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Monday, May 01, 2006, 4:52 PM
i'm blogging and blogging abt leehom these few days.. haha.. this is an essay that a fan wrote for sch hw: "Music is a reflection of the sociological context in which it was created” but how music really can reflect our sociological context? Following I will use a famous Chinese (Taiwanese)-American singer/songwriter who has had much success in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Japan and the rest of East Asia as an example to explain that. Leehom (Alexander) Wang was born in Rochester, New York. He studied music at Williams College and the Berklee College of Music. Hailing from Williams College, a liberal-arts college in Massachusetts, Leehom furthered his education at Berklee with Jazz Piano and Composition. He has become one of the many new songwriters and musicians revolutionizing the Chinese music industry. He is active in all areas of musical production, from composing to producing, to arranging pieces, to writing lyrics although he did not learn to speak Chinese until he was 18, to playing instrumental accompaniments, to directing his own music videos. Leehom comes from a high pedigree of academics; his father is a pediatrician, his brother is a doctor now residing in Chicago, his younger brother is a student at MIT, and most of his relatives are doctors. Like much of his family, Leehom had considered pursuing a medical career. Having been high school valedictorian and receiving a 1600 on the SATs, he was accepted into Princeton and Yale. However, at the last minute Leehom realized his true passion was for music. Amidst criticism from his family, Leehom decided to attend Williams College to pursue his dream to become a musician. Although this decision was unconventional, Leehom was willing to take this risk and his choice has proven to be a wise one. By combining western music with classical Chinese instruments, Leehom has given a unique twist to Chinese music. Having eleven Mandarin albums to his credit, Leehom has yet to produce an English album but remains as one of the main songwriters and producers for Sony Music Taiwan. He also owns Homeboy Studios both in Taiwan and Boston. On his tenth album, Shangri-La, Leehom incorporated the often unheard music of the minorities of China into a style he coined "chinked out". He experimented with the tribal sounds of China, Tibet, and Mongolia; traveling the area carrying 15 kg of equipment while fighting bouts of altitude and food sickness. His new album "Heroes of Earth," has infused elements of Beijing opera into the songs, continuing the "chinked out" spirit. Not much about Leehom's personal life is known, much to his credit. Unlike many of his Eastern and Western counterparts, Leehom has kept his private life to himself and his dignity intact - he is a musician first and foremost. Leehom is quoted as saying, "Rumours don't bother me much now, although it's still annoying at times because it isn't true. I just don't want to come out and make the news bigger. I do music and I want to focus all my energy on this and have no desire to use tabloids to promote myself. I don't want to waste my energy holding press conferences to deny my relationship with certain people or to say that I am not gay because it's just not in my interest." It is this aspect of Leehom's character that many fans respect. His work has influenced recording artist and fellow Rochestarian. How Leehom’s music reflects the sociological context, there have three points? First, integration Western and Chinese Music together and created "Chinked-out": A New School of Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop is one of the most popular Western styles Music right now around America or even the world, and because Leehom was born in New York, so you can say that he was raised up by this kind of Western styles music. But he can integration Western and Chinese Music together and created "Chinked-out": A New School of Hip-Hop in his latest two albums. The term "chinked-out" comes from "chink," which was used to put down Chinese people. "Chinked-out" turns the negative meaning of "chink" upside-down, and uses it as material to form a musical style and Chinese pop music does not have a strong enough feature. Instead of imitating other countries' popular songs, Chinese people can focus on developing their own sound, drawing from the rich resources that abound in Chinese culture. This is how the conception of "chinked-out" music came out. The album “Shangri-La's” conception started with the following premises: 1) Though Chinese presence grows in the global community, the world’s understanding of Chinese people, pop culture and music still lags behind. As much as we hate to admit it, we are still faced with age-old stereotypes and unjust prejudices that need addressing. 2) Chinese pop music does not have a strong enough sonic identity. Instead of being purely karaoke driven, instead of covering or imitating other countries’ popular songs, we can focus on developing our own sound, drawing from the rich resources that abound in Chinese culture. "Chinked-Out" describes an effort to create a sound that is international, and at the same time, Chinese. In the album, he decided to implement some of China’s most precious and untapped resources, the musics of its “shao shu min zu,” or ethnic minorities, concentrating on the regions of Yunnan, Shangri-La, Tibet, Xinjiang and Mongolia. This is NOT one of those “world music” CDs. It’s an R&B/hip-hop album that creates a new vibe the whole world can identify as being Chinese. Following "Shangri-La," Leehom released his second "chinked-out" album, "Heroes of Earth." The album continues Leehom's original "chinked-out" style. Leehom recorded an interesting mix of hip-hop and Chinese opera, creating a distinctive new sound ready to challenge listeners. Second, to enhance and accessible traditional Chinese opera to the younger generation. Chinese opera is the quintessence of Chinese culture, although it is the quintessence of Chinese culture but because each of the opera is long and boring, so now most of the younger generation didn’t like to hear. But in Leehom’s album "Heroes of Earth", Leehom absorbed some of China's most precious resources, Beijing opera and Kunqu opera, and mixed it with hip-hop. The songs are fast, energetic and completely refreshing. Many people are making efforts to revive Chinese opera. Taiwan's noted writer Bai Xianyong has made a "youth version" of the Kunqu opera "Peony Pavilion," which has been acclaimed throughout China. This opera also inspired Leehom in writing "Beside the Plum," the first song of the new album, and the song “Heroes of Earth” conception was according to the Beijing opera “Farewell My Concubine”. Leehom even combined classical Chinese poems in hip-hop, which is unusual but gives the song great rhyme. Leehom thinks Chinese people need to add new things to traditional opera or present them in new ways, so that young people can like them. At last but not least, Leehom have a really good talents in languages and music so that he can use different languages to put into his music to enhance Chinese culture and music to all around the world and have many chance to have music exchange with lots of famous singers. People always said music is the best communication format for the people from all around the world. Leehom totally understand this point, because Leehom is fluent in English and in Mandarin Chinese, and is proficient in Cantonese, Japanese, and French. His linguistic talents have enabled him to reach audiences all over the world in their own native tongues, so he has been released Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese and English album. Leehom have been worked with many different musician, in year 1999, he worked with Pop Japanese producer Tetsuya Komuro and wrote the song “Happiness×3 Loneliness×3”, this song was sang by Leehom, Tetsuya Komuro and Spanish famous drummer Sheilae in Mandarin, English, Japanese and Spanish, in year 2000, he collaboration “Life of My Life” with Lara Fabian and in his brand new album “Heroes of Earth”, a song call “Prefect’s Interaction” this song was collaboration with Asian popular Korean star Rain and J Lim. Because of Leehom’s talents, he has been noted by the world so he has been invited to sing at the Winter Olympics, Leehom sang at the Winter Olympics 2006! As the star staff of McDonalds, Leehom performed at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Torino Italy together with Ricky Martin and Avril Lavigne. Leehom with his talents and one of the best sellers in Asia, he performed his chinked out music in the Olympic ceremony. Leehom was invited for the opening of the ceremony and he is the only Asian artist! Leehom performed "Heroes of Earth" at the ceremony, and with his chinked out music, he surprised the guests at the ceremony and they applauded hard. Stefania Belmondo, the Italian Olympic golden medallist and the 2002 Winter Olympic bobsled American golden medalists Vonetta Flowers were amazed by Leehom's performance and requested a photo with Leehom offstage. Leehom has conquered the hearts of golden medalists! Leehom says he's honored to perform and it was an eye opener for him! And in his coming concert, his record company SonyBMG announcing that Irish group Westlife will be Leehom's special guests on the 11th March 2006 concert. This is record breaking as well because this is the first time Western entertainers will be guests’ performers in an Asian singer's concert. The first collaboration between the Kings of western singing group and Asia's King of music will result in an explosive concert performance. It is reported that Westlife really admire Leehom's music and to be guests in Leehom's concert this time, they specially rearranged their tight schedules. With soulful harmony, angelic voice, drop-dead good look, and good talents, that makes Leehom become Asia's King of music. He have a genuine, warm personality. He is always humble and appreciative towards those around him, and his boyish demeanor is disarming, especially when juxtaposed with his professionalism and meticulous work ethic. He is passionate about his work and cherishes every opportunity for creative exchange with others, in music, movies, or any other forum. wad a good one.. im so impressed =) okok.. shall go off now.. another boring day of tep tml.. lol |