The Shi Tune of
Tianjin, a unique tune to Tianjin, originated in late Ming and early Qing Dynasty. There were already professional artists singing in Tianjin Shi Tune in 1900. The singing voices of this type of tune include folk tunes such as the Kaoshan Tune, the Mandarin Duck Tune, Jiaopi Tune, etc. It is said that the Kaoshan. Tune is a minor tune sung by shoe makers at rest sitting back to a wall; the Mandarin Duck Tune is sung by males and females in love; and the Jiaopi Tune (the man-power tricycle drivers were called Jiaopi in Tianjin) is sung by Jiaopi while they were waiting for customers. Such minor tunes came into being from among the people. They are full of local flavors with bright tones and popular words and simple and kind feelings. They are very suitable for folks in Tianjin, so they could be regularly heard throughout streets and lanes after work and dining time. After professional singers came into being, such folk minor tunes are processed, modified and innovated and are made into a very popular type of tune named as Tianjin Shi Tune, which could reflect the spirit of the time and the life of the people. The famous singers of the Tianjin Shi Tune includes Zhao Baocui, Zhou cuizhi, Tan Junying, etc. And the outstanding ones are Qin Cuihong (with a nickname as Bang Zi Mian), Gao Wugu, Zhao Xiaofu, etc. Since the 50s, there was Wang Yubao rising up, singing new songs reflecting the new times, whose voice is high and bright, and there was no one who can be of her equal. And later, there appeared some more outstanding successors and they made the tune go on to be in existence until now.
