Chinese Music

[yaya44]

Since traveling to China a bit, and going to karaoke's with my buddies and wife there, I've grown to actually like and prefer some of the Chinese pop/r&b music. I originally picked up on the mellow sounds of David Tao, but now enjoying more of the upbeat Jay Chou melodies (love how he integrates classic Chinese instruments with a modern flair) especially "Qian Li Zhi Wai", which always reminds me of my wife.

 

So do you listen to any Chinese music and if so, what?

[tonado]

I like Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung music. Also, I like Kelly Chen.

[Guest lilac6451]

I like a lot of Chinese music, but I don't know who they are. I need to ask my wife who is singing. There is an old song that I think is called(There is a rain cloud in the wind) sung by Meng Ting Wei. I like that song.

[Tony_onrock]

Chinese pop sucks

[Shenzhen K-1]

I enjoy much of Chinese music and really enjoy Chinese MTV!

 

Like in the USA, I can recognize songs but do not ask me to go on "Name that tune"!

 

I got a couple of songs here from a nice member, the group is S.H.E.! B)

 

I can tell you my Lao Po enjoys that group very much and could not figure out how I knew of them!

[rondrum42]

Does anyone have problems playing Chinese Music CD's in car, or

at home? Where do you buy them? Online?

I watched the Live Earth Concert from Shanghi and I really like

The 12 Girls Band. (I found that CD here), but there was a girl named

Evonne Hsu who sang so beautifully I would love to buy her CD, but

I cant seem to find it anywhere. Anyone????

[Guest ShaQuaNew]

The older Chinese songs require someone with an extremely high-pitched voice to sing. When you add to that a strong nasal quality it is extremely different to anything listened to in the West. Still, I too find many of even the older songs quite catchy, and of the sort that goes round your head like other catchy Western songs.

 

Sarah, my teenage daughter is just nuts about Korean music. She says it's the best.

[chilton747]

Chinese pop sucks

 

I have to agree with Tony. It's only because I am a musician by profession and I am very biased. Something just gets me when I hear the Chinese performing pop music and the singers are way off pitch.

[A Mafan]

Some thoughts on Chinese pop music:

 

Recent Chinese pop is rather crappy...it has been following the Madonna/Britney Spears example of vapidity set by the US music industry.

 

But there is a great deal of good music from years past. It seems like the high point for Chinese pop music was around 1998-2000. Nearly any start who was on the scene already or came on the scene at that time is pretty good, and is still putting out good music. Nearly everyone who came on the scene after 2000 isn't really worth listening to (in my opinion).

There are exceptions, but mostly just in individual songs.

 

Chinese pop started in Hong Kong. The wave moved to Taiwan in the late 90s. There are some mainland singers, but not many.

 

Chinese singers don't use vibrato as much as western singers, too.

 

If you want guitar-based blues/rock, check out:

lingdian yue dui

dongli huoche (power station)

wu bai

zhang yu

dike niu zai (Cowboy Dick)

Liu Chunru

Lin Xiapei

Zhao Chuan

 

"light" guitar-based pop:

wu yue tian

IPXS (Zhanglang)

Zhang Yusheng

Fan Wenfang

 

jazz-influenced and/or acoustic:

Na Ying

Zhang Gaozhe

 

jazz/ethnic/love songs:

Wan Fang

 

Love songs:

Zhang Xinxhe (sometimes it seems like every song he does has "love" in the title)

 

Alternative:

Xu Meijing

Wu Minghui

 

Eclectic:

Mou Wenwei

Su Huilun

Lan Xinmei

Xu Ruyun

Liu Ruoying

Lin Yilian

 

Other notables:

Zhou Huajian

Sun Yanzi

Xu Ruoxuan

Fan Xiaoxuan

Ji Rujing

Zhang Xueyou

Qi Qin

Qi Yu

Li Yijun

Liu Dehua

Wen Lan

Zhang Huimei

Lin Xinru

Liu Honghua

 

I am a classically-trained musician (voice, jazz bass, guitar, trumpet), and I testify that there is a lot of good music in China by the above artists, which are many of my favorites. Many can be found by doing searches on Baidu.com or Sogua.com from their music/mp3 section. You have to be able to read Chinese characters (your SO can help you, probably, if you need it) to be able to do the searches.

 

There is a lot of formulaistic, crappy pop by many of the above, too...but sometimes those have the best lyrics.

 

I don't like Wang Fei much...

Or Xie Tingfeng, Jay Chou, S.H.E. 2 Girls, Chen Huilin...

 

Here's a list of pretty much all of them.

[Guest hi5pro]

Does anyone have problems playing Chinese Music CD's in car, or

at home? Where do you buy them? Online?

I watched the Live Earth Concert from Shanghi and I really like

The 12 Girls Band. (I found that CD here), but there was a girl named

Evonne Hsu who sang so beautifully I would love to buy her CD, but

I cant seem to find it anywhere. Anyone????

Here you go, Buddy

http://global.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/...pid-1003767413/

 

Gino

[Don]

David Tao from Taiwan is also good for popular music.

Plus, i love the Japaense and Chinese drums, like Taiko.

Edited October 25, 2007 by Don (see edit history)

[Guest hi5pro]

Does anyone have problems playing Chinese Music CD's in car, or

at home? Where do you buy them? Online?

I watched the Live Earth Concert from Shanghi and I really like

The 12 Girls Band. (I found that CD here), but there was a girl named

Evonne Hsu who sang so beautifully I would love to buy her CD, but

I cant seem to find it anywhere. Anyone????

Here you go, Buddy

http://global.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/...pid-1003767413/

 

Gino

 

 

I love classical Chinese music. Yesasia.com is a great recommendation as a place to find good Chinese music.

 

Ironically, Ping's favorite genre of music is the love songs from the 60's and 70's that all or most of us grew up with. She also introduced me to the music of Vigas, a very talented young Russian singer, and I like his music.

I think you meant "Vitas". Lots of Chinese like his voice. He has AMAZINGly high voice.

The 60's and 70's are my favorite too. It just shows our age.

 

Best wishes,

 

Gino & Lulu

[Guest hi5pro]

Does anyone have problems playing Chinese Music CD's in car, or

at home? Where do you buy them? Online?

I watched the Live Earth Concert from Shanghi and I really like

The 12 Girls Band. (I found that CD here), but there was a girl named

Evonne Hsu who sang so beautifully I would love to buy her CD, but

I cant seem to find it anywhere. Anyone????

Here you go, Buddy

http://global.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/...pid-1003767413/

 

Gino

 

 

I love classical Chinese music. Yesasia.com is a great recommendation as a place to find good Chinese music.

 

Ironically, Ping's favorite genre of music is the love songs from the 60's and 70's that all or most of us grew up with. She also introduced me to the music of Vigas, a very talented young Russian singer, and I like his music.

I think you meant "Vitas". Lots of Chinese like his voice. He has AMAZINGly high voice.

The 60's and 70's are my favorite too. It just shows our age.

 

Best wishes,

 

Gino & Lulu

 

 

Gino, that is the guy. Thanks for correcting me. I misunderstood the pronunciation of his name, but I saw his videos and he is fairly unique. I think they call him "Dolphin Voice" because it is so high.

 

Now there was nothing like cruising the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz when I was 16, listening to the great love songs of the 60's.

Hey Topper

Are you sure you were only 16 by then???

Glad I can help.

 

Best wishes,

 

Gino & Lulu

[DMikeS4321]

Some may snicker (Lao Po doesn't like them at all), but my son and I are addicted to 12 Girls Band. They have an interesting mix of original and re-make material (Enya among others, and their version of 'Clocks' is much better than the Cold Play orginal), all performed with traditional Chinese instruments.

 

Whether or not you like their music, it's hard to not be awed by their technical proficiency. They are all in their mid-20's and they all have won major awards from China's major music conservatories.

 

Check them out if you get a chance.

 

http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/store...egirlsband.html

 

http://realguide.jp.real.com/special/05072.../realguide.html

 

http://ent2.excite.co.jp/music/interview/2003/joshi12/

 

P.S. They're pretty easy on the eyes, too...

[Guest hi5pro]

Some may snicker (Lao Po doesn't like them at all), but my son and I are addicted to 12 Girls Band.

 

P.S. They're pretty easy on the eyes, too...

Now I know why your Lao Po doesn't like them at all. I like one girl who plays "Pi Pa". She is pretty.

 

Best wishes,

 

Gino & Lulu