Gen Z’s obsession with Y2K is ongoing, but the ultimate moodboard reference actually dropped two years before the millennium—and its irrational doomsday tech uprising fear—even began. Enter Hong Kong pop sensation Faye Wong and her seminal 1998 album, Sing and Play (唱游).

Long before ‘cyber-cute’ was a TikTok tag, Faye was tapping into the whimsical, sci-fi futurism that defines today’s Y2K revival. The album booklet, envisioned by visual designer Thomas Chan, is a masterclass in playful tension. It seamlessly blends space-age imagery, futuristic cityscapes, and transparent, metallic elements with cartoon dinosaurs. It’s a literal manifestation of ‘ancient meets future’—a creative paradox that Gen Z fashion continually tries to replicate.

But the true star of the Sing and Play era was the beauty look. Deliberately pivoting away from her earlier heavy, gothic styles, visionary Singaporean makeup artist Zing created Faye’s now-legendary ‘sunburn makeup’ (晒伤妆). He swept a bold wash of pink blush across her nose bridge and cheeks, leaving her eye makeup minimal. Paired with simple, youthful clothing, the look was dewy, effortless, and subtly anti-perfect.

This ‘sun-kissed in space’ aesthetic took Asia by storm, spawning endless imitations and cementing Faye as a global style vanguard. Today, as the youth champions blush-heavy, sun-kissed skin and sleek, minimalist clothing paired with bold, nostalgic accessories, they are directly descending from the artist’s 1998 vision. Enjoy Wong’s MV for “Read Bean” below.

Cover image via Twitter.