Cantopop as Hong Kong History: Emmy the Great's Memoir-in-Songs

Emmy the Great, the stage name of singer-songwriter Emma-Lee Moss, has released a memoir titled 'My Cantopop Nights,' which weaves together the history of Hong Kong and the development of Cantopop music. Moss, who was born in Hong Kong to a British father and a local mother, relocated to England at the age of 11 in 1995, just prior to the 1997 handover. The narrative is framed around ten pivotal Cantopop songs that delve into identity, migration, and political transformation. Notable tracks include Aaron Kwok's 'Love You Endlessly,' Faye Wong's 'Dream Person,' and Beyond's 'Boundless Ocean, Vast Skies,' the latter released shortly before Wong Ka Kui's death in 1993. Moss also references the 1970s band the Wynners, for whom her father penned English lyrics, and Tat Ming Pair's 1988 LGBTQ+ anthem 'Forbidden Colours.' The memoir addresses the 2019 pro-democracy protests and the jailing of activists Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, and Alex Chow. Moss returned to Hong Kong in 2017 to work on her fourth album and rekindle her connection with Cantopop. The book is set to be published by Jonathan Cape on June 11, 2026.