Emma-Lee Moss, known to many as the singer-songwriter Emmy the Great, was born in Hong Kong to an English father and a Hongkonger mother. She lived there until the age of 11, when her family relocated to England, joining the wave of emigrants who left before Hong Kong's handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997.
A Personal Journey Through Cantopop
In her memoir My Cantopop Nights, Moss intertwines Hong Kong's history with the evolution of Cantopop—a genre that blends Chinese and Western pop influences. Through her favorite tracks, she reflects on how the music shaped her identity and captured the city's tumultuous spirit.
Aaron Kwok – Love You Endlessly
Aaron Kwok, one of the 'four heavenly kings' of 1990s Cantopop, launched his career with this song. For Moss, it is tied to a pivotal haircut at age 11. 'I arrived in England from Hong Kong with that haircut, where no one knew who Kwok was. I passed from a world where he was a god to a world where he did not exist.'
Faye Wong – Dream Person
Moss associates this Cantonese cover of The Cranberries' Dreams with a transformative sleepover in Hong Kong. 'The mixtape Nat made me that weekend became my entire personality for the rest of my teen years.'
The Wynners – You're Free
During the pandemic, Moss discovered that her father had written English lyrics for this 1970s band. 'I realised that if I looked at the history of Cantopop, not only could it help me understand the history of Hong Kong, but it also gave me greater insight into my parents' lives when they were young.'
Beyond – Boundless Ocean, Vast Skies
Released just before singer Wong Ka Kui's death in 1993, this song became a secret treasure for Moss after moving to England. 'Beyond were Hong Kong's biggest rock band, but no one in England knew them.'
Sam Hui – Half a Catty, Eight Taels
Hui pioneered Cantonese lyrics in pop. Moss loves this humorous take on workplace struggles. 'The story of Hong Kong is the sound of it and the feel of it. Listening to Hui was the moment I realised I would find that history if I listened to Cantopop.'
Tat Ming Pair – The Stars Are So Bright Tonight
This song from the first Cantopop concept album is prophetic, questioning Hong Kong's future before the handover. The duo were activists and LGBTQ+ icons.
Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung – Yuanfen
From the film Behind the Yellow Line, this song explores fate and serendipity. Moss says, 'When I discovered yuanfen, it truly changed my life.'
Faye Wong – One Person Playing Two Roles
This indie collaboration introduced Moss to Hong Kong's underground scene. 'It was like she had written this song for me.'
My Cantopop Nights: A Memoir in Songs is published on 11 June by Jonathan Cape.
