A Mandarin song that is still being played today is, *Love Without End (Bu Liao Qing). Its haunting melody has mesmerised listeners for the past 50 years and the song has become a classic not only with the Chinese crowd but with ardent fans internationally since 1961. The movie itself, starring the Hong Kong icon Lin Dai (image), was screened for months all over the Shaw Brothers circuit in 60s Singapore and like the song, is legend.
Lin Dai, alluringly soft and beautiful, the only actress to win four Best Actress awards at the Asian Film Festival, made the song more poignant when she committed suicide on July 17, 1964. The song, the movie, the actress were on everyone's lips for a long time and sealed, Love Without End to become what it is today.
*“The music is from the 30s to 60s shi dai qu (Chinese Golden Oldies) era. During that period, the songs and music were beautiful and technically very difficult to sing. Most of the singers during that time were classically trained and had amazing vocal ranges,” said Mr Khor Seng Chew, Music Director from Dama Orchestra in Penang that had made good in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was in charge of a performance of Chinese Golden Oldies on April 8th 2006, at the E & O Hotel, Penang, Malaysia.
There are numerous websites in memory of Lin Dai and the song. Still in the minds of many followers, both will live, without end. And the song has been recorded by our local singers too.
Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.
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