Chinese musician Liu Huan dies at 63; created Olympic anthem 'You and Me'

Liu Huan, a prominent Chinese musician, songwriter, and music educator, died on September 25, 2026, at 9:52 a.m. in Shanghai at age 63. The University of International Business and Economics, where Liu served as a retiring teacher, announced his death on September 26. According to his wishes, funeral arrangements were kept simple, with no memorial committee, wake, or formal ceremony held.

Born in Tianjin in August 1963, Liu Huan studied French literature at Beijing International Relations Institute before becoming largely self-taught in guitar and music theory. He gained public recognition in 1985 after winning championships in English and French song competitions at a university singing contest. In 1987, his fame expanded nationally when he performed theme songs for television dramas, including "Heart's Sun" and "Youth's Ambition Needs No Sorrow," from the hit series *Plainclothes Police*. By that year, a sampling survey showed Liu's fame recognition had reached 87 percent among Chinese audiences.

Liu joined the University of International Business and Economics in July 1991, where he served as an art department teacher and associate professor for over three decades before retiring in September 2023. He taught the signature course "Western Music History," which became a university-wide elective popular among non-arts majors and was designated the university's classic aesthetic education course. He also composed the university's school anthem "UIBE Song." Throughout his teaching career, Liu received multiple teaching commendations and was appointed to the university's board of directors in 2011.

Liu's musical career spanned multiple generations of listeners. His repertoire included iconic works such as "Good Man's Song" (from the adaptation of *Water Margin*), "A Million Times the Question," "Start Over," and "Phoenix in Flight" (ending theme for the television drama *Empresses in the Palace*). His most internationally recognized work came in 2008 when he performed the Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony theme song "You and Me" alongside British singer Sarah Brightman. He served as a judge and mentor on music competition programs including *The Voice of China* and *Chinese Song* and won the season championship at *Singer 2019*. In addition to performing, Liu established the Liu Huan Original Music Public Benefit Fund to support young musicians and promote original compositions. Multiple sources described his approach as emphasizing artistic quality over commercial gain, maintaining a low public profile despite his prominence, and balancing a dual career between stage performances and classroom teaching—a rare combination in China's music industry.