THE LATE LESLIE CHEUNG, ACTOR AND POP ICON. Remembering Him All these Years.
LESLIE CHEUNG (張國榮)
NOW, SAY HELLO TO YESTERYEARS.
It had been 12 long years since LESLIE CHEUNG, Hong Kong cantopop singer and award winning actor departed this earth on April 1, 2003.
Yet it appears so like yesterday.
No one can stay forever young and don’t count on it that you are never going to grow old.
This is the path everyone has to trudge, whether you like it or not.
Tarry no more, look around you, hug someone you really care about and tell the person you love him dearly so.
The one you care about may be here today, gone tomorrow. He may not be around waiting for you.
Lest you forget, folks.
This one is for the memory.
LESLIE CHEUNG might have nosedived to his death from the 24th Floor of the MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL in HONG KONG on April 1,2003.
Yet until today, he had left behind many unanswered questions.
Despite relentless coverage by the paparazzi, his private persona had always been shrouded in mystery the way he wanted it.
And right to the present, the world is still gaping in consternation and clueless at his choice of abrupt departure on April Fool’s Day 6 years ago.
1. Did he intend his hasty retreat from mankind to be a cruel case of life imitating art?
2. Was he suffering from an incurable disease as some cruel speculations say?
3. Was he suffering from manic DEPRESSION?
4. Was it an impending break-up with his boy friend of many years that drove him to this mindless act?
For this ACTOR-cum-SINGER extraordinaire, the secret was buried with him.
LESLIE CHEUNG‘s entertainment career started in 1977 when he wowed the judges at the ASIAN MUSIC COMPETITION organized by RTV (currently know as ATV).
He was Hong Kong’s prettiest boy hunk, a self-declared bisexual and his life mirrored a thousand facades.
He is an ASIAN cinematic legend taken after JAMES DEAN for both the good looks and chameleon moods.
We will always remember the charisma and the angst that he portrayed often in his songs and films.
LESLIE CHEUNG is one powerful, daring and seductive performer who will take your breath away.
An actor’s lot is beseiged with pain and angst,within and without – reel and real.
He also taught us that when you are in this world, everyone is living a role.
No one is what he seems to be.
Not even the closest one next to you.
And that in life, ever individual has a game to play.
There’s always a way out of anything.
Except the past.
That was his vision.
And when you finally realizes the truth, it may change your opinion forever.
WHAT PRICE LIFE?
LIFE isn’t measured in minutes.
It’s the MOMENTS that count.
Count your blessings.
Because whatever you may have today, it may not be around tomorrow.
SO ENJOY THE MOMENTS WHILE YOU MAY.
This 16-year-old girl named RACHEL WILSON, she penned a sad peom to herself. I was all at once stunned by the clarity and realism of her words:
You said you’be there for me,
But when I really opened up to you,
You just don’t wanna see,
But when I have these thoughts and breakdowns I ring
and you’re never there.
I can’t sleep at night, can’t sleep anymore,
My constant pains, my constant heart sores
all the thoughts of death I have, and suicide,
I tell you about them,
Why do you expect me to hide?
I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONE I COULD TURN TO
WHEN IT GOTTEN TOO MUCH,
Well, you could fool me,
My feelings you don’t wanna touch,
I WILL JUST STAY AWAY,
I GET IT – CRYSTAL CLEAR,
But one day suicide will take over,
Then maybe you will realize my FEAR.
Yah, there’s a stark difference between DEPRESSION and SADNESS.
When you are depressed, you do not feel like being with anybody.
You either sleep more than usual,
Or you can hardly sleep at all.
Your appetite is either non-existent or increases dramatically,
Your energy level goes way down
And you’ve a hopelessness about LIFE …
As difficult as it is,
It is also important that you get out of the house and seek help.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
My mentor, an Executive Film Maker befriended LESLIE in 1978 in Hong Kong when he was just starting out as a a rookie.
He remembered visiting LESLIE on set at the RTV‘s when he was filming his first cantonese drama series called DESTINY.
LESLIE was then under the tutelage of K.K. TAM (who was simultaneously managing DANNY CHAN, another Hong Kong singer).
But it was under the ace leadership of FLORENCE CHAN some good years later, that LESLIE‘s career really soared.
The rest is history.
I have downloaded LESLIE CHEUNG‘s rendition of Rita Coolidge’s WE ARE ALL ALONE from YOU TUBE for your listening pleasure here.
Not many of his fans know that LESLIE‘s first record was an album of ENGLISH covers.
And there is a rare gem here, a radio recording of LESLIE CHEUNG being interviewed inENGLISH.
TIME HAS REALLY FLOWN.
AND MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THESE.
LYRICS of ” WE ARE ALL ALONE “:
Outside the rain begins,
And it may never end,
So cry no more, on the shore a dream,
Will take us out to sea,
Forever more, forever more,
Close your eyes and dream
And you can be with me,
‘Neath the waves through the caves of hours,
Long forgotten now,
We’re all alone,
WE’RE ALL ALONE,
Close the window, calm the light,
And it will be all right,
No need to bother now,
Let it out, let it all begin,
Learn how to pretend.
Once a story’s told,
It can’t be but grows old,
Roses do, lovers do,
So cast your seasons to the wind,
And hold me dear, oh hold me dear,
Close the window, calm the light,
And it’ll be all right,
No need to bother now,
Let it out, let it all begin,
All’s forgotten now,
We’re all alone,
Oh, WE ARE ALL ALONE.
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