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Fu Zao (Faye Wong album)
Encyclopedia
Fu Zao is a 1996 album by the C-pop
singer Faye Wong
; the Chinese title is variously translated into English as Restless, Impatience, Anxiety and other similar words. The Japanese release included the English translation Anxiety on the obi strip
.
Many consider it her boldest and most artistically coherent effort to date. Some tracks are wordless or use self-created sounds
, including the cheerful-sounding refrain "la cha bor" of the title track.
This being her last album with Cinepoly, Wong felt she could take on more artistic risks. The album contains mainly her own compositions, with an aesthetic inspired by the Cocteau Twins
, who actually contributed two original songs to the album, "Fracture" (分裂) and "Repressing Happiness" (掃興). As Wong had previously covered their work on Random Thoughts
in 1994, she had established a remote working relationship with them - even laying down vocals for a special duet version of "Serpentskirt" on the Asian release of the group's 1996 album, Milk And Kisses
.
The album was received favorably by critics. A Buddhist herself, Wong weaves in teachings of transience and disengagement that can also be found in her previous and later albums. However, sales figures were less enthusiastic.
After the release, Wong became the second Chinese artist (after Gong Li
) and the first Chinese singer to be featured on the cover of Time
magazine.
In 2008, Universal Music re-released the album in a paper ECO Pack as part of its Asian series of 20th Century Masters.
.
C-pop
C-pop is an abbreviation for Chinese popular music , a loosely defined musical genre by artists originating from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Others come from countries where the Chinese language is used by a large number of the population, such as Singapore and Malaysia...
singer Faye Wong
Faye Wong
Faye Wong is a highly successful and influential Chinese singer-songwriter and actress who is usually referred to as a diva . Early in her career she briefly used the stage name Shirley Wong . Born in Beijing, she moved to Hong Kong in 1987 and rose to stardom in the early 1990s by singing...
; the Chinese title is variously translated into English as Restless, Impatience, Anxiety and other similar words. The Japanese release included the English translation Anxiety on the obi strip
Obi strip
An is a strip of paper looped around a book or other product. This extends the term obi used for Japanese clothing; it is written with the same kanji. It is also referred to as a , or more narrowly as .-For books:...
.
Many consider it her boldest and most artistically coherent effort to date. Some tracks are wordless or use self-created sounds
Non-lexical vocables in music
Non-lexical vocables, which may be mixed with meaningful text, are a form of nonsense syllable used in a wide variety of music. A common English example would be "la la la".-Traditional music:...
, including the cheerful-sounding refrain "la cha bor" of the title track.
This being her last album with Cinepoly, Wong felt she could take on more artistic risks. The album contains mainly her own compositions, with an aesthetic inspired by the Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
, who actually contributed two original songs to the album, "Fracture" (分裂) and "Repressing Happiness" (掃興). As Wong had previously covered their work on Random Thoughts
Random Thoughts (Faye Wong album)
Random Thoughts is a 1994 album recorded by Chinese Cantopop singer Faye Wong when she was based in Hong Kong. It confirmed her move into alternative music and covers songs by the Cocteau Twins, whose influence she readily acknowledged....
in 1994, she had established a remote working relationship with them - even laying down vocals for a special duet version of "Serpentskirt" on the Asian release of the group's 1996 album, Milk And Kisses
Milk and Kisses
Milk & Kisses is an album by Cocteau Twins issued in 1996. It proved their last; a meeting two years later to record a new album ended with the breakup of the band....
.
The album was received favorably by critics. A Buddhist herself, Wong weaves in teachings of transience and disengagement that can also be found in her previous and later albums. However, sales figures were less enthusiastic.
After the release, Wong became the second Chinese artist (after Gong Li
Gong Li
Gong Li is a Chinese film actress. Gong first came into international prominence through close collaboration with Chinese director Zhang Yimou and is credited with helping to bring Chinese cinema to Europe and the United States....
) and the first Chinese singer to be featured on the cover of Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine.
In 2008, Universal Music re-released the album in a paper ECO Pack as part of its Asian series of 20th Century Masters.
Track listing
Album covers
The Hong Kong album cover, including the back panel, shows three photos of Faye Wong in the pose of the three wise monkeysThree wise monkeys
The Three Wise Monkeys , sometimes called the Three Mystic Apes, are a pictorial maxim. Together they embody the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"...
.