We pop the question to Taiwan's 'young heavenly king'
Jay Chou is the emperor of Mando-pop. But does he plan to conquer
the West too?
By Trista Di Genova
STAFF REPORTER
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2005/11/06/2003279049


Westerners react to the music of Jay Chou (©PªN­Û) in one of two
ways. They either see it as an introduction to Chinese language and
culture; or they cannot bear it because there's not enough rock 'n'
roll for their tastes. There's never been a rock revolution in Asia,
so Jay Chou's work could seem like a litany of love ballads that all
sound alike.
However, on listening closely a Mando-pop first can be heard: the
successful marriage of East and West.

Chou was trained in classical music and has combined this with
Western elements -- R 'n' B, pop, rap, heavy metal and experimental
genres.

This winning formula isn't something he aims to change. His awards
number in the hundreds. This year alone he's won 58.

He's been awarded the accolades of best Asian male singer, best
songwriter in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China (to name just a few) and
has appeared on the cover of Time. But for Chou, "Sales are more
important than awards."

Not bad for a 27-year-old from Linkou (ªL¤f).


Jay Chou has model looks, management skills and classical music
training. It's a recipe for success.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALPHA MUSIC

The release last week of Chou's sixth album, November's Chopin
(¤Q¤@¤ëªº¿½¨¹) was awaited by millions. Named after his favorite
musician, the album is another cultural fusion and includes five
torch songs crafted specifically for the KTV market.

Sony BMG is already pleased with the album's pre-sales, 1.5 million
in Asia.

Jay's total artistic control over his work was earned after years of
composing, gaining rights to his own music, managing his image, and
directing music videos.

For Hair Like Snow, Alpha Music wanted to pursue a traditional
Chinese music style.

Jay only agreed to do the song after the label promised that it
would break with tradition.

With lyrics written by Vincent Fang (¤è¤å¤s), Chou composed the
melody, using an eight-tone Chinese "hook." Then an imperial-style
set was rented for the music video that cost NT$1.5 million and
which Chou directed.

His manager, Yeung Jin-long (·¨®mºa), trusts Chou's creative
judgment, saying he "doesn't care what Jay does with the money,
because good music is money."

"Director Chou" is using the experience to vault into film and music
production.

He's been nominated for the Best New Performer award at this year's
Golden Horse awards for his role in the film Initial D (ÀY¤å¦rD).

Chou plans to direct a movie,Bangka (»S×U), and has even announced
his intention of starting a music studio to foster other people's
talents when he hits 30.

Jay exercises the same sensational effect the Beatles had on the
West in the 1960s.

Yet when asked who his favorite Beatle is, he said "everybody loves
them," and said he couldn't name one in particular.

In Taiwan, every telephone shop, tabloid or passing public bus seems
to carry his image and every 7-Eleven and hair salon seems to play
his music.

Referred to as the "young heavenly king," (¤p¤Ñ¤ý), Chou is
considered to be among the generation of Asian Pop kings that
include Andy Lau (¼B¼wµØ), Aron Kuo (³¢´I«°), Jacky Cheung (±i¾Ç¤Í)
and Leon Lai (¾¤©ú).

Some say he's the best Taiwanese artist to emerge in decades, if not
ever -- a raw talent becoming ever more refined.

All those years spent daydreaming in class, learning the ropes from
former manager Jackie Wu (§d©v¾Ë), and crashing on the couch at the
recording studio have finally paid off -- big time.

Jay is the pride of Taiwan, although he may deny it. He wisely ducks
politics, enabling him to tour China, something his compatriot,
singer A-mei (±i´f©f), has had trouble doing.

Does he feel Taiwanese or Chinese? "Wherever I go I tell others I'm
Asian, because we have the same yellow skin," Chou said.

Is Jay Chou a man in complete control of his career?

By the way he strode into a press conference on Monday, a dark
silhouette with the elegant slouch of a poet musician, it would seem
so.

Directed to pose, he did so -- in a rather deadpan way -- patiently
fielding questions from TV and radio journalists, then settling down
to a roundtable talk with 16 reporters, including myself.

Reputedly a "mumble-rapper," in person Jay Chou is poised and
articulate, deftly parrying the inevitable questions about his
private life.

"Would you invite [your girlfriend] Pattie Hou («J¨Ø§Â) to be in
your music videos?" one asked.

"That would be awkward," Chou quipped back.

"You are always the one in a relationship to finish it. What do you
think?"another asked.

"Gossip again," he said, mentioning a compulsion to "be careful
about the girls." He and past collaborators have gone on the record
as "non-lovers."

The paparazzi have been intrusive though. Several paparazzi chased
him down Keelung Road a few weeks ago as he was driving a car with
Hou by his side. An angry Chou pushed over a Next magazine
reporters' scooter.

"I focus on my career," he said. "Music is what's important. There's
a day when I'll kiss girls and they won't care," he said.

Even so, he said he wrote Tse Mian Chu Ge (¥|­±·¡ºq) about his
relationships. A proverb signifying "surrounded on all sides," the
song likens Apple Daily journalists to a "team of dogs (ª¯¥J¶¤)."

"They bite an apple in their mouths, long cameras in their hands,
seems they want to talk conspiracy," the lyrics say.

When asked about his English ability, Chou replied, "I have no
talent for studying, only for making music."

When I asked how he planned to enter the Western market, Jay said
that since his English "had stopped at junior high school," and his
native languages are Chinese and Taiwanese, he made music "in
Chinese only," adding he would "never do a song in English."

In the past, though, he has incorporated some Hakka, Japanese,
Korean and Cantonese into his songs.

The following day's media reports focused on Chou's "poor English,"
and how there were many foreign reporters at the press conference.
There was only one -- myself.

Despite the media, Jay seems to have taken his meteoric rise in his
stride.

It is widely known he still manages to shoot some hoops.

And he's been given credit for not contracting "the illness of
conceit."

The pressure of fame, he once said, "was like watching a movie. I
change into a detective, or maybe a racer when others chase after
you. You need to adjust your own mood."

Jay plans to tour Japan in June, and is considering playing in
England.

Maybe he will decide to hire an English teacher, but then again he
doesn't need to tap into the English-speaking market.

With an average 3 million sales per album in China alone, and
lucrative Pepsi and Panasonic contracts as icing on the commercial
cake, his English skills are irrelevant.