Chinese Name: 歐陽菲菲
Date of Birth: September 10, 1949
Place of Birth: Taipei City
Did You Know?
In 1994, China Television (CTV) acquired the rights to the Japanese drama Oshin (阿信) and aired it during prime time. The Chinese ending theme song, “The Grateful Heart (感恩的心),” was sung by Ouyang Fei Fei and became well-known hit across Taiwan.
Known as the “Dancing Queen,” Ouyang Fei Fei was not only a popular idol in the music industry but also the first successful pop singer to venture into Japan. What set her apart was her incorporation of vibrant dance moves and body language into her performances. At the time, her innovative shows sparked a wave of imitations and pioneered the trend of singing and dancing simultaneously.
Ouyang Fei Fei was born in the military dependents’ village in Taipei. She graduated from Taipei Municipal Songshan Junior High School (臺北市立松山初級中學). Her father’s acquaintance with members of the Da Peng Drama Troupe (大鵬話劇隊), due to his service in the Air Force, led to Ouyang Fei Fei being invited to perform with the troupe at the age of 15 in March 1963.
After being recruited as an official member of the drama troupe, Ouyang spent over three years in the theater industry, participating in seven plays that took her to various Air Force bases across Taiwan. During this time, she also appeared in TV dramas and films, but she didn’t have much interest in acting. At the end of 1966, she signed a contract with the Central Theater Restaurant (中央酒店) as a singer, officially ending her acting career and focusing on developing her music career.
Following her time at the Central Theater Restaurant, Ouyang Fei Fei performed at the Hoover Theater Restaurant (豪華酒店) and the Night Paris Club (夜巴黎歌廳). Starting from the age of 18, she sang Western songs with her deep, husky voice, accompanied by agile dance moves, showcasing a wild and sensual charm. Her performances were considered cutting-edge at the time, and after a Japanese businessman watched her show at the Lisheng Nightclub (麗聲歌廳), he greatly admired her talent and invited her to Japan.
Despite not knowing Japanese, Ouyang Fei Fei seized the opportunity and bravely gave it a try. In March 1969, she was invited to perform at the Hakuhō Hotel in Japan for six months. Then, in July 1971, she accepted a joint invitation from Japan’s Watanabe Company, Toshiba Records, and Kansai Television to undergo two years of intensive training.
In 1972, Ouyang Fei Fei released her breakthrough song, “Stranger in Midosuji (雨中徘徊).” The song not only topped the Oricon chart in Japan for nine consecutive weeks but also won her the “Best New Artist Award” at the 13th Japan Record Awards, making her the first foreign artist to receive this honor. The following year, at the age of 23, Ouyang Fei Fei became the first Taiwanese singer to perform at the annual NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (NHK紅白歌合戦), a prestigious music event in Japan. She had already achieved numerous records for Taiwanese artists in Japan.
After establishing herself in the Japanese music industry, Ouyang Fei Fei translated her popular Japanese songs into Chinese through Taiwan’s Hai Shan Records and performed them in Taiwan. This included her breakthrough song “Stranger in Midosuji” and “Love Me Tonight (愛我在今宵).” She also released albums such as “Passionate Desert (熱情的沙漠)” and “Cherish (珍重).” The song “Longing (嚮往),” tailor-made for Ouyang Fei Fei by composer Liu Jia-chang (劉家昌), became one of her signature songs.
Ouyang Fei Fei’s dynamic style continued to lead the trend. In 1975, she brought an 18-member band from Japan to perform at the Lee Theatre in Hong Kong, setting a record as the first Mandarin-speaking artist to hold three consecutive solo concerts.
At the peak of her career, Ouyang Fei Fei released the song “Love Is Over” in 1978, which won the “Longest-Selling Award” at the 25th Japan Record Awards. In 1991, she performed the song for the third time at the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen. In a joint interview by the Japanese newspapers Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun, they unanimously agreed that no one in the Japanese music industry at the time could match Ouyang Fei Fei’s musical style. Even today, her popularity remains unparalleled.
In 2023, Ouyang Fei Fei was honored with the Special Contribution Award at the 34th Golden Melody Awards. The judging panel recognized her avant-garde and bold performance style, which opened up new possibilities for the Mandarin music industry and showcased her timeless influence that reaches across borders.
(Photo: CNA)