Joey Yung Tso-Yi (Chinese: 容祖兒; Cantonese Yale: Yùhng Jóuyìh, pinyin: Róng Zǔ'ér; born 16 June 1980) is a Hong Kong singer and actress signed to Emperor Entertainment Group. Since her debut in 1996, Yung has received multiple awards at Hong Kong's major annual music ceremonies. She was ranked 63rd on the 2014 Forbes China Celebrity 100.
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Early life
Yung was born on 16 June 1980 at Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan. She has a younger brother. She has ancestral roots in Xinhui, Guangdong. She attended Ma On Shan Lutheran Primary School, where she was classmates with actor Wong Cho-lam in the sixth grade.
At the age of 15, Yung competed in the Big Echo Karaoke Singing Contest and was subsequently signed by Go East Entertainment Co., Ltd. As an artist under Go East, she recorded the song "The First Time I Want to Be Drunk", but the release was commercially unsuccessful, and her contract was not renewed.
Career
1998–1999: Debut
In 1998, Yung signed with the Hong Kong record label Fitto Entertainment (later acquired by Emperor Entertainment Group). In 1999, she was sent abroad for training and received singing lessons from Teresa Carpio and Roman Tam, whom she accompanied on concert tours to gain experience as a performer. By then, she had graduated from the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education with a diploma in tourism. She also made her first film appearance in The Accident (1999).
On 29 September 1999, she released her debut EP, EP 1 Joey. It sold approximately 130,000 copies in Hong Kong and remained on the IFPI Album Charts for 23 weeks, setting a record for the longest chart-topping stay by a debut artist in Hong Kong.
2000–2009
In February 2000, Yung's apartment in Happy Valley was destroyed in a fire. She had an appearance on Winner Takes All and made her first television drama appearance in The Green Hope. She also released her second EP, titled EP 2 Can't Afford to Miss, and her first studio album, Who Will Love Me. At the same time, she fronted campaigns for several brands, including Four Seas, the Red Cross, and Netvigator, and held her first concert, Joey Yung's 'See You Everywhere' Live Concert, at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
In 2001, Yung released her first compilation album, Love Joey, followed by two Cantonese albums, All Summer Holiday and Solemn on Stage. In November, she held her second live concert and first concert series, H2O+ 'Solemn on Stage' Joey Yung Live in Concert 2001 at the Hong Kong Coliseum. She launched her singing career in Taiwan with the release of her first Mandarin album, Honestly.
In 2002, she traveled abroad for two months to take dance lessons, returning to Hong Kong to release the Cantonese album Something About You. She then became the spokesperson for Nissin and Nikon. On 11 October 2002, she released the Mandarin album One Person's Love Song, and at the end of the year, she released her second compilation album, Love Joey 2.
In 2003, Yung became well known for the song "My Pride" (我的驕傲) (the theme song of the TV commercial for Banyan Garden developed by Cheung Kong Holdings), released on 25 March 2003 on the album of the same name. That year, she became the spokesperson for a slimming parlour; losing some weight and presenting a new image. She released the album Show Up! on 30 September 2003 and held her third concert, Show Up! Live at the Hong Kong Coliseum. On 17 December 2003, she released the Mandarin album Sola Portrait (獨照). At the end of the year, she appeared in several major Hong Kong music award ceremonies, winning several awards, including the JSG Most Popular Female Singer award and the Gold Song-Gold award (金曲金獎) at the JSG Best Ten Music Awards Presentation for "My Pride."
In 2004, Yung released the studio album Nin9 2 5ive and her first photo album, The Real Joey, Glamour in London. The photo album sold out after its release. Her second album in 2004, Give Love a Break, was also a commercial success; it broke the platinum mark with pre-orders alone. At the end of the year, Yung released a Cantonese cover of "Chihuahua" (a song previously released in English by DJ BoBo) as part of a Coca-Cola advertising campaign in Hong Kong.
2010–2019
On 29 January 2010, the 10th Anniversary EP titled Joey Ten was released together with the Joey Ten Boxset. The EP consisted of 10 different covers (9 for Version 1 and 1 for Version 2) and five songs. The Joey Ten Boxset included a photo album, stickers, a thank you card from Yung, a 'Chofy' bookmark, a comic book, a 'Chofy' USB, a DVD, and the new EP ('Chofy' is a plush that represents Joey, and the name is a combination of her Chinese name and Miffy). Three songs were promoted from the EP, all reaching number one on at least three charts. In March, Yung concluded her StarLight Tour with two final shows in Sydney and Melbourne. On 20 August 2010, she released another EP, EP2010, and in November she began her Number6 concert, which was her sixth major solo concert held at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
In 2011, Yung took a break for the first time since 2002 and travelled around the world. She stated that she would be focusing on the Mandarin-language market after the break, recording a new Mandarin album and carrying out promotions in Taiwan and Mainland China. On 26 April 2011, Yung became the first Chinese female singer to perform at London's Royal Albert Hall and the third Chinese singer overall, after her mentor Roman Tam in 1979 and Eason Chan in 2010. This was her first concert in Europe, and on 23 September 2011, Yung released her 21st studio album, Joey & Joey. From the album, the song "13:00 (13點)" took the number one spot on three of the four major Hong Kong music charts, and the songs "The Tree with a Thousand Flowers (花千樹)" and "Wallpaper (牆紙)" were number ones on all four charts. Joey & Joey became the highest-selling local album of the year. Yung also starred in the film Diva, produced by Chapman To.
During the first half of 2012, she continued to tour with her Number 6 concert in Macau, Reno, Atlantic City, and Toronto. In July, she released her seventh Mandarin album Moment, from which she promoted the songs "Right Time (正好)", "Looking at Flowers Through the Fog (霧裏看花)", and "Increase Power (加大力度)". That year, she sang the theme song "Drama Series (連續劇)" for the TVB show The Hippocratic Crush and received a total of fourteen awards at the four major awards ceremonies.
In May 2013, Yung released her first single of the year, "View in a New Light (另眼相看)". On 29 June 2013, she performed the last date of her Number6 world tour in Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. On 15 August 2013, she released the album Little Day, which went 4× Platinum. She followed the album up with two compilation albums, the Hopelessly Romantic Collection (released 3 December) and the All Delicious Collection (released 20 December 2016).
Since 2020: COVID-19 and onward
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yung has spent most of her time since mid-2020 in China. Yung released a Cantonese single in November 2020 entitled "Live in the Moment (東京人壽)". This also marked the first time Yung participated in the composition of a song she had co-written with Howie from Dear Jane. A special music video for the song was released in December with clips from the Pretty Crazy Tour. In February 2021, "Gone with the Flare (煙花紀)" was released. The song title was inspired by the lyrics of her 2009 hit song "In Search of Deities (搜神記)" from the album A Time for Us.
Yung embarked on the Pretty Crazy Tour in early 2020 before cutting it short in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, Yung joined the second season of the Chinese reality series Sisters Who Make Waves (season 2) which sees 30 women, all established artists in their own right, compete in various singing and dancing challenges weekly. Cecilia Cheung was also part of the lineup. Yung ranked second during the initial evaluation stage of Episode 1 and subsequently led her team to victory for the third public performance. The fifth and final public performance took place in April 2021 and Yung emerged 4th overall in the final results, thus successfully debuting in a team.
Yung released a Chinese single, "So Fresh (featuring Dany Lee)," in August 2021. She joined The Masked Dancer (season 2) as a judge and participant. On 29 September 2021, she released a Cantonese single, "After All These (不配)". She also directed the accompanying music video. During a live session, Yung also revealed that she would be releasing her first Cantonese studio album in 5 years by the end of 2021.
On 1 January 2022, Yung joined the "Sailing in the Greater Bay Area, 2022 New Year Concert". On 1 February, she performed the song "Ya Ya Ya" at the "2022 Guangdong TV Spring Festival Gala: Leaping Forward in the Greater Bay Area". The following day, she participated in "Blossoming Spring, 2022 Chinese Literary and Art Circles Spring Festival Gala". On 31 May, the theme song "Forward," celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China and featuring Yung as one of the lead performers, was released on a dedicated website for the anniversary celebrations. At 8 p.m. on 3 June, she took part in the CCTV-1 cultural program "Ancient Rhymes, New Voices" for the Dragon Boat Festival, performing the song "Pride of the Fisherman: May Pomegranate Blooms Enchanting". In June, the music video for the CMG theme song "We Will Be Better"—celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return and performed by Yung with others—was released. On 27 June, she performed "The More I Sing, the Stronger I Become" at a cloud concert for the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return and participated in the "Our Bauhinia" cloud concert livestream event. On the evening of 30 July, she attended the 36th Hundred Flowers Awards ceremony.
Personal life
In June 2012, Wilfred Lau publicly announced their relationship, which Yung subsequently confirmed. They broke up in 2018. She has openly expressed a pro-establishment stance during the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests and was featured prominently in a video campaign by the People's Daily to "oppose violence" and "rebuild Hong Kong." In March 2021, Yung posted on Weibo, expressing her support for cotton made in Xinjiang, after companies suspended purchasing of cotton from there due to human rights concerns.
Concerts
Awards
Yung has received awards at Hong Kong's four major annual music ceremonies since 1999.
Selected awards:
10 JSG Most Popular Female Singer Awards (2003–2007, 2010–2014)
9 Ultimate (Chik Chak) Female Singer Gold Awards (2003, 2005, 2007–2013)
11 RTHK Best Female Pop Singer (2004–2014)
9 Metro Female Singer Awards (2001–2009)
7 IFPI Best Selling Female Singer (2004–2006, 2008, 2011, 2013–2014)
2 JSG Asia Pacific Most Popular Hong Kong Female Singer Awards (2008, 2009)
3 JSG Gold Song Gold for "我的驕傲" (2003) "搜神記" (2009) "天窗" (2013)
1 RTHK Global Best Chinese Song Award for "我的驕傲" (2003)
1 Metro Song of the Year for "我的驕傲" (2003)
2 IFPI Best Selling Cantonese Album of the Year for "Love Joey" (2001), "Joey & Joey" (2011)
3 Four Stations Media Award – Singer (2003, 2004, 2009)
2 Four Stations Outstanding Performance Award (2000, 2001)
Award records:
Most Ultimate Female Singer Gold/Silver/Bronze wins (13, 2000–2012)
Most Ultimate Female Singer Gold wins (8, 2003, 2005, 2007–2012)
1999
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Best Newcomer
Metro Top 10 Hits: 未知
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Newcomer Bronze
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
Most Popular Newcomer Gold
Most Popular Cover Song: 未知
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Best Newcomer Silver
Best Cover Song: 未知
2000
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 誰來愛我
Metro Hit Rising Female Singer
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Female Singer Bronze
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
Outstanding Performance Gold
Most Popular Commercial Song Silver:美麗在望
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 誰來愛我
Most Improved Female Singer Bronze
Four Stations Joint Music Awards
Outstanding Performance Gold
2001
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 痛愛
Metro Hit Female Singer
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Female Singer Bronze
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
JSG Top 10 Songs: 痛愛
Most Popular Commercial Song Bronze: 全新暑假
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 痛愛
Top 10 Pop Singers
Most Improved Female Singer Gold
Four Stations Joint Music Awards
Outstanding Performance Gold
IFPI
Top Ten Best Selling Cantonese Albums: 喜歡祖兒
Best Selling Album of the Year: 喜歡祖兒
2002
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 抱抱
Metro Hit Song: 爭氣
Metro Hit Female Singer
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Top 10 – 4th: 爭氣
Ultimate Female Singer Silver
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
JSG Top 10 Songs: 爭氣
Most Popular Commercial Song Silver: 爭氣
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Pop Singers
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 爭氣
Best Selling Female Singer
IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: 隆重登場
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: 喜歡祖兒 2
2003
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 我的驕傲
Metro Hit Song of the Year: 我的驕傲
Metro Hit Female Singer: 我的驕傲
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Top 10 – 7th: 我的驕傲
Ultimate Female Singer Gold
Ultimate My Favourite Female Singer
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
JSG Top 10 Songs: 我的驕傲
Most Popular Female Singer
JSG Gold Song Gold: 我的驕傲
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Pop Singers
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 我的驕傲
Global Best Chinese Song: 我的驕傲
Best Selling Female Singer
Four Stations Joint Music Awards
Media Award – Singer
IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: 我的驕傲
CASH Gold Sail Music Awards
Best Female Vocal Performance: 爭氣
2004
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 一拍兩散
Metro Hit Song: 世上只有
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Top 10 – 9th: 一拍兩散
Ultimate Female Singer Silver
Ultimate My Favourite Female Singer
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
JSG Top 10 Songs: 世上只有
Most Popular Commercial Song Gold: 心病
Most Popular Mandarin Song Silver: 獨照
Most Popular Female Singer
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 世上只有
Top 10 Pop Singers
Best Selling Female Singer
Best Pop Female Singer
Four Stations Joint Music Awards
Media Award – Singer
IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: Nin9 2 5ive
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: Give Love A Break
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: Show Up! Live
2005
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 明日恩典
Metro Original Song: 明日恩典
Global Stage Performance
Global Hit Song: 明日恩典
Metro Hit Female Singer
Metro Most Admired Female Singer
Metro Hit Asia Female Singer
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Female Singer Gold
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
JSG Top 10 Songs: 明日恩典
Most Popular Female Singer
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Pop Singers
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 明日恩典
Best Pop Female Singer
Best Selling Female Singer
Nation's Popular Female Singer Gold
IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: 喜歡祖兒 3
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: Joey + Hacken Music is Live
Top 10 Best Selling Local Artists
2006
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 華麗邂逅
Metro Hit Song: 赤地雪
Metro Hit Commercial Song: 華麗邂逅
Metro Global Stage Performance
Metro Hit Female Singer
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Top 10 – 3rd: 華麗邂逅
Ultimate Female Singer Silver
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
JSG Top Ten Songs: 華麗邂逅
Most Popular Commercial Song Bronze: 華麗邂逅
Most Popular Mandarin Song Bronze: 愛情复興
Most Popular Female Singer
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Pop Singers
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 華麗邂逅
Best Pop Female Singer
Best Selling Female Singer
Nation's Most Popular Female Singer
IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards
Top 10 Best Selling Local Artists
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: One Live One Love
2007
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 零時零分
Metro Hit Female Singer
Nation's Fan Favourite Female Singer
Metro Global Hit Singer
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Top 10 – 7th: 愛一個上一課
Ultimate Female Singer Gold
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
JSG Top 10 Songs: 零時零分
Most Popular Commercial Song Gold: 心花怒放
Most Popular Mandarin Song Gold: 小小
Most Popular Female Singer
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Pop Artists
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 愛一個上一課
Best Pop Female Singer
Best Selling Female Singer
Nation's Best Female Singer
IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: Leo + Joey Juicy Lemon Live
Top 10 Best Selling Mandarin Albums: 小小
2008
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 陪我長大
Metro Hit Female Singer
Metro Most Airplay Spins – Singer
Metro Global Hit Singer
Metro Global Stage Performance
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Top 10 – 4th: 跑步機上
Ultimate Female Singer Gold
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
JSG Top 10 Songs: 跑步機上
Most Popular Commercial Song: Lucky Star
Asia Pacific Most Popular Hong Kong Female Singer
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Pop Singers
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 陪我長大
Nation's Best Female Singer
Best Selling Female Singer
Best Pop Female Singer
IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards
Top 10 Best Selling Local Artists
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: 喜歡祖兒 4
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: StarLight Live
2009
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 搜神記
Metro Hit Female Singer
Metro Most Airplay Spins – Singer
Metro Global Hit Singer
Metro Hit Mandarin Song: 祖國兒女
Metro Honorary Pop Queen Award
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Female Singer Gold
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
JSG Top Ten Songs: 搜神記
JSG Top Ten Songs: 可歌可泣
Most Popular Commercial Song: 雙冠軍
Most Popular Mandarin Song Silver: 這就是愛嗎
Most Popular Cover Song Silver: 開動快樂
Asia Pacific Most Popular Hong Kong Female Singer
JSG Gold Song Gold: 搜神記
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Pop Singers
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 搜神記
Nation's Best Female Singer
Best Selling Female Singer
Best Pop Female Singer
Four Stations Joint Music Awards
2010
Metro Hit Music Awards
Metro Hit Song: 破相
Metro Most Admired Song: 破相
Metro Global Hit Stage Performer
Metro Global Hit Singer
Metro Hit Dancing Song: 桃色冒險
Ultimate Song Chart Awards
Ultimate Female Singer Gold
Ultimate Top 10 – 4th: 桃色冒險
Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards
JSG Top Ten Songs: 破相
Most Popular Commercial Song: 綠野仙蹤
Most Popular Mandarin Song Gold: 信今生愛過
Most Popular Female Singer
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards
Top 10 Pop Singers
Top 10 Chinese Gold Songs: 破相
Best Pop Female Singer
IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards
Top 10 Best Selling Local Artists
Top 10 Best Selling Cantonese Albums: Joey Ten EP 2010
