The Pop singer Denise Ho, the Chinese market successfully, until they are well-known to Hong Kong’s Pro-democracy movement. Since then, their music is banned in China. But for the protesters, she is a Superstar.
At the edge of the demonstrations in Hong Kong could be seen in the last few days, sometimes a bizarre scene: an autograph session, at the black-clad protesters, one dressed in black, tall woman glasses your protection or cell phones to Sign stall. Denise Ho is one of the most famous female singer of the city. Five years ago, she has traded in the Chinese market for their Conscience bearing. Since then, she is one of the faces of Hong Kong’s Pro-democracy movement.
Ho was born in 1977 in Hong Kong. When she was 11 years old, emigrated with her parents to Canada. It is the first wave of Emigration from Hong Kong was caused, by a Treaty between great Britain and China. Hong Kong was then a British colony. However, both countries had agreed that should the city fall back to China in 1997. Many Hong Kong people were afraid of losing, freedom and prosperity. Denise Ho’s family moved it to Montreal. There, the young people Denise for the pop music of their hometown enthusiasts themselves. Especially the melancholic ballads of Anita Mui, at the time, one of the biggest Stars of the scene, did it to her. “That was my connection to Hong Kong, even if I was far away”.
Denise Ho at a concert of 2015 in Hong Kong
World’s most successful cultural exports from Hong Kong
The eighties and nineties, Hong Kong’s goods of cultural flowering. Jackie Chan’s action films, and attracted a world-wide mass audience in the cinemas, the melancholy shape half world of Wong Kar-Wai’s films inspired the Western art-house scene, and the pop music of Anita Mui or later, Faye Wong clanked from Inner Mongolia to Singapore, from the overdriven speakers in the karaoke bars. Cantopop, named after the Cantonese dialect spoken in Hong Kong, set Trends for the whole of Asia. Particularly in mainland China where the cultural revolution was in only a few years, conquered the Celebrities from Hong Kong, the hearts of the masses with their music, which was of human desires instead of revolutionary achievements.
With 19 returned, Denise Ho returned to Hong Kong to participate in a talent competition on TV to participate. You won, remained in the city, and began working closely with her Idol Anita Mui to work. Soon she was a Star of the scene. However, the city began to change. On the Chinese mainland a powerful entertainment industry was born. The people’s Republic produced its own pop culture is compatible with the morals and political taboos of the Communist party. Even Hong Kong actors, Directors, and musicians drew on the multi-billion dollar market. The creative scene of the city merged more and more with the Chinese and lost their uniqueness. “Creativity changes when you have to adhere to censorship”, says Ho.
Denise Ho in June 2016 in the case of a speech to activists in the framework of a free concert. Shortly before the French cosmetics company Lancôme had announces a collaboration with her
On the black list
Ho adheres to a long a non-conformist Image. Their music is often harsh, therefore, as the classic Cantopop. And in 2012, she was the first pop singer in Hong Kong, which came out as a lesbian. But a rebel who breaks the rules of the entertainment market, it was not. Also, she has enjoyed success on the mainland market. In 2010, she released her first Album in Mandarin, the Chinese spoken in the people’s Republic and in Taiwan. Then, in the year 2014, laid the umbrella movement in Hong Kong for weeks. Denise Ho stated their support for the young protesters, appeared in a solidarity concert. In China, their music has been put afterwards on a black list. Their songs disappeared from all streaming services. You knew that this meant the end of their career on the Chinese mainland, she says. “But if the people of power such a crisis, then you have to decide.”
Because China requires Stars who want to be on the mainland successfully, you unconditionally submit to the party line subordinate. A click in social media can mean the career-From. Last June, Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh put a “Like” under a photo of the mass demonstrations. Shortly thereafter, a Shitstorm about the actress broke out in the controlled Chinese networks. She was “shocked,” what have you liked because actually, she apologized quickly. “I love Hong Kong, and I love China.” Whether the Communist party and the nationalist Internet scene accept your apology as “sincere” and again the mercy of the market access grant is still to be.
Denise Ho is taken in December 2014, after they participated in the “Occupy Central”protest to the occupation of the financial and government districts
Alone
Denise Ho says today, you could not imagine living a life where you have to think about the consequences of each Likes. But her commitment to the democracy movement, their existence as a musician to a hard test. Sponsors backed out, her record label ended the cooperation. They now had to produce their own music, had to develop marketing strategies, and concerts plan. “I had to learn how much administrative effort is behind a successful career,” she says. “The first time was hard.” A factory in the outskirts of Hong Kong office, rehearsal space and recording Studio is now at the same time.
Five employees sitting around a large wooden office table. A teapot with a blend of herbs simmering in the kitchen and has a mild cinnamon fragrance. Denise Ho bends with a fellow about the Plan of a concert hall. The Coliseum is the largest venue in the city. Once it has managed since 2014, so far, to organize a concert there. Five times your posting has been rejected. The concert hall belongs to the city, reasons for the cancellation were not given.
However, despite such difficulties, they may occur on a regular basis. Their unwillingness to compromise has given her a loyal fan base. Their concerts are well attended. Tickets, and albums marketed directly over the Internet. “It’s going good for me now. I am an example that you can survive without the Chinese market.”