Yao Beina
A soaring voice silenced too soon, she became a symbol of resilience and artistic grace for a generation of Chinese listeners.
1981–2015 (age 34)·Chinese singer and songwriter·Birthday: September 26·Millennials
Biography
Yao Beina’s life was a poignant melody of immense talent and profound courage. Emerging from the China Conservatory of Music, she first captivated audiences on the musical stage before joining the PLA Navy Song and Dance Ensemble, a testament to her vocal power and discipline. Her career trajectory shifted into the mainstream spotlight through televised singing competitions, where her technical mastery and emotional depth won national admiration. Yao’s public battle with breast cancer, which she documented with startling honesty, transformed her from a singer into a figure of inspirational strength. Her posthumous legacy was cemented when her recordings were used for major television dramas, ensuring her voice continues to resonate as a powerful, bittersweet echo of what was and what could have been.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Yao was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Yao Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Yao's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2015Died at 34
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Won widespread acclaim and a massive following after her performances on the competition show 'The Voice of China' in 2013.
- Her song 'The Magnificent Age' became the theme for the hit television series 'Empresses in the Palace', popularizing her voice across China.
- Served as a soloist for the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Political Department of the People's Liberation Army Navy.
- Posthumously awarded the 'Most Touching Figure' honor at the 2014 China Newsweek Awards for her public cancer battle.
Did You Know?
She donated her corneas after her death, granting sight to two individuals.
She was a trained pianist in addition to being a vocalist.
Her final public performance was at the 2014 CCTV New Year's Gala, singing 'Heavenly Road'.
A documentary film about her life and struggle, 'The Song of Yao Beina', was released after her passing.
“I am not afraid of death, but I am afraid that people will forget me.”
