He may be still
young, but look out world! He may surprise you! If you ask around, many
would say that the music world has a new leader - the real king is Jay
chou. As a child, Jay chou was never too good at academic subjects, and
when he didn't get into any college, a lot of people predicted that he
won't have much potential in life. His mom always worried about his
future, but he never did. "I knew I still had music to depend on. For
everything else, I've had too much confidence, but it is for my musical
talent that I'm so sure of myself," he recalls. Growing up in a
single-parent family, Jay lived a solitary childhood. Without many
friends, he had a hobby of daydreaming, fantasizing into his world of
music.
So how did Jay get into music? At the age of three, he started learning
to play the piano. He recalls his mother being very strict, to make sure
he practiced sufficiently. Later, he learned to play the cello. Today,
both are two instruments that he plays with superior dexterity.
With all the musical talent, it isn't surprising that Jay started out as
a songwriter. Since the age of sixteen, he has been writing songs for
many of the most popular singers. Today, he has already written for some
of the most popular Asian singers, including Coco Lee, Jacky Wu, Valen
Hsu, Power Station, etc.
It was only in 2000 that Jay released his own debut album "Jay", with
the main style being R & B / rap. Singer/actress Vivian Hsu wrote the
lyrics to three of the songs in the album: Cute Woman, Istanbul, and
Tornado. Jay's soft and smooth voice is especially soothing and serene,
making this first album an immediate hit. Each song in the album has its
own, different style, and skillfully, Jay used his voice to suit each
song's character.
Lyrics are an element that cannot be neglected. Lyrics of Jay's songs
all have a unique touch. In his song "Dad, I am Back", the subject is a
broken family. "I heard that after war, there is peace. Why do I always
see my dad beating my mom? Since I was young, you told me to learn from
you, use you as a model. So much pretense. Mom always said be good,
listen to your father. How do you expect me to be like you!" Then, in
his song "End of the World", we see a different aspect of him. "Wanting
to smile, to disguise the fallen tears. Gently nod, admit the fear of
darkness. I just need, you to be at my side for a while. And you, won't
bestow a small bit of sympathy."
Ultimately, it is Jay's talent that has brought him to fame. His first
two albums were nearly created all by himself - songwriting, producing,
harmonizing, etc. In his concerts, it is not unusual to see him play the
accompaniment as well as sing at the same time onstage, while his fans
cheer wildly from below.
This year, in 2002, Jay has won awards from all over the world. In
China, he has won the most prestigious annual Channel V award for Best
Male Singer. Today, he is often regarded as the best Asian male singer,
and the reputation earned him a title of "Small King of R & B"
Bio and Pictures by Susan of the AsiaFinest Team. |