macdawn
11-26-2002, 09:26 AM
Source: The Straits Times (Life! Section)
Date: 26-11-2002
Taiwanese R&B wonderboy Jay Chou has given himself six years to conquer the world music market.
" I want to take my music to the whole world, not just Asia." He declares in Mandarin. Being popular is, of course, necessary. That's the only way people will know my music."
The ambitious 23-year-old singer-rapper is also eyeing Hollywood.
"Making a movie is a way in which I can promote my music in the West."
Then breaking into a shy, boysih grin, he goes on to fantasise about making a movie with his best friend, Taiwanese singer-actor, Liu Keng-hung.
"We can be leading man and lady," he blurts out, then hastily corrects himself, "Two leading men, I mean."
He thinks hard when asked to name his dream female co-star and finally comes up with "Maggie Cheung or Lin Ching-hsia". But forget any May-December romances, for he says of the older women, "We can be brother and sister."
This singer was in town for the Community Chest's TrueHearts Charity Show at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex on sunday as well as to promote his concert here in January.
Looking at Chou's laidback, sloppy charm, it is easy to picture him as anybody's brother - even one's own.
The shaggy-haired Mandarin-pop idol, who was decked out in his trademark look of brown "New York City" T-shirt with big arm holes, blue jeans and white sneakers, has segued comfortably into his role as an Asia phenomenon.
In the mere two years since his debut, he has sold more than 160,000 copies of his three and one EP in Singapore. In Taiwan, his second album, Fantasy, did as well as his eponymous debut album, selling 400,000 copies. Fantasy has since sold about 700,000 copies throughout Asia.
His 8,000-seat concert at the Sin gapore Indoor Stadium in January is sold out for the first night. A second night was added and 80 percent of tickets have been snapped up for that.
In Hong Kong, tickets to his December concert had fans queuing for days in advance despite the high price of HK$400 (S$90).
As proof of his growing fame, he had been interviewed by Times magazine for an upcoming issue.
Through clever marketing, the gongfu-loving singer is also making inroads into Europe.
Taiwanese newspaper Taipei Times reports that, while sales figures are not availiable, his single Shuang Jie Gun which means nanchaku, the weapon made up of two sticks and a chain, has been moving thousands of copies across Europe. MTV Italy and French undergound hip-hop radio stations have also given the song heavy airplay.
But fame has clearly not gone to the head of this well-built 1.73cm-tall star. He still lives with his mother in the same pre-fame apartment in Taipei. And unlike other pop-idol with a penchant for flashy, fast cars, he drives a mini-van provided by his company.
Chou says that being an only child, he often felt lonely and longed for siblings to play with.
"When I was young, my imagination was very fertile. Perhaps because I was more navie, I had all sorts of fantansies, like being an astronuat, doctor or basketball player."
His parent, both teachers, are divorced.
Recalling a pivotal moment in his life, when he realised he had left his childish ways behind, he says," It was when I was 15 years old. My parents were quarrelling and I was standing up to protect my mother, shielding her."
He was not academically inclined and would probably have ended up as a piano teacher if he had not hit the big time in music.
Dubbed the 'little heavenly king of R&B" by the Taiwanese media, he assures you that he will stick to rap and blues.
"Some singers have tried to diversify their styles for the sake of variety and only ended up making a mess."
But he does not mind experimenting with rock 'n' roll, and occasionally plays his th
ree guitars.
nHe was discovered by popular Taiwanese t
alk-show host Jacky Wu three years ago after entering a singing contest. Wu went on to employ him as a singer in a pub he owned, and produced his first album a year later.
Chou dismissed rumours of them having fallen out, allegedly because Wu had 'given'him away to another record distribution company. Sources say that Alfa Music International, which manages Jay, had fallen on hard times. It was bought over by an entertainment company, Holiday, earlier this year.
Asked about his mentor, Chou looked slightly sombre, says,"He's like my elder brother and takes good care of me. How can these rumours be true?"
They last spoke on the phone a month ago. "We spoke about rather mundane things. It was rather good," he adds in his characteristic mumble.
He also lets on that he is planning a more mature image for his next album.
In his deadpan manner, he says,"Perhaps I'll have long hair, to look like an artiste."
Having answered all questions with earnest nods and the thoughtful expression of a schoolboy taking an examination, he is ushered away for rehearsals.
In six years, he may indeed be ruling the music. For now, Chou appears very much the man with the child in his eyes.
-----------------------------------End of article-----------------------------------
MacDawn's Footnote:
What can I say? I pledge my eternal loyalty to the future king of music!!!
Date: 26-11-2002
Taiwanese R&B wonderboy Jay Chou has given himself six years to conquer the world music market.
" I want to take my music to the whole world, not just Asia." He declares in Mandarin. Being popular is, of course, necessary. That's the only way people will know my music."
The ambitious 23-year-old singer-rapper is also eyeing Hollywood.
"Making a movie is a way in which I can promote my music in the West."
Then breaking into a shy, boysih grin, he goes on to fantasise about making a movie with his best friend, Taiwanese singer-actor, Liu Keng-hung.
"We can be leading man and lady," he blurts out, then hastily corrects himself, "Two leading men, I mean."
He thinks hard when asked to name his dream female co-star and finally comes up with "Maggie Cheung or Lin Ching-hsia". But forget any May-December romances, for he says of the older women, "We can be brother and sister."
This singer was in town for the Community Chest's TrueHearts Charity Show at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex on sunday as well as to promote his concert here in January.
Looking at Chou's laidback, sloppy charm, it is easy to picture him as anybody's brother - even one's own.
The shaggy-haired Mandarin-pop idol, who was decked out in his trademark look of brown "New York City" T-shirt with big arm holes, blue jeans and white sneakers, has segued comfortably into his role as an Asia phenomenon.
In the mere two years since his debut, he has sold more than 160,000 copies of his three and one EP in Singapore. In Taiwan, his second album, Fantasy, did as well as his eponymous debut album, selling 400,000 copies. Fantasy has since sold about 700,000 copies throughout Asia.
His 8,000-seat concert at the Sin gapore Indoor Stadium in January is sold out for the first night. A second night was added and 80 percent of tickets have been snapped up for that.
In Hong Kong, tickets to his December concert had fans queuing for days in advance despite the high price of HK$400 (S$90).
As proof of his growing fame, he had been interviewed by Times magazine for an upcoming issue.
Through clever marketing, the gongfu-loving singer is also making inroads into Europe.
Taiwanese newspaper Taipei Times reports that, while sales figures are not availiable, his single Shuang Jie Gun which means nanchaku, the weapon made up of two sticks and a chain, has been moving thousands of copies across Europe. MTV Italy and French undergound hip-hop radio stations have also given the song heavy airplay.
But fame has clearly not gone to the head of this well-built 1.73cm-tall star. He still lives with his mother in the same pre-fame apartment in Taipei. And unlike other pop-idol with a penchant for flashy, fast cars, he drives a mini-van provided by his company.
Chou says that being an only child, he often felt lonely and longed for siblings to play with.
"When I was young, my imagination was very fertile. Perhaps because I was more navie, I had all sorts of fantansies, like being an astronuat, doctor or basketball player."
His parent, both teachers, are divorced.
Recalling a pivotal moment in his life, when he realised he had left his childish ways behind, he says," It was when I was 15 years old. My parents were quarrelling and I was standing up to protect my mother, shielding her."
He was not academically inclined and would probably have ended up as a piano teacher if he had not hit the big time in music.
Dubbed the 'little heavenly king of R&B" by the Taiwanese media, he assures you that he will stick to rap and blues.
"Some singers have tried to diversify their styles for the sake of variety and only ended up making a mess."
But he does not mind experimenting with rock 'n' roll, and occasionally plays his th
ree guitars.
nHe was discovered by popular Taiwanese t
alk-show host Jacky Wu three years ago after entering a singing contest. Wu went on to employ him as a singer in a pub he owned, and produced his first album a year later.
Chou dismissed rumours of them having fallen out, allegedly because Wu had 'given'him away to another record distribution company. Sources say that Alfa Music International, which manages Jay, had fallen on hard times. It was bought over by an entertainment company, Holiday, earlier this year.
Asked about his mentor, Chou looked slightly sombre, says,"He's like my elder brother and takes good care of me. How can these rumours be true?"
They last spoke on the phone a month ago. "We spoke about rather mundane things. It was rather good," he adds in his characteristic mumble.
He also lets on that he is planning a more mature image for his next album.
In his deadpan manner, he says,"Perhaps I'll have long hair, to look like an artiste."
Having answered all questions with earnest nods and the thoughtful expression of a schoolboy taking an examination, he is ushered away for rehearsals.
In six years, he may indeed be ruling the music. For now, Chou appears very much the man with the child in his eyes.
-----------------------------------End of article-----------------------------------
MacDawn's Footnote:
What can I say? I pledge my eternal loyalty to the future king of music!!!