Connect with us

Entertainment

Hong Kong-American Pop Singer Coco Lee Is Dead

Published

on

Hong Kong-born American pop singer Coco Lee, beloved in Asia for her diva riffs and as the voice of Disney’s “Mulan” in Mandarin, died Wednesday, according to an announcement from her family.

The 48-year-old had suffered from depression in recent years, “but her condition deteriorated drastically over the last few months”, sisters Carol Lee and Nancy Lee said in an Instagram post.

Advertisement

She was hospitalised Sunday after attempting to take her own life, they said.

Despite the best efforts of the hospital team to rescue and treat her from her coma, she finally passed away on 5 July, 2023.”

Born January 17, 1975, in British-ruled Hong Kong, Lee — who also grew up in California — gained prominence in the 90s for her strong voice, crescendoing vocal riffs and soulful ballads.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Flood Alert: 14 States That May Experience Heavy Rainfall Soon – NEMA

Her fluency in Cantonese, Mandarin and English helped Lee access a fan base not only in Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan, but also in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia, as well as in Australia.

She sang the Mandarin version of the 1998 ballad “Reflection” from the Disney film “Mulan”, and recorded “A Love Before Time” as part of the soundtrack for martial arts film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” directed by Ang Lee.

Advertisement

She performed the Best Original Song-nominated number at the 2001 Academy Awards, making her the first singer of Chinese descent to grace the Oscars stage, according to Warner Music China.

In 1999, Lee debuted her first full English-language album, “Just No Other Way”, which featured more R&B-influenced hits like “Do You Want My Love”.

From that album, “Before I Fall in Love” was chosen as the theme song for the Richard Gere and Julia Roberts rom-com “Runaway Bride”.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: U.S. School Honours Nigerian Achunike Okafor For Record-shattering Grade

In her final Instagram post, Lee shared tattoos reading “love” and “faith” scrawled on her arms.

“My 2 favorite words that I carry strongly in my heart which I desperately needed to get thru this incredibly difficult year,” she wrote in the post, published on the final day of 2022.

Advertisement

You are not alone, no matter how hard life gets, I’m with u,” she wrote to her followers.

According to her sisters, 2023 marked the “30th anniversary of CoCo’s singing career”.

“We are thankful to God for giving us such a kind angel,” they wrote.

Advertisement

“Although CoCo stays in the world for not long a time, her rays of light will last forever!”

Advertisement
Advertisement
Comments

Entertainment

Why I Can Share My Husband With My Friend — Regina Daniels

Published

on

Popular Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has revealed why she can share her husband with her friend, explaining that she would be willing to do so if the friend had been single for too long.

The actress, who is married to Senator Ned Nwoko, made this revelation in a recent post via the Insta-stories section of her official Instagram page, where she has 15.3 million followers.

Advertisement

In the post, Regina Daniels reshared a reel of a lady who said she decided to lend her man to her best friend who had been single for over six months.

READ ALSO: Panic As Fire Guts Fuel Station In Ikorodu

Words overlaid on the reel read: “My friend was single for over 6months so I lent her my man.”

Advertisement

Supporting the idea, Regina Daniels reposted the video and added her own take, stressing that she could also do the same for her friend if the situation arose.

She wrote: “Something I can do though.”

 

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Why I Left Fela’s Band – Femi Kuti Reveals

Published

on

Femi Kuti, a popular Nigerian musician and the first son of the Afrobeat founder, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has revealed why he left his father’s band.

Femi made the disclosure during his recent appearance on Afropolitan podcast.

Advertisement

Speaking about his decision to part ways with Fela’s music band, Femi Kuti disclosed that he left to discover his own identity because “I did not have any possibility of my life”.

READ ALSO:‘I Am The New Fela’ – Portable Boasts

“Growing up in school, everybody would be like ‘aren’t you going to be like your dad or won’t you play music? I was pressured to be like my father.

Advertisement

“If I wanted to play music, I had to be Femi Kuti. I used the same mathematical thought that I cannot be Fela. I began to wear the same outfits with my father because I used to stay with my mother before I ran away to stay with him.

“I was like mini Fela because he usually dresses me like himself. I just thought I should better look for myself fast, or I’m going to be a very unhappy man. So I went back to my mother.

READ ALSO: Lagos Task Force Raids Fela Shrine, Black-spots, Arrests 124 Suspects

Advertisement

“The moment I formed my band, his fan base descended on me. It was very difficult to find a good write up about me then because the press hated me and at this time, there was no internet for me to defend myself.

“Being under my father, I didn’t have any possibility of my own life, including having children. I saw my life in his life,” the 63-year-old stated

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

It’s Unfair To Exclude Tems From Afrobeats Big 3 – Tiwa Savage [VIDEO]

Published

on

Famous Nigerian songstress Tiwa Savage has made a case for Tems after her name was excluded from Afrobeats’ top three artistes.

The term ‘Big 3’ is widely used to refer to the male trio Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid, who are celebrated as Nigeria’s most dominant global musical exports.

Advertisement

However, questioning the criteria used in selecting the ‘Big 3’ in the industry, Tiwa argued that the narrative turns a blind eye to the outstanding achievements of leading women in the Afrobeats genre.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra, she challenged the exclusionary labelling of female singers and insisted that Tems deserves top-tier recognition.

READ ALSO:Lawyers Fault EFCC Statement, Say It’s Misleading

Advertisement

Think about it, Certain types of artistes get paid more. So, they get the opportunity to spend more on influencers and radio play so you are going to hear their music way more.

“Also, I feel like it is unfair to have a conversation about the Top 3 and not mention someone like Tems. Are you serious?” she asked.

Tems rose to fame in 2020 after her collaboration with Wizkid on ‘Essence’.

Advertisement

She earned her first Grammy in 2023 for her contribution to ‘Wait For U’ in 2022.

In 2025, Tems received her second Grammy Award in the ‘Best African Performance’ category.

View this post on Instagram

Advertisement

A post shared by The #Afrobeats Podcast (@afrobeatspodcast)

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending