English as an‘alternative'languagein Hong Kong popular musicPhilBenson&AliceChikEnglishDepartmentHong Kong Instituteof Education
English as an ‘alternative’ language in Hong Kong popular music Phil Benson & Alice Chik English Department Hong Kong Institute of Education
Hong Kong pop = Canto-pop?50s:Mandarin pop fromShanghai-GraceChang,YaoLee60s-mid-70s:Mandarin +local English pop-MonaFong,Koo Mei,Chang Loo,Rebecca PanTeddyRobin&ThePlayboys,JoeJr.&TheSideEffects,SamHui&TheLotus,TheWynners,Teresa CarpioMid-7Os:Canto-pop + Taiwanese Mandarin pop-Sam Hui,Roman Tam, Teresa Tang8os-present: Canto-pop + band sound +indie music4HeavenlyKings;Beyond,TatMing Pair;LMKAnodize
Hong Kong pop = Canto-pop? • 50s: Mandarin pop from Shanghai − Grace Chang, Yao Lee • 60s – mid-70s: Mandarin + local English pop − Mona Fong, Koo Mei, Chang Loo; Rebecca Pan, Teddy Robin & The Playboys, Joe Jr. & The SideEffects, Sam Hui & The Lotus, The Wynners, Teresa Carpio • Mid-70s: Canto-pop + Taiwanese Mandarin pop − Sam Hui, Roman Tam, Teresa Tang • 80s – present: Canto-pop + band sound + indie music − 4 Heavenly Kings; Beyond, Tat Ming Pair; LMK, Anodize
Hong Kong indie musicIndie bands performingin EnglishRockit06:90localindiebandsauditioned.04-present:100actsappearedatUndergroundLiveLife,NoRules:~120localbandsByourestimate:60-70%indiebands(>150bands)performedand/orrecordedin English
Hong Kong indie music Indie bands performing in English • Rockit06: 90 local indie bands auditioned • 04-present: 100 acts appeared at Underground • Live Life, No Rules: ~120 local bands • By our estimate: 60-70% indie bands (>150 bands) performed and/or recorded in English
Research designEthnography and participant observation-Interviews wlbands,indielabels,showorganizers,audience-Web-searchforband/label pages and sites-Attending live events at different venues-Listening toCDsanddemos
Research design • Ethnography and participant observation − Interviews w/ bands, indie labels, show organizers, audience − Web-search for band/label pages and sites − Attending live events at different venues − Listening to CDs and demos
English in HK indie musicPushfactors fornotusingCantonesePull factors forusing EnglishOnlinedistribution ofmusic
English in HK indie music • Push factors for not using Cantonese • Pull factors for using English • Online distribution of music