Music - Joanna Wang

It's been a while since my last introduction to Taiwanese music. Joanna Wang, a very unique girl with unique voice.

This one if taken by herself. The reason I choose this one rather than MV is that you can focus on her voice in this shot.




Another MV

Great Music

Aborigines around the world were usually born with the talent of music and sport, and there is no exception in Taiwan.

Take A-mei as an example, from Puyuma (one of the aborigines clans of Taiwan), is a super star now. She moved her fans with her beautiful voice.



This is her performance in Golden Melody Award.




They are kids from Tsou. This song is called "Song of Southern Mountain".




This is a band, Ka-Silaw from Amis, who usually sing with their native language. This song is called "sunrise".




This is annual ceremony for good harvest from Amis. It's a bit different in every clan.




Ka-silaw again. This song is called "tear".




Da Wu Mountain is a shrine for Puyuma. This song is for Da Wu Mountain. It is called "Da Wu Mountain, our beautiful mama". And the singer keeps singing that he can't forget the happy life back to home. This time, he is going back and never leaves.

Jolin Tsai (Tsai Yi ling)

( Photo website: http://news.xinhuanet.com/audio/xz/Jolin_Tsai/pages/Jolin_Tsai_tom_BV.htm )

Jolin, started her career at the age of 18 in 1998, is one of the most popular female Mandopop singers in Taiwan.

She is almost a perfectionist. Whenever she shows up, she definitely gives you totally different feeling about her dance and dressing style. She herself said that she works hard for every detail to show the best Jolin.

Personally I like her much. When she showed up at the very beginning (1998), she didn't dance well (some people even said she didn't know how to dance). But you will see what a great dancer she is now owing to her practicing over and over again. Also, in the year of 2001, due to conflicts with her record company, she did not release any albums at that time. She was not even able to attend any public activity. Struggling and fighting for the situation against her, she is a super star now.

Currently, Jolin is continuing her Dancing Forever World Tour. The tour includes (Wikipedia):

Date and Country

15-16 September 2006, Hong Kong

23 September 2006, China

27 September 2006, China

13 October 2006, Australia

17–19 November 2006, Taiwan

23 November 2006, United States

09 December 2006, Malaysia

07 April 2007, Singapore

Live in one of her concerts




Live in the 14th Great music award




MV: Wan Mei




MV: Wei Wu Du Zun




MV: Repeated Signals (You will see different hair style in this MV)

Wu Bai (& China Blue)

King of live.

Wu Bai and his band, China Blue, is the best rock'n roll band in Taiwan. He sings both in Taiwanese and Chinese. It is said that when he sings live, you will really feel the power of his music.

Wu Bai doesn't like to talk. Quote from him: the best way to know me is via my music.

Members in China Blue: Xio Chu(bass), Big Cat(keyboard), and Dino(drum).

And Wu Bai is the first Chinese-speaking rock'n roll singer who's already had concerts in Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Beijing, and America.

The following song is written in Taiwanese. It also sounds like traditional Taiwanese song.



The following one is named "aircraft warning" in Taiwanese. It's a song about the world war II. However, it's not describing sad stories but through the eyes of commonality who didn't really know what was going on.



The last one, a sad love song, hope you enjoy it.

Machi

Going to introduce pop music in Taiwan from time to time. Let's relax and have fun in this article!!

The first one comes "MACHI", a very cool hip hop group. "Machi" means buddy in Taiwanese. Jeff, the leader of Machi, used this idea and set up this group.

The song below performed in Taiwanese is talking about the meaning of "Machi". It's the first song in the first album. Check it out.





Another one from 2nd album:





Machi was initially consisted of men. And a pretty girl, Mel, joined them in the latest album (the third one). Moreover, members in this group are up to 9 in the third album.






If you like them and wanna know more about their music, visit YouTube and serach for MACHI or 麻吉.

Also, visit this website and it shows your more details.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machi_(Hip-Hop)

http://home.kimo.com.tw/creappears2001/index.html

Formosa, Taiwan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0t5ix3YtUE

This is a song which impeccably represents Taiwan, the island I love so much.

Enjoy it guys.

Here goes the translation of lyrics:

This beautiful island
like the hug of our mother
fathers are watching us
keeping telling us
working hard for a wonderful future

Surrounded by the ocean
this is the island of freedom
lovely sunshine is around
the mountains and the plains
people here are afraid of nothing
but working hard for a wonderful future
lively here
buffalo, rice, banana, and magnolia

beautiful Formosa
the most glorious pearl in the ocean


(the original)

我們搖籃的美麗島
是母親溫暖的懷抱
驕傲的祖先們正視著
正視著我們的腳步
他們一再重複地叮嚀
篳路藍縷 以啟山林
他們一再重複地叮嚀
篳路藍縷 以啟山林
婆娑無邊的太平洋
懷抱著自由的土地
溫暖的陽光照耀著
照耀著高山和原野
我們這裡有勇敢的人民
篳路藍縷 以啟山林
我們這裡有無窮的生命
水牛 稻米 香蕉 玉蘭花
我們這裡有勇敢的人民
篳路藍縷 以啟山林
我們這裡有無窮的生命
水牛 稻米 香蕉 玉蘭花
我們的名字叫做美麗
在汪洋中最瑰麗的珍珠
Formosa 美麗 Formosa