Vivian Chow Wai-man (Chinese: 周慧敏, born 10 November 1967) is a Hong Kong-based Cantopop singer-songwriter and actress.
Vivian Chow | |||||||||||
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Born | |||||||||||
Occupation(s) | Singer, actress | ||||||||||
Years active | 1986–1997, 2004–present | ||||||||||
Spouse | Joe Nieh (2009–present) | ||||||||||
Awards | New Talent Singing Awards – 1986 Radio Hong Kong Radio Amateur DJ Competition runner-up | ||||||||||
Chinese name | |||||||||||
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Musical career | |||||||||||
Origin | Hong Kong | ||||||||||
Genres | Cantopop, Mandopop, Japanese pop, Gospel | ||||||||||
Instrument(s) | Piano | ||||||||||
Labels | PolyGram (1991–1997) | ||||||||||
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (July 2017) |
Vivian Chow is the only child in her family. Her father died before her birth due to heart disease. She was brought up by her mother and grandmother. Chow graduated from St. Stephen's Church College and gained 6th grade in piano.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Chow entered the New Talent Singing Awards which held by TVB and Capital Artists in 1985. She began her singing and acting career by becoming the first runner-up at a freelance DJ competition held by RTHK in 1986.
In 1988, Chow was invited by TVB to hosted the TV music program Jade Solid Gold. Chow starred in her first movie Heart to Heart and was nominated for "Best New Performer" of Hong Kong Film Awards for her role in this movie. Chow also joined Sancity Record in the same year and released her debut platinum single, "Vivian", which got a platinum award.
Chow won "Best New Prospect Exceptional Award" of Top 10 Gold Songs Award in 1989. Later, she hosted the young-oriented current-affairs program "Modern Era" of RTHK Television with Joe Nieh.
In 1990, Chow acted in her first TV drama The Hunter's Prey and released her first and second solo album Vivian and "情迷".
Chow resigned from RTHK and started to focus on her career as a singer and actress in 1991. Chow joined Polygram and released her third Cantonese album "A Long and Lasting Love" in November.
In 1992, Chow was named as one of "Ten Artists with Healthy Image" by Commercial Radio Hong Kong. Her fourth and fifth Cantonese album Endless Dream and Winter Romance were released in the same year.
Chow joined Linfair Record Taiwan and broke into the Taiwan market with releasing her song "Rumor" successfully in 1992. Her first Mandarin debut album "Rumor" was released in November and sold a total of more than 300,000 copies.
In 1993, Chow won 3rd place in the "Next Magazine TV Awards for Most Popular Artists" (first place of female artists) for her role on the TV drama The Greed of Man. Her second Mandarin album was released in May and got 6 platinum awards. Chow was chosen as the "Most Popular Female Artist" by Taiwan media. Later, Chow released her sixth Cantonese album "Most Love" which got double platinum award. The Cantonese featured album and the third Mandarin album Vivian & Her Mind were released in the end of year. Chow won Metro Hit Radio's "Best Female Singer-Bronze Award" and Japan NHK's "Most Popular Foreign Female Singer Award". Chow released her Japanese debut album Love Legend to broke into the Japanese market in April 1994. At the same month, Chow released her seventh Cantonese album Growing up. The fourth Mandarin album Leaving the habit of depression, eighth Cantonese album The time of red leaves drifting and Mandarin compilation album Know yourself and your enemies were also released in this year. Chow got a breakthrough in her singer career for the total selling of these Cantonese and Mandarin albums got 8 platinum awards. She was also awarded the "Most Popular Hong Kong Female Singer Award" by Japanese media.
Chow's Taiwan concert tour started at ChangHua Stadium on 11 June 1994, and continued at KaoHsiung Stadium on June 18, 1994, and Taipei Stadium on 25 June 1994. Chow returned to Hong Kong in the second half of the year, she holds 4 shows in Hong Kong Coliseum at Oct 7–8 and 14–15.
In 1995, Chow won the award of "TVB JSG Top Ten 94 New Generation Performance (Silver)". She released her ninth Cantonese debut album A little more love in May. Her first Japanese EP was released in June. The Japanese duet "今を抱きしめて", sung with Japanese singer Asaku Yoshida, was also included in the Japanese EP and the Fifth Mandarin debut album "處處留情" which was released in July. Chow was named as one of "Asian Pop Divas" by Japanese music critics along with Faye Wong, Sandy Lam and Sally Yip and one of the "Top 10 Most Popular Performers" in China.
In 1996, Chow released her last Cantonese debut album "熱敏" in May, last Mandarin debut album Time in October and the first Mandarin featured album "周慧敏的敏感地帶" in December before her semi-retirement. She has also been elected as one of the "Top 10 worldwide celebrities on the Internet" by internet users.
Chow joined Taurus Records in 1997 and released the second EP "逢いにゆきたいの" in February. She was voted as one of "Top 10 celebrities on the internet" (The #1 Chinese celebrity on the poll results). After Chow announced she would not take any entertainment jobs when she held the concert in Atlantic City in November, Polygram Hong Kong released the featured album "回憶從今天開始" which included the new song "男女之間", Japanese song "逢いにゆきたいの" and 15 Chow's Hit Songs to summarize Chow's music.
At the beginning of 1998, Taurus Records released the Japanese version of the featured album "あの日から始まった", included 18 Chow's 18 best hits including "自動自覺" and "真愛在明天".
After leaving the entertainment scene, Chow moved to Vancouver with Joe Nieh and appeared in public places occasionally. She is obsessed with painting, writing and playing pool. Her painting "Old Man from San Geung" and "Looking Towards the Future" won many painting awards.
Chow and Nieh returned to Hong Kong with their cats in 2003 because the outbreak of SARS stopped them from returning to Canada. Chow revealed the reason she stopped her entertainment career in 1997 in TVB talk show "Queen's Feast". "My TV, movie, agency and record contracts all expired in 1997, so she tried to gain life experiences outside of the entertainment and music industries.
In 2004, Chow launched her first book My Cat Son Pal Chow which quickly sold more than 20,000 books and was also in the top 10 best-selling books for several months. Chow was also invited to be Shiseido spokesperson for the Asia region in the same year. After back to entertainment scene, Chow works as part-time and obsesses with community services. She worked with World Vision Hong Kong, Oxfam, Hong Kong Aid Foundation, Cancer Fund, Society for Abandoned Animals Limited (SAA) and Non-Profit Making Veterinary Service Society (NPV) to promote taking care of the social vulnerable group through her social influence.
Chow returned to the Hong Kong Coliseum to perform in her "Back for Love" concert on 25–27 May 2006 after she stepped on this stage twelve years ago. She donated all of the rewards she got for the 3 concerts to NPV to raise money for establishing a veterinary clinic which grand opened on Chow's birthday in the same year.
Chow held the concert "Deep V.25" on 19–20 March 2011 at Hong Kong Coliseum and released the anniversary EP "Potted Plants" to celebrate her 25th anniversary of debut. The appearance of Sean Lau in the concert surprised Chow and the audiences because it was the first reunion of this pair of main characters in famous TV drama The Greed of Man. It was a few days after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, when Yoshie Kashiwabara came to Hong Kong as one of her special guests, Chow also decided to sell her CD's and the souvenirs designed by Leo Ku, with all proceeds given to charity for the Japanese Relief Funds. Chow's cat sons Pal Chow and Chu Jai were passed away a month before the concert.
After the concert in Hong Kong, Chow started the world tour "Vivian Chow Journey of Love".
In 2013, Chow started her own talent agency, V Vision Workshop Limited. Her agent is Lorraine Chan (Leo Ku's wife) a talent agent.
In 2014, Chow starred in Taiwanese movie Cafe. Waiting. Love which was released on 15 August 2014 in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The movie had a positive reception in both places. The box office reached 20 million in Hong Kong and 200 million in Taiwan. Chow was invited to sing the theme song "咖啡在等一個人" which was included in the movie soundtrack.
Chow's first gospel album HIM was released on 18 December 2014. The album was produced by Chow and issued by Emperor Group Music and Linfair Record Limited. The English song "A Love Like This" was composed by Chow is about how her faith changed her life. Chow started to participate in different forms of sermons to share Christian testimony after the album's release.
Chow's first love was her high school colleague. She started a relationship with the vocalist of Raidas, Chan Duk Cheung, when she worked in RTHK. This lasted for a few years. Later, Chow met Joe Nieh, the son of famous novelist Ni Kuang in a RTHK television programme in 1989 and they parted amicably in 1992. Chow met Ka Sen when she was in a Kao advertising shooting. After a two-year long-distance relationship, they broke up in 1995. Chow and Joe Nieh were back together in 1997 and married on 5 January 2009. They both become Christians in 2010 and joined an English-speaking local church in Hong Kong.
Year | Title | Role | Co-Star | Notes |
1990 | The Hunter's Prey 烏金血劍 | 唐劍兒 | Canti Lau, Gallen Lo, Eddie Cheung, Gordon Liu, Stella Wang | |
1991 | The Commandments 武林幸運星 | 曲楚楚 | Deric Wan, Cutie Mui, Lisa Lui, Tsui Ga Bo, Wong Yat Fei | |
1992 | Greed of Man | 阮 梅 台:小猶太 | Adam Cheng, Sean Lau, David Siu, Yammie Lam, Amy Kwok | |
Rage and Passion | 程若詩 (Guest appearance) | Ekin Cheng, Gallen Lo, Eddie Kwan, Wayne Lai, Fiona Leung | ||
1995 | A Stage of Turbulence 刀馬旦 | 周玉茹/沈菊仙 | Sunny Chan, Patrick Tam, Roman Tam, Joyce Koi, Fiona Leung |
Year | Title | Role | Co-Star | Notes |
1994 | 新包青天之滴血紅梅 | (Guest appearances) | Jin Chao-chun, Kenny Ho, Leo Ku, Esther Kwan |
Based on the title name in Cantonese:
Year | Title | Role | Co-Star | Notes |
1988 | Goodbye Hero 玩命雙雄 | 孟冬的妹妹 | David Wu, Derek Yee, Petrina Fung | Taiwan: 虎鷹特勤組 |
Heart to Hearts 三人世界 | 毛慧敏 Vivian | George Lam, Carol Cheng, Michael Chow, Rosamund Kwan | ||
1989 | Happy Together | Candy | Lawrence Cheng, Kenny Chung, Cherie Chung, Chingmy Yau | |
The Yuppie Fantasia | Lawrence Cheng, Carol Cheng, Cherie Chung, Elizabeth Lee | Guest appearance | ||
Path of Glory 沖天小子 | Adam Cheng, Wilson Lam, Max Mok, Christopher Chen | |||
The Romancing Star III | 阿 敏 | James Wong, Andy Lau, Sharla Cheung, Chingmy Yau | ||
1990 | Unmatchable Match 風雨同路 | 周文麗 Mandy | Stephen Chow, Charlie Chan, Shing Fui On, Karel Wong | |
Heart Into Hearts 三人新世界 | 毛慧敏 Vivian | George Lam, Carol Cheng, Maggie Cheung, Suki Kwan | ||
Girls Without Tomorrow 1992 | 方小玲 | Carina Lau, May Lo, Pauline Chan, Petrina Fung | Taiwan: 現代應召女郎 | |
1991 | Devil's Vendetta 妖魔道 | 彩 衣 | Stanley Fung, Joe Nieh, Sharla Cheung, Michelle Sze | |
The Perfect Match | Philidonna | Jacky Cheung, George Lam, Maggie Cheung, Lydia Shum | ||
Fruit Punch Yes!一族 | Yoko | Leon Lai, Hacken Lee, The Grasshopper | Taiwan: 菜鳥大亨 | |
1992 | Fun and Fury 痴情快婿 | 馬青霞 | Leon Lai, Kent Cheng, Frankie Chan, Sharon Kwok | Taiwan: 賊探世家 |
Heart Against Hearts 三人做世界 | 毛慧敏 Vivian | George Lam, Carol Cheng, Maggie Cheung, Rosamund Kwan | ||
Arrest the Restless 藍江傳之反飛組風雲 | 梁小敏 | Leslie Cheung, Charles Heung, Deanie Ip, Alex To | Taiwan: 整人探長:藍江傳 | |
Angel Hunter 女校風雲之邪教入侵 | Vivian Chow | Sean Lau, Anthony Wong, Ng Man Tat, Carrie Ng | ||
Summer Lover 夏日情人 | 阿 敏 | Max Mok, Alfred Cheung, Loletta Lee, Veronica Yip | ||
Stone Man 石頭記 | 紅 伶 | Wilson Lam, Ng Ma, Paul Chun, Lau Shun | Taiwan: 紅伶名劍 | |
1993 | Tom, Dick and Hairy | Francis | Tony Leung, Lawrence Cheng, Anita Yuen, Athena Chu | Guest appearance |
No Regret, No Return 走上不歸路 | 方思維 | Max Mok, Kenneth Tsang, Karel Wong, Ridley Tsui | ||
1994 | The Kung Fu Scholar | 程 晴 | Dicky Cheung, Aaron Kwok, Ng Mang Tat, Bryan Leung | Taiwan: 流氓狀元 |
Family Affairs 清官難審 | 小 查 | Kenny Ho, Jin Chao-chun, Karen Mok, Rain Lau | ||
To Love Ferrari 我愛法拉利 | 周小敏 | David Siu, 朱永龍, Mark Kwok, 趙繼純 | ||
1996 | Top Banana Club 金裝香蕉俱樂部 | Jenny | Anthony Wong, Dayo Wong, Cheung Tat Ming, Esther Kwan | |
Out of the Blur 廢話小說 | 巴士乘客 | Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, Shirley Kwan, William So | Guest appearance | |
2010 | All About Love | Anita | Sandra Ng, William Chan, Eddie Cheung | Leading Actress |
2011 | Wasao | 節子 | Voice Acting | |
2014 | Café. Waiting. Love | 老闆娘 | Vivian Sung, Hung Chih Han, Megan Lai | Guest appearance |
Year | Title | Role | Co-Star | Notes |
1991 | Fire On Ice 血染黎明 | Eddie Kwan, 劉秀萍 | ||
1992 | Tulips in August 八月鬱金香 | Sean Lau, Brian Wong, Joseph Lee |
Year | Title | Role | Co-Star | Notes |
1993 | 驀然回首 | 阿欣 (Hacken Lee's younger sister) | Anita Yuen, Gordon Lam, Dickson Li, Lawrence Cheng, Jacky Cheng, Cally Kwong | Guest appearance in Hacken Lee's musical television film |
2006 | 愛得太遲 | 花店東主 | Leo Ku, Kathy Chow, Jan Lamb, Danny Chan |
Year | Title |
2011 | 《周慧敏·最愛V25》(Leo Ku, Linda Wong, William So, Louis Yuen as guests) |
Year | Title |
1987 | 青春新幹線 |
青春交響曲 | |
青春太陽族 | |
70200 DJ 大本營 | |
開心隊 | |
1988 | 輕談淺唱不夜天 |
1989 | 摩登時代 |
二人世界 | |
青蔥歲月 | |
1990 | 十大中文金曲 |
兩小無賴 | |
攴攴齋叱咤榜 | |
妹寶妹寶 | |
敏感時間 | |
話點就點 | |
彩雲曲 | |
兩顆心 |
Year | Title |
1989 | 十大勁歌金曲 |
勁歌金曲 | |
1992 | 兒歌金曲頒獎典禮 |
Year | |
1995 | 《RTHK》, 《TVB》(群星匯正音 1995)第2, 4–5集 |
7 Oct, 2004 | 《中天綜合台》(Kangsi Coming)接近仙女的玉女 |
2 Mar, 2012 | 《中天綜合台》(Kangsi Coming)永遠不老的周慧敏又來了 |
7 Oct, 2012 | 《中天綜合台》(Kangsi Coming)接近仙女的玉女 周慧敏 |
1 Sept, 2014 | 《中天綜合台》(Kangsi Coming)玉女掌門人老闆娘初體驗 |
23 Feb, 2015 | 《中天綜合台》(Kangsi Coming)90年代我們一起追的偶像 |
22 Aug, 2015 | 快樂大本營 |
14 Oct, 2018 | ViuTV Goodnight Show - King Maker Final Competition - Judge |
Album | Release Date | Labels | Track Listing |
Vivian Chow | Nov 1988 | Sancity Records | |
Vivian Chow | Apr 1990 | Sancity Records | |
情迷 | Dec 1990 | Sancity Records | |
A Long & Lasting Love | Oct 1991 | PolyGram | |
Endless Dream | June 1992 | PolyGram | |
周慧敏真情精選 | 1992 | Sancity Records | |
流言 (Mandarin) | Nov 1992 | Linfair Records | |
冬日浪漫 | Jan 1993 | PolyGram | |
浪漫 (冬日浪漫-Taiwan Version) | Feb 1993 | Linfair Records | |
盡在不言中 (Mandarin) | May 1993 | Linfair Records | |
最愛 | Sept 1993 | PolyGram | |
最愛 (Taiwan Version) | Oct 1993 | Linfair Records | |
自動自覺 | 1993 | PolyGram | |
心事重重 (Mandarin) | Dec 1993 | Linfair Records | |
新曲+精選 | Dec 1993 | PolyGram | |
純愛傳說 (新曲+精選- Japanese Version) | Apr 1994 | PolyGram | |
成長 | Apr 1994 | PolyGram | |
感情的分禮 | June 1994 | PolyGram | |
離開憂鬱的習慣 (Mandarin) | June 1994 | Linfair Records | |
紅葉落索的時候…… | Nov 1994 | PolyGram | |
假裝 | 1994 | PolyGram | |
知己知彼 (Mandarin) | Dec 1994 | Linfair Records | |
'94美的化身演唱會 | 1995 | PolyGram | |
多一點愛戀 | May 1995 | PolyGram | |
要你喜歡我 | 1995 | PolyGram | |
眠れぬ夜 (Japanese) | June 1995 | PolyGram | |
處處留情 (Mandarin) | July 1995 | Linfair Records | |
情迷心竅 | Dec 1995 | PolyGram | |
寶麗金88極品音色系列 | 1996 | PolyGram | |
擁抱真情VCD (Mandarin) | Jan 1996 | Linfair Records | |
熱·敏 | June 1996 | PolyGram | |
時間 (Mandarin) | Oct 1996 | Linfair Records | |
周慧敏的敏感地帶 (Mandarin) | Dec 1996 | Linfair Records | |
逢いにゆきたいの (Japanese) | Feb 1997 | Taurus Records | |
回憶從今天開始 | Dec 1997 | PolyGram | |
萬千寵愛30首 | 1998 | PolyGram | |
一個美麗的傳說 CD+VCD | 1999 | Universal Music (Hong Kong) | |
環球2000超巨星系列 | Jan 2000 | Universal Music (Hong Kong) | |
真經典 | Aug 2001 | Universal Music (Hong Kong) | |
失物招領:周慧敏精選 (Mandarin) | Dec 2002 | Linfair Records | |
環球DSD視聽之王 | Apr 2003 | Universal Music (Hong Kong) | |
Back for you | Mar 2006 | Universal Music (Hong Kong) | |
Back for Love (Live VCD/DVD) | May 2006 | Universal Music (Hong Kong) | |
盆栽 | Mar 2011 | PTM/Star Entertainment | |
HIM (Cantonese/Mandarin) | Dec 2014 | Music Plus/Linfair Records |
Year | Title | Publication | ISBN |
2004 | "我的貓兒子周慧豹" | Crown | ISBN 9624517940 |
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