‘Business Yinglish’: Chinese-American singer-actor of yesteryear Fei Xiang re-emerges in blockbuster movie and creates new language
- 1980s singing star Fei Xiang is back in a hit movie and has brought his own way of speaking Chinese to the role
- So-called ‘Business Yinglish’ has caught fire on mainland social media with people creating lists of Fei expressions
Chinese-American pop icon Fei Xiang, who was once one of the biggest popular music acts in China, is back in the big time.
The singer’s re-emergence is down to his role as a Chinese emperor in a recent blockbuster movie and his unique style of speaking Mandarin, which has been dubbed “Business Yinglish.”
Fei,who is also known by his Western name Kris Phillips, was a cultural sensation and gained national stardom in the 1980s.
At the 1987 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, he sang the songs of “A Handful of Fire in Winter” and “Clouds from My Hometown,” while wearing a dazzling red jacket and showcasing dynamic dance moves.
The performance heralded a more vibrant cultural scene and provided a vibe of liberation to Chinese audiences who were experiencing the early stages of reform and opening up.
Despite later shifting his focus to Broadway musical performances in the US city of New York, his name endures.
