd Ten Golden Songs Award with Gorgor singing the theme song of “A Better Tomorrow” and Ti Lung presenting him a scarf.]

Ti Lung (Actor): In “A Better Tomorrow”, I collaborated with Chow Yun Fat and Leslie. It produced a very outstanding result, and our collaboration created a spark.

[Clip from “A Better Tomorrow” continued to play]

Tsui Hark (Director): In “A Better Tomorrow”, the role of the younger brother was a very important one. At that time, Leslie came to mind immediately when we thought of the candidate for that role. He was the best choice and no one else.

[Clip of "A Better Tomorrow" continued to play]

Tsui Hark: The elder brother was in prison and the whole family was ruined as a result of his past profession, so when the younger brother became a policeman, his mentality was very unbalanced. The role of a young man with an image of rebellion was most suitable for Leslie. Probably someone has already mentioned that the expression in his eye was very similar to that of James Dean’s. Actually eye expression of this type has a kind of lethal force to ordinary people, but after you knew him well, you would feel that it was a very special kind of charisma and charm. Thereafter at that time, when we filmed “A Chinese Ghost Story”, the first thing we had to do was to pull Leslie closer to the audience.

[Clip of “A Chinese Ghost Story” was played]

Ching Siu Tung (Director): Actually, there was a scene I especially like, which is when both of them were in the water. Although they seemed to be kissing, actually they were trying to pass oxygen from one to the other.

[Clip of “A Chinese Ghost Story” was played]

Ching Siu Tung: I originally estimated that it would be a difficult scene to shoot, yet when it was filmed, it only took two takes and eventually we used the one that was taken the first time, that is to say, he could immediately handle that kind of feeling – the romantic feeling when he and Joey Wong were kissing in the water.

[Clip of “A Chinese Ghost Story” was played with Sally Yep singing the song]

Stanley Kwan (Director): I believe that I am not the only person who has the feeling that Leslie has an air of royalty about him.

[Clip of “Rouge” was played]

Stanley Kwan: His facial feature, his manner and movements all carried a kind of scholarly gracefulness and an air of sophistication.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Lasting Legend - Leslie Cheung (Part 4)

Part 4 from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0gVY2ycE4E&feature=related

Stanley Kwan: His facial feature, his manner and movements all carried a kind of scholarly gracefulness and an air of sophistication. [Clip from “Rouge” was playing]

Stanley Kwan: Apart from an air of sophistication, inside him, I believe, he possessed a very special quality: a feeling of softness and femininity. This special quality fitted well into his role. When he was old at the end of the movie, he made you feel that he was living a frustrated life and did not even have Fleur’s courage to face death, etc. It is because of this special quality in Leslie that it injected into the character a sense of doubt and puzzlement, thus enriching the character a great deal.

[Clip of “Days of Being Wild” (1990) was played with Yuddy dancing]

Wong Ka-Wai: For Leslie Cheung, actually I like his past works more than those he made at the later part of his career. Many many years ago, I saw an episode he made for the RTHK “The Woman in My House”. At that time, I felt that Leslie was very special. [Clip of “The Woman in My House” was played.] He was not a super singer then. Afterwards he started to become popular, and took part in the shooting of movies, such as “A Chinese Ghost Story”, “A Better Tomorrow”. His performance at that time made me feel that he was over confident, giving you an impression that he was trying to demonstrate the skill of acting. That was not what I like. [Clip of “Days of Being Wild” was played] So when we started to collaborate, I told him to restrain a bit and not to treat acting as a kind of performance.

Stanley Kwan: Director Wong Ka Wai has really explored the deeper part and innermost world of Leslie, something that we could not see ourselves.

[Clip of “DOBW” was played – segment of Poon Dik Wah talking to Yuddy]

Poon Dik Wah (Singer/Actress): That role was not easy to play, but Leslie was perfect for it. He had that gaze and mentality. At that era, there was no one else who could play this role except Leslie.

Narrator: “Day of Being Wild” has brought Leslie his first Best Actor Award, but to take his performing skills and charisma to the international stage, it is the following movie which must be mentioned.

[Clip showing Leslie, Tsui Fung, Chen Kaige at the Cannes Festival]

[Yokohama, Japan]

Ginice (Hong Kong fans): Here is the venue in Yokohama Japan where the “Farewell To My Concubine” Art Exhibit is being held. The exhibition had already been taken place once in Hong Kong and once in Shanghai before coming here. This time, the Hong Kong and Japanese fans collaborated together and this exhibition has been officially approved as part of the ‘Year of Chinese-Nippon Cultural and Sporting Exchange 2007’.

[Clip of “FTMC” was played]

Franny (Japanese fans): For Leslie and his fans, “Farewell To My Concubine” is a very meaningful movie. After having learned of the Peking opera and Chinese people through this movie, one will have special passion, feeling and interest for this movie.

[Clip of “Farewell To My Concubine” continued to play]

Ginice: This is a Peking opera mock stage. In the centre behind this embroidery, there is a screen so that every hour, clips and production high-lights can be played.

Ginice: This is the poster for the metro stations in France. [The poster was showed]

Ginice: This is the cinema poster displayed in Spain. [The poster was showed]

Ginice: Original script of the movie. [The script was showed]

Ginice: The fan really took it to her heart; she has saved the ticket of the movie. [showing the cinema ticket]

Ginice: You can see that this is the make-up room at the Peking opera backstage.

Ginice: This is his set of hair ornaments.

Franny: For us, the main purpose is after the visitors return home from this exhibition, they will watch this wonderful movie “Farewell To My Concubine” again. Of course, another main purpose is for more people to learn of and then find out more about Leslie who was such a wonderful artist.

Male Japanese Fan: From a man’s point of view, I feel that Leslie had his soft side, yet at the same time, he possessed the charm of a man, and very handsome.

Female Japanese Fan: Leslie definitely was a super actor. I respect him all the time.

Female Japanese Fan: After I knew Leslie, he changed my life. I become more enthusiastic about everything. In the past, I only cared about Japan or the things happening in Japan, but after knowing Leslie, things have changed, I will watch Hong Kong movies, [paper clips about Farewell To My Concubine was played], and am interested in things about Hong Kong. This has widened my views towards the world.

[Song of “A Thousand Dream of You” was played when Leslie spoke]

Leslie: Movie is a team work, but under the guidance of a good director, the roles that some actors play on the screen may become unforgettable, as if having given them life. [Clips of various movies were played]

Leslie: Therefore a good actor may give himself countless numbers of lifes.

[Clip of “Viva Erotica” was played and Gorgor asked whether the movie was well directed]

Karen Mok: On April 1, 2003, the April Fool Day, something that was most unbelievable happened.

Voice of News Anchor: At the evening, Actor Leslie Cheung fell down from a hotel in Central and died. He was 46. According to the police, Leslie Cheung fell down at around 6 p.m. from the Oriental Mandarin Hotel in Central and was sent to the Queen Mary Hospital.

[Song of “Fearless of Loneliness” and clip of Gorgor’s funeral was played]

Karen Mok: It is very hard to describe this incident. Feeling that it was very unreal; something that was impossible to happen.

Lam Yik: Until now, I still haven’t got the nerve to listen to his songs at home again.

Poon Dik Wah: I feel it is a pity, and I miss him very much. Because now, don’t just say now, even in the past, there was no one like him in the singing field.

[Showing paper clip with a headline of depression being the possible cause of death]

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Lasting Legend - Leslie Cheung (Part 5)

Part 5 from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yugbJkDgw4&feature=related

Florence Chan: He had never given himself up. After he got this illness, he had persisted and struggled for a long time. But most unfortunate, at the end, this tragedy happened. This was not his decision.

Ti Lung: A tragedy; a tragic persona. Don’t stir up any more unhappy recollection. Let’s only remember the happy moments of him.

[Fans counting down at Avenue of Stars on September 12, 2007, Leslie’s birthday]

Fans: Let’s sing Happy Birthday together.

[Clips of Leslie’s birthday party intertwined with gathering at Avenue of Stars]

Yan: Today is September 12, 2007, we have a birthday party for our most beloved Leslie Cheung. We wish that by means of this birthday party, we may link up all the fans together to continue Gorgor’s spirits, as well as look at video clips that we may not have the chance to see before. Although Gorgor has left us for so many years, in our hearts, he is always with us.

[Song “No Need for More” was played, as well as clip of Wax Museum]

Male Fan from Taiwan: My whole family is his super fans.

Singaporean Fan: In Singapore, I started to like him after watching one of his TV episodes “Gone With the Wind”.

[Song “Going Through Together” was played; screen showing “Old Main Street, Aberdeen”]

Leslie: I hope that all of you will support me on this fundraiser, okay? I can tell you, donations received from these cards will all go to the Kids Cancer Foundation. The proceeds have now reached $600,000 from the first performance to now, i.e. the twentieth performance.

[Clip showing volunteers of Friends of Gorgor visiting elderlies]

Representative of Friends of Gorgor: Because the impression that Gorgor gave us is truth, kindness and beauty. His kindness was well known to everyone because very often at his concerts he would raise money for the cancer foundation. [Clip of Red 1997 Crossover Concert was played]

Rep.: We want to extend his kindness to those who are in need. Apart from the ability to help, we can also broaden our vision.

[China, Dalian]

Ashley Yao: Today, at the Dalian Light Industry Polytechnic University, we are holding the Remembering Leslie Cheung Movie Show. Throughout the year of 2004 in 13 provinces, over 90 movie shows had been held in 20 high schools. I feel that by using this format, we may spread Gorgor’s artistic achievement. I feel that as an actor, his artistic achievement will last forever and stand the test of time. Therefore although he is not here anymore, we will never give up but keep on playing his movies in order to spread his artistic achievement everywhere and generations to come.

Female Chinese Fan: I feel that he was really talented.

Female Chinese Fan: He was very talented and very diligent. He was a role model to us, the university students.

Male Chinese Fan: I do like him. I believe I will try to find out more about his movies.

[Clip of Red 1997 Crossover Concert was played]

Ashley Yao: After he passed away, I felt very regretful because, for example, when I attended his concert in the past, he shouted from the stage asking people to all stand up and dance because theyhad promised him that they would, maybe I was the only one in the whole stadium who remained seated. At that time, I felt that even if I clapped my hands, he might not be able to hear it; and if I screamed, he might not see it, it was meaningless to do so. Now that I think about it, I feel that loving someone you should express it and let him know right away. He had given so much to the world, surely he would love to see some returns wishing that we would express them out right. Besides, he has left us so many things, we cannot merely look at them once. We should help him to let more people know about them.

Florence Chan: These albums were made by Gorgor’s fans in Mainland China. They made them with hearts.

[Showing the albums]

Florence Chan: These were pictures taken when we first met with names of places and people. Some of the pictures were new to me. Here, it was taken on November 26, 2001 when we were watching Elton John’s concert. For me, I couldn’t remember that was taken at Elton John’s concert. They would collect all these memorabilia. Really with a lot of hearts.

Florence Chan: In all these years, there are so many people who love him so dearly, [weeping] have done so much for him.

[Running clips of memorial events]

Florence Chan: I wish that next year (2008) I can produce a memorial concert to remember him. Originally, I was planning to do a memorial concert in the 10th anniversary of his death so that I may probably do it better, but who can tell what will happen in ten years, I don’t know whether I am still alive at that time. I don’t want to leave this world with regrets.

[Clip from “Days of Being Wild” was played. Leslie: Because of you, I will remember that minute. From now on, we are friends of one minute. This is a fact, you can’t take it back.]

Karen Mok looking at her watch, while Leslie was saying [audio clip from his 1985 radio autobiography]: In the future days to come, I will do more things to make you feel that in my artistic life I can give you what you want, because in this showbiz, I will not be staying for too long. I will only work for a while and then retreat. But before the arrival of such a date, I really wish that I can make everyone of you remember me, try not to forget me. I can only say that I am very grateful for your support. Thank you.

[Karen Mok laying a red rose on the floor of the stage.]

-END-

[Special thanks to Jackie for editing]

Gorgor’s Old Diary

Posted by 滴血怨毒
Date 2003-02-02 14:01:41
Downloaded from http://bbs.ent.163.com/bbs/zhangguorong/107876.html

Translated by Daydreamer on January 11, 2008

Gorgor’s Old Diary (My New Year Gift)

Author's notes: The New Year has arrived, a time to get rid of the old stuff and welcome the new ones. I do not know what new stuff I am expecting, but there are plenty of old stuff. The first day of the new year, my friend called me and I went to his place. There I saw him holding an old magazine. He said he found this magazine from his drawer and this would surely bring him luck in the year of the goat. This magazine was an 1989 issue, volume 4, of the “Overseas Stars”. With my shaking hands, I turned the page to page 173 and saw "Diary of the Star – Leslie Cheung" (1988, 8, 28-9, 3).

Sunday
Just finished the 23 performances. I was totally relieved but suffered from insomnia. Perhaps it was the consequence of having spent one whole month at the Hung Hom Coliseum. Now that everything is back to normal, inevitably there is a sense of void or emptiness. Actually the 23 performances did not make me feel tired, on the contrary, I feel really exhausted after finishing them because I could not hear the whistles and screams of the fans any more.

Monday
I attended the press conference of Michael Lai’s "Michael Lai and Friends Concert". This concert will be held in November at the Hung Hom Coliseum in which I will sing with Jacky Chan, Anita Mui and David Lui Fong for approximately twenty minutes every night. Originally I planned to not performing any more this year, however, in view of my friendship with Michael and that the first song "Chasing" that I sang was composed by him, I will do so as an exception.

[Note by Translator: See http://www.lesliecheung.cc/Concert/Michaelai/report(eng)/report(eng).htm, a report by a fan who attended the concert.]

Tuesday
I had purchased a property in London two years ago. At that time, it worth £400,000, and now the price has gone up to £450,000. During these three years, the price of the properties in London has gone up and the sterling pounds are staying strong, therefore, purchasing properties in London as an investment is a wise decision. In a short while, I will travel to Europe. Vienna is going to be my first stop where I will watch some operas. Then I will go to Paris as well as London where I will purchase property and go to the theatres. London is a place that I will definitely stop by because I have already scheduled to meet with George Lam there. A real estate broker will be there to show him some properties for consideration.

Wednesday
Apart from making movies, I very much enjoy travelling, reading, and watching people. Travelling may allow us to look at and know more of the outside world, reading may increase our knowledge, and observing people may help me to understand human nature more. Actually, each individual is like a book himself having his own story. Looking at one’s outward appearance is like looking at the cover of a book. Then after further contact and communication, you will feel as if reading the contents of that book. Very interesting.

Thursday
To live solidly is the best attitude towards life. One has to live with pride, and has to know how to distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong and never does anything that is bad and incorrect. [NOTE by author: this is a quote from "Mencius"] [NOTE by translator: Mencius, born 372-289 BCE(?), was a Chinese philosopher who was arguably the most famous Confuscian after Confucius himself.] I am in favour of the theory of “rather go without than have something shoddy”. Therefore I do not have a lot of friends but they are all good ones.

Friday
In order to take good care of my vocal cord, I avoided consuming cold and stimulating food. Also, I tried to sleep for 10 hours each night. Now that the concerts were over, I may change my lifestyle a bit. I may eat wholeheartedly and also play majong with my friends. However, I still cannot shake away the sense of loss as I really miss the Hung Hom Coliseum.

Saturday
The world-renowned international Broadway opera "CATS" is planning to perform in Hong Kong. The person-in-charge invited me to play one of the important characters about which I am really excited. The only downside is that one has to leave Hong Kong and go to New York in 1989 to train for one year.

Interview of Leslie by Barbara Yung Mei Ling in 1985(?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGh7_D5UpH8&feature=related

Translated by Daydreamer on January 9, 2008

BY = Barbara Yung Mei Ling
LC = Leslie Cheung

[Yung entering the studio]

LC: I thought an extra terrestian has arrived to visit me, Yung Mei Ling, what’s up?

BY: I am here to convey a good news.

LC: Good news? What good news?

BY: Your song “Wind Continues to Blow” has been nominated as one the Jade Solid Gold songs in the second seasonal awards.

LC: Really!

BY: Are you happy about it?

LC: Sure.

BY: What has been keeping you busy lately?

LC: Apart from working on some movies, I have just finished recording a new record. In the past, the songs that I sang carried heavy influence of western and Japanese pop music, but the songs in this new record of mine will have a greater emphasis on Chinese music.

BY: I believe it must be very pleasant to listen to. In the meantime, let’s listen to the song “Wind Continues to Blow”.

NEWS - Stars to pay tribute to Gorgor at the Coliseum

Oriental Daily Newspaper
07/01/2008

Downloaded from http://community.lesliecheung.cc/guestbook/post

Translated by Daydreamer on January 6, 2008

In 84 days, it will be April 1, 2008, the fifth anniversary of Leslie’s death. Florence Chan has called on Jacky Cheung, Tony Leung (Chiu Wai), Corina Lau, Karen Mok, Elisa Chan, the Grasshopper, Eason Chan, etc. to perform in a big memorial show in the Coliseum to commemorate Leslie.

Time flies, Gorgor has left us for five years now, however, his good friends and thousands of fan friends still remember him fondly. In view of this, Florence Chan has quietly created an idea to hold ten performances in different parts of the world from April 1 (his death anniversary) to September 12 (his birth anniversary) to commemorate him, with performances on April 1 and September 12 to be held in Hong Kong. Like the lyrics in “Left Right Hand”: “You have left us, yet scattered all over the places”.

Florence Chan to Make the First Move
According to the sources, Florence Chan has successfully booked the Hong Kong Hung Hom Coliseum for April 1st in order to hold the commemorate activity and has invited Gorgor’s good friends in the showbiz to partake. Our reporter called Mrs. Chan and she confirmed that she is in the process of contacting Gorgor’s good friends but the list of people who will be performing is still at its preliminary stage. Since Mrs. Chan is busy with Jacky Chan’s world tour performance right now, so far she has only invited some of Gorgor’s good friends. She said, “For friends whom I haven’t already contacted, I hope they will understand my situation and take the initiative to contact me instead.”

Mrs. Chan guarantees that she will put in all her heart and efforts into this production. She said, “It will be in a form of musical concert, all the songs will have something to do with Gorgor. (Then what will Tony Leung and Corina Lau perform?) Nothing is confirmed yet, but surely they will perform something. (Will Gorgor’s good friend Daffy Tong be attending?) I will first work on the rundown. Nothing is clear as yet.”

Activities in China, Hong Kong and Japan
Apart from Hong Kong, Mrs. Chan also plan to hold memorial activities in other places. “Because fans from other places all have hearts, so my goal is to hold ten performances going to places that Gorgor loved, including Japan, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc. Japanese fans are very sentimental. Every year, they fold many paper cranes and delivered to Gorgor’s house; Hangzhou was where Leslie filmed his last photo album book, therefore, it has special meaning. Both death and birth anniversaries will be held in Hong Kong, however, since the Colliseum will be closed on September 1st, therefore, we will have to look for alternate venue.

Reported by Music Group