From 'Big Eyes Girl' to Hokkien Queen: Chen Ying-chieh's life marked by love, debt, and resilience

Taiwanese Hokkien singer Chen Ying-chieh, celebrated for her powerful voice and once dubbed the "Big Eyes Girl," has died at the age of 67. Chen, who had Hakka and Atayal heritage, embarked on her music career at 19 after a chance performance at a Taichung club led to her discovery by a talent scout.

In her early career, Chen's striking appearance and pure, beautiful voice earned her widespread recognition. At 23, she began a relationship with fellow singer Pan Chien. Despite her mother's strong objections, Chen pursued the relationship, only to be left years later with substantial debts incurred by Pan Chien, who then left the country.

This period plunged Chen and her family into a difficult struggle with debt collectors. In 1986, while performing at a venue in Taichung, she faced intimidation from gangsters demanding repayment. Enduring these threats, Chen continued to perform, singing songs like "Hai Hai Ren Sheng" (Life is Like the Sea), which became an anthem of her resilience.

Chen found solace and a path forward through music, particularly after encountering the song "Hai Hai Ren Sheng," composed by Leslie Cheung with lyrics by Wa Wa. She later married music producer Li Chun-ho in 1996 after a 10-year relationship. Although they divorced in 2003 due to debt and loan issues, they remained close friends.

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Standing on the stage of life...