Mavis Hee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mavis Hee
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| 许美静 | |
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Hee in 2012
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| Born | 27 September 1974 |
| Nationality | Singaporean |
| Other names | Xu Meijing |
| Education | East Payoh Secondary School |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1994–2000; 2006–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels |
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| Stage name | |
| Traditional Chinese | 許美靜 |
| Simplified Chinese | 许美静 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Xǔ Měijìng |
| Birth name | |
| Traditional Chinese | 許美鳳 |
| Simplified Chinese | 许美凤 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Xǔ Měifèng |
Mavis Hee Pee Hong, born on September 27, 1974, is a talented singer, songwriter, and actress from Singapore. Before her music career, she was the second runner-up in Singapore's Miss Chinatown Pageant in 1992. She also won the Miss Photogenic and Miss Amity awards in the same competition.
Contents
Mavis Hee's Music Journey
Starting a Singing Career
In 1994, a songwriter and producer named Chen Jiaming held a singing contest. He was looking for new singers for his record company. Mavis Hee joined the contest and was chosen by Chen. Her first album, Knowingly (明知道), came out in August 1994.
After her first album, a famous Taiwanese singer-composer, Jonathan Lee, asked her to join his company. However, Mavis decided to keep working with Chen, who was her mentor.
Becoming a Star
Mavis Hee released many popular albums. Her first album in Taiwan, Regret, made her famous across Asia. People even called her the "Heavenly Queen Killer" (天后杀手). This was because her album sold more copies than those by famous artists like Faye Wong and the 'Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop'.
Regret sold 600,000 copies in Taiwan alone. Her next album, Living By Night (都是夜归人), sold an impressive 550,000 copies in Taiwan. Both albums sold over 2 million copies across Asia, with Regret selling nearly 2.5 million.
Success in Hong Kong
After her success, Mavis Hee entered the competitive Cantonese music market. She released Listen Quietly (静听精彩13首). This album was number one on the Hong Kong International Federation of Phonographic Industry sales chart for three weeks in a row. It even beat albums by Hong Kong stars like Andy Lau, Leon Lai, and Sammi Cheng.
Mavis became the first Singaporean singer to win the Most Popular Female Singer award at the HK Metro Hit awards. She won against Faye Wong, which was a big achievement.
Acting and Later Music
In 1995, Mavis Hee also acted in a drama series called Tofu Street for Mediacorp. She released a collection of her songs called Beginning To Listen: Review 1996-1999. This album sold almost 500,000 copies in Taiwan. Its success was partly because of a new song, "The Cigarette You Smoke" (你抽的烟), which was featured in a Taiwanese TV show.
Her most recent studio album, Static Electricity (静电), came out in 2000. It had an electronic sound. However, she is still best known for her beautiful ballads. Some of her classic songs include "Regret" (遗憾), "Iron Window" (铁窗), "Living By Night" (都是夜归人), "Sunshine After the Rain" (阳光总在风雨后), and "Moonlight in the City" (城里的月光).
In 1998, the famous filmmaker Christopher Doyle chose Mavis to star in his first movie as a director, Away With Words.
Taking a Break and Returning
Mavis Hee stepped away from the entertainment scene after 2001. Her record company, What's Music, joined Universal Music Taiwan. She found it hard to fit her artistic style with the company's commercial goals. In 2001, she was also named a cultural ambassador for China.
She recorded a popular song called "Watch TV" with other Singaporean singers, Tanya Chua and Stefanie Sun. She also appeared as a guest presenter at the Star Awards 2002 and Star Awards 2006.
After 2006, Mavis had some major public performances. She sang at CCTV's big Mid-Autumn Show in 2008, which made her known across China and Asia again. She was also a special guest at Nanyang Technological University EMBA's 10th Anniversary and at Stefanie Sun's concert in 2014.
In 2015, Singapore's Mediacorp released a TV drama called Crescendo. This show was loosely based on Mavis Hee's singing career.
In 2021, Mavis re-recorded "Moonlight in the City" with Disney+. This was to help promote more Asian content on their platform. A music video came out with the song, showing Mavis performing with people of different ages. She also shared plans to release new music and tour China soon.
In 2023, Mavis performed at the National Day Concert, held by Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp. She also performed at several music festivals in China, including in Hainan, Xi'an, and Shanghai.
Personal Life and Advocacy
Health and Wellness
In June 2006, Mavis Hee had a difficult time and was admitted to Singapore's Institute of Mental Health. She was diagnosed with clinical depression and stayed there for four weeks. She later thanked her fans for their support.
On October 27, 2014, Mavis received the NHG Exemplary Patient Award from the Institute of Mental Health. She openly talked about her experience with clinical depression. She strongly encourages people to seek help early for mental wellness.
Helping Others
Mavis Hee became an ambassador for Singapore's National Kidney Foundation in 1999. In the same year, she also volunteered for Youth Challenge. She sang the theme song for the Singapore National Day Parade in 2000, "Shine on Me," with Jai Wahab.
On February 13, 2007, Mavis was a special guest at a Charity Concert for Silver Ribbon (Singapore). She sang "Moonlight in the City" to help raise funds. On her 33rd birthday, September 27, 2007, she released two new songs after seven years. These songs, "Remain Behind" (留下) and "Unknown Location" (不知处), were theme songs for the movie Anna & Anna. In June 2008, Mavis performed at a charity concert with other Singaporean singers. They raised money to help victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. She sang "Moonlight in the City" and "Sunshine After the Rain" at this event.
Music Albums
- Knowingly 明知道 (1994) (Mandarin) (Singapore release only)
- Regret 遗憾 (1996) (Mandarin) (Taiwanese debut album)
- Living By Night 都是夜归人 (1996) (Mandarin)
- Spreading 蔓延 (1997) (Mandarin)
- Listen Quietly 静听精彩13首 (1997) (Cantonese & Mandarin)
- Cover Myself 好美静 (1998) (Cantonese)
- Ex-Friends EP 一场朋友EP (1998) (Cantonese)
- Happiness Is Not Wrong 快乐无罪 (1999) (Mandarin)
- Beginning To Listen: Review 1996–1999 (Mandarin)
- Static Electricity 静电 (2000) (Mandarin)
Acting Roles
Television Shows
- Tofu Street (1995)
- Wo Men Yi Jia Dou Shi Ren (我們一家都是人; 1997)
- The New Adventures of Wisely (1998)
- S.N.A.G (新好男人; 1999)
Movies
- Away with Words (1999)
See also
In Spanish: Mavis Hee para niños
