Post by fidella on Nov 25, 2005 17:30:20 GMT 7
Teens look into the many facets of Jay Chou, Mand-pop music extraordinaire.
Original Source: Teens Magazine, Singapore, December Issue, by Jovelyn Tay
Credits: sean-eka - www.jay-chou.net
Just five years since his self-titled debut album, Jay, was launched, Jay Chou has propelled into Mand-pop stardom at an alarming rate and conquered the Asian music scene to be hailed as the King of Asian Pop.
In his belief that music is a universal language that can transcend all barriers, Jay has connected people from all over the world with nearly 70 songs he has produced to date. With his musical ingenuity, alluring boyish-charm, and captivating self-confidence, there is no doubt that Jay will continue to be the brightest star of his generation in years to come.
Jay the musician
1.73m, 60kg. Black plastic-rimmed specs. Centre-parted hair with natural curls. Aquiline nose. Receding chin. Geeky. Put that all together, and you have the physical profile of a young Jay - a gawky teen who regularly flunked his exams up to high school. Every one in the world around him had thought he was to be resigned to a blue-collared life, going no further than fixing pianos - the only obsession he seemed to have in his world - for a living.
Born to a middle-class Taiwanese family in Linkou, Jay did not fit into the normal scheme of things. Whenever he failed a math test, he would comfort himself, saying "People with musical talent do not do well in math". Although he saw that his mum was worried for his future, he was quietly confident that he could "depend on music and his musical talents".
10 years on, the dorky teen is now a multi-millionaire with multi-platinum albums sold across the globe. His mum manages his colossal income, while his managers take charge of his music events and other lucrative endorsements with international giants. Meanwhile, the prodigy does what he knows best - producing and propagating his brand of music to anyone and everyone open to it.
Described as a 'sponge' where music is concerned, Jay started piano lessons at the tender age of three; moved on to pick up cello, guitar and drums; and by the age of 16, he was already penning songs for Valen Hsu and Power Station. Since then, Jolin Tsai, SHE, Coco Lee, Landy Wen and his benefactor, Jacky Wu, are just some amongest the long list of popular artistes Jay has written songs for. He has also expanded his repertoire by getting together a group of old colleagues, basketball mates and classmates together to form Nan Quan Ma Ma, becoming their guide and mentor in the industry. To filfill his role as their mentor, he has dome cameos and directed their music videos, as well as written and produced songs for them.
In an era of manufactured music, Jay is unique - an individual with average looks who can write and harmonise music, and produce an album of it; occasionally stepping in as a lyricist and guitarist when his moods permits.
Jay the actor
In more recent times, Jay has diversified from music a little and started to venture into the realm of acting. This is his first step to fulfilling his dream of being a full-fledged film director. "Making music is like fighting a lone battle, but filming a movie is a bunch of people surging ahead, I like that feeling," he explans.
His first on-screen appearence was a cameo on Hidden track (2003), a story about a girl searching for a rare copy of one of Jay's album which contains a hidden track. Earlier this year, Jay played a role in the movie Initial D alongisde other well known celebrities like Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, Anne Suzuki, Anthony Wong and Chapman To. The much-anticipated flick was a box-office hit in most Asian countries, thanks to the pull of the younger-generation actors like Jay, Edison and Shawn in the movie. Thanks to the movie, he's also been nominated as Best Newcomer at this year's Golden Horse Awards.
Jay The businessman
From the entertainment circle, Jay turned his sights on business, starting up an antique store in Feb 2004. According to him, it was an attempt to fatten his supposed "small bank account". Merchandise in the store - named "omni by JFK" - included items owned by Jay since his childhood days and other mementoes he purchased in his travels across the world. Sadly, that idea didn't work out. Nonetheless, Jay laughed it off - "that's an interest of mine and ii'm sure there'll be no profit. My mum has told me not to open any other shops."
Jay obviously didn't take his mother's advice to heart, because he and his business partner re-invested more than NT$1 million to transform the store into a chic outlet selling footwear, clothing and more Jay's personal belongings. Re-opening the the shop in October, he invited S.H.E and Nan Quan Ma Ma for the ceremony and proudly showed off a series of limited edition shoes that he had designed using colours inspired by his plight of antique shop, Jay was ecstatic on that day. "The feel of opening a shop is great and I hope it can be successful," he beamed while talking to reporters at the opening.
Jay, the anti-paparazzi Artiste
Infamous for his shyness, Jay often appears aloof in front of the camera, responding better to one-on-one interviews where he finds the setting more controllable and less stressful. Despite having already spent half a decade in front of reporters, much of his private life has been kept secret. It is only news that he feels comfortable with sharing that he has made no attempts to hide, like his single-parent background, and his penchant for vintage cars (he has 9 of them) that has cost him millions. As an experienced artiste, Jay has his own analysis of paparazzi cultures in different countries. "In taiwan, they are intolerable. The paparazzi in Hong Kong follow tightly, but they are the best mannered. There is beginning to be paparazzi in Mainland China as well. Only in Singapore can one be totally free.."
Although being stalked by the paparazzi is part and parcel of stardom and many celebrities do not like it, Jay has gone one step further by declaring his dislike of paparazzi who have gone too far.
But this year, Jay has encountered two seperate incidents of "paparazzi attacks" that were necessitated official press conferences to clarify his stance on the report. The first was about his rendezvous with new girlfriend, Patty Hou, in Tokyo, where reporters stalked him from Hong Kong, following him on his cosy holiday. Though he tried to use one of their travel companions, as a distraction, snappers still got shots of the couple, forcing them to bring their relationship into the open.
The second occurred in August, where Jay allegedly hit a photographer when he stalked and rudely snapped pictures of Jay and Patty Hou, while they were travelling to a Father's Day dinner. Eye-wittnesses later verified in favour of Jay that the paparazzi was creating a din, and that Jay was only trying to protect Patty from the intrusive act by chasing the paparazzi away.
Later, in an essay posted by Jay on his company website, Jay expressed "I finally had the chance to get back at the 'dogs' on all the celebrities behalf, how could i let it slip? If only i had a dog-beating stick with me, you guys would have got a better show. Despite how I typically love dogs, the dog I met today, deserved to be taught a lesson with the kind of atrocities spewing from it's mouth..."
Though he was able to protect himself and Patty from the photographer, Jay was still forced to apologise for the obscenities he uttered during the episode, sheepishly saying that he had been lectured by his mother for the language he used.
Jay The Lover
Born just 29 days apart from each other, Jay and Patty Hou, the Taiwanese number one beauty news-anchor till May this year (she resigned when people started saying that her realtinoship with Jay was affecting her news-anchor image) are presently the It couple of Mando-pop.
The couple first met on the entertainment news show Patty hosted in August 2004, where Jay was a guest to promote Orange Jasmine(QLX) his previous album. After making three more 'special guest appearances' on that same program, and performing together at a charity event in January this year to help raise funds for victims of last year's tsunami, the public caught the initial whiffs of a budding relationship.
Jay and Patty quickly dismissed all speculations at that point. And the public bought their story, turning back their attention to the alleged relationship between Jolin Tsai and Jay, something that had been in the spotlight for years.
When reports and pictures exposed that Jay and Patty were caught romancing in the streets of Tokyo during the Lunar New Year holiday this year, it shocked the entertainment industry and caused uproar amongst fans and friends in the industry. On his return to Taiwan, Jay immediately held a press conference admitting "we have just started and I hope everything goes well", and asked for everyone's blessings and respect for their privacy as their relationship blossomed.
Almost a year on, the "Chou-Hou" pair (as they have come to be known as) has gotten their routine down pat, handling the media almost perfectly. Although there have been rumours and allegations that include plans for the couple to tie the knot by the end of this year, they remain exclusive and prefer attention from the media placed on their work careers.
Jay and his Return
Jay's sixth album, November Chopin, is a celebration of exactly five years since his first album, which was released on 1 november 2000. Released on 1 November, November Chopin, consists of 12 brand new songs, each with a 'poetic' title that his fans worldwide have been anticipating since official announcements about the release of this new album were made earlier this year.
Hardcore fans of Jay shouldn't be surprised that the infamous Polish pianist and composer Frederic Chopin - Jay's idol since childhood - has an obvious influence on the title and music captured in this latest album. "My music is similar to Chopin's - romantic and spontaneous," explains Jay. But he insists that he doesn't mean that he's on the same level has the revered pianist. Instead, he's said that the album title is meant as a tribute to honour Chopin, whose music has played a big part in Jay's life.
One of the most interesting songs in the album is probably a number titled, "trapped and surrounded", written as a "gift" to the paparazzi. Taking sarcastic stabs at the paparazzi, he personifies them as "dogs" running around him with "apples" (a direct hit at one of the biggest tabloid publications in Taiwan!) in their mouths and "dogs" who whip out their cameras to take his pictures in exchange for "bones". He also professes his "pity" for the "dogs" whose lives revolve around him, telling them that if they need him to "show you the way home, I'll be glad to give you a torch". And with a classic touch of irreverence, he ends the song by saying "i can still treat you as a friend, although you are not my match, and give you the privilege of being one of my 'dogs' around me".
With other mystifying (and baffling) song titles like "Nocturnes" (the first single off the new album), "blue storm", "hair like snow", "romantic handphone", "black sweater", and counter scales", fans and critics could well expect another breakthrough from this irrefutable King of Mando-Pop.
Original Source: Teens Magazine, Singapore, December Issue, by Jovelyn Tay
Credits: sean-eka - www.jay-chou.net
Just five years since his self-titled debut album, Jay, was launched, Jay Chou has propelled into Mand-pop stardom at an alarming rate and conquered the Asian music scene to be hailed as the King of Asian Pop.
In his belief that music is a universal language that can transcend all barriers, Jay has connected people from all over the world with nearly 70 songs he has produced to date. With his musical ingenuity, alluring boyish-charm, and captivating self-confidence, there is no doubt that Jay will continue to be the brightest star of his generation in years to come.
Jay the musician
1.73m, 60kg. Black plastic-rimmed specs. Centre-parted hair with natural curls. Aquiline nose. Receding chin. Geeky. Put that all together, and you have the physical profile of a young Jay - a gawky teen who regularly flunked his exams up to high school. Every one in the world around him had thought he was to be resigned to a blue-collared life, going no further than fixing pianos - the only obsession he seemed to have in his world - for a living.
Born to a middle-class Taiwanese family in Linkou, Jay did not fit into the normal scheme of things. Whenever he failed a math test, he would comfort himself, saying "People with musical talent do not do well in math". Although he saw that his mum was worried for his future, he was quietly confident that he could "depend on music and his musical talents".
10 years on, the dorky teen is now a multi-millionaire with multi-platinum albums sold across the globe. His mum manages his colossal income, while his managers take charge of his music events and other lucrative endorsements with international giants. Meanwhile, the prodigy does what he knows best - producing and propagating his brand of music to anyone and everyone open to it.
Described as a 'sponge' where music is concerned, Jay started piano lessons at the tender age of three; moved on to pick up cello, guitar and drums; and by the age of 16, he was already penning songs for Valen Hsu and Power Station. Since then, Jolin Tsai, SHE, Coco Lee, Landy Wen and his benefactor, Jacky Wu, are just some amongest the long list of popular artistes Jay has written songs for. He has also expanded his repertoire by getting together a group of old colleagues, basketball mates and classmates together to form Nan Quan Ma Ma, becoming their guide and mentor in the industry. To filfill his role as their mentor, he has dome cameos and directed their music videos, as well as written and produced songs for them.
In an era of manufactured music, Jay is unique - an individual with average looks who can write and harmonise music, and produce an album of it; occasionally stepping in as a lyricist and guitarist when his moods permits.
Jay the actor
In more recent times, Jay has diversified from music a little and started to venture into the realm of acting. This is his first step to fulfilling his dream of being a full-fledged film director. "Making music is like fighting a lone battle, but filming a movie is a bunch of people surging ahead, I like that feeling," he explans.
His first on-screen appearence was a cameo on Hidden track (2003), a story about a girl searching for a rare copy of one of Jay's album which contains a hidden track. Earlier this year, Jay played a role in the movie Initial D alongisde other well known celebrities like Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, Anne Suzuki, Anthony Wong and Chapman To. The much-anticipated flick was a box-office hit in most Asian countries, thanks to the pull of the younger-generation actors like Jay, Edison and Shawn in the movie. Thanks to the movie, he's also been nominated as Best Newcomer at this year's Golden Horse Awards.
Jay The businessman
From the entertainment circle, Jay turned his sights on business, starting up an antique store in Feb 2004. According to him, it was an attempt to fatten his supposed "small bank account". Merchandise in the store - named "omni by JFK" - included items owned by Jay since his childhood days and other mementoes he purchased in his travels across the world. Sadly, that idea didn't work out. Nonetheless, Jay laughed it off - "that's an interest of mine and ii'm sure there'll be no profit. My mum has told me not to open any other shops."
Jay obviously didn't take his mother's advice to heart, because he and his business partner re-invested more than NT$1 million to transform the store into a chic outlet selling footwear, clothing and more Jay's personal belongings. Re-opening the the shop in October, he invited S.H.E and Nan Quan Ma Ma for the ceremony and proudly showed off a series of limited edition shoes that he had designed using colours inspired by his plight of antique shop, Jay was ecstatic on that day. "The feel of opening a shop is great and I hope it can be successful," he beamed while talking to reporters at the opening.
Jay, the anti-paparazzi Artiste
Infamous for his shyness, Jay often appears aloof in front of the camera, responding better to one-on-one interviews where he finds the setting more controllable and less stressful. Despite having already spent half a decade in front of reporters, much of his private life has been kept secret. It is only news that he feels comfortable with sharing that he has made no attempts to hide, like his single-parent background, and his penchant for vintage cars (he has 9 of them) that has cost him millions. As an experienced artiste, Jay has his own analysis of paparazzi cultures in different countries. "In taiwan, they are intolerable. The paparazzi in Hong Kong follow tightly, but they are the best mannered. There is beginning to be paparazzi in Mainland China as well. Only in Singapore can one be totally free.."
Although being stalked by the paparazzi is part and parcel of stardom and many celebrities do not like it, Jay has gone one step further by declaring his dislike of paparazzi who have gone too far.
But this year, Jay has encountered two seperate incidents of "paparazzi attacks" that were necessitated official press conferences to clarify his stance on the report. The first was about his rendezvous with new girlfriend, Patty Hou, in Tokyo, where reporters stalked him from Hong Kong, following him on his cosy holiday. Though he tried to use one of their travel companions, as a distraction, snappers still got shots of the couple, forcing them to bring their relationship into the open.
The second occurred in August, where Jay allegedly hit a photographer when he stalked and rudely snapped pictures of Jay and Patty Hou, while they were travelling to a Father's Day dinner. Eye-wittnesses later verified in favour of Jay that the paparazzi was creating a din, and that Jay was only trying to protect Patty from the intrusive act by chasing the paparazzi away.
Later, in an essay posted by Jay on his company website, Jay expressed "I finally had the chance to get back at the 'dogs' on all the celebrities behalf, how could i let it slip? If only i had a dog-beating stick with me, you guys would have got a better show. Despite how I typically love dogs, the dog I met today, deserved to be taught a lesson with the kind of atrocities spewing from it's mouth..."
Though he was able to protect himself and Patty from the photographer, Jay was still forced to apologise for the obscenities he uttered during the episode, sheepishly saying that he had been lectured by his mother for the language he used.
Jay The Lover
Born just 29 days apart from each other, Jay and Patty Hou, the Taiwanese number one beauty news-anchor till May this year (she resigned when people started saying that her realtinoship with Jay was affecting her news-anchor image) are presently the It couple of Mando-pop.
The couple first met on the entertainment news show Patty hosted in August 2004, where Jay was a guest to promote Orange Jasmine(QLX) his previous album. After making three more 'special guest appearances' on that same program, and performing together at a charity event in January this year to help raise funds for victims of last year's tsunami, the public caught the initial whiffs of a budding relationship.
Jay and Patty quickly dismissed all speculations at that point. And the public bought their story, turning back their attention to the alleged relationship between Jolin Tsai and Jay, something that had been in the spotlight for years.
When reports and pictures exposed that Jay and Patty were caught romancing in the streets of Tokyo during the Lunar New Year holiday this year, it shocked the entertainment industry and caused uproar amongst fans and friends in the industry. On his return to Taiwan, Jay immediately held a press conference admitting "we have just started and I hope everything goes well", and asked for everyone's blessings and respect for their privacy as their relationship blossomed.
Almost a year on, the "Chou-Hou" pair (as they have come to be known as) has gotten their routine down pat, handling the media almost perfectly. Although there have been rumours and allegations that include plans for the couple to tie the knot by the end of this year, they remain exclusive and prefer attention from the media placed on their work careers.
Jay and his Return
Jay's sixth album, November Chopin, is a celebration of exactly five years since his first album, which was released on 1 november 2000. Released on 1 November, November Chopin, consists of 12 brand new songs, each with a 'poetic' title that his fans worldwide have been anticipating since official announcements about the release of this new album were made earlier this year.
Hardcore fans of Jay shouldn't be surprised that the infamous Polish pianist and composer Frederic Chopin - Jay's idol since childhood - has an obvious influence on the title and music captured in this latest album. "My music is similar to Chopin's - romantic and spontaneous," explains Jay. But he insists that he doesn't mean that he's on the same level has the revered pianist. Instead, he's said that the album title is meant as a tribute to honour Chopin, whose music has played a big part in Jay's life.
One of the most interesting songs in the album is probably a number titled, "trapped and surrounded", written as a "gift" to the paparazzi. Taking sarcastic stabs at the paparazzi, he personifies them as "dogs" running around him with "apples" (a direct hit at one of the biggest tabloid publications in Taiwan!) in their mouths and "dogs" who whip out their cameras to take his pictures in exchange for "bones". He also professes his "pity" for the "dogs" whose lives revolve around him, telling them that if they need him to "show you the way home, I'll be glad to give you a torch". And with a classic touch of irreverence, he ends the song by saying "i can still treat you as a friend, although you are not my match, and give you the privilege of being one of my 'dogs' around me".
With other mystifying (and baffling) song titles like "Nocturnes" (the first single off the new album), "blue storm", "hair like snow", "romantic handphone", "black sweater", and counter scales", fans and critics could well expect another breakthrough from this irrefutable King of Mando-Pop.
short biography of jay huh? ;D
