The third concubine = bad singer? - Da hong denglong gaogao gua (1991) Discussion

It's Chinese opera. That's the way it's supposed to sound.

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Asian music uses what they call the pentatonic scale (mostly the black keys on the piano). It's not the traditional western musical scale we are used to hearing. That's why it can sound strange to some people. Personally, I think it's beautiful.

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[–] yoli-1 19 years ago

I kinda liked it although it's a bit exotic to my ear :)

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[–] kharpern 19 years ago

I totally loved the music in this movie including her singing. It is different than we are use to in the west but it was in my opinion excellent.

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[–] xoxfresswataxox 18 years ago

Lol believe me, I am still not used to hearing them. My grandma plays them all the time when I was over at her place. I don't hate them but I don't care for them :) so you're definitely not the only one. It kind of reminds me of European opera though (very high pitched and everything). and I would agree with the other poster, stay away (FAR away) from Farewell, cuz that movie has much much more of this kind of singing. The movie itself was, I think, not as good as RTRL.

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[–] jamesbeyer 19 years ago

the other comments are correct in stating that it sounds the way chinese opera is supposed to sound, but if it bothers you, stay far far away from the film Farewell My Concubine aka Ba wang bie ji. just a suggestion, since that film is all about chinese opera.

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[–] timmy_501 13 years ago

Thank you so much for that warning, I'll be sure to skip that film now.

This post brought to you by The Yoyodyne Corporation

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[–] mac_alain 17 years ago

God, her voice was a freakin annoyance!!!

Maybe for you, but not for me: I liked it very much.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] UCHoodman 17 years ago

It grew on me, at first I was like ah, then as I heard more I really began to like her singing

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[–] QueenNadine 17 years ago

>>God, her voice was a freakin annoyance!!!<< She'd probably say the same thing about your voice. It's called a different aesthetic.

Nadine :)

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[–] sugerfoot 17 years ago

I realize that the music is from a different culture than I am blah blah blah, but I really didn't like it either. To high pitched for me!

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[–] ronnivic 17 years ago

"In ancient times, Peking Opera was performed mostly on stage in the open air, teahouses or temple courtyards. Since the orchestra played loudly, the performers developed a piercing style of song that could be heard by everyone."
I've also heard that the piercing high pitched quality had its origins in formalized shouts to scare away evil spirits.
Can sympathise. A little goes a long way for me too.

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[–] RiverWraith 17 years ago

It's an acquired taste, I think. I rather like it; it's grown on me since the first time I heard it, when I thought it sounded like someone treading on a bag full of cats.

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[–] sugerfoot 16 years ago

"It's an acquired taste, I think. I rather like it; it's grown on me since the first time I heard it, when I thought it sounded like someone treading on a bag full of cats."

Hee!

I actually watched a whole Asian movie on t.v. the other day with no subtitles, and I enjoyed it! It was funny, although I'm not sure that it was intentionally so...

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[–] xRambaldiCodex 16 years ago

Lol, I always thought she sounded like a cat dying. But, that's how Chinese opera is supposed to sound, I guess.

Atonement for Best Picture 2007

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[–] thrillkiller-1 16 years ago

I think that she was a bad singer. That's why she was a concubine. If she was good,then she would get showered with gifts,and have a "Sugar Daddy". The fact that she was a concubine reflects her succes as a Opera singer. Witness "Farewell My Concubine",that guy got all kinds of stuff from his fans and "Admirerers". As for being a kept kept woman,They're usually at beck and call. That was her only way to live in relative comfort for the rest of her life. And being the concubine of an important man did bring a sort of social status too.

I Kill Kids!

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[–] emuir-1 10 years ago

I agree that she was not a good singer. I found Chinese singing strange at first but after a while I became accustomed to it and now appreciate it. She was likely somone who realised that she wasn't going to make it to the big time and had better find a rich husband while she could before the parts became fewer and fewer. Rather like the aspiring film starlet who gets a couple of minor roles then is never heard of again.

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[–] Kragey 9 years ago

I don't agree; I think she was a lovely singer. Comparing her to the characters in Farewell My Concubine is a bit unfair when you consider the ageism women face in most countries, particularly in China. Dr. Gao says Meishan was "famous" for singing a particular opera, and we can't be sure if that's true or if he was just flattering her. While it's possible she wasn't a particularly famous singer, and she therefore gave up her career, it's also possible that she hit her late 20s and was therefore labeled "too old" to be a stage diva.