[05/09/08] Jay never wanted to be a pop icon, he tells CNN's Talk Asia

[jaychou_21]

Jay Chou: Asia's Shy Superstar



Source: CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/03/ta.jaychou/)
Credits: jaychou_21 (www.jay-chou.net)



Chinese language media often refer to Jay Chou as the "small heavenly king," but the Taiwan born pop idol is more down-to-earth than the many accolades he receives suggest.

"I think I tend to believe in myself. I don't know....maybe I was born to believe in myself rather than in others. That's why I like to complete my work on my own," the solo singer-songwriter and actor told CNN's Talk Asia.

The 29-year-old has ridden his wave of inner belief to become one of Asia biggest pop stars, and fostered an image of being something of an anti-hero, neither boastful nor too brash.

His music mixes ballads with urban R&B beats, while he has also taken a march on Asian cinema, writing his own screenplays, directing and appearing in a number of hit films.

Music remains his first love, having found success despite being naturally shy and without rich or influential parents. He released his first album in 2000, and eight years and seven albums later he still believes he has plenty of material for songs left in him, breaking from the usual Mando- and Canto-pop themes of boy-meets-girl. In the past his lyrics have ventured into more considered and darker territory with a song about an abusive father and have taken on a variety of themes and genres.

"I think my music is quite different from the western rap music culture. You won't find bad language in my music. I have this sense of responsibility to add an educational element in my music. That's why I would never write anything about suicide or whatever, because I think we all need the courage to deal with our lives," he said.

Chou was brought up by his mother, a school teacher in Linkou in Taiwan, as his parents divorced while he was at a young age. He began playing the piano as a 3-year-old, continuing to practice daily throughout his school days where despite being a diligent pupil he was academically average. While a so-so student he developed a way to express himself by focusing on playing the piano, and from it developed a self-reliant streak.

"I think my confidence belongs to the stage or when I'm standing in front of the screen. I'm like two different people on-stage and off-stage," he told CNN's Talk Asia.

Chou's career was given a boost when he was spotted by Taiwanese entertainer Jacky Wu while backstage before a TV talent contest. Wu liked what he saw and introduced Chou to the music industry, at first as a songwriter for others.

"I never aimed to be a pop icon or whatever. My first album was actually a collection of songs that I wrote for other people. They didn't want them, so I made the album myself. The only aim I had was to be a singer-songwriter, not an idol," said Chou.

Despite modest beginnings then he has reached idol status in many Asian countries, having appeared in front of crowds of tens of thousands of people across Asia and on the silver screen to millions. His huge exposure also ensures he's the sources of constant speculation from the media about his private life.

"I think showbiz in Taiwan, or even in the Chinese-speaking region, is quite different from showbiz in the U.S. The more low-profile and tight-lipped you are, the more the paparazzi runs after you. And I happen to belong in this category," he said.




* * * * *



A month and a half ago, JVR Music revealed that they accepted an offer from CNN International for Jay to appear on CNN's Talk Asia, an interview show that interviews various people who, in some way, affect Asian culture.

The show has featured some very popular and influential Asian music artists before like Rain, F4, BoA, Ayumi Hamasaki, and Wang Lee Hom.

I'm happy that they finally agreed to recognize Jay as one of Asia's finest pop icons not only in the music scene but in the movie industry as well. I hope this will open new doors for him and hopefully he'll gain more non-Asian fans from all over the world.

I can't wait to watch their interview with Jay. No news on when it will be aired yet, but the network's official website confirmed that the TV broadcast of that particular episode is coming soon.

[jazlyn87]

"I think my music is quite different from the western rap music culture. You won't find bad language in my music. I have this sense of responsibility to add an educational element in my music. That's why I would never write anything about suicide or whatever, because I think we all need the courage to deal with our lives," he said.


aww.. yeah , now looking back .. jay really has put an educational element in his music...

now i'm comparing eminem with jay .. hmmm

[Petom JJ]

oh oh this is one GOOD news!!! :excited: ~ i heard about this 'rumour' for some time, i'm soooo glad that this is confirmed!! yeay!

oh jaz, Jay and Eminem are so different! (though i used to compare them too, maybe coz there are some eminem's songs i really like hehe) ~ Needless to say, Jay is incomparable...haha :tongue:

[tikklles]

me 2, i am glad to hear that the rumor is true...with this i hope jay's career soar higher...

[hobielover]

I'm so excited about the interview! I'm really crying! Such good news! :cry: I'm glad they gave such a nice report on President Chou!

I want to record the interview, so I can watch it over and over again!

OK, the DVR is set. :-)

[leeean]

so proud of jay!

remember to catch the talkasia interview on cnn!

ALL TIMES GMT
Wednesday, Sept 10: 13.00
Thursday, Sept 11: 03.00
Saturday, Sept 13: 14.30
Monday, Sept 15: 02.00

cant wait cant wait!!!

[jzjl]

jaychou_21, thank you for sharing the news article (: We are happy to read the positive recognition CNN gives to Jay and his music. I agree with you, hopefully this interview will open new doors for him and hopefully he'll gain more non-Asian fans from all over the world :)

leeean, thank you for sharing the airtime of talkasia interview on CNN (:

[midori]

The way he describes his music reminds me of Mayday =]

[kirasuran]

what an awesome article.

good old jay...make more good music! haha. and i definitely think it's good that he doesnt write typical boy-meets-girl stuff, but then again, that's where his best songs are...

[petricia]

Thanks a lot, Brent!

I've been so busy that there is no time to source for Jay's news...

This is a wonderful update... I am just wondering when will the 'coming soon' be..

[yukiko]

Actually i think Jay had made it go international since he was been interviewed by Times Asia few years back. I still remember the cover. He was holding a guitar and jump. isn't it?

Petricia, someone have posted it in the 6th post. :D

here i quote her post.. credits belong to her. leann

ALL TIMES GMT
Wednesday, Sept 10: 13.00
Thursday, Sept 11: 03.00
Saturday, Sept 13: 14.30
Monday, Sept 15: 02.00

[tazhs]

whoaa, its not a rumour!

and i cant wait to watch the interview!

i'll be checking out CNN.com everyday! haha.

aww he's being so modest!

[HomeboyPrinceJay]

Finally, one news after 2 months.. The video's gonan be fun fun fun fun fun.

[cacky]

Jay Chou on CNN. It's a really really big deal! Don't you guys think so???

[.: blacklily :.]

One of the things I like most bout Jay is the fact that he is humble despite being a super star. I respect him for that~

the part when he talked bout the difference between asian hip hop and american hip hop is so true... that's why I'm less into them now than what I usually did before. too many explicit stuff~~

[jocsim]

Cant wait to watch this interview too.... but not sure when will it be aired. Gonna catch it.

[Flo!]

I saw the preview yesterday and I'm really excited. I can't wait to see it, but unfortunately I'm not at home this week. That's so cool, Jay on regular, western TV!!

[may-wu]

This is a great news....
Jay always being a icon in every his fan's heart.....

[thungster]

Yay, can't wait for this interview! Hope I figure out the times right and I don't miss it :bleh:

[enjsprite]

sorry. i dont really get the broadcasting time.
can someone explain it to me?
what is GMT ?? so the time to air is all the same nationalwide?
I live in California

i really want to see Jay on my TV!!! ESPECIALLY on an ENGLISH CHANNEL!!!
i m so proud of him.

[thungster]

hey enjsprite....i'm in california too and i think our time zone is gmt - 7 (we're still in daylight savings time right?). it sounds like the air times are the same nationwide but i'm not sure. let me know if i'm wrong lol definitely don't wanna miss it! :D

[hobielover]

I think EST for the Eastern coast of the US is GMT-5, I'm not sure. I set it to record, but it was a big block on the satellite of like 2 or 3 hours, so I should get it even if I was a bit off.

The whole world doesn't use Daylight Savings Time? :glug: That's confusing!

[alisadorsey@yahoo.co]

This was really nice. I am glad that he decided to share his talents with us!
I look forward to what coming for Jay!

[thungster]

hmm, i think EST is GMT-4 cuz of daylight savings...but good idea to record a big chunk of time to make sure you don't miss it! :-)

ya daylight savings is so annoying :? in '05 i think they changed when it begins and ends so now i'm always confused about whether or not we're still in daylight savings.

[Yna1226]

just saw the interview tonight. unfortunately, i was able to watch half of the interview only.

he was asked by the host why he was still living with his mom, and he said he wanted to take care of his mom....and that he'll continue to live with his mom even if he gets married. gosh, he really loves his mom. :)

hope i can catch the replays.

[lene]

I watched the initial telecast of Jay's (long overdue) Talkasia interview earlier tonight, and I must say, he was very articulate and his answers were very insightful. Bless Jay for staying grounded and remaining filial and dutiful to his parents despite all the fame and recognition he has achieved. Kudos to Anjali Rao, the host, for conducting a very good interview. Unfortunately, 30 minutes was just too short don't you all think?

I got all excited and became a fangirl all over again; the interview definitely reminded me why I became Jay's fan in the first place. And I really thought my fangirl days were over. haha

Good job Jay! :thumbsup: I'm looking forward to your next project!

[hobielover]

I missed it! Urgh! I'll try the second showing. I guess I didn't factor in Daylight Savings Time. I'm going for 11:00 PM tonight, then, I suppose.

[thungster]

sounds like this was an awesome interview! i can't wait to get home and find out if i recorded during the right block of time :-)

[darkpoet103086]

those who missed it, the first part of the video is posted on jaycn

[hobielover]

those who missed it, the first part of the video is posted on jaycn
All I saw on JayCN was the ad for it. I've seen that already here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHehGmQhD9s). I'm going to try to catch it tonight, though. I just recorded the wrong stuff this morning. :oops:

[darkpoet103086]

All I saw on JayCN was the ad for it. I've seen that already here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHehGmQhD9s). I'm going to try to catch it tonight, though. I just recorded the wrong stuff this morning. :oops:

YEAH, omg wth, they had the first 8 minutes on there a few hours ago and they took it off :crazy:

[thungster]

i somehow missed it in my recording too :oops: anyone know what time it's supposed to air again in CA time? i'll keep trying...

after looking at tvguide.com apparently talk asia isn't airing in my area in the next two weeks :cry: hopefully someone will post it so i can watch? :please:

[hobielover]

Here's the link:

Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VKkpHJWuIU)

I think you'll be able to find the rest quickly, just going to that person's profile. You mean they didn't show it in the US? All I get is political junk. I tried recording last night, but that's all they showed! So, I'm watching it on YouTube.

[thungster]

thanks for the link hobielover! ya from what i can tell they didn't show it in the states! :-x i recorded yesterday morning and night and both times all i got was politics politics and more politics

[hobielover]

^It's 2008, so I guess that's to be expected. Election year, so anything decent in the news gets left out. Hip-hop artists who rap about not doing drugs aren't very high on the media's priority list, I suppose. I think it'd definitely be refreshing, though. I mean, the news is all doom and gloom and people arguing. It's nice to see that not everyone's so corrupt.

[darkpoet103086]

Yea well the US sucks balls. all they care about is politics and themselves. They dont give a crap about whats going on in the world besides HERE. I can't wait to get out of this forsaken country

[.: blacklily :.]

Thanks so much hobielover for the links! Ah.... Coz I don't subscribe to CNN at home ngaa~~ :rasp:

[enjsprite]

i somehow missed it in my recording too :oops: anyone know what time it's supposed to air again in CA time? i'll keep trying...

after looking at tvguide.com apparently talk asia isn't airing in my area in the next two weeks :cry: hopefully someone will post it so i can watch? :please:
yeah! i looked up TVguide also, and i couldn't find what time the show that will air! i looked at tues thru thurs, i can't find the show. then i tried to look at the days later, but it gives me "To Be Announced" @_@

[thungster]

hey enjsprite, ya it's too bad it doesn't seem like it's going to air anytime soon :cry: but luckily hobielover gave us the youtube link, it's a great interview! :D

[enjsprite]

^ actually, u can watch it on the CNN website too! i like how he said about the lyrics haha...so far i m watching part one. too bad they dubbed over his voice. ahaha they should put subtitles! ^__^

[.: blacklily :.]

too bad they dubbed over his voice. ahaha they should put subtitles! ^__^

yeah totally true!! what's wrong with putting subs anyway? geesh~~ Let his original voice come through coz the interview is obviously featuring a chinese artist. It should be natural to let him speak chinese and not dubbing it.

*I'm dissapointed*

Although what Jay said about the difference between American music style and his own are totally different. Totally agree with him ^^

[thungster]

oh thanks enjsprite. i totally agree, really wish they had used subtitles instead.

my favorite part has to be when he talked about living w/ his mom. i never really thought of it as unusual like ms. rao did. although that's probably since my grandparents lived w/ my family when i was growing up. my siblings and i have also discussed who our parents are going to live with once we become financially independent :D

[silentdaze]

it's been a long while since ive heard any news about jielun.
the latest being some new romance where he bought a BMW for the girl or some sort.
but this is great news , isnt it (:
more great recognition!

HOORAY!

[Petom JJ]

oh i totally agree on the subtitle thing! i thought dubbing days are already over..:cry: ~ would be much much better if i could hear jay's voice all the way..

but, jay did give a great interview! :bow: so i am content with it no matter what hehe

[hobielover]

oh i totally agree on the subtitle thing! i thought dubbing days are already over..:cry: ~ would be much much better if i could hear jay's voice all the way..
True. More and more programs are using subs in the US, such as "Heroes." I think the dubbing is meant for people who have trouble reading, though, or who watch TV while doing chores and can't watch the subs. I mean, lots of older people have cataracts and simply can't see the subs, which was a problem when I tried to show "Secret" to my grandma. I would have really liked to have heard Jay's voice, though.

Anyone else notice that the reporter interrupted Jay when he said "thank you" in English near the end? :worry: So rude! I couldn't even hear him say it the first couple of times because she kept blabbing over him while he was trying to be polite and speak her own language!

[thungster]

Ya I didn't hear him say "thank you" the first time I saw the interview too! He actually said something in English and she just talked over him :?

[darkpoet103086]

True. More and more programs are using subs in the US, such as "Heroes." I think the dubbing is meant for people who have trouble reading, though, or who watch TV while doing chores and can't watch the subs. I mean, lots of older people have cataracts and simply can't see the subs, which was a problem when I tried to show "Secret" to my grandma. I would have really liked to have heard Jay's voice, though.

Anyone else notice that the reporter interrupted Jay when he said "thank you" in English near the end? :worry: So rude! I couldn't even hear him say it the first couple of times because she kept blabbing over him while he was trying to be polite and speak her own language!


lol, u wouldnt really be able to hear him say thank you clearly anyway because he just quckly mumbled it

[hobielover]

^He didn't really mumble it. It's just that the woman talked over him. It was very clear what he said, but you just have trouble catching it with the woman talking over him. It was very polite of him, though, since he even said it in English. He's not the kind of person I'd expect to be a celeb.

[darkpoet103086]

^He didn't really mumble it. It's just that the woman talked over him. It was very clear what he said, but you just have trouble catching it with the woman talking over him. It was very polite of him, though, since he even said it in English. He's not the kind of person I'd expect to be a celeb.

Yeah but that doesn't mean it's her fault, she said "thank you very much indeed for your time today, it was great." She wasn't trying to talk over him. Jay actually said thank you right in the middle of it. So if anything, he could of waited for her to finish her sentence and then say thank you, not that i'm blaming Jay. It's neither of their fault actually, it was just bad timing. Why make a big deal about 2 words anyway? lol

[genva]

Really enjoyed the CNN feature! I am very impressed at how polite Jay is towards the questions and reactions of the interviewer (who clearly coming from a very western perspective - e.g. her comments specially about living with one parents, among others). Jay presented himself as a proud Asian and a broad minded one at that.

Way to go Jay!

[shannenn]

Cool.... finally he can get international recognition for his great works... The world really should know and hear his music.... so that they can tell the difference between his music and others... Jia You Jay!

[kimamura]

Yeahhh...we know Jay have very shy personality..
and he always don;t want to proud himself...

Keep move on Jay...

[jayloverUK]

I have seen this interview now! it is amazing such a good interview. It really shows just why Jay is so special though it was sad to hear him say hes not good looking;( go Look in a mirror Jay!)

[angelchick2116]

Cool! When they do do the interview with Jay, could you record it and post a link to an upload of it? I'm so busy, I don't think I'd be able to catch the CNN news to find out when they interview him. T.T
Thanks.

[silentdaze]

Cool! When they do do the interview with Jay, could you record it and post a link to an upload of it? I'm so busy, I don't think I'd be able to catch the CNN news to find out when they interview him. T.T
Thanks.

It'll be posted somewhere at youtube , im sure (:

[kolanie]

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!...............................he' s ROCK!

[sHaziE]

haha i'm glad those ppl rejected his songs.. otherwise he's not what he is now.. hehe


thanks for sharing!!

[shadowcats2]

The interview was quite good, except for the horrible dubbing. Could they have picked a more uninteresting dub voice?? Seriously would have been much more appropriate with subs...but I guess there would have been a lot of reading for watchers.

Only one thing really annoyed me about the interview. That was when the female interviewer asked Jay about living with his mother and he told her he would probably always stay with his mom. I found it was rather rude that the interviewer laughed at him about this. Considering this is TALK ASIA, you would think that she might have done a little more research about some of the differences in Asian culture? Personally I was disappointed that she versed this question to him the way she did. I found it somewhat disrespectful. However, Jay answered her honestly and showed himself to be a true gentleman. Jay said thank you in English...it wouldn't have hurt for her to have learned a couple of Mandarin words to say in return. Like xie xie!!

[MiloBeannie]

woah. this is a very good news. i just love him :D
he's great. he's words are always so impactful :D