Mui-interview of those days
Relating her relation of 18 years with CA
Anita Mui: I feel CA doesn't respect me!
Quick Weekly June 15, 2000
Anita Mui herself finally admitted that she was going to leave Capital Artists that made her to be a famous star at the beginning. It is rumored that she will join ECC, actually the chance is very high, maybe what waiting to be done is just signing the contract. Why she has to leave CA and join ECC? Ah Mui first time released the reason for breakup with CA: [I feel they don't respect me!]
Will leave after promotion of new CD
Since Anita Mui won the New Singers Contest in 1982, she has worked under contract with CA. After the contest she shot to stardom with great success in career, and became the Big Sister in the music industry. In 2000, Ah Mui will have great change, because Ah Mui finally has decided to leave CA after she finishes her promotion of her new album "I'm so happy", and will join ECC.
Ah Mui has been in the showbiz for 18 years, and always been working with CA. Though there are many record companies interested in Ah Mui, she always says: [CA made me a star!] She never wants to leave CA.
During those 18 years, CA has gone through many changes in management. The group of those days that made Ah Mui a super star all have left CA, what makes her reluctant to leave maybe only the 2 words [Capital Artists].
Feeling she is not respected
Though Ah Mui doesn't like to relate what's wrong with CA, she finally makes known what made her decide to leave it. She sounded quite emotional and said: [I feel they don't respect me, and even wants to give me up. For a period, they want to promote new people, because new people make more profit. But I would ask: "I grow up with CA. Though my albums can't sell so good as before, for this reason you want to give me up?"]
Ah Mui is leaving, besides not being respected, the other reason is the change of management. She said: [For my first 6 years with CA, everything was so peaceful and smooth, all the staff trusted each other. The following 12 years have been sufferings, every two years there has been change of management. Those who helped me all left, that makes me feel that I don't know the company anymore. I feel at lost, it seems to be a new environment to me, and I feel uncertain about my future.]
Promotion being delayed repeatedly
Besides, CA might know that Ah Mui will not sign contract with them anymore, so they delayed the promotion for her new album. So much trouble has happened to this album. At first it was delayed due to the demise of her sister, Ann Mui; then the naked cartoon of Ah Mui's T shirt on the album cover, the naked girl was ordered to be removed by computer from the billboard at the entrance of the cross harbor tunnel , before it could be displayed there. Then Mui Mui sent CA legal letter warning CA that the name of the album "Mui Mui s/s 2000" violated copyrights. Ah Mui's album had to be delayed for the 2nd time.
Nevertheless, the new album finally got released on May 25th, besides the billboard at the entrance of the cross harbor tunnel and at Leighton Road, there was no other promotion campaign, only very few TV ads. At first CA said they budgeted HK$2 million for promotion, but now CA never mentioned a word about it. No wonder Ah Mui feels so disappointed in CA.
To this, Ah Mui just said coldly: [If there is promotion I will do. For the rest, they can do whatever they like lar!]
Still grateful to CA
Ah Mui was asked what's her future plan, she replied: [In the past, every time when it is the time for me to sign a new contract, other record companies would look for me. At that time I felt very happy, as it proved that I still had my attraction. I would also think, though CA is only a local company, it is the sister company of TVB, there is space for development. Also at that time, there was opportunity for me to develop, I never thought of leaving.]
Though Ah Mui decides to leave now, she still has feeling for CA: [I'm always grateful to CA. I was originally a little singer that none knew, I dreamed to have my own concert. To me it was like a fairy tale in the past, but it really came true. Therefore I have been grateful to CA for 18 years. Though I'm leaving, my heart is still with them.]
Ah Mui added: [No matter what happened, happy or unhappy, CA is my another mother. Even there is regret, she brought me up. I will remember to have some reserve, because maybe we will meet again in work. I don't like to hear that we accuse each other, we should have a good ending as we had a good start.]
Demise of her sister didn't affect her work
It is said that Ah Mui will join ECC, but till now Ah Mui has never confirmed it openly. But she has some expectation from the new company she is going to join: [Of course, I hope I look towards the brighter side. Though many things are still unknown, I will advance towards my goal. I am very serious about my work, hoping to upgrade the quality. I want to do my best all the time, my demand on myself is getting higher and higher. Many people would think my work has been affected by demise of my sister, I can confirm to you, it is not. I have divided my work from my private life very clearly. I leave CA this time, it is also because I want to see the world outside.]
The most eager wish of Ah Mui is to perform a musical. She was asked if it is "Rouge" that has been talked about earlier, she said: [Not necessarily. Right now no firm plan, everything has to work in line with the record company. Of course I really have interest to do it!]
Not worried about friends just for drinking or dining
About the book of short articles came along with the new album, there was an article written by Chan Hoi Kee, when she asked Ah Mui if she feels she always feeds 3000 guests, whether she knows who are real friends among them, tears came rolling down her cheeks: [I have never thought about this...]
But Ah Mui denies that she feels that her friends are just for drinking and dining: [I have a group of friends with whom I have gone through difficult time. When I first started my career, I had no money, they lent me money; I had no money for my transport, they lent money for transport; they invited me for dinner. Later on, my financial condition improved and my income got better, not too much money spent in dining. We don't eat sharks or abalones for every meal. We should share with friends. I would not think how many good friends I get, I'm not calculative at all. (Have you ever thought some of them take your advantage?) I have never thought of that. If someone really wants to make use of me, but I am not hurt, then it is not a big problem. If I really can help someone, and I can bear the loss, then it doesn't matter lar!]
"Anita Mui" is the cause of her failure in love affair
Career is of course important to Ah Mui, but love is something that cannot be missed in her life. Ah Mui has the thoughts of normal females: [In the past, I always wished that I could retire at 26, got married at 27, and had babies before 30, because before 30 it is easier to slim down. A very ideal way of thinking. Therefore I really declared I would withdraw at 26. At that time I was dating Paul, I really thought I would get married at 27, but who knows... we finally bid goodbye.] Ah Mui said lightly, with a trace of hopelessness on her face.
She was asked what was the reason for the failures, she said: [because "Mui Yim Fong" 3 words, not many people can bear with this name, because he is only known as "boyfriend of Anita Mui". Also sometimes I am too protective towards my boy friends. I am too considerate. Boys with too strong opinion would not like it. I have tried to change, but not too fruitful.]
[Also I give people the impression that I'm a strong woman, but after be with me for some time, they will feel that I am not strong as they thought, they would not accept it. The Anita Mui they knew before is just one with a mask.]
One of her new songs is called "I'm so happy". The reporter doesn't know if she is really happy, but believes that if she really finds a compatible next half, then it will be the time that she is truly happy.
《快周刊》 第94期 2000年6月15日
細說與華星18年恩怨
梅艷芳：我覺得佢地唔尊重我！
梅艷芳終於親口承認將會離開一手捧紅她的華星！坊間一直盛傳她會過檔英皇，事實上成事機會亦很高，可能只欠動筆簽約而已。究竟她為何要捨華星而投英皇，阿梅首次公開與華星決裂的導火線：「我覺得佢地唔尊重我！」
宣傳新碟後離開
梅艷芳自八二年奪得新秀冠軍後便簽約華星，之後她的事業平步青雲，成為樂壇一姐。二千年阿梅將有一個重大的轉變，因為阿梅終於決定完成新碟《I'm So Happy》的宣傳後，便正式與華星分手，轉投英皇。
阿梅在樂壇的十八個年頭，一直與華星合作無間，雖然多年來有不少唱片公司打阿梅的主意，但她一直本著：「是華星捧紅我的！」仍然對華星不離不棄。
但這漫長的十八個年頭，華星已不知經歷了多少次的改朝換代，當年捧紅阿梅的一批人，大多都已另謀高就，令她留戀的就似乎只餘「華星」這兩個字。
覺得自己不受重視
雖然阿梅一直不想數華星的不是，但她最後亦透露了令她狠下心離開的原因，她語帶激動地說：「我覺得他們(華星)不尊重我、曾經想放棄我。有一段時間他們要捧新人，因為新人賺錢的利潤高。但我會問：『我同華星同步成長，我的唱片雖然賣得不像以前般好，但你們這樣便要放棄我？』」
阿梅的離開，除了是因為覺得自己不受重視外，華星的人事變動亦是原因之一，她說：「我在華星最初的六年一直風平浪靜，與許多工作人員都能互相信任。但之後的十二年就很辛苦了，每兩年便換一次人。以前幫我的人，很多都已經離開，令我對公司有一種不熟識的感覺。我覺得很徬徨，好像在一個新環境裏，覺得自己的前途很渺茫。」
宣傳一拖再拖
另外，華星可能知道阿梅不會續約，故此對阿梅新碟的宣傳工作一拖再拖。之前阿梅這張新碟已經一波三折，先是因胞姊梅愛芳去世，令唱片延遲推出，之後又因阿梅封面穿的T恤印有裸女的卡通圖案，令其掛在隧道口的宣傳廣告牌要用電腦弄走裸女卡通才可懸掛。最後又因miu miu發律師信，指唱片名稱《Mui Mui s/s 2000》有侵犯版權之嫌，令阿梅的唱片被迫第二度延遲推出。
幾經波折後，新碟終於在五月二十五日推出了，但除了隧道口的宣傳板和禮頓道的海報外，華星再沒有安排其他宣傳攻勢，而電視廣告更是少之又少。當初華星聲稱會以二百萬來作阿梅新碟的宣傳費，直至現在華星也只得個講字，難怪阿梅會對華星心淡。
對此，阿梅只冷淡地說：「有宣傳工作我會做，其他的事隨他們喜歡啦！」
仍感激華星提攜
問阿梅為何之前沒打算離開，她說：「以前每次續約都有其他唱片公司找我，當時我只覺得開心，因為證明自己還有號召力。我又會想，華星雖然是間本地公司，但與無線是姊妹公司，發展的空間很大。而且當時仍有很多機會讓我發揮，所以並沒有想過要離開。」
雖然阿梅現已決定離開，但她對華星始終有種不解的情意結：「我對華星永遠都抱著一顆感謝的心。我本是一個寂寂無名的小歌星，一直夢想擁有一個自己的演唱會，但以前對我來說這只是一個童話，誰知真的實現了，所以我足足感謝了華星十八年。雖然我走了，我的心仍然在這裏。」
阿梅又補充說：「無論發生過任何開心與不開心的事，華星都是我另外一個媽媽。就算有抱怨，都是她湊大我。我會記著今日留一線，因為可能將來在工作上會再碰頭，我不想互數對方的不是，好來好去啦！」
姐姐去世不影響工作
外間一直有傳阿梅會過檔英皇，直到現在阿梅始終未肯公開承認，但她對轉投新公司卻有一定期望：「我當然希望向好的方面去想，雖然很多事都是未知之數，但我仍會朝著好的目標發展。我對工作一向很認真，希望能把質素提升，每次我都會要求做到最好，要求亦一次比一次高。有人會認為我因姐姐之死而影響了工作的心情，我可以說，一定不會！工作與私人生活我分得很清楚。我今次離開亦是想看看外的世界。」
而阿梅現最希望的是能夠演音樂劇，問她是否會如早前所說做《胭脂扣》的音樂劇，她說：「未必，現在還未落實的計劃，一切都要跟唱公司互相配合，我當然很有興趣做啦！」
不介意酒肉朋友
提到最近阿梅新碟中有一本散本集，裏面有一篇陳海琪撰寫的文章，內容提及海琪問阿梅覺得自己食客三千，是否知道當中誰是真朋友，當時阿梅流著兩行淚說：「我從來沒有想過......」
但阿梅卻否認覺得她的朋友是酒肉朋友：「我有班患難的朋友，我初入行沒錢的時候，他們借錢給我；我沒錢搭車，他們借錢我搭車、請我食飯。後來我的環境和收入比較好，食飯根本不會用很多錢，我們又不是每餐都食魚翅、鮑魚。朋友是大家有福同享的，我不會想有幾多個是朋友，我根本不會算來算去。(有否覺得當中有人在你身上拿好處？)我從來沒有想過，如果真的有人想利用我，而我又沒受傷害，那並不是太大問題。如果我可以幫到人，我又輸得起，那便無所謂啦！」
「梅艷芳」令戀愛失敗
事業對阿梅來說當然重要，但愛情亦是阿梅生命中不可缺少的一環。原來阿梅同樣擁有一般女性的想法：「以前我一直希望可以二十六歲退休，二十七歲結婚，三十歲前生BB，因為三十歲前生BB容易修身，一種很美滿的想法。於是我真的在二十六歲宣布退出，當時我跟阿Paul拍拖，我真的以為可以在二十七歲結婚，誰知......我們最後分手了。」阿梅淡淡地說，臉上卻流露了一點無奈。
問她覺得以前經常感情失敗到底原因何在，她說：「因為『梅艷芳』三個字，這個名字不是每個人都能夠承擔，因為他背負的名字是『梅艷芳的男朋友』，而且有時我會太保護我的男朋友，很多事我都替他們著想，如果是個有主見的男仔便會不太喜歡。我曾經嘗試改變，但效果不是太好。
「加上我給人的印象是個女強人，但與我相處後，他們會覺得梅艷芳原來不是想象般堅強，他們便會不大接受了，他們之前認識的，只是一個戴了面具的梅艷芳。」
阿梅有首新歌叫《我很快樂》，記者不知道阿梅是否真的很快樂，但相信當她找到適合她的另一半時，才是她真正快樂的時候。
文：簡力斯