PERFORMER, REAL LIFE ‘MULAN:’ Remembering CoCo Lee

Renzo Fuentes

July 7, 2023

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  Photo: Visual China Group / Getty Images

  Globally acclaimed singer-songwriter CoCo Lee passed away at the age of 48 in a Hong Kong hospital on Wednesday.

  The saddening news of her demise was shared by her sisters Nancy and Carol Lee through social media.

   

  View this post on Instagram

   

  A post shared by Nancy Si Lin Lee (@nancy_yauyetei)

  They revealed that CoCo had made an unfortunate attempt at suicide at her residence over the weekend, leading to her immediate hospitalization. Despite efforts to save her, she slipped into a coma and passed away on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

  Known for her chart-topping single “Before I Fall In Love,” her notable contribution as the Mandarin voice of the protagonist in Disney’s animated film “Mulan,” and her success in creating hits in three different languages, CoCo Lee left an indelible mark on the music industry.

  Celebrating the life and career of CoCo Lee

  

  Photo: @cocolee / Instagram

  Ferren Lee, originally from Hong Kong, relocated to the United States during her childhood and settled in San Francisco, where she attended middle and high school. During her time in San Francisco, she was crowned Miss Teen Chinatown in 1991. With her sisters and mother, Ferren Lee embarked on a new chapter in the U.S. As a talented singer, she gained recognition by securing the first runner-up position in a prestigious annual singing competition organized by the broadcaster TVB in Hong Kong. At the age of 19, she released her debut album in 1994.

  

  Album art for CoCo Lee’s debut album

  Initially known as a Mandopop artist, Lee diversified her musical endeavors by venturing into Cantonese and English albums throughout her illustrious career spanning close to three decades. Renowned for her commanding voice and captivating live performances, she left an indelible mark in the music industry.

  Notably, Lee made history as the first Chinese singer to achieve success in the American market. Her English song titled “Do You Want My Love” soared to the fourth position on Billboard’s Hot Dance Breakouts chart in December 1999.

  

  In addition to her musical achievements, Lee made significant contributions to the world of cinema. She lent her voice to the character Fa Mulan in the Mandarin version of Disney’s “Mulan” and sang the Mandarin rendition of the movie’s theme song, “Reflection.”

  As a versatile trilingual singer hailing from Hong Kong, Lee enjoyed immense stardom across Asia. She recorded 18 studio albums and made history as the first person of Chinese descent to perform at the Academy Awards in 2001, where she delivered a captivating rendition of “A Love Before Time.” This song, featured in Ang Lee’s acclaimed film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.

  Lee gained international recognition for her English-language albums and singles, with her dance track “Do You Want My Love” making waves in both the United States and Australia. In 2001, she was honored with the role of a Chanel brand ambassador.

  While “A Love Before Time” stands as one of her notable accomplishments in the realm of movie-related successes, Lee also showcased her vocal prowess by performing the theme song “Reflection” in the Mandarin version of “Mulan.”

  

  Additionally, she mesmerized audiences with her rendition of “Before I Fall In Love” from the romantic comedy “Runaway Bride,” starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

  Her final moments

  To commemorate the year-end of 2022, CoCo took her ‘reflection’ to Instagram.

   

  View this post on Instagram

   

  A post shared by CoCo Lee (@cocolee)

  “Love and faith,” indeed.

  She added, “Life seemed unbearable at (times,) but I adapted the attitude of a “female warrior” to face them head on fearlessly but always had the biggest smile and big fat (laughters!)” She had unwavering optimism and battled her inner demons relentlessly, much like Mulan finding her own strength and becoming an actual warrior in the Disney film.

  The sudden loss of this talented singer has left a void in the hearts of her fans worldwide, who will forever treasure her remarkable talent, contributions, and the profound impact she made through her music.

  

  Photo: Visual China Group / Getty Images

  You and your music will forever be remembered, CoCo!

  Take a look back into CoCo Lee’s music here:

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