Interview with Chan Siu Kei

Interview Date: 24 March 2011

Chan Siu Kei has played an active role in the local lyrics scene for more than 20 years with over 2000 lyrics works since his debut in the mid 80s. Anita Mui’s ‘Song of the Sunset’, Jacky Cheung ‘Goodbye in Rainy Days’ and Gigi Leung’s ‘Abandoned’ were just few of his golden hits. Chan is not only a lyricist but a multi-talented creative entertainment practitioner. In the late 90s Jacky Cheung’s musical ‘Snow-Wolf-Lake’, Chan had played a variety of roles for its production included inviting sponsors, writing scripts and writing lyrics for some of the songs. Of which, the song ‘Just One Single Day is Enough’ with both music composition and lyrics writing were by Chan himself was awarded ‘CASH Best (Pop) Melody Award’ in 1997 RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards Presentation Ceremony.

Chan stepped further to establish his own music production company in 1997 to produce songs and albums and organize concerts for various singers, including Gigi Leung, Stephanie Cheng and Hacken Lee. ‘Hacken’s Concert Hall’ live recording series is one of his greatest and impressive productions. Recently Chan has set up a Beijing office to expand his music production business to the mainland.

In recent years, he has been invited to write lyrics for theme songs of major events of Hong Kong and the Mainland China such as ‘Just Because You Are Here’ (for HKSAR 10th Anniversary celebration in 2007), ‘We Are Ready’(for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games one-year countdown celebration), ‘You Are The Legend’ (for 2009 East Asian Games held in Hong Kong). Of which, ‘Just’ and ‘We’ were awarded the ‘CASH Golden Sail Most Performed Works Awards – Cantonese Pop Work’ in 2007 and 08 respectively. In 2010, Chan was awarded the ‘Chief Executive’s Commendation for Community Service’ from the HKSAR government to recognize his music-related contribution.

This interview is the Special Feature: In Conversation with Lyricists of CASHFLOW Issue 65. For full text version, please click here.

Interview with Chan Siu Kei - Part 1 (06' 07")             Interview with Chan Siu Kei - Part 2 (10' 58")