Celebrating Coco Lee: Honouring the Hong Kong icon through 5 of her career-defining achievements

Tatler remembers the dynamic powerhouse by revisiting some of her most memorable and trailblazing moments

Coco Lee, the celebrated Hong Kong American singer-songwriter, producer, dancer and actress, died last week at 48 years old. Her sisters Carol and Nancy Lee announced the sad news on Facebook, which was met by an outpouring of condolences, fond memories and tributes from her family, friends and fans alike.

“Coco is known to have worked tirelessly to open up a new world for Chinese singers in the international music scene, and she went all out to shine. We are proud of her,” their statement read.

Indeed, besides being the first performing singing in a Chinese language to break into the American music scene, Lee’s life and career were marked by defining moments that kicked the door down, not only for herself, but Asian artists who followed in her footsteps. To remember and honour this local icon, Tatler looks at five such moments in which Lee blazed a trail that helped other Asian performers step on to the international stage.

1. Becoming an international superstar

While Lee had already established herself as a successful singer in Asia—her self-titled record Coco Lee was the best-selling album of 1996 in the region—she didn’t make her debut in the West until 1998, when she was hired to be the voice of Fa Mulan in the Mandarin version of the Disney animation, Mulan (1998). Lee also sand the Mandarin version of the song Reflection from the film.

Lee continued to use music to break down cultural barriers. In 1999 she had everyone dancing to her inescapably catchy, Do You Want My Love, and continued to show off the diversity and power of Asian performers by collaborating with other Asian artists. For example, for her 2005 album, Exposed, she teamed up with Korean rapper Joon Park on the track, Cool, and with Indian playback singer Blaaze on the track, No Doubt.

Throughout her career, the Hong Kong legend also showed the world her talent again and again by sharing a stage and holding her own against global megastars such as Ricky Martin, Jessie J, Will.I.Am and others, and paving the way for more Asian artists to be in the international limelight.

2. Queer icon

Through her music, Lee provided a safe place for the Chinese LGBTQIA+ community to explore their identity—but don’t take our word for it: “Coco Lee wasn’t just a pop diva,” writes Taiwanese writer and cultural critic, Paris Shih, in the 2021 essay Divafication: A Queer of Color Memoir. “She defined a cultural moment. She gave birth to a generation. She embodied turn-of-the-century Taiwanese gay iconicity”.

On Twitter, Asian American documentary producer Tony Lin wrote in tribute: “In America, Coco might be remembered as the first Chinese artist to perform at the Oscars. But in the Chinese-language world, she’s one of the biggest queer icons for the ’90s gay kids.”

Don’t miss: Queer culture and lesbian Asian American author Kitty Tsui celebrated at Eaton Hong Kong exhibition

3. First Chinese woman to be a Chanel ambassador

CoCo Lee (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)

Above Coco Lee in a Chanel gown at the 2001 Academy Awards (Photo: Getty Images)

In 2001, Lee became the first Chinese woman to be the regional brand ambassador for Chanel in Asia.

The multi-talented star was a natural fit for the brand, and not only because the singer and the brand’s founder, Coco Chanel, shared the same name. More importantly, the maison’s elegant yet risk-taking creations that year aligned with Lee’s bold and playful style. She famously wore a colourful, striped and sequinned strapless Chanel gown to the 2001 Oscars.

4. First Chinese Oscars performer

Speaking of the Oscars, at the 2001 Academy Awards, Lee performed A Love Before Time, her own hit song from Ang Lee’s era-defining movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), making her the first Chinese American to perform at the star studded ceremony.

Her emotional performance helped shine a spotlight on Mandopop on the global stage, and solidified her recognition among Western audiences.

Don’t miss: World-famous Asian singers who are breaking barriers with music

5. Her underrated Y2K style

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While Lee was best known for her music, she was also a quintessential noughties fashion icon. From pairing pageboy caps with hoop earrings and crop tops with low waisted jeans to serving the classic smokey-eye-and-glossy-lip makeup combination, Lee knew how to do Y2k fashion just right.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, Shanghai-based fashion label Windowsen’s founder Sensen Lii is dedicating his upcoming collection to “early 2000s’ Asian divas” like Lee. “Style-wise, Coco Lee was the most obvious choice,” Lii told the publication. “I approached her manager last year to talk about a potential collaboration, but they said she wanted to take some time off. Now that she is gone, I will probably still do the collection in her honour.”

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Topics

Coco Lee Style Music Mandopop Oscars Disney

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