Back in the days when there was no television, people would visit lounges to watch singers perform. Gam Yin is a semi-retired singer who now manages talent and tries to set them up with more places to perform. Unfortunately, fate has brought her in conflict with Ling Fung, a well-known but arrogant singer in Shanghai. Ling Fung hails from a small village and has worked his way up to stardom. His childhood friend Chu Yuk-Lan has had a crush on him since they were young. These characters' lives intertwine when Ling Fung experiences a reverse of fortune and Yuk-Lan quickly achieves fame.

　　金燕（汪明荃 饰）、阿凤和阿娇是上海有名的“三朵金花”。金燕与生意商人龙哥相恋，金燕更有了龙哥的孩子，岂料这时龙哥被人污蔑为汉奸，判了死罪。金燕回到乡产下儿子，然后独自回城继续她的演艺生涯。岂料日军飞机来袭，等金燕赶回乡时，家里已变成一片废墟，儿子亦失踪了。时过十多年，“三朵金花”亦躲避战乱来到了香港。金燕和阿娇组建了歌艺团培养徒弟四出演出谋生，而阿凤则嫁了夜总会老板常升，过起了少奶奶的生活。由乡下来港闯荡的罗带弟（郭晋安 饰）报名参加歌唱比赛，因参赛表格必须填师傅的名字，于是罗带弟就填了金燕的名字。岂料罗带弟一举夺冠，更是红遍了香港，取艺名凌丰。金燕认为凌丰用她的名字出名，而凌丰则认为金燕倚老卖老，两人一直互相斗气。其实凌丰就是当年金燕失散的儿子，被香港附件的一户村民收养。

　　同村和凌丰青梅竹马的大舌头阿兰（佘诗曼 饰）也来到香港谋生，得到凌丰关照在夜总会做清洁工。凌丰和金燕打赌如果她能培养出一个歌唱比赛冠军就斟茶认错，如果不能金燕则要退休。阿兰天生具有十分好的唱歌潜质，可惜她是大舌头，咬字不清。凌丰用计骗了金燕收阿兰做徒弟，等着下一届唱歌比赛时看她出丑。凌丰、金燕这对母子冤家能否最终相认？