Cantopop
Cantopop is Cantonese pop music originating in 1970s Hong Kong.
Cantopop is a genre of pop music sung in Cantonese, also referring to the cultural context of its production and consumption. It began in the 1970s, became associated with Hong Kong popular music from the middle of that decade, and reached its height of popularity in the 1980s and 1990s before declining in the 2000s and shrinking in the 2010s.
- origin
- Hong Kong
- language
- Cantonese
- era_active
- 1970s–2010s
- peak_popularity
- 1980s–1990s
- influences
- Western pop, jazz, rock and roll, R&B, disco, electronic, ballad
- key_hub
- Hong Kong
Lore & Background
Cantopop's roots trace to Shanghai in the 1920s, where Western-influenced music first entered China. In the 1960s, Cantonese music in Hong Kong was largely limited to traditional opera and comic renditions, with Western music preferred by the younger generation. Sam Hui, lead singer of the band Lotus, is regarded by some as the earliest Cantopop star, gaining fame with the theme song to 'Games Gamblers Play'.
Reader's Guide
Cantopop's significance lies in its role as a defining cultural force in Hong Kong and Chinese communities worldwide during the 1980s and 1990s. The genre peaked with a global fanbase and concerts in Macau, Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan, boosted by songs from Hong Kong movies. The 1980s 'band fever' introduced original Cantonese-language works from groups like Beyond and Tat Ming Pair, covering styles from rock to experimental. The 1990s saw the rise of the 'Four Heavenly Kings' era. Despite declining in the 2000s and 2010s, Cantopop's legacy endures as a symbol of Hong Kong's pop culture identity, with Hong Kong remaining its significant hub.
Did You Know?
- The second wave of 'band fever' in the 1980s introduced styles like Rock, Metal, Pop-Rock, Folk, Neo-Romantic, and experimental Cantorock.
- Cantopop songs are almost invariably performed in Cantonese.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cantopop?
Cantopop is a style of popular music sung in Cantonese, rooted in Hong Kong's entertainment scene. The term also covers the wider cultural ecosystem of how these songs are produced, distributed, and consumed by listeners.
When did Cantopop reach its peak and what happened after?
The genre hit its commercial and cultural high point during the 1980s and 1990s. Its mainstream visibility then steadily shrank through the 2000s and continued to narrow into the 2010s.
What musical styles influenced Cantopop?
Artists and producers blended Western pop, jazz, rock and roll, R&B, disco, electronic, and ballad traditions into their work. These outside influences were fused with Cantonese vocal phrasing and locally resonant lyrics.
Where is Cantopop geographically centered?
Hong Kong is the primary hub for its recording, production, and audience base. The genre's identity remains tightly bound to the city's music industry and Cantonese-speaking culture.
More in Musical Genres And Styles 1-21
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